Willpower and Faith The magicians, as commissioned by Pharaoh, gathered to display their magic. Eager to please Pharaoh and impress their audience, they put on display their cutting-edge magic in all of its forms. They were convinced they were in for the win. Why would they not be? They had been practicing and perfecting the art and polishing their props in readiness for this momentous occasion. Musa (AS), seeing this, would have naturally become worried as he witnesses the extravagant display and orchestration of various illusions and magic by these master magicians. Now the camera would turn towards him, and he would be at the center of the stage under the spotlight. Unlike his opponents, he had with him no props other than a staff and no teammate or friend besides Allah. Can you imagine what was racing through his heart and mind? What if he got something wrong? After all, he had only thrown the staff once before Allah (SWT) and even on that occasion, he himself ran away from what he saw as a slithering snake! What if the snake will now turn and bite him? What if the miracle does not occur as intended because he fails to carry out Allah’s command in the intended way? No doubt, before such a vast audience, and with such a heavy responsibility to convey Allah’s message, he would be experiencing a paralysing and gripping fear, putting him under a high degree of pressure, anxiety, and uncontrollable nerves.But Allah comforts him Saying: 'Do not fear! It is certainly you who will prevail! (68)'' He proceeded with determination and zeal, remembering that the miracle was not his design but Allah's. All he had to do was drop the staff, and Allah would take charge of the rest. As commanded by His Lord, Musa (AS) defied his nerves and dropped the staff, and lo and behold, the staff transformed into a fast-moving serpent, defying all physical norms and dominating any rivals. This was no magic. This was Allah’s message, His sign, His power, and might displayed at the hands of Musa (AS). The miracle sent shivers down the spines of the magicians, who at once fell into sujood, saying: ' So the magicians fell down in prostration, declaring, 'We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses.' (70) They said this before Pharaoh, someone who they knew would kill and punish them for such a declaration. The very person who was so powerful that the magicians themselves wanted to draw closer to him. But the moment faith entered their hearts, it gave them the strength and courage to announce their faith before the tyrant. Similarly, when Iman enters the heart, and when Allah is on our side, it gives us the courage and the willpower to do what is required of us in any given situation. In the case of Musa (AS), it was following through with Allah's command., and in the case of the magicians who had now become believers, it was to stand up for justice in the face of tyrants and not succumb to their threats. Their new found faith had given such invincible strength, courage and determination, such that Allah describes their stance: 'So the magicians fell down in prostration, declaring, 'We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses.' Pharaoh threatened, 'How dare you believe in him before I give you permission? He must be your master who taught you magic. I will certainly cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and crucify you on the trunks of palm trees. You will really see whose punishment is more severe and more lasting.' They responded, 'By the One Who created us! We will never prefer you over the clear proofs that have come to us. So do whatever you want! Your authority only covers the fleeting life of this world. Indeed, we have believed in our Lord so He may forgive our sins and that magic you have forced us to practice. And Allah is far superior in reward and more lasting in punishment.'' May Allah grant us the same courage and willpower to do what is commanded of us in moments where we are tasked to deliver. Amen. Can you think of a moment where your faith gave you the courage and willpower to overcome a given situation? I would love to read about it iA! Remember to reflect, reflect to remember! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  🎙️ Join me for a heartfelt and thought-provoking QuranReflect Webinar with our special guest Dr Redwan  Karim as we share insights into our journey with the Quran, along with advice on building your own journey with the Quran.  📅 Session Date: Friday, January 31st, 2025 ⏰ Time: 5:00 PM GMT (UK Time) 12:00 PM EST (New York Time) 👉 Register now: