Story of Musa عليه السلام

A baby born under Pharaoh’s terror

Musa عليه السلام was born when Pharaoh was killing the sons of Bani Israel and sparing their women.

Pharaoh had made his people into groups, weakening one group among them. He slaughtered their sons and let their women live. But Allah wanted to favour the oppressed and make them leaders and inheritors.

In the same land where Pharaoh tried to control life and death, Allah caused the child who would challenge him to be born.

Allah inspires the mother of Musa عليه السلام

Allah inspired the mother of Musa عليه السلام to nurse him, and when she feared for him, to cast him into the river. She was told not to fear or grieve, because Allah would return him to her and make him one of the Messengers.

This was a command that cut through a mother’s heart. But Allah’s promise held her together. The river did not carry Musa عليه السلام away from Allah’s plan. It carried him into it.

The family of Pharaoh picked him up, so the enemy of Allah ended up raising the child Allah would later send against him.

Returned to his mother inside Pharaoh’s own world

The wife of Pharaoh asked that the child not be killed, hoping he might benefit them or be taken as a son. The Qur’an does not name her in this passage, but her compassion became part of Musa’s protection.

The heart of Musa’s mother became empty with worry. His sister followed him from a distance. Allah had already forbidden other nursing women to him, so his sister guided them to a household that could care for him. In this way, Allah returned him to his mother so her eye would be comforted and she would know Allah’s promise is true.

The accidental killing and repentance

When Musa عليه السلام reached maturity, Allah gave him judgment and knowledge. One day he entered the city and found two men fighting: one from his group and one from his enemy. The one from his group asked Musa عليه السلام for help, and Musa struck the other man. The man died.

Musa عليه السلام did not justify the killing. He admitted wrongdoing and asked Allah for forgiveness. Allah forgave him. This scene shows the honesty of Prophets: when a mistake happens, the heart runs to repentance.

He then said he would never be a supporter of criminals because of the favour Allah had given him.

Fleeing Egypt and helping the two women

A man came from the farthest part of the city and warned Musa عليه السلام that the leaders were planning to kill him. Musa عليه السلام left Egypt fearful and watchful, asking Allah to save him from the wrongdoing people.

He travelled toward Madyan. At the water, he found people watering their flocks and two women holding back their animals. He watered for them, then turned to the shade and made one of the most beloved duas for need.

One of the women came to him walking with modesty and invited him to meet her father. The old man offered marriage to one of his daughters in exchange for Musa عليه السلام working eight years, with ten as a voluntary completion. The Qur’an does not name this old man, so he should not be named as certain Qur’anic fact.

The fire and the sacred valley

After completing the term, Musa عليه السلام travelled with his family. He saw a fire and told his family to wait, hoping to bring news or a burning brand. But the fire was not an ordinary fire. Allah was calling him.

At the sacred valley of Tuwa, Musa عليه السلام was told to remove his sandals. Allah told him that He is Allah, there is no god but Him, so worship Him and establish prayer for His remembrance.

Here the fugitive of Egypt became the Messenger sent back to Egypt. The man who had left in fear would return with revelation.

Sent to Pharaoh with signs

Allah showed Musa عليه السلام the sign of the staff becoming a serpent and his hand becoming white without harm. Then Allah sent him to Pharaoh, who had transgressed.

Musa عليه السلام asked Allah to expand his chest, ease his task, untie the knot from his tongue, and appoint Harun عليه السلام from his family as a helper. He did not pretend the mission was easy. He asked Allah for the strength to carry it.

Speak to Pharaoh with gentle words

Allah sent Musa and Harun عليهما السلام to Pharaoh, but commanded them to speak to him with gentle speech, so perhaps he might remember or fear Allah.

They feared that he might hasten against them or transgress. Allah reassured them that He was with them, hearing and seeing. Then they went to Pharaoh with the message: send Bani Israel with us and do not punish them.

This scene teaches courage with adab. Even Pharaoh was addressed with words that carried invitation before destruction.

The day of the magicians

Pharaoh accused Musa عليه السلام of magic and gathered the magicians for a public challenge. The magicians threw their ropes and staffs, making them appear to move. Musa عليه السلام felt fear inside himself, but Allah told him not to fear, because he would be superior.

Musa عليه السلام threw his staff, and it swallowed what they had made. The magicians knew this was not magic. They fell in prostration and declared belief in the Lord of Musa and Harun عليهما السلام.

Pharaoh threatened to cut their hands and feet and crucify them, but faith had already entered their hearts. The people hired to defend falsehood became witnesses for truth.

