The Sorcerers and Musa

The Day of the Festival arrives, and all the people are there along with the sorcerers and Musa (Moses) and Harun (Aaron), Musa's (Moses') brother. The sorcerers ask Musa who is to go first, and Musa tells them that they are. They throw down some rods and ropes and they appear to move of their own accord, like a snake. Even Musa is slightly scared by this, but he has God's help. He throws down his rod and it 'swallowed up straight away all the falsehoods which they fake'. The sorcerers are stunned, and they bow in adoration to Musa and Harun, proclaiming their belief in their God. Firaun is angered at their belief without his permission. He threatens to cut off their hands and feet and crucify them on a palm-tree cross. The sorcerers are unperturbed, saying that they will only be sent back to their Lord, from whom they ask for forgiveness. They rebuke Firaun for threatening them just because they believe in Musa's signs.

Later, Firaun is with his chiefs. They ask him if he is to let Musa and the Israelites continue to spread mischief in Egypt, turning people away from the Egyptian religion. He decides to slay all the male Israelites but keep the females in order to keep power. Despite Musa's message few believe except the Israelites and a small number of Egyptians, as many are fearful of Firaun.

Musa again speaks out against Firaun, asking who will protect him from God's punishment when it comes. Nevertheless they refuse to recognise God, with Firaun expressly stating that whatever signs Musa brings he will never believe in him. In his arrogance he asks one of his chiefs, Haman (Islam), to make bricks from baked clay in order to build a 'lofty palace' that will reach up to Musa's god. This is despite the fact that Firaun tells Haman that he thinks Musa is a liar.

Historicity

The current official historical accuracy of Firaun has been questioned because he claims to be the one and only god, while Egyptolopy reports that pharaohs believed in many gods besides themselves, making Firaun a strange exception. In the Qur'an, Firaun says:

• "O Chiefs! no god do I know for you but myself." [Qur'an 28:38]

• "Then he (Firaun) collected (his men) and made a proclamation, Saying, "I am your Lord, Most High". [Qur'an 79:23-24]

According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, "The Egyptians believed their Pharaoh to be a god, identifying him with the sky god Horus and with the sun gods Re, Amon, and Aton." and that "The Pharaoh's divine status was believed to endow him with magical powers: ... he was able to trample thousands of the enemy on the battlefield, and he was all-powerful, knowing everything and controlling nature and fertility."^[1] While pharaohs believed they were divine, some of them believed themselves to be higher even than the gods, one of them was Ramesses 2. Only Akhenaten was a monotheist and he believed the only god was Aten, not himself.

Historicity

The current official historical accuracy of Firaun has been questioned because he claims to be the one and only god, while Egyptolopy reports that pharaohs believed in many gods besides themselves, making Firaun a strange exception. In the Qur'an, Firaun says:

• "O Chiefs! no god do I know for you but myself." [Qur'an 28:38]

• "Then he (Firaun) collected (his men) and made a proclamation, Saying, "I am your Lord, Most High". [Qur'an 79:23-24]

According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, "The Egyptians believed their Pharaoh to be a god, identifying him with the sky god Horus and with the sun gods Re, Amon, and Aton." and that "The Pharaoh's divine status was believed to endow him with magical powers: ... he was able to trample thousands of the enemy on the battlefield, and he was all-powerful, knowing everything and controlling nature and fertility."^[1] While pharaohs believed they were divine, some of them believed themselves to be higher even than the gods, one of them was Ramesses 2. Only Akhenaten was a monotheist and he believed the only god was Aten, not himself.

