Moses (Arabic ãæÓì Musa) is one of the prophets and is considered a prophet in Islam. He is also referred to by the title "He who spoke with God." The Qur'an recounts more stories of his life than of any other prophet. Musa's name is referred to in 34 different suras (chapters) of Quran. His life is an example that abounds with lessons and reminders for believers.
Early years
In Islam, Musa was born into a family of Israelites living in Egypt. During the ruling of Pharaoh, on the advice of his soothsayers, he ordered the killing of all new-born Israelite males and this process to e executed every other year.
Remember when We rescued you from the people of Pharaoh. They were inflicting an evil punishment on you-slaughtering your sons and letting your women live. In that there was a tremendous trial for you from your Lord. (Qur'an, 2: 49)
To protect her son, Musa's mother put him in a basket and set him adrift on the Nile.
When We revealed to your mother: "Place him into the chest and throw it into the sea and the sea will wash it up on the shore, where an enemy of Mine and his will pick it up..."(Qur'an, 20: 38-39)
He was discovered by the Pharaoh's wife who adopted him.
The family of Pharaoh picked him up so that he might be an enemy and a source of grief to them. Certainly Pharaoh and Haman and their troops were in the wrong. The wife of Pharaoh said, "A source of delight for me and for you; do not kill him. It may well be that he will be of use to us or perhaps we could adopt him as a son." They were not aware. (Qur'an, 28: 8-9)
Musa grew up as a member of the Pharaoh's household. However, this changed when in rescuing an Israelite from an abusive Egyptian, he accidentally killed the Egyptian. Due to this incident, Musa was deemed a criminal and was to be punished, but escaped into the desert.
He (Musa) entered the city at a time of unawareness of its people, and he found there two men fighting, - one of his party (his religion - from the Children of Israel), and the other of his foes. The man of his (own) party asked him for help against his foe, so Mûsa (Moses) struck him with his fist and killed him. He said: "This is of Shaitân's (Satan) doing, verily, he is a plain misleading enemy." He said: "My Lord! Verily, I have wronged myself, so forgive me." Then He forgave him. Verily, He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful. He said: "My Lord! For that with which You have favoured me, I will never more be a helper of the Mujrimûn (criminals, disbelievers polytheists, sinners)!" (Qur'an, 28: 15-17)
After travelling the desert for a long time, he arrived at a place called Midian and came into the company of the prophet Shoaib (Jethro, in Biblical traditions), who recognized Musa as a man of God. Shoaib arranged a marriage between his daughter Safoorah (Zipporah in Biblical and Hebrew tradition) and Musa had worked for him for either eight or ten years.
He (Shoaib) said: "I intend to wed one of these two daughters of mine to you, on condition that you serve me for eight years, but if you complete ten years, it will be (a favour) from you. But I intend not to place you under a difficulty. If Allâh wills, you will find me one of the righteous." He [Mûsa (Moses)] said: "That (is settled) between me and you whichever of the two terms I fulfill, there will be no injustice to me, and Allâh is Surety over what we say."(Qur'an, 28: 27-28)
God calls Musa
Musa eventually decided to return to Egypt. On his way back, he stopped at Mount Sinai and noticed a fire upon the mountain. When he came to the fire, he heard a voice calling him by name. This voice then commanded Musa to remove his shoes, as he was standing on sacred ground.
And when he came to it (the fire), he was called by name: "O Mûsa (Moses)! (11) "Verily! I am your Lord! So take off your shoes, you are in the sacred valley, Tuwa. (12) "And I have chosen you. So listen to that which will be revealed (to you). (13) "Verily! I am Allâh! Lâ ilâha illa Ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I), so worship Me, and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât) for My Remembrance.(Qur'an, 20: 11-14)
So when he reached it (the fire), he was called from the right side of the valley, in the blessed place from the tree: "O Mûsa (Moses)! Verily! I am Allâh, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists)! (Qur'an, 28: 30)
God ordered Musa to throw his cane onto the ground. As a sign to Musa from God the cane was transformed into a snake. Musa became scared, but God ordered Musa to pick it up, as it would change back to its original form.
