CHOOSING EEMĀN OVER DUNYĀ

 FAJR REMINDER: CHOOSING EEMĀN OVER DUNYĀ

By: Umm Affān

Rabī' Al-Akhīr 1, 1448 (13-September-2026)

The magicians whom Fir’aun brought to compete against Prophet Mūsā (‘Alayhi Salām) were ultimately defeated when they witnessed the truth of his miracle. At the end of the contest, they openly accepted and declared their belief in Allāh, the Lord of Prophet Mūsā and Hārūn (‘Alayhimā Salām).

Their acceptance of the truth, however, enraged Fir’aun. Unable to accept their decision, he became furious and threatened them with severe punishment. Allāh (ﷻ) informs:

قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ آمَنتُم بِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ آذَنَ لَكُمْ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَمَكْرٌ مَّكَرْتُمُوهُ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ لِتُخْرِجُوا مِنْهَا أَهْلَهَا فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ ۝ لَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُم مِّنْ خِلَافٍ ثُمَّ لَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

“Fir‘aun said: ‘You have believed in him (Mūsā) before I permit you. Surely, this is a plot which you have plotted in the city to drive out its people, but you shall come to know. Surely, I will cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, then I will crucify you all.’” [Sūrah Al-A’rāf (7): 123-124]

It is mentioned that Ibn ‘Abbās (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anhumā) said that Fir’aun was the first to crucify and cut off hands and legs on opposite sides.

Subḥānallāh! How many people throughout history have been persecuted for no crime other than accepting Islām and following the truth? We may recall the terrible and barbaric torture that was inflicted upon some of the Ṣaḥābah (companions) of Allāh’s Messenger (ﷺ) by the heartless polytheists of Makkah, including Abū Jahl. This is often the way of those who reject the truth: they cannot bear to see others recognise, accept, and follow it.

But how did the magicians respond to Fir’aun’s terrifying threat?

قَالُوا إِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا مُنقَلِبُونَ ۝ وَمَا تَنقِمُ مِنَّا إِلَّا أَنْ آمَنَّا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّنَا لَمَّا جَاءَتْنَا رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِينَ

“They said: ‘Verily, we are returning to our Lord. And you take vengeance with us only because we believed in the Āyāt (proofs, evidence, signs, etc.) of our Lord when they reached us! Our Lord! Pour out on us patience, and cause us to die as Muslims.’” [Sūrah Al-A’rāf (7): 125-126]

That was their response. They possessed true firmness in Faith. The threats of Fir’aun did not cause them to abandon the truth they had recognised. Instead, they turned to their Lord and asked Him to grant them patience and allow them to die as Muslims. After all, to depart from this world upon Eemān and, by the Mercy of Allāh, ultimately attain Jannah is the greatest success and the highest aspiration of every believer. Allāh (ﷻ) also informs:

قَالُوا لَن نُّؤْثِرَكَ عَلَىٰ مَا جَاءَنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالَّذِي فَطَرَنَا فَاقْضِ مَا أَنتَ قَاضٍ إِنَّمَا تَقْضِي هَٰذِهِ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا ۝ إِنَّا آمَنَّا بِرَبِّنَا لِيَغْفِرَ لَنَا خَطَايَانَا وَمَا أَكْرَهْتَنَا عَلَيْهِ مِنَ السِّحْرِ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ

“They said: ‘We prefer you not over the clear signs that have come to us, and to Him (Allāh) Who created us. So decree whatever you desire to decree, for you can only decree (regarding) this life of the world. Verily! We have believed in our Lord, that He may forgive us our faults, and the magic to which you did compel us. And Allāh is better as regards reward in comparison to your [Fir'aun's (Pharaoh)] reward and more lasting (as regards punishment in comparison to your punishment).’” [Sūrah Ṭa-Ha (20): 72-73]

What remarkable firmness and steadfastness they demonstrated! Only moments earlier, these people had been magicians in the service of Fir’aun. Yet, once the truth became clear to them, they embraced it without hesitation. Even when threatened with mutilation and crucifixion, they refused to return to disbelief or give preference to Fir’aun over their Lord.

Their story teaches us an important lesson: when a believer finds himself in a difficult situation, he needs patience, prayer, and steadfastness upon the truth. The trials of this worldly life are temporary, but what awaits us with Allāh is far better and more lasting.

I beseech Allāh (ﷻ) to increase us in goodness, grant us firmness upon His Religion, and save us from the tyrants who hate our Islām and us. Aameen.