Qur'anic Narrative

Musa and Harun set off to the Firaun, and when they arrive he is told about their divine mission and that he should let the Israelites go. Firaun rebukes him by saying that the Egyptians looked after him, and he reminds Musa that he has killed an Egyptian. Musa acknowledges this, and says that did that before he received his message from God. Firaun enquires as to who this god of Musa's is. It is GOD (ALLAH in Arabic), he is told, the Creator of everything. At one point Firaun threatens him with prison, as he says there can be no gods other than himself, but he eventually asks Musa for a sign to see if he is telling the truth. Musa throws down his rod and it turns into a huge snake. He then draws forth his hand and it shines with brilliant white light. Pharaoh, however, rejects these signs as 'evident/manifest sorcery'. Firaun's chiefs wonder why they should believe in two men like themselves, and Israelite men at that. Musa is outraged at their reaction to the truth. He warns them to accept God or face the consequences. Firaun discusses the issue with his chiefs. They tell him that Musa's plan is to overthrow the Firaun by turning the people away from their established religion. Firaun tells them to stall Musa and Harun whilst well-versed sorcerers are found. These sorcerers are promised rewards and power. Firaun then arranges with Musa for him to come to the Day of the Festival.

Mohamed Amin Didi

l Ameer Mohamed Amin Dhoshimeynaa Kilegefaanu (Dhivehi: އަލްއަމީރު މުހައްމަދު އަމީން ދޮށިމޭނާ ކިލެގެފާނު) (July 20, 1910- 1953) popularly known as Mohamed Amin Didi was a Maldivian political figure. He served as first president of the Maldives as the head of government between January 1, 1953 and August 21, 1953. Amin Didi was also the principal of Majeediyya School from 1946 to 1953.

Mohamed Amin Didi was the leader of the first political party in the Maldives, Rayyitunge Muthagaddim Party. He was well known for his efforts for the advancement of women and education in Maldives.

With the support of the people he abolished the 812 years old sultanate and became the first president of the Maldives on 1 January 1953. But he always supported a constitutional Monarchy.

After the death of Sultan Majeed Didi and his son Prince Hassan Fareed Didi, the members of the parliament chose Mr Amin Didi to be the next person who is capable to be as a sultan. But the same moment he stood up and shouted that "for the sake of the people of Maldives I would not accept the crown and the throne". And so a referendum was held and Maldives became a republic. But the republic was short lived and a revolution was brought by the people of Male`,while the president was in Ceylon for medical treatment.

Velaanaagey Ibaraahim Didi ,the vice president of Amin became the head of revolutionary government and ordered to arrest Mr Amin Didi as soon as he returned. Mr Amin Didi was not aware of these events which had taken place in his absence and he returned to the country ignorant of what have happened .

When he returned, he was arrested and taken to Dhoonidhoo island. He was told on the way that he is not any more the president. Four months later after his arrest, secret letters were exchanged between him and Ibrahim Hilmy Didi, to bring an end to this revolutionary government and to restore the monarchy. Ibrahim Hilmy as the king and Amin Didi as the prime minister. (Mr Ibraahim Hilmy lied to Amin Didi by saying that the people are still on his side).

According to their plan Mr Amin didi came to male at night, and went straight to the headquarters of Maldivian Police. People learned that there deposed leader had returned back to male. So almost everyone started to gather at Gulha kulhey fasgandu. There he was beaten up and was severely injured. Mr Heyna Yahyaa was running by shouting "hey people ,please kill him for the sake of god and i will take all the blame for that".

Mr Amin was then banished to Gaafaru island and later brought back to vihamanaafushi island (Now Kurumbaa Island Resort and at that time it was an uninhabited island). Mohamed Amin ,Once a loved and respected leader passed away in that island on 19 January 1954 at 1:05 am. He was 44 years old. Before his death he Forgave every Maldivian except Mudhimu salih and Mudhimu Dhon thuthu,the two brothers who harmed his genitals.

President of the Republic ( September 1979 – December 1979 )

His rule was notable for its brutality. The Soviets admitted that perhaps 500 PDPA members had forfeited their lives. Amin now assumed leadership and carried out his own purges of the PDPA. Attempting to pacify the population, he released a list of some 18,000 people who had been executed and blamed the executions on Taraki. The official Afghan figures are much higher-15,000 to 45,000.