"And throw down your stick!" But when he saw it moving as if it were a snake, he turned in flight, and did not look back. (It was said): "O Mûsa (Moses)! Fear not, verily! the Messengers fear not in front of Me. (Qur'an, 27: 10) Allâh said:"Grasp it, and fear not, We shall return it to its former state, (Qur'an, 20: 21)
He also ordered him to press his right hand to his left side and it would shine in a bright, white radiant light.
"Put your hand in your bosom, it will come forth white without a disease, and draw your hand close to your side to be free from fear (which you suffered from the snake, and also your hand will return to its original state). these are two Burhâns (signs, miracles, evidences, proofs) from your Lord to Fir'aun (Pharaoh) and his chiefs. Verily, they are the people who are Fâsiqûn (rebellious, disobedient to Allâh).(Qur'an, 28: 32)
Musa admitted that he was afraid of getting arrested on the previous murder charge.
He said: "My Lord! I have killed a man among them, and I fear that they will kill me. "And my brother Hârûn (Aaron) he is more eloquent in speech than me: so send him with me as a helper to confirm me. Verily! I fear that they will belie me. (Qur'an, 28: 33-34)
He prayed to God to grant him fluency of speech, and grant his brother Aaron (Harun in Arabic and Aharoun in Hebrew) the gift of prophecy so that he may help him and be a deputy to him in all his tasks ahead. God granted Musa his requests and told him that he could take his brother along with him, and told him to be gentle in his language and be patient in all his dealings.
Allâh said: "We will strengthen your arm through your brother, and give you both power, so they shall not be able to harm you, with Our Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), you two as well as those who follow you will be the victors." (Qur'an, 28: 35)
Musa thus embarked for Egypt and faced the Pharaoh. Musa and Harun arrived in the court of the Pharaoh and admonished the Pharaoh by informing him that his claim of godhood was false, for there is but one God who created both the pharaohs and their subjects. He controls all that is in this world and beyond. Musa told the Pharaoh that the only reason for his return was to obtain the release of his people from their bondage in Egypt.
Pharaoh said: "And what is the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists)?" [Mûsa (Moses)] said: "The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, if you seek to be convinced with certainty." Pharaoh said to those around: "Do you not hear (what he says)?" [Mûsa (Moses)] said: "Your Lord and the Lord of your ancient fathers!" (Qur'an, 26: 23-26)
Pharaoh said: "Verily, your Messenger who has been sent to you is a madman!" [Mûsa (Moses)] said: "Lord of the east and the west, and all that is between them, if you did but understand!" Pharaoh said: "If you choose an ilâh (god) other than me, I will certainly put you among the prisoners."(Qur'an, 26: 27-29)
Musa warned the Pharaoh of God's punishment. To intimidate Musa, Pharaoh and his magicians setup a date to see whose magic greater theirs or Musa's. on that day, they threw their rods on the floor which turned into snakes. Musa threw his stick to the floor. It transformed into a serpent and devoured all the wriggling snakes.
And We reveled to Mûsa (Moses) (saying): "Throw your stick," and behold! It swallowed up straight away all the falsehoods which they showed. Thus truth was confirmed, and all that they did was made of no effect. So they were defeated there and returned disgraced. (Qur'an, 7: 117-119)
And the sorcerers fell down prostrate. They said: "We believe in the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists). (121) "The Lord of Mûsa (Moses) and Hârûn (Aaron)." (Qur'an, 7: 120-122)
Although the magic of the Pharaoh was beaten, he would not relent to the power of God.
Pharaoh said: "You have believed in him [Mûsa (Moses)] before I give you permission. Surely, this is a plot which you have plotted in the city to drive out its people, but you shall come to know.(Qur'an, 7: 123)
He defiantly refused to allow Israelites to leave Egypt. As a result, Allah decreed punishments over him and his people. These punishments came in the form of floods that demolished their dwellings, swarms of locust that destroyed the crops, pestilence of lice that made life miserable, toads that croaked and sprang everywhere, plagues, and the turning of all drinking water into blood.
