The Story of Prophet Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) as Mentioned in the Quran
The story of Musa (peace be upon him) is one of the most prominent stories mentioned in the Quran, as it is referenced in many chapters, such as Surah Al-Baqarah, Taha, Al-Qasas, Al-A’raf, and others. The story carries profound lessons in reliance on Allah, patience, faith, and justice, highlighting how Allah defends the oppressed and grants respite to the tyrants.
Musa’s Birth and Upbringing
Musa (peace be upon him) was born during the reign of Pharaoh, who ordered the killing of every male child born to the Children of Israel, fearing that someone among them would rise to threaten his kingdom, as mentioned in the verse:
“Indeed, Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and made its people into factions, oppressing a sector among them, slaughtering their [newborn] sons and keeping their females alive. Indeed, he was of the corrupters” (Al-Qasas: 4).
To protect Musa, Allah inspired his mother to place him in a chest and cast it into the river, with a promise that he would be returned to her:
“And We inspired to the mother of Moses, “Suckle him; but when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear and do not grieve. Indeed, We will return him to you and will make him [one] of the messengers.”(Al-Qasas: 7).
The chest carrying Musa reached Pharaoh’s palace, where Pharaoh and his wife, Asiya, grew fond of him and adopted him. In a divine plan, Musa refused to nurse from any woman until he was reunited with his mother.
Musa’s Defense of an Israelite
As Musa grew up, he witnessed the oppression of the Israelites. One day, he saw an Israelite and an Egyptian fighting. Musa intervened to defend the Israelite and struck the Egyptian. However, this action unintentionally resulted in the Egyptian’s death. The Quran describes this incident:
“And he entered the city at a time of inattention by its people1 and found therein two men fighting: one from his faction and one from among his enemy. And the one from his faction called for help to him against the one from his enemy, so Moses struck him and [unintentionally] killed him. [Moses] said, “(Al-Qasas: 15)
Deeply remorseful, Musa sought Allah’s forgiveness and fled Egypt to escape Pharaoh’s retaliation.
“My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me,” and He forgave him. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” (Al-Qasas: 16)
Musa felt fear and fled from Egypt to Madyan. There, he encountered two women tending to their flock and offered his assistance. The father of the two women (Prophet Shu’ayb, peace be upon him) admired Musa’s character and offered him one of his daughters in marriage, on the condition that he work for him for eight or ten years.
Musa’s Prophethoodand the Mission to Pharaoh
After years in Madyan, Musa received divine revelation while on his way back to Egypt. In a sacred valley called Tuwa, Allah spoke to him for the first time:
“Indeed, I am your Lord, so remove your sandals. Indeed, you are in the sacred valley of Tuwa” (Taha: 12).
Allah commanded Musa to go to Pharaoh and invite him to monotheism. He supported Musa with miracles, including transforming his staff into a serpent and his hand turning radiant white when drawn out. Musa requested that his brother Harun (Aaron) join him in this mission, and Allah granted his request.
Musa’s Confrontation with Pharaoh
Musa and Harun went to Pharaoh with Allah’s message, calling him to worship the one true God and to free the Israelites. Pharaoh, however, arrogantly rejected their call and accused Musa of sorcery. To prove his prophethood, Allah granted Musa miracles, including his staff turning into a serpent and his hand becoming radiant. But Pharaoh was arrogant and refused, proclaiming:
“I am your most exalted lord” (An-Nazi’at: 24).
Pharaoh challenged Musa and summoned his magicians to confront the miracles. However, when Musa cast his staff, it turned into a great serpent that devoured what the magicians had crafted. Witnessing this clear sign, the magicians believed in the Lord of Musa and Harun, despite Pharaoh’s threats and intimidation.
The Liberation of the Israelites
After Pharaoh’s continued defiance, Allah sent a series of punishments upon Egypt, including floods, locusts, lice, frogs, and blood. Each time, Pharaoh promised to free the Israelites if the punishment was lifted, but he always broke his word. Finally, Allah commanded Musa to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Pharaoh and his army pursued them, but Allah miraculously parted the Red Sea for Musa and his followers, allowing them to cross safely. When Pharaoh and his army attempted to follow, the sea closed over them, and they were drowned.
As Allah says:
“So Pharaoh pursued them with his soldiers, but there covered them from the sea that which covered them” (Taha: 78).
Musa and His People in the Wilderness
Despite their deliverance from Pharaoh, the Children of Israel often displayed ingratitude and disobedience. They demanded to see Allah openly and worshipped the golden calf made by Samiri during Musa’s absence.
The Refusal of the Children of Israel to Enter the Holy Land
After their miraculous escape from Pharaoh and crossing the sea, Musa (peace be upon him) led the Children of Israel to the borders of the Holy Land (Palestine), which Allah had promised to them. Musa instructed them to enter the land and fight against its inhabitants, as Allah had decreed their victory. However, they were overcome with fear and refused to obey. When they refused Musa’s command to enter the Holy Land out of fear, Allah punished them by making them wander the desert for 40 years. Despite their disobedience, Musa remained patient, guiding them through this trial, which served as both a punishment and a purification for their lack of faith.
Lessons from the Story of Musa (Peace Be Upon Him)
- Trust in Allah and Reliance on Him: As demonstrated by Musa’s mother when she cast him into the river and by Musa himself when confronting Pharaoh.
- Faith and Patience: Musa faced numerous challenges but remained resolute in upholding the truth.
- Justice and Kindness: Musa consistently instructed his people to uphold justice and avoid oppression, even with their enemies.
- The Consequences of Arrogance: Pharaoh serves as a timeless example of tyranny, and his ultimate downfall is a lesson for all who are arrogant.
The story of Musa (peace be upon him) is not merely a historical narrative but a profound lesson filled with themes of faith, patience, and reliance on Allah. It highlights how Allah supports His faithful servants, no matter how severe the trials, and ensures that truth ultimately prevails.
Please note that all the verses quoted in this article are translations from the original Arabic text into English.
Refernce: Quran.com