Last week, we started Moses’ story all the way from his Pre-Prophethood days until the moment he married the shepherd’s daughter. Read on to learn what the Quran details about what happened next.
Rescuing the Children of Israel
Moses’ mission to guide the Pharaoh and save the children of Israel is commonly known. The Quran goes into detail of Moses’ experience during his mission.
Obtaining Prophethood
After fulfilling the contract, Moses and his family leave. On their journey, Moses meets Allah and Allah blesses him with prophethood, and grants him two miracles to show Pharoah and his followers that Allah is the one and only god.
“When he came to it (the fire), he was called from the right side of the valley in the blessed spot at the tree: ‘O Moses! I am Allah, the Lord of all peoples.’ And [that]: ‘Throw down your staff.’ When he saw it moving like a snake he fled without tracing his steps. ‘O Moses! Draw near and do not fear for you are one of the secure ones. Enter your hand to your bosom and it will come forth white without harm; and do not show fear. These shall be two proofs from your Lord to Pharaoh and his chiefs; they are a rebellious people.’”
(Quran 28:30-32)
Moses, fearing that his crime might hinder his mission, asks Allah that his brother also be a messenger to assist him. He also asks to remove the stutter he obtained as a child to make his task easier.
“He said: ‘O my Lord! Expand my breast, ease my task for me, and loosen the knot of my tongue so that they may understand what I say.’”
(Quran 20:25-28)
“He said: ‘My Lord! I have killed a person from them and I fear that they will kill me. My brother Aaron is more eloquent than me, so make him a messenger with me — a helper to confirm me; I fear that they will accuse me of telling lies.’”
(Quran 28:33-34)
Confronting Pharaoh
Moses makes his way back to Pharaoh and tells him about Allah, the true lord of the worlds. He asks Pharoah to let the children of Israel free from his suffering. Pharoah questions who this lord is and ridicules and denies the response that Moses gives him.
“Pharaoh said: ‘Who is the Lord of all peoples?’ He (Moses) said: ‘The Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, if you would be sure.’ He (Pharaoh) said to those around him: ‘Do you not hear?’ He (Moses) said: ‘Your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers.’ He (Pharaoh) said: ‘Your messenger who has been sent to you is a madman.’”
(26:23-27)
Pharaoh threatens Moses with imprisonment and even calls himself a god
“He (Pharaoh) said: ‘If you choose a god other than me, I shall imprison you.’”
(Quran 26:29)
To help Pharaoh understand who his lord is, Moses shows him the two miracles: the staff turning into a serpent and blinding light from his hand. Even with these two proofs, Pharoah attributes them as magic.
“He (Moses) said: ‘Even if I show you clear evidence?’ He (Pharaoh) said: ‘Produce it then, if you are of one the truthful.’ So he threw his staff down, and it became a manifest serpent. And he took his hand out and, lo! it was white to the beholders. He (Pharaoh) said to the chiefs around him: ‘This is an accomplished magician who would like to drive you out of your land by his magic; what is your advice?’”
(Quran 26:30-35)
Pharaoh schedules a date in which Moses and skilled magicians will battle to prove to the people that Moses and his brother are nothing but magicians. Moses defeats the magicians with assistance from Allah, proving himself to be true.
“Moses said to them: ‘Throw down what you are going to throw.’ They threw down their cords and staffs and said: ‘By Pharaoh’s might, we shall be the victorious.’ Then Moses threw down his staff, and it swallowed that which they falsely showed.”
(Quran 26:43-45)
The magicians realized that the miracles that Moses displayed were not mere magic, instantly believing in Allah. The Pharaoh though continues to deny Allah by saying that Moses taught these magicians. He threatens the magicians with torture, but the magicians do not budge one bit. They ask Allah for forgiveness for their crimes as they now fear Allah instead.
“So the magicians were thrown down in prostration. They said: “We believe in the Lord of all peoples, the Lord of Moses and Aaron.”
(Quran 26:48)
“He said: ‘You have believed in him before I give you permission? He must be your master who taught you magic, so you shall know. I will cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I shall crucify you all.’ They said: ‘It is no harm, for to our Lord we shall return. We hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins that we are the first believers.’”
(Quran 26:46-51)
Running from Pharaoh again
Allah tells Moses to escape the city with the Children of Israel at night as Pharaoh will attack. As they escape, they take with them the treasures of the enemy.
“We revealed to Moses: ‘Take away My servants by night; you will be pursued.’ Then Pharaoh sent into the cities summoners [saying] that: ‘These are a small isolated group, they have angered us, and we are apprehensive of a coalition.’ So We removed them from gardens, springs, treasures, and a fair abode; and We caused the Children of Israel to inherit them.”
(Quran 26:52-59)
The Pharaoh discovers that Moses and his followers are escaping, so he also heads out with his army. The group comes to a dead end blocked by the sea and Moses’ followers start to panic as they see Pharoah’s group closing in. Moses reassures them and tells them to have faith in Allah.
“He said: ‘No way! My Lord is with me; He will show me a way out.'”
(Quran 26:62)
With the help of Allah, Moses splits the sea in front of them and their group can pass. Pharoah and his group also use the same path, but the water crashes on them after the last of Moses’ group crosses. We revealed to Moses: ‘Strike the sea with your staff,’ so it split, and each part was like a huge mountain. We brought near the others (Pharaoh and his army). We saved Moses and all those who were with him. Then We drowned the others.”
(Quran 26:63-66)
The Takeaway
The Quran again shows how Allah helped Moses and his followers every step of the way. Giving him Aaron has a helper, removing his stutter, lifting his fear, bestowing him miracles, warning him of impending danger, and splitting the sea. Moses put his trust in Allah before becoming a prophet, and it increased even more after he became one.
What do you think? Share your reflections below!
Want to be able to read and understand the Quran without translations?
Sources:
- The Noble Quran. Available at: https://quran.com/
- Prophet Moses in the Qur’an: Qur’anic Studies. Available at: http://www.quranicstudies.com
Masallah
Assalamwaalikoum wa rahmut’Allah. Jazaak Allah khair for sharing this knowledge with us. May Allah SWT reward you a beautiful reward.
It is good to revive our Imaan in this difficult time we are actually facing. Out Trust in Allah SWT should be strengthened more and more. Our final return is to Allah SWT.
May Allah SWT forgives us all and have mercy on us.
Jazaak Allah Khair
Salaam Naseem! Thank you for reading. We’re glad your are benefiting from our articles 🙂 Ameen!
AlsamuAlaykumWaRahmatullahiWaBarakatuhu JazakALLAH khairan Katheera for lesson in hopes and strong faith in ALLAH even in most difficult circumstances Aameen
Wa’iyyakum 🙂 thank you for reading!
Salaam.Mashallah I keep waiting for these posts.We learn a lot from them,also I am a student of the quranic course so I am getting more knowledge.I also agree there should be some questions or test for us to know how much we remember n learn after reading. Jazakkallah khair
Thank you for inpatting the knowledge. May Allah bless you for the effort you put in. Aamiin
Thank you for reading 🙂
As salaamu alaikum. I really appreciate these articles. I wish there was some sort of test your knowledge quiz at the end of each article for one to reflect on what they just read.
Good suggestion! Maybe we can add that in the future 🙂
Assalamualaikum
“Moses meets Allah and blesses him with prophethood… ”
Please see this line z I don’t think it was intentional but I think there’s a grammatical error that might be harmful, since the subject of sentence here is Moses so consider adding the word Allah before bless.
Waalaikumassalam, thank you for pointing this out! This has been corrected now, jazakallah khair!