Years of signs and Pharaoh’s arrogance

Allah sent signs upon Pharaoh’s people: the flood, locusts, lice, frogs, blood, and other clear signs. Each time punishment touched them, they asked Musa عليه السلام to call upon his Lord, promising to believe and let Bani Israel go. But when the punishment was removed, they broke their promise.

Pharaoh’s arrogance was not lack of evidence. It was refusal to surrender. He even claimed lordship and mocked Musa عليه السلام in front of his people.

The sea opens

Allah commanded Musa عليه السلام to travel by night with Bani Israel. Pharaoh and his army pursued them. When the two groups saw each other, the companions of Musa عليه السلام said they would surely be overtaken.

Musa عليه السلام answered with certainty: “No. Indeed, with me is my Lord. He will guide me.” Allah told him to strike the sea with his staff, and it split. Bani Israel passed through, and Pharaoh followed with his army.

Allah saved Musa عليه السلام and those with him, and drowned Pharaoh and his forces. At the moment of drowning, Pharaoh claimed belief, but it was too late.

Bani Israel after the sea

After being saved from Pharaoh, Bani Israel passed by people devoted to idols and asked Musa عليه السلام to make them a god like those people had gods. Musa عليه السلام rebuked them for ignorance.

Allah provided shade, manna, and quails, and commanded them to eat from good things. When they needed water, Musa عليه السلام was told to strike the rock, and twelve springs burst out, one for each tribe.

Rescue from tyranny did not mean the tests ended. Freedom required gratitude, worship, obedience, and patience.

Forty nights, tablets, and the golden calf

Allah appointed thirty nights for Musa عليه السلام and completed them with ten, making forty nights. During this time, he left Harun عليه السلام in charge of his people.

While Musa عليه السلام was away, the Samiri misled Bani Israel into worshipping a calf. When Musa عليه السلام returned angry and grieved, he confronted his people and his brother. Harun عليه السلام explained that the people had overpowered him and nearly killed him.

Musa عليه السلام asked Allah to forgive him and his brother and admit them into Allah’s mercy. His anger was for Allah, not for ego.

My Lord, show me so I may look at You

Musa عليه السلام asked Allah to show Himself so he could look at Him. Allah told him that he would not see Him, but to look at the mountain. When Allah manifested to the mountain, it crumbled, and Musa عليه السلام fell unconscious.

When he recovered, he glorified Allah and repented, saying he was the first of the believers. This scene teaches the greatness of Allah and the limits of human strength in this world.

The chosen seventy and another dua

Musa عليه السلام chose seventy men from his people for Allah’s appointed time. When they were seized, Musa عليه السلام turned again to Allah, acknowledging that Allah is the Protector, and asking for forgiveness and mercy.

His dua shows how a Prophet carries his community’s crisis back to Allah. Leadership in Islam is not arrogance. It is pleading before Allah for mercy.

The command to slaughter a cow

Bani Israel were commanded through Musa عليه السلام to slaughter a cow. Instead of obeying simply, they kept asking for more details. The more they questioned without need, the more restricted the command became.

They finally slaughtered it, though they almost did not. This story teaches that unnecessary questioning can make obedience harder. When Allah commands clearly, surrender is safer than argument.

Refusal to enter the holy land

Musa عليه السلام told his people to enter the holy land Allah had written for them and not turn back. They refused out of fear and said there were powerful people inside. Two men who feared Allah encouraged them to enter with trust.

The people answered with one of the ugliest statements in the story: “Go, you and your Lord, and fight. We are sitting here.” Musa عليه السلام then made dua, saying he only had control over himself and his brother, and asking Allah to separate them from the defiantly disobedient people.

Allah forbade the land to them for forty years, and they wandered. This was a lesson that freedom from Pharaoh must be followed by obedience to Allah.

Qarun from the people of Musa عليه السلام

Qarun was from the people of Musa عليه السلام, but he became arrogant because of wealth. He claimed that he had been given wealth because of knowledge he possessed. His people advised him not to exult, to seek the Hereafter with what Allah had given him, and not to spread corruption.

Allah caused the earth to swallow him and his home. Qarun’s story belongs to the wider lessons around Musa عليه السلام: wealth without gratitude can become a palace built over a sinkhole.

Musa عليه السلام and the learned servant

Surah al-Kahf tells the story of Musa عليه السلام travelling to meet a servant of Allah who had been given mercy and knowledge from Allah. Authentic hadith identifies this servant as Khidr.

Musa عليه السلام wanted to learn from him. The learned servant told him that he would not be able to remain patient with what he did not fully understand. Then came the ship, the boy, and the wall. Each event looked confusing at first, but each had hidden wisdom by Allah’s command.

This story teaches humility before knowledge. Even a great Prophet like Musa عليه السلام was shown that Allah gives some knowledge to some servants that others do not have.