And indeed We punished the people of Pharaoh with years of drought and shortness of fruits (crops), that they might remember (take heed) (Qur'an, 7: 130)
And when the punishment fell on them they said: "O Mûsa (Moses)! Invoke your Lord for us because of His Promise to you. If you remove the punishment from us, we indeed shall believe in you, and we shall let the Children of Israel go with you."(Qur'an, 7: 133)
Pharaoh and his inner circle, a perversely self-interested troupe, who resisted the message for years deserved punishment. They rebelled against God, accusing the messenger of insanity as well as of being a liar. Because of their denial, God prepared for them a humiliating end. Musa and his people secretly left Egypt. Pharaoh mobilized his soldiers and set out after the children of Israel:
And We revealed to Mûsa (Moses), saying: "Depart by night with My slaves , verily, you will be pursued."(Qur'an, 26: 52)
Musa and his people started to run but stopped at the seafront where they could not go any further. Here Musa used his stick to part the sea that allowed the Israelites to pass through, then the Pharaoh and his army also followed but the sea closed on them drowning and killing Pharaoh and his entire army.
And We took the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh with his hosts followed them in oppression and enmity, till when drowning overtook him, he said: "I believe that none has the right to be worshipped but He (Allah)," in Whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am one of the Muslims (those who submit to Allâh's Will)." Now (you believe) while you refused to believe before and you were one of the Mufsidûn (evil-doers, corrupters). So this day We shall deliver your (dead) body (out from the sea) that you may be a sign to those who come after you! And verily, many among mankind are heedless of Our Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs , revelations, etc.).(Qur'an, 10: 90-92)
The journey through the desert
After Pharaoh and his soldiers were drowned in the sea, Musa set off with his tribe to a safer place. He returned to the spot where he had first received his miracles from God. He was given the Ten Commandments at this session. Before leaving, he begged God to be revealed to him. God told him that it would not be possible for him to see God, but that God will reveal himself to the mountain stating " Look at the mountain, if it will be still in its place when I reveal myself to it then you will be able to see me". When God revealed himself to the mountain it instantaneously turned into dust. Musa lost consciousness. When he recovered, he went down in total submission and asked forgiveness of God.
And when Mûsa (Moses) came at the time and place appointed by Us, and his Lord (Allâh) spoke to him, he said: "O my Lord! Show me (Yourself), that I may look upon You." Allâh said: "You cannot see Me, but look upon the mountain; if it stands still in its place then you shall see Me." So when his Lord appeared to the mountain, He made it collapse to dust, and Mûsa (Moses) fell down unconscious. Then when he recovered his senses he said: "Glory be to You, I turn to You in repentance and I am the first of the believers." (Qur'an, 7: 143-145)
Having thus received the Torah for his people, Musa came down from the mountain and returned to his people. However, he was shocked to find that the Israelites have revolted against his brother Aaron and started worshipping a golden calf fashioned by a person named Alsamiri.
Then Mûsa (Moses) returned to his people in a state of anger and sorrow. He said: "O my people! Did not your Lord promise you a fair promise? Did then the promise seem to you long in coming? Or did you desire that wrath should descend from your Lord on you, that you broke your promise to me (i.e disbelieving in Allâh and worshipping the calf)?"(Qur'an, 20: 86 )
After destroying all sources of mischief, Musa preached to his tribe, summoning them of repentance and obedience to God:
And (remember) when Mûsa (Moses) said to his people: "O my people! Verily, you have wronged yourselves by worshipping the calf. So turn in repentance to your Creator and kill yourselves (the innocent kill the wrongdoers among you), that will be better for you with your Creator." Then He accepted your repentance. Truly, He is the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.(Qur'an, 2: 54 )
The promised land, and death
When they reached the holy land, the children of Israel were too scared to fight the pagan, giant, inhabitants. Musa told them that if they did not make war against the inhabitants, they would spend 40 years wandering the desert. But they still refused saying "Go, you and your Lord and fight, indeed here [sitting] we are [waiting]." So they refused to make an effort to win the land God had promised to them, therefore, God's punishment was fulfilled.
They said: "O Mûsa (Moses)! We shall never enter it as long as they are there. So go you and your Lord and fight you two, we are sitting right here."(Qur'an, 5: 24)
He [Mûsa (Moses)] said: "O my Lord! I have power only over myself and my brother, so separate us from the people who are the Fâsiqûn (rebellious and disobedient to Allâh)!" (25) (Allâh) said: "Therefore it (this holy land) is forbidden to them for forty years; in distraction they will wander through the land. So be not sorrowful over the people who are the Fâsiqûn (rebellious and disobedient to Allâh)." (Qur'an, 5: 25-26)
