عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي قَوْلِ فِرْعَوْنَ ذَرُونِي أَقْتُلْ مُوسى مَنْ كَانَ يَمْنَعُهُ قَالَ مَنَعَتْهُ رِشْدَتُهُ وَ لَا يَقْتُلُ الْأَنْبِيَاءَ وَ أَوْلَادَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ إِلَّا أَوْلَادُ الزِّنَا
Imam Abu Abdillah (al-Sadeq – peace be on him) was asked concerning the saying of Firaon ‘Leave me! I will kill Moosa’, who prevented him (from killing Moosa)?
He (peace be on him) replied,
“His legitimate birth prevented him from doing so; for, none will kill the Prophets or the offspring of the Prophets except the illegitimate ones.”
References:
1. Elal al-Sharaae’, vol. 1, p. 57, H. 1, Chapter 52
2. Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 13, p. 132, H. 35 and vol. 27, p. 239, H. 2
3. Qasas al-Anbiyaa, p. 240
Notes:
1) Firaon (Pharaoh – Rameses III) was a powerful emperor of his time. For him to kill Prophet Moosa (peace be on him) was an extremely easy task. Obviously, being so powerful, fear was not a factor in preventing him from killing Prophet Moosa (peace be on him). But due to his being of legitimate birth, this innate factor prevented him from committing this heinous act.
2) From the above narration, we can easily conclude that whoever gets involved – directly or indirectly – in the killing of Divine Prophets or their offspring is without doubt of illegitimate birth. Speaks volumes about those who poisoned the Holy Prophet (peace be on him and his progeny), attacked the house of his beloved daughter Hazrat Zahra (peace be on her) and were responsible for killing the infallible divine proofs (peace be on them all). Take lesson, O people of intellect, and reflect on the words of the tradition! 3) Interestingly, the Firaon made the lofty claim of divinity and never recited the two statements professing Islam (kalemah), is proved to be of legitimate birth. On the other hand, these wretched ones who were involved in the assassinations of the infallible ones, despite professing Islam, were proved beyond doubt to be of illegitimate birth.