And the Nile kept flowing.۔۔۔🙂!

Thousands of years ago, the Egyptians used to say that if the Nile River was not pleased, it would not flow, and to keep it pleased, a girl was thrown into the river every year. That is, an unnatural sacrifice every year, then one day a letter was thrown into the water, and it is said that everything changed.
In the seventh century, when Egypt came under the influence of the Islamic Caliphate and Hazrat Amr bin Al-As (RA) was appointed its governor, the locals said that this ritual was necessary for the annual flow of the Nile or else there would be destruction, and this was sent to Medina. In response, the Caliph Hazrat Umar bin Al-Khattab (RA) sent a letter in which he addressed the river and wrote that if it flows by its own will, then do not flow, and if it flows by the command of Allah, then continue by His command.
It is said that the letter was thrown into the Nile River and after that the water began to rise as usual, and the custom of human sacrifice ended forever.
This incident is mentioned in Tarikh al-Tabari, Volume 4, Al-Bidaa’iyyah wa-Nahiya by Ibn Kathir, Volume 7, and Fatuah al-Misr wa-Akhbarah by Ibn Abdul Hakam. According to scholars, there is some disagreement in the ways of interpreting this narration, so it is described as a historical narration.
In the incident of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him), the name of the river is not mentioned as “Nile” in the Quran, but the word “Yam” is used, meaning a large water or river. However, many commentators, including Imam Tabari and Ibn Kathir, have explained that this most likely refers to the same river of Egypt, the Nile River, because Pharaoh was the ruler of Egypt and the Quran states that Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) was lifted from the water by Pharaoh’s family. This shows that this river passed near the royal residence and the center of power.
Another aspect of this river is also found in the Quran. The signs of punishment that befell Pharaoh and his people include floods, locusts, lice, frogs, and blood. The name of the river is not specified in the Quran, but commentators have written in their interpretations that the waters of Egypt, especially the Nile, turned into blood for them. When they went to fetch water, the water turned red and became unfit for drinking, while for the Israelites the same water remained pure. Thus, the same river, which was a source of life, became a symbol of punishment.
Now the real question is why was there so much fear associated with the Nile. The reason was not just religious or superstitious, but purely practical. Most of Egypt is a desert. There is almost no rain. The entire system was based on only one river. Every year in the summer, the Nile would flood due to the rains in the southern regions of Africa. If this flood came in the right amount, the land would become fertile and the crops would flourish. If the water was less, the whole country would suffer from famine. And if the water increased excessively, the settlements would be flooded and destruction would spread. That is, a single river gave both life and the fear of death. This uncertainty made it a mysterious force in the eyes of people.
The Nile River is about 6,650 kilometers long and is considered one of the longest rivers in the world. It reaches Egypt through several countries in Africa and forms a green belt in the middle of the desert. About 95 percent of Egypt’s population still lives on the banks of the Nile. The cities, pyramids, agriculture and trade of ancient Egypt were all connected to this water. Without this river, Egypt would have been just a vast plain of sand.
In modern times, the construction of the Aswan High Dam has largely controlled its annual floods. Today, Egypt’s economy, electricity and agriculture stand on this river. But the curiosity of history remains in its place. The same river, on the banks of which the basket of Moses floated, whose water became a sign for the people of Pharaoh, and about which a letter written by Hazrat Umar was thrown into it.
One thing is certain, the Nile is still flowing today, and it is flowing without any sacrifice.
What do you think?
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