Moussa, Moses, In the Holy Quran By Hassan Ali El-Najjar

Book 4

***

Messengers of Allah to His Human Caliphs,

on the Earth

***

By Hasan Ali El-Najjar

1447 / 2026

***

Chapter 6

***

Moosa, Moses:

The Messenger Supported with Nine Miracles

Peace be upon him

***

رُسُلُ اللهِ إلَى خَلِيفَتِهِ عَلَى الأرْضِ

***

الْفَصْلُ السَّادِسُ

***

مُوسَى:

الرَّسُولُ المُؤَيَّدُ بِتِسْعِ مُعْجِزَاتٍ

عليه السلام

***

أعوذُ باللهِ منَ الشيطانِ الرجيم

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

I seek refuge with God from the Stoned Shaytan

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Introduction

The Messenger of Allah, Moosa (Moses) was the third of the Messengers with Determination (Ulul ‘Azm), after Noo’h (Noah) and Ibraheem (Abraham), and he was followed in that category by ‘Eisa (Jesus) and Mu’hammed, peace and blessings of Allah be upon them all. His story was the longest among the stories of the Prophets and the Messengers of Allah, related in the Holy Quran. [1]

The name of the Messenger of Allah Moosa (Moses), peace be upon him (pbuh), is mentioned in the Holy Quran 136 times, which is in many more times than mentioning names of other Messengers of Allah. Actually, the story of Moosa and his people (the Children of Israel) is strongly present and referred to throughout the Holy Quran, as guidance and lessons to humanity. [2]

Allah, praise to Him, sent Moosa (Moses) to save the Children of Israel, who were mistreated and enslaved by the Egyptian Pharaoh. His brother, Haroon (Aaron) was also sent with him, to help him in clarifying his interactions with the Pharaoh, as he was more fluent.

When the Pharaoh did not believe that he was a true Messenger, Allah, praise to Him, supported him with nine miracles. However, the Pharaoh continued in disbelieving him and refused to let the Israelites leave Egypt. So, Allah commanded his Messenger to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, at one night. They headed east to the Sinai Peninsula, until they reached the Gulf of Suez.

As the Pharaoh and his soldiers followed them, Moosa (Moses), pbuh, struck the sea with his staff (stick), and it split, like a great mountain. While the Israelites passed safely, the Pharaoh and his soldiers, who followed them, drowned.

Despite the fact that the Israelites saw that miracle by their eyes, they still gave Moosa (Moses) a tough time, including worshipping the golden calf during his absence, and threatening to kill his brother, Haroon (Aaron), pbuh.

What is unique about the story of Moosa (Moses), in comparison with the stories of other Messengers and Prophets, was that Allah, praise to Him, chose him alone to deliver His Message to the Pharaoh (Al-A’araf, 7: 104). However, He agreed to his request to send his brother, Haroon (Aaron), with him, because he was more fluent (Al-Qasas, 28: 34). So, they both were once referred to as one Messenger (Al-Shu’ara, 26: 16) and in another time as two Messengers, delivering God’s one Message to the Pharaoh, to stop his mistreatment of the Israelites and to let them get out of Egypt (Ta-Ha, 20: 47), as follows:

وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ يَا فِرْعَوْنُ إِنِّي رَسُولٌ مِّن رَّبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ (الأعْرَافُ ، 7: 104).

وَأَخِي هَارُونُ هُوَ أَفْصَحُ مِنِّي لِسَانًا فَأَرْسِلْهُ مَعِيَ رِدْءًا يُصَدِّقُنِي ۖ إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَن يُكَذِّبُونِ (الْقَصَصُ ، 28: 34).

فَأْتِيَا فِرْعَوْنَ فَقُولَا إِنَّا رَسُولُ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ (الشُّعَرَاءُ ، 26: 16).

فَأْتِيَاهُ فَقُولَا إِنَّا رَسُولَا رَبِّكَ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعَنَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَلَا تُعَذِّبْهُمْ ۖ (طَهَ ، 20: 47).

And Moosa (Moses) said: “O Pharaoh, I am a Messenger from the Lord of the Worlds” (Al-A’araf, 7: 104).

And my brother Haroon (Aaron) is more fluent than me in tongue. So, send him with me as a supporter, verifying me. Indeed, I fear that they will deny me” (Al-Qasas, 28: 34).

Go to Pharaoh and (you both) say: ‘We are the Messenger of the Lord of the Worlds (Al-Shu’ara, 26: 16).