Additional to that, Amin was not a popular person. He was rapidly accumulating as enemies a large group of very angry relatives of victims, and PDPA members must have lived in fear of their lives.

During this period, many Afghans fled to Iran and Pakistan and began organizing a resistance movement to the "atheistic" and "infidel" communist regime backed by the Soviets. Although the groups organizing in the Pakistani city of Peshawar would later, after the Soviet invasion, be described by the western press as "freedom fighters".

In mid-November 1979 Amin launched a large military operation against the resistance at Sayd Karam in Paktia Province. The offensive was successful, eliminating as many as 1,000 or more resistance fighters, relatives, and supporters, driving most of the remainder into Pakistan, and obliterating sympathetic villages.

Amin also began unfinished attempts to moderate what many Afghans viewed as an Anti-Islam regime. Promising more religious freedom, repairing mosques, presenting copies of the Quran to religious groups, invoking the name of Allah in his speeches, and declaring that the Saur Revolution was "totally based on the principles of Islam." Yet many Afghans held Amin responsible for the regime's harshest measures and the Soviets, worried that their huge investment in Afghanistan might be jeopardized, increased the number of advisers in Afghanistan.

Amin worked to broaden his base of support and purged the PDPA of his perceived enemies. His regime was still under pressure from the insurgency in the country and he tried to gain Pakistani or American support and refused to take Soviet advice.

Because of or in spite of this, Amin attempted to solidify his hold on the country militarily. This display of independent nationalism was not tolerated by Moscow, and in December 1979, the Soviets began their invasion of Afghanistan

Assassination of Taraki

After Taraki returned to Kabul he requested that Amin meet with him. Amin agreed to the meeting only if his safety was guaranteed by the Soviet Ambassador, Alexander Puzanov. Such assurances were provided, but not in good faith.

Amin however knew Taraki's intentions, and the demand for the ambassador to guarantee his safety was probably a shrewd ploy on the part of Amin to mislead Taraki.

When Amin arrived at the People's Palace, a shootout occurred. Amin escaped unhurt, returned later to the palace with some of his supporters and used the Palace Guard to take Taraki prisoner.

On September 14, 1979 Amin took control of the government. A few days later, Amin's government announced that Taraki died of an "undisclosed illness".

Early years

Hafizullah Amin was born to a Ghilzai Pashtun family in Paghman in August 1, 1929. He graduated from Kabul University and left for the United States for graduate studies. After failing to earn his graduate degree, he returned to Afghanistan and became a teacher.

He quickly joined the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), becoming a prominent member of the Marxist Khalq (People) faction.

President Mohammed Daoud Khan in 1978 was still in the besieged palace when Amin took command of the coup, after he and his comrades were released from the prison.

The PDPA seized power after Daoud's death, with Nur Mohammad Taraki becoming President of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and secretary general of the PDPA, while Amin and Babrak Karmal became deputy prime ministers. An attempt to institute Marxist-Leninist reforms provoked widespread resistance and a number of violent revolts.

In February 1979 the U.S. Ambassador Adolph Dubs was killed. The Khalq faction was gaining political power over the Parcham faction, with Karmal exiled to Europe. Amin had gained considerable control by March 1979 and was named Prime Minister although Taraki retained his other posts. The unrest continued however and the regime was forced to seek more Soviet aid. It was in that meeting between Taraki and Leonid Breznev that the decision to remove Amin took place.

Hafizllah Amin

Hafizullah Amin (Pashto: حفيظ الله امين) (August 1, 1929 – December 27, 1979) was the second President of Afghanistan during the period of the communist Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.

Amin tried to broaden his internal base of support and to bring the interest of Pakistan and the United States in Afghan security. During the 104 days of his rule, except for one failed military rebellion, no major uprising took place. Amin also pursued the policy of Pashtunization of the country.[1]

On December 27, 1979, members of the Russian KGB OSNAZ (Alpha Group) killed him and Babrak Karmal became President.