The narcissistic oppressor who plays the good guy
The story of Musa (peace be on him) and Firaun has been mentioned many times in the Quran. Indeed Musa (peace be on him), the most mentioned messenger in the Quran, appears 136 times. The rest of the prophets are mentioned much less.
In the exchange between Musa and Firaun, we see a very common story. In the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) the Firaun of the Ummah was Abu Jahl. Each era has its own tyrant. Although Firaun has passed away, the mentality and character lives on in different forms and shapes to varying degrees. Sometimes we might be Firaun ourselves.
Despite his ruthlessness, Firaun played the good guy. He portrayed himself as innocent, as the protector of the people. He asked them for their support. Firaun dominated the airwaves with his carefully crafted image, when deep down he was evil. He loved media attention. Everyone wants to be a celebrity these days, and have many followers.
The most intolerable aspect of this is when it leads to oppression, brutality, imprisoning and killing people.
The followers of Firaun have no excuse. Although he was the head they were the body. He could not have achieved what he did without their support. If you had asked them why they did it, they would have said they did it to escape his tyranny. Yet they chose to stay with him. They could have left.
Similarly we have many people who side with oppressors. When Allah killed Firaun, he killed him with his army. Anyone who is supporting oppressors will be consumed by the Fire.
We ask Allah to make us supporters of the truth and keep us away from tyranny and tyrants. Ameen.
Shaykh Haytham Tamim Tarawih Night 3 – 3rd April 22
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Shaykh Haytham Tamim
Shaykh Haytham Tamim is the founder and main teacher of the Utrujj Foundation. He has provided a leading vision for Islamic learning in the UK, which has influenced the way Islamic knowledge is disseminated. He has orchestrated the design and delivery of over 200 unique courses since Utrujj started in 2001. His extensive expertise spans over 30 years across the main Islamic jurisprudence schools of thought. He has studied with some of the foremost scholars in their expertise; he holds some of the highest Ijazahs (certificates) in Quran, Hadith (the Prophetic traditions) and Fiqh (Islamic rulings). His own gift for teaching was evident when he gave his first sermon to a large audience at the age of 17 and went on to serve as a senior lecturer of Islamic transactions and comparative jurisprudence at the Islamic University of Beirut (Shariah College). He has continued to teach; travelling around the UK, Europe and wider afield, and won the 2015 BISCA award (British Imams & Scholars Contributions & Achievements Awards) for Outstanding Contribution to Education and Teaching.
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