So, go to him and (you both) say: “Indeed, we are Two Messengers of your Lord. So, send with us the Children of Israel and do not torment them … (Ta-Ha, 20: 47).

Some historians and biblical scholars support the opinion that the Israelite Exodus from Egypt took place in 1202 BC, after which the Israelites got lost in the Sinai Peninsula for forty years, as we learn from verse 5: 26. They did not enter the Holy Land until after the death of Moosa (Moses), pbuh. [3]

قَالَ فَإِنَّهَا مُحَرَّمَةٌ عَلَيْهِمْ ۛ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً ۛ يَتِيهُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ ۚ فَلَا تَأْسَ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْفَاسِقِينَ (الْمَائِدَةُ ، 5: 26).

(Allah) said: "Then, indeed, it is forbidden to them for forty years, (during which) they will be lost (wandering aimlessly) throughout the land. So, do not grieve over the defiantly disobedient people" (Al-Ma-ida, 5: 26).

Although it is not possible to write about Moosa, pbuh, without including the Children of Israel, this Chapter focuses on his life, mission, and the lessons Allah, praise to Him, wants humanity to learn from. The story of Children of Israel in the Holy Quran is much bigger than a chapter of a book. It is worthwhile to be addressed separately in a book of its own.

The Chapter is divided into eleven sections, starting with Moosa's birth, his adoption and education in the Pharaoh's palace, then his running away from Egypt, settling down in Madyan, speaking with Allah and receiving his mission mandate, going back to Egypt, his encounter with the Pharaoh and demanding him to free the Children of Israel, the Pharaoh's refusal and God's signs to convince him, the Exodus and the miracle of splitting the sea, death of the Pharaoh by drowning and preserving his body as a sign and a lesson to humanity, the inability to enter the Holy Land from the coastal region, wandering in the Sinai wilderness for forty years, the Tablets and the golden calf ordeal, and the crash course of learning from Khadhir. [4]

***

1. Birth, Adoption, and Education in the Pharaoh's Palace

Moosa, pbuh, was born in Egypt at a time when the king (Fir'awn, Pharaoh) was a brutal tyrant, dividing the people into factions, and persecuting some of them by killing their newly-born sons and leaving their daughters to live. Allah, praise to Him, decided to save the oppressed people and to punish the Pharaoh, his prime minister, Haman, and their soldiers (Al-Qasas, 28: 1-6).

أعوذُ باللهِ منَ الشيطانِ الرجيم

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

طسم ﴿١﴾ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ ﴿٢﴾ نَتْلُو عَلَيْكَ مِن نَّبَإِ مُوسَىٰ وَفِرْعَوْنَ بِالْحَقِّ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٣﴾ إِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ عَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهْلَهَا شِيَعًا يَسْتَضْعِفُ طَائِفَةً مِّنْهُمْ يُذَبِّحُ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيِي نِسَاءَهُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ ﴿٤﴾ وَنُرِيدُ أَن نَّمُنَّ عَلَى الَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَنَجْعَلَهُمْ أَئِمَّةً وَنَجْعَلَهُمُ الْوَارِثِينَ ﴿٥﴾ وَنُمَكِّنَ لَهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَنُرِيَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا مِنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا يَحْذَرُونَ ﴿٦﴾ (الْقَصَصُ ، 28: 1-6).

I seek refuge with God from the Stoned (Cursed) Shaytan

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Ta, Seen, Meem (T, S, M). (1) These are the verses of the clear Book. (2) We recite to you from the news of Moosa (Moses) and Pharaoh in truth, for a people who believe. (3) 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. (4) And We wanted to confer favor upon those who were weakened (oppressed) in the land, and make them leaders, and make them inheritors (5) And establish them in the land and show Pharaoh, (his prime minister) Haman, and their soldiers, through them, that which they wanted to avoid (feared). (6) (Al-Qasas, 28: 1-6).

***

Allah, praise to Him, inspired Moosa's mother to put him in a chest (box) and to throw him on the River Nile, the water flow took him to the Pharaoh's palace, where he was picked up by the servants. As soldiers were about to kill him, like other newly-born boys, the Pharaoh's wife persuaded her husband to save his life and adopt him, as they didn't have a son at that time. However, the baby Moosa refused to suckle milk from any nursing woman they brought him. His sister told them that she knew one more nursing woman he might accept. That was his mother, whom he accepted, which made her happy after her sadness (Al-Qasas, 28: 7-13 and Ta Ha, 20: 38-40).

وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰ أَنْ أَرْضِعِيهِ فَإِذَا خِفْتِ عَلَيْهِ فَأَلْقِيهِ فِي الْيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِي وَلَا تَحْزَنِي إِنَّا رَادُّوهُ إِلَيْكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ ﴿٧﴾ فَالْتَقَطَهُ آلُ فِرْعَوْنَ لِيَكُونَ لَهُمْ عَدُوًّا وَحَزَنًا إِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا كَانُوا خَاطِئِينَ ﴿٨﴾ وَقَالَتِ امْرَأَتُ فِرْعَوْنَ قُرَّتُ عَيْنٍ لِّي وَلَكَ لَا تَقْتُلُوهُ عَسَىٰ أَن يَنفَعَنَا أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُ وَلَدًا وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ ﴿٩﴾ وَأَصْبَحَ فُؤَادُ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰ فَارِغًا إِن كَادَتْ لَتُبْدِي بِهِ لَوْلَا أَن رَّبَطْنَا عَلَىٰ قَلْبِهَا لِتَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١٠﴾ وَقَالَتْ لِأُخْتِهِ قُصِّيهِ ۖ فَبَصُرَتْ بِهِ عَن جُنُبٍ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ ﴿١١﴾ وَحَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِ الْمَرَاضِعَ مِن قَبْلُ فَقَالَتْ هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ يَكْفُلُونَهُ لَكُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُ نَاصِحُونَ ﴿١٢﴾ فَرَدَدْنَاهُ إِلَىٰ أُمِّهِ كَيْ تَقَرَّ عَيْنُهَا وَلَا تَحْزَنَ وَلِتَعْلَمَ أَنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّـهِ حَقٌّ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿١٣﴾ (الْقَصَصُ ، 28: 7-13).

And We inspired to the mother of Moosa (Moses), "Suckle him; but when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear and do not grieve. We will return him to you and will make him (one) of the messengers." (7) And the family of Pharaoh picked him up (out of the river), so that he would become to them an enemy and a (cause of) grief. Indeed, Pharaoh, Haman, and their soldiers were sinners. (8) And the wife of Pharaoh said: "(He will be) a comfort of the eye for me and for you. Do not kill him; perhaps he may benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son, while they do not notice." (9) And the heart of Moosa's mother became empty. She was about to disclose (the matter concerning) him, had We not bound fast her heart, that she would be of the believers. (10) And she said to his sister: "Follow him." So, she watched him from a distance while they did not notice. (11) And We had prevented from him (all) wet nurses before. So, (his sister) said: "Shall I direct you to a household that will be responsible for him for you, while they are sincere to him?" (12) So, We returned him to his mother, that she might be content and not grieve, and that she would know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of them (people) do not know. (13) (Al-Qasas, 28: 7-13).

إِذْ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ أُمِّكَ مَا يُوحَىٰ ﴿٣٨﴾ أَنِ اقْذِفِيهِ فِي التَّابُوتِ فَاقْذِفِيهِ فِي الْيَمِّ فَلْيُلْقِهِ الْيَمُّ بِالسَّاحِلِ يَأْخُذْهُ عَدُوٌّ لِّي وَعَدُوٌّ لَّهُ وَأَلْقَيْتُ عَلَيْكَ مَحَبَّةً مِّنِّي وَلِتُصْنَعَ عَلَىٰ عَيْنِي ﴿٣٩﴾ إِذْ تَمْشِي أُخْتُكَ فَتَقُولُ هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ مَن يَكْفُلُهُ فَرَجَعْنَاكَ إِلَىٰ أُمِّكَ كَيْ تَقَرَّ عَيْنُهَا وَلَا تَحْزَنَ وَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا فَنَجَّيْنَاكَ مِنَ الْغَمِّ وَفَتَنَّاكَ فُتُونًا فَلَبِثْتَ سِنِينَ فِي أَهْلِ مَدْيَنَ ثُمَّ جِئْتَ عَلَىٰ قَدَرٍ يَا مُوسَىٰ ﴿٤٠﴾ وَاصْطَنَعْتُكَ لِنَفْسِي ﴿٤١﴾ (طَهَ ، 20: 38-40).

