Article appeared Friday, June 7th, 2013 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (281)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Does history stand witness to the results of arrogance demonstrated by those in power? For example, in ancient Egypt, the pharaohs ruled {1} with complete control of the land. Breasted {2} in The Empire of Ramses II writes about the nature of this particular pharaoh. The buildings which he erected were filled with innumerable supplementary monuments, especially colossal statues of himself and obelisks. He was inordinately vain and made far more ostentatious display of his wars on his monuments. {2} Should the Creator tolerate such vanity from human beings? Should it therefore be surprising that the Bible talks about a warning sent through Prophet Moses (pbuh) to the Egyptian pharaoh at the time? In fact, the story of Moses and the Pharaoh are very much similar in both the Bible and the Quran. Both scriptures agree that the Pharaoh drowned when he tried to pursue Moses and led the Israelites across a stretch of water that they crossed. For example, Chapter 2 of the Old Testament of the Bible, details the pursuit. The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. [Exodus, 14:23] {3} Who was this particular pharaoh and does history bear witness to the drowning of this pharaoh? It has recently been established {4} using scientific evidence that Merneptah, the son and immediate successor of Rameses II was this pharaoh. Bucaille {5} used rigorous scientific enquiry to establish that Merneptah did indeed die from drowning. Dr Bucaille revealed his findings in the book, Mummies of the Pharaohs, Modern Medical Investigations published in 1985. What surprised him most was the fact that the body remained intact even after it drowned. In response to his surprise, his Muslim colleagues pointed out the following Verse from the Quran: This day shall We save you in your body that you may become a Sign to those who come after you! But verily many among mankind are heedless of Our Signs! [10.92] So not only do scriptures carry the story of Pharaoh Merneptah, the Creator informs us that He made arrangements for preservation of Merneptahs body for everyone in the subsequent world to see. The Pharaohs dead body (shown on the left) is now over 3000 years old. Similarly, the bodies of other pharaohs have also been preserved. One may reflect with questions or conclusions at this point. How was the body of Merneptah recovered from the sea after drowning? Note that Verse 10.92 foretells the recent discovery of Merneptahs mummy, its identification and display at the Cairo Museum while stating the purpose. Can anyone other than the Creator have such knowledge? The Biblical story of Moses and Pharaoh is summarized in the Quran, this time further detailing the Creators insight along with the purpose behind interventions.

7.103 Then after them We sent Moses (and Aaron) with Our Signs to Pharaoh and his chiefs but they wrongfully rejected them: so see what was the end of those who made mischief. 7.104 Moses said: "O Pharaoh! I am an apostle from the Lord of the worlds. 7.105 One for whom it is right to say nothing but truth about Allah. Now have I come to you from your Lord with a clear Sign: so let the Children of Israel depart along with me.

7.106 Pharaoh said: "If indeed you have come with a sign show it now if you are telling the truth." 7.107 Then (Moses) threw his rod and behold! It became a serpent plain (for all to see)! 7.108 And he drew out his hand and behold! It was white to all beholders! 7.109 Said the Chiefs of the people of Pharaoh: "This is indeed a sorcerer wellversed. 7.110 His plan is to get you out of your land then what is it you counsel? 7.111 They said: "Keep him and his brother in suspense (for a while); and send to the cities men to collect 7.112 and bring up to you all our own sorcerers well-versed." 7,113 So there came the sorcerers to Pharaoh: they said "Of course we shall have a (suitable) reward if we win!" 7.114 He said: "Yes and more for you shall in that case be raised to posts nearest to my person." 7.115 They asked: "O Moses! Will you throw first or shall we have the first throw?" 7.116 Said Moses: "You throw first." So when they threw they bewitched the eyes of the people and struck terror into them: for they showed a great feat of magic. 7.117 We put it into Moses's mind by inspiration: "throw now your rod": and behold! It swallowed up straightaway all the falsehoods which they faked! 7.118 Thus truth was confirmed and all that they did was made of no effect. 7.119 So the great ones were vanquished there and then and were made to look small. 7.120 But the sorcerers fell down prostrate in adoration.
The magicians understood that Moses was not showing an illusion.

7.121 Saying: "we believe in the Lord of the worlds. 7.122 The Lord of Moses and Aaron.
-----{Notes} {1} http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/pharaoh/home.html {2} http://www.cristoraul.com/ENGLISH/readinghall/UniversalHistory/THE_OLD_WORLD/EGYPT/B readstead/HISTORY_22.html {3} http://biblehub.com/exodus/14-23.htm {4} http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/6673327-merneptah-son-of-rameses-ii-was-thepharaoh-of-the-exodus {5} http://www.scribd.com/doc/28748861/Maurice-Bucaille-the-Pharaoh-Ramses-II