knowledge & submission

I have always respected the magicians who came to prove Moses (as) a charlatan, but ended up submitting to his faith when they saw his miracle of the snake. At the most obvious level: these men accepted the veracity of Moses' claims upon witnessing the miracle, and immediately professed belief in his message. I had wondered at the humility and sincerity of these men and had wished to be like them... but did not think much past this point until today.

The sheikh was explaining. These magicians were not just any magicians; the Quran states,

They said: Put him off and his brother, and send collectors into the cities:

That they may bring to you every enchanter possessed of knowledge (7:111-2)

...and they produced a mighty enchantment. (7:116)

These magicians were the most skilled, the most learned in the entire kingdom. They were posessed of knowledge to the mastery of their art. And suddenly, it hit me. This is how they were able to submit so fully, so devotedly, upon witnessing the miracle of Moses (as).

These men were at a state of knowledge in their art, and in the laws of nature and what was possible within them, that gave them immediate certainty (yaqeen) in the matter. Their expertise made them immediately certain that what Moses (as) had brought was from a Higher power, and not just a parlour trick. After all, the entire court witnessed this miracle, did it not? Yet at this stage from those actively opposing the message, only the magicians submitted.

And the enchanters were thrown down, prostrating (themselves). They said: We believe in the Lord of the worlds, The Lord of Musa and Haroun. (7:120-2)

And what a submission. As soon as the snake had swallowed their staffs, in the open; in front of a tyrant who believed he himself was God (nauthubillah); in spite of the promises of worldly riches and a high position at court, they declared their belief. Their knowledge gave them the means to submit at the earliest opportunity; understanding the benefit in this course over worldly gain.

They did not believe that Moses (as) was a god and start worshipping him - despite the fact they had been treating Pharaoh as a god, and Moses (as) had not yet been given a chance to preach his message fully - they understood this was beyond human power. Their knowledge gave them a firm intellectual footing in faith, and allowed them to draw solid conclusions on witnessing the miracle.

And when Pharaoh threatened them with the worst torture, being crucified and having their limbs severed, what did they say?

They said: Surely to our Lord shall we go back:

And you do not take revenge on us except because we have believed in the communications of our Lord when they came to us! Our Lord: Pour out upon us patience and cause us to die in submission. (7:125-6)

The truth of the situation was clear to them. They believed in God and would turn back to Him; relying upon their Lord, the posessor of Might and Power above all human capabilities. They knew Pharaoh had no just cause for contesting the faith, and was acting like a spoilt child out of arrogance and egotism. They knew that what Pharaoh threatened was difficult for them but that God was Greatest, so they prayed to Him for patience and to accept their submission.

Upon witnessing this one act relating to their knowledge, they had certainty in faith that could not be shaken by any worldly promise or threat.

This is what knowledge does for submission, as long as you are sincere.

* * *

"There are three kinds of people. The scholars, the seekers of knowledge and all the others are a waste of humanity"

-- Imam Jafar as Sadiq (as), according to hadeeth

(c) Feb 2007