We inspired to your mother what We inspired, (38) (Saying): "Cast him into the chest and cast it into the body of water (the river), and the river will throw it onto the shore (riverbank); there will take him an enemy to Me and an enemy to him." And I bestowed upon you love from Me, that you would be brought up under My eye (care). (39) Your sister went and said: "Shall I direct you to someone who will be responsible for him?" So, We restored you to your mother. that she might be content and not grieve. And you killed someone, but We saved you from despair (stress), and We tried you with a (severe) trial. And you remained years among the people of Madyan. Then, you came at the decreed time, O Moosa. (40) And I made (prepared) you for Myself. (41) (Ta-Ha, 20: 38-40).

***

2. Running Away from Egypt

Thus, Moosa (Moses), pbuh, was saved and was brought up as the adopted son of the Pharaoh. However, he still knew his origin as an Israelite. So, one day, when he became a strong young man, an Israelite was being beaten by an Egyptian man. The Israelite saw Moosa and asked him for help. Moosa, pbuh, killed the Egyptian man with one blow. The following day, the same scene was repeated but Moosa did not kill the other Egyptian man. Then, he was told that the soldiers were looking for him, to kill him, for killing the Egyptian man the day before. He became afraid and decided to flee Egypt to avoid punishment, as we read in verses 14-21 of Soorat Al-Qasas (Chapter 28) of the Holy Quran.

وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَاسْتَوَىٰ آتَيْنَاهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿١٤﴾ وَدَخَلَ الْمَدِينَةَ عَلَىٰ حِينِ غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَا فَوَجَدَ فِيهَا رَجُلَيْنِ يَقْتَتِلَانِ هَـٰذَا مِن شِيعَتِهِ وَهَـٰذَا مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ فَاسْتَغَاثَهُ الَّذِي مِن شِيعَتِهِ عَلَى الَّذِي مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ فَوَكَزَهُ مُوسَىٰ فَقَضَىٰ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ هَـٰذَا مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ مُّضِلٌّ مُّبِينٌ ﴿١٥﴾ قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَغَفَرَ لَهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ ﴿١٦﴾ قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَا أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ فَلَنْ أَكُونَ ظَهِيرًا لِّلْمُجْرِمِينَ ﴿١٧﴾ فَأَصْبَحَ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ خَائِفًا يَتَرَقَّبُ فَإِذَا الَّذِي اسْتَنصَرَهُ بِالْأَمْسِ يَسْتَصْرِخُهُ قَالَ لَهُ مُوسَىٰ إِنَّكَ لَغَوِيٌّ مُّبِينٌ ﴿١٨﴾ فَلَمَّا أَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يَبْطِشَ بِالَّذِي هُوَ عَدُوٌّ لَّهُمَا قَالَ يَا مُوسَىٰ أَتُرِيدُ أَن تَقْتُلَنِي كَمَا قَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا بِالْأَمْسِ إِن تُرِيدُ إِلَّا أَن تَكُونَ جَبَّارًا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا تُرِيدُ أَن تَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُصْلِحِينَ ﴿١٩﴾ وَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ مِّنْ أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ يَسْعَىٰ قَالَ يَا مُوسَىٰ إِنَّ الْمَلَأَ يَأْتَمِرُونَ بِكَ لِيَقْتُلُوكَ فَاخْرُجْ إِنِّي لَكَ مِنَ النَّاصِحِينَ ﴿٢٠﴾ فَخَرَجَ مِنْهَا خَائِفًا يَتَرَقَّبُ قَالَ رَبِّ نَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿٢١﴾ (الْقَصَصُ ، 28: 14-21).

And when he attained his full strength and was (mentally) mature, We bestowed upon him wisdom and knowledge. And, thus, We reward the doers of good. (14) And he entered the city at a time of inattention by its people and found therein two men fighting: one from his faction and one from among his enemy. The one from his faction called on him for help against the one from his enemy. So, Moosa struck him and (unintentionally) killed him. (Regretting it, Moosa) said: "This is from the work of the Shaytan (Satan). Indeed, he is a manifest, misleading enemy." (15) He said: "My Lord, I have wronged myself, so forgive me," and He forgave him. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. (16) He (further) said: "My Lord, for the favor You bestowed upon me, I will never be a supporter to the criminals." (17) And he became fearful and anticipating (the consequences) inside the city, when the one who sought his help the previous day cried out to him (once again). Moosa said to him: "Indeed, you are an evident deviator." (18) And when he wanted to strike the one who was an enemy to both of them, he said: "O Moosa, do you want to kill me, as you killed someone yesterday? You only want to be a tyrant in the land and you do not want to be of the good doers." (19) And a man came from the farthest end of the city, running. He said: "O Moosa, the eminent ones are conferring over you, to kill you. So, leave (the city), I am to you of the sincere advisors." (20) So, he left it, fearful and anticipating (apprehensive). He said: "My Lord, save me from the oppressive (wrongdoing) people." (21) (Al-Qasas, 28: 14-21).

***

3. Settling Down in Madyan

Moosa (Moses), pbuh, left Egypt traveling east through the Sinai desert until he reached Madyan, which is believed to be part of today's northwestern Saudi Arabia and southwester Jordan. There, he saw two women who needed assistance in watering their herd of animals, from a water-well. He helped them. As they left, he sat under a tree , hungry and tired, asking for help from Allah, praise to Him. One of the two women came back, telling him that her elderly father wanted to reward him for what he did. Moosa told his story to the old man, who comforted him and told him not to be afraid anymore as he became safe in Madyan. One of the two daughters asked her father to hire him, as he turned to be a strong and a trust-worthy man. The Elderly man offered him to marry one of his two daughters in return for his work in taking care of their animals for eight years, then he asked for two more years, as an extra favor, as mentioned in verses 22-28 of Soorat Al-Qasas (Chapter 28) of the Holy Quran.

وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلْقَاءَ مَدْيَنَ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبِّي أَن يَهْدِيَنِي سَوَاءَ السَّبِيلِ ﴿٢٢﴾ وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَاءَ مَدْيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيْهِ أُمَّةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ يَسْقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ امْرَأَتَيْنِ تَذُودَانِ قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُمَا قَالَتَا لَا نَسْقِي حَتَّىٰ يُصْدِرَ الرِّعَاءُ وَأَبُونَا شَيْخٌ كَبِيرٌ ﴿٢٣﴾ فَسَقَىٰ لَهُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلَّىٰ إِلَى الظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ ﴿٢٤﴾ فَجَاءَتْهُ إِحْدَاهُمَا تَمْشِي عَلَى اسْتِحْيَاءٍ قَالَتْ إِنَّ أَبِي يَدْعُوكَ لِيَجْزِيَكَ أَجْرَ مَا سَقَيْتَ لَنَا فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُ وَقَصَّ عَلَيْهِ الْقَصَصَ قَالَ لَا تَخَفْ نَجَوْتَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿٢٥﴾ قَالَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا يَا أَبَتِ اسْتَأْجِرْهُ إِنَّ خَيْرَ مَنِ اسْتَأْجَرْتَ الْقَوِيُّ الْأَمِينُ ﴿٢٦﴾ قَالَ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُنكِحَكَ إِحْدَى ابْنَتَيَّ هَاتَيْنِ عَلَىٰ أَن تَأْجُرَنِي ثَمَانِيَ حِجَجٍ فَإِنْ أَتْمَمْتَ عَشْرًا فَمِنْ عِندِكَ وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَيْكَ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّـهُ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ ﴿٢٧﴾ قَالَ ذَٰلِكَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ أَيَّمَا الْأَجَلَيْنِ قَضَيْتُ فَلَا عُدْوَانَ عَلَيَّ وَاللَّـهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَكِيلٌ ﴿٢٨﴾ (الْقَصَصُ ، 28: 22-28).

And when he directed himself toward Madyan, he said: "Perhaps my Lord will guide me to the right path." (22) And when he came to the water (well) of Madyan, he found there a crowd of people watering (their flocks), and he found aside from them two women driving back (their flocks). He said: "What is the matter with you?" They said: "We do not water until the shepherds dispatch (their flocks); and our father is an old man." (23) So, he watered (their flocks) for them; then he went back to the shade (of a tree) and said: "My Lord, I am in need for whatever good You would send down to me." (24) Then, one of the two (women) came to him walking with shyness. She said: "My father invites you, to reward you, for having watered for us." So, when he came to him and related to him the story, he said: "Fear not, you have escaped from the oppressive (wrongdoing) people." (25) One of the two (women) said: "O my father, hire him, as the best one you can hire is the strong and the trustworthy." (26) He said, "I wish to wed you one of these, my two daughters, on (the condition) that you serve me for eight years; but if you complete (them to) ten, it will be (as a favor) from you. And I do not wish to put you in difficulty. You will find me, if Allah wills, from among the righteous." (27) (Moosa) said: "That is (established, agreed upon) between me and you. Whichever of the two terms I complete, there should be no injustice to me, and Allah, over what we say, is Disposer of Affairs." (28) (Al-Qasas, 28: 22-28).

***

4. Speaking With Allah and Receiving his Mission Mandate

When Moosa (Moses), pbuh, completed the ten years of work for his father-in-law, he left with his family and their animals to visit his relatives in Egypt, secretly. During their travel in the Sinai desert, near Al-Tour Mountain, he saw a fire. He told his family members to stay where they were, while he would explore the fire, and bring information back about it, or a piece of it for them to use afterwards. As he reached the fire, which was in a tree, he heard Allah, praise to Him, speaking to him, saying: "I am Allah, the Lord of the Worlds." (Al-Qasas, 28: 29-30). [5]

Then Allah, praise be to Him, wanted to show Moosa proofs that he was in the presence of Allah, praise to Him. He told him to throw his stick (staff) on the ground, which when he did, it turned into a huge snake, shaking like a Jinn. Moosa was scared and ran away but Allah called him to come back, assuring him that he was safe. In another proof, Allah told him to put his hand in his pocket then to get it out. When he did, he saw the color of his hand turning white, without sickness or harm. These two proofs assured Moosa, pbuh, that he was in the presence of Allah, praise to Him.

Then, Allah gave Moosa his mission and mandate. He told him to go to the Pharaoh and ask him to let the oppressed Israelites leave Egypt. Moosa replied that he may be killed if they knew about him. As he was assured of God's protection, he asked that his brother Haroon (Aaron) be part of the mission, as support for him, particularly because he was more eloquent than himself. Allah, praise to Him, agreed and promised protection for both of them, as stated in Al-Qasas, 28: 29-35, Ta Ha, 20: 9-98, Al-Shu'ara, 26: 10-17, and Al-Naml, 27: 7-14.

فَلَمَّا قَضَىٰ مُوسَى الْأَجَلَ وَسَارَ بِأَهْلِهِ آنَسَ مِن جَانِبِ الطُّورِ نَارًا قَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ امْكُثُوا إِنِّي آنَسْتُ نَارًا لَّعَلِّي آتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِخَبَرٍ أَوْ جَذْوَةٍ مِّنَ النَّارِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَصْطَلُونَ ﴿٢٩﴾ فَلَمَّا أَتَاهَا نُودِيَ مِن شَاطِئِ الْوَادِ الْأَيْمَنِ فِي الْبُقْعَةِ الْمُبَارَكَةِ مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ أَن يَا مُوسَىٰ إِنِّي أَنَا اللَّـهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٣٠﴾ وَأَنْ أَلْقِ عَصَاكَ فَلَمَّا رَآهَا تَهْتَزُّ كَأَنَّهَا جَانٌّ وَلَّىٰ مُدْبِرًا وَلَمْ يُعَقِّبْ يَا مُوسَىٰ أَقْبِلْ وَلَا تَخَفْ إِنَّكَ مِنَ الْآمِنِينَ ﴿٣١﴾ اسْلُكْ يَدَكَ فِي جَيْبِكَ تَخْرُجْ بَيْضَاءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوءٍ وَاضْمُمْ إِلَيْكَ جَنَاحَكَ مِنَ الرَّهْبِ فَذَانِكَ بُرْهَانَانِ مِن رَّبِّكَ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمًا فَاسِقِينَ ﴿٣٢﴾ قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي قَتَلْتُ مِنْهُمْ نَفْسًا فَأَخَافُ أَن يَقْتُلُونِ ﴿٣٣﴾ وَأَخِي هَارُونُ هُوَ أَفْصَحُ مِنِّي لِسَانًا فَأَرْسِلْهُ مَعِيَ رِدْءًا يُصَدِّقُنِي إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَن يُكَذِّبُونِ ﴿٣٤﴾ قَالَ سَنَشُدُّ عَضُدَكَ بِأَخِيكَ وَنَجْعَلُ لَكُمَا سُلْطَانًا فَلَا يَصِلُونَ إِلَيْكُمَا بِآيَاتِنَا أَنتُمَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَكُمَا الْغَالِبُونَ ﴿٣٥﴾ (الْقَصَصُ ، 28: 29-35).

And when Moosa (Moses) had completed the term and was traveling with his family, he saw a fire from the direction of the (Toor) Mountain. He said to his family: "Stay here; I have seen a fire. Perhaps I will bring you from there (some) information or a burning wood from the fire that you may warm yourselves (with)." (29) But when he came to it, he was called from the right side of the valley, in the blessed spot, from the tree: "O Moosa, indeed, I am Allah, Lord of the Worlds." (30) And (he was told): "Throw down your staff." But when he saw it writhing as if it was a jinn, he turned away in flight and did not return. (Allah said): "O Moosa, approach and fear not. You are of the secure. (31) Insert your hand into the opening of your garment; it will come out white, without disease. And draw in your arm close to you (as prevention) from fear, for those are two proofs from your Lord to Pharaoh and his establishment (eminent people around him). Indeed, they have been a people (defiantly) disobedient." (32) He said: "My Lord, I killed from among them someone, and I fear they will kill me. (33) And my brother Haroon (Aaron) is more eloquent than me in tongue. So, send him with me as support, verifying me. I fear that they will deny me." (34) (Allah) said: "We will strengthen your arm, through your brother, and grant you both supremacy, so they will not reach you both. (It will be) through Our signs; you both and those who follow you will be the winners." (35) (Al-Qasas, 28: 29-35).

وَإِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبُّكَ مُوسَىٰ أَنِ ائْتِ الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿١٠﴾ قَوْمَ فِرْعَوْنَ أَلَا يَتَّقُونَ ﴿١١﴾ قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَن يُكَذِّبُونِ ﴿١٢﴾ وَيَضِيقُ صَدْرِي وَلَا يَنطَلِقُ لِسَانِي فَأَرْسِلْ إِلَىٰ هَارُونَ ﴿١٣﴾ وَلَهُمْ عَلَيَّ ذَنبٌ فَأَخَافُ أَن يَقْتُلُونِ ﴿١٤﴾ قَالَ كَلَّا فَاذْهَبَا بِآيَاتِنَا إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّسْتَمِعُونَ ﴿١٥﴾ فَأْتِيَا فِرْعَوْنَ فَقُولَا إِنَّا رَسُولُ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿١٦﴾ أَنْ أَرْسِلْ مَعَنَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ ﴿١٧﴾ (الشُّعَرَاءُ ، 26: 10-17).

And (mention) when your Lord called Moosa, (saying): "Go to the oppressive (wrongdoing) people - (10) The people of Pharaoh. Will they not fear (the punishment of) Allah?" (11) He said: "My Lord, I fear that they may deny me (12) And that my chest may tighten and my tongue may not be fluent. So, send for Aaron (to be with me). (13) And they have upon me a (claim due to) sin. So, I fear that they may kill me." (14) (Allah) said: "No (do not be afraid). Go both of you with Our signs. Indeed, We are with you, listening. (15) Go to Pharaoh and say: 'We are Messenger of the Lord of the Worlds.” (16) "Send with us the Children of Israel." (17) (Al-Shu'ara, 26: 10-17).

إِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِأَهْلِهِ إِنِّي آنَسْتُ نَارًا سَآتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِخَبَرٍ أَوْ آتِيكُم بِشِهَابٍ قَبَسٍ لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَصْطَلُونَ ﴿٧﴾ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهَا نُودِيَ أَن بُورِكَ مَن فِي النَّارِ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهَا وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّـهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٨﴾ يَا مُوسَىٰ إِنَّهُ أَنَا اللَّـهُ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ ﴿٩﴾ وَأَلْقِ عَصَاكَ فَلَمَّا رَآهَا تَهْتَزُّ كَأَنَّهَا جَانٌّ وَلَّىٰ مُدْبِرًا وَلَمْ يُعَقِّبْ ۚ يَا مُوسَىٰ لَا تَخَفْ إِنِّي لَا يَخَافُ لَدَيَّ الْمُرْسَلُونَ ﴿١٠﴾ إِلَّا مَن ظَلَمَ ثُمَّ بَدَّلَ حُسْنًا بَعْدَ سُوءٍ فَإِنِّي غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿١١﴾ وَأَدْخِلْ يَدَكَ فِي جَيْبِكَ تَخْرُجْ بَيْضَاءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوءٍ ۖ فِي تِسْعِ آيَاتٍ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَقَوْمِهِ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمًا فَاسِقِينَ ﴿١٢﴾ فَلَمَّا جَاءَتْهُمْ آيَاتُنَا مُبْصِرَةً قَالُوا هَـٰذَا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ ﴿١٣﴾ وَجَحَدُوا بِهَا وَاسْتَيْقَنَتْهَا أَنفُسُهُمْ ظُلْمًا وَعُلُوًّا فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُفْسِدِينَ ﴿١٤﴾ (النَّمْلُ ، 27: 7-14).

