DON'T GIVE WAY TO DOUBTS (VERSE NO. 94 - 97)

      These verses ask Muslims to refer to the Scriptures, if they are in doubt about that which has been inspired to their prophet Mohammad, regarding Moses and the fate of pharaoh, and other historical incidents.

      Some may ask here; was the prophet himself in any doubt about what he narrated of ancient stories? The answer is definitely, ``none at all''. He always proved in his acts and deeds, and it is confirmed by Qurän too, that he was unique in the belief that,whatever he said was truth and from God. We read in the Holy QuränِS 53:3ِ4, that he said nothing of his own desire, and that whatever he said was an inspiration, inspired to him. He was indeed sure of that. therefore this commandment:ِ ``REFER TO THE SCRIPTURES IF YOU ARE IN DOUBT'' is addressed in the form, to Mohammad (AS), but in substance, it is addressed to the Muslims.

      Then the following verse (NO.96) implies that there were, and still there are, some contumacious and stubborn people against whom the word of Allah has proved true that, they will never believe until they taste a painful punishment that they deserve! So no one should expect such a one to give up resistance and opposition to the truth, inspite of

the hardened heart and the metamorphosed nature that they have earned:ِ

      Even if all the signs come to them they will not believe until they taste a painful punishment.

      This pronounced change in nature, or better to say against the nature of man, is effected by their own evil deeds in a long period of their life, which they earned with their own hands and in their Free-Will.

THE PASSOVER IN THE BIBLE

      In the above verse (NO.94) Muslims are commanded that if they are in doubt regarding what Allah has sent to them, like the PASSOVER and other incidents of ancient, refer to the Scriptures that has been revealed before the Holy Qurän.

      We therefore have quoted here for our dear readers, a passage of the old Testament which refers to the PASSOVER in the Book of EXODUSِ14 as follows.

CROSSING THE RED SEA

      Then the Lord said to Moses:ِ

      ``Tell the Israelites to turn back and camp in front of PI HAHIROTH, between Migdol and Red sea near BAALZEPHON. The king, (PHARAOH) will think that the Israelites are wandering about in the country and are closed in by the desert. I will make them stubborn, and he will pursue you, and my victory over the king and his army will bring me honour. Then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.''

      The Israelites did as they were told.

      When the king of Egypt was told the people had escaped, he and his officials changed their minds and said:ِ ``We have let the Israelites escape, and we have lost them as our slaves!'' He set out with all his chariots, including the six hundred finest, commanded by their officers. The Egyption army, with all the horses, chariots, and drivers, pursued them and caught up with them where they were camped by the Red Sea.

      10ِWhen the Israelites saw the king and army marching against them, they were terrified and cried out to the Lord for help. They said to Moses:ِ ``Weren't there any graves in Egypt!? Did you have to bring us out here in the desert to die? We told you to leave us alone and let us go on being slaves of the Egyptians.''

      Moses answered:ِ ``Don't be afraid. Stand your ground and you will see what the Lord will do to save you to-day.''

      The Lord said to Moses:ِ ``Why are you crying for help? Tell the people to move forward. Lift up your stick and hold it out over the sea. The water will divide, and the Israelites will be able to walk through the sea on dry ground.''

      21ِMoses held out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind. It blew all night and turned the sea into dry land. The water was divided and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground with walls of water on both sides. The Egyptians pursued them and went after them into the sea with all their horses, chariots, and drivers.

      26ِThe Lord said to Moses:ِ ``Hold out your hand over the sea, and the water will come back over the Egyptions and their chariots and drivers.'' So Moses held out his hand over the sea and at day break the water returned to its normal level.

      The Egyptian tried to escape from the water, but the Lord threw them into the sea.

      28ِThe water returned and covered the chariots, the drivers, and all the Egyptian army that had followed the Israelites into the sea: no one of them was left. But the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on both side.

30ِOn that day the Lord saved the people of Israel from the Egyptians, and the Israelites saw them lying dead on the seashore. When the Israelites saw Egyptians, they feared the Lord; and they had faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

EXODUSِ14

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE)