On how small actions can have a huge impact...
We recite to you from the news of Moses and Pharaoh in truth for a people who believe. Indeed, Pharaoh exalted
himself in the land and made its people into factions,
oppressing a sector among them, slaughtering their [newborn]
sons and keeping their females alive. Indeed, he was of the
corrupters. (Qur'an 28:3-4)
This is the story of a people who were subjected to the oppression of one of the worst oppressors who had ever lived. Fir'aun divided the Bani Israil, he suppressed a group of them, slaughtered their sons and enslaved their women. It's hard to imagine a more oppressed community than the
Bani Israil at this time.
And We wanted to confer
favor upon those who were oppressed in the land and make them
leaders and make them inheritors. And establish them in the
land and show Pharaoh and [his minister] Haman and their
soldiers through them that which they had feared. (Qur'an 28:5-6)
But Allah wanted to change the situation. He wanted to grant them bounty and power on Earth and make them leaders of humanity.
Given their conditions under Fir'aun's rule, what sort of change would be required to take this community from being the most oppressed people to to being leaders of humanity? It must be something extraordinary. So what did Allah do next?
And We inspired to the
mother of Moses, "Suckle him; but when you fear for him, cast
him into the river and do not fear and do not grieve.
Indeed, We will return him to you and will make him [one] of
the messengers." (Qur'an 28:7)
The first step that Allah takes to to reveal to Musa 'alaihi salaam's mother to nurse him and throw him in the river if she is afraid for him -- such a seemingly insignificant step in relation to the huge task ahead...
We should never belittle our roles in the process of change. The entire process may take a long time -- generations in the case of the Bani Israil. Allah's promise to them was not fulfilled until the time of Sulaiman 'alaihi salam. But indeed Allah's promise was fulfilled.
Our position now is not worse than the position of the Bani Israil. And as we have seen Him change their condition, we have confidence that He will change ours. How and when and by who is up to Him, not up to us. Our job is to submit to Him and do our jobs in whatever position He has placed us in. And just as we learn from the example of the mother of Musa 'alaihi salaam, we should never belittle our role in the process of change.