(Mention) when Moosa said to his family: "I have seen a fire. I will bring you from there (some) news, or will bring you a burning torch, that you may warm yourselves." (7) When he came to it, it was called: "Blessed is whoever is at the fire and whoever is around it. And exalted is Allah, Lord of the Worlds. (8) O Moosa, it is I, Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Wise." (9) And "Throw down your staff." But when he saw it writhing (shaking) as if it were a Jinn, he turned away in flight and did not return. (Allah said) "O Moosa, fear not. In My presence, the Messengers do not fear. (10) Except, he who wrongs, then substitutes good after evil, I am Forgiving and Merciful. (11) And put your hand into your pocket; it will come out white, without disease. (These are) among the nine signs (you will take) to Pharaoh and his people. Indeed, they were a people (defiantly) disobedient." (12) But when Our visible signs came to them, they said: "This is obvious magic." (13) And they rejected them, while their (inner) selves were convinced thereof, out of injustice and haughtiness. So, see how the end of the corrupters was. (14) (Al-Naml, 27: 7-14).

اذْهَبْ أَنتَ وَأَخُوكَ بِآيَاتِي وَلَا تَنِيَا فِي ذِكْرِي ﴿٤٢﴾ اذْهَبَا إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغَىٰ ﴿٤٣﴾ فَقُولَا لَهُ قَوْلًا لَّيِّنًا لَّعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَىٰ ﴿٤٤﴾ قَالَا رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا نَخَافُ أَن يَفْرُطَ عَلَيْنَا أَوْ أَن يَطْغَىٰ ﴿٤٥﴾ قَالَ لَا تَخَافَا إِنَّنِي مَعَكُمَا أَسْمَعُ وَأَرَىٰ ﴿٤٦﴾ فَأْتِيَاهُ فَقُولَا إِنَّا رَسُولَا رَبِّكَ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعَنَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَلَا تُعَذِّبْهُمْ قَدْ جِئْنَاكَ بِآيَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَىٰ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَىٰ ﴿٤٧﴾ إِنَّا قَدْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيْنَا أَنَّ الْعَذَابَ عَلَىٰ مَن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ ﴿٤٨﴾ (طَهَ ، 20: 42-48).

Go, you and your brother, with My signs and do not slacken in My remembrance. (42) Go, both of you, to Pharaoh. He has transgressed. (43) And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear (punishment of Allah)." (44) They said: "Our Lord, we are afraid that he may hasten (punishment) against us or that he may transgress." (45) (Allah) said: "Fear not. I am with you both; I hear and I see. (46) So, go to him and say: 'Indeed, we are Messengers of your Lord. Send with us the Children of Israel and do not torment them. We have come to you with a sign from your Lord. And peace be upon he who follows the (God’s) guidance. (47) It has been revealed to us that the torment will be upon whoever denies (God's message) and turns away (from it)" (48) (Ta-Ha, 20: 42-48).

***

5. Encounter With the Pharaoh and the Demand to Free the Children of Israel

Moosa and Haroon (Moses and Aaron) met with the Pharaoh and his close circle and demanded that the Children of Israel be let free to leave. The Pharaoh, his prime minister, Haman, and Qaroon (Karen), who was an Israelite but the wealthiest in Egypt, did not agree to Moosa's demand and accused him of being a liar and a magician. They even replied with the resumption of the killing of the sons of those who believed in Allah with Moosa. The Pharaoh announced his intention to Kill Moosa to see if his Lord, Allah, would protect him or not. However, there was one man, a relative of the Pharaoh, who was a believer hiding his faith, who stopped that from happening. He argued trying to dissuade the Pharaoh from killing Moosa, saying that he may be telling the truth as a Messenger of Allah. If he is killed or his demand is not met, then God's punishment would come, as was the case with the nations who defied Allah and His Messengers before, as narrated in verses 23-33 of Soorat Ghafir (Chapter 40) of the Holy Quran.

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مُوسَىٰ بِآيَاتِنَا وَسُلْطَانٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴿٢٣﴾ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَقَارُونَ فَقَالُوا سَاحِرٌ كَذَّابٌ ﴿٢٤﴾ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُم بِالْحَقِّ مِنْ عِندِنَا قَالُوا اقْتُلُوا أَبْنَاءَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ وَاسْتَحْيُوا نِسَاءَهُمْ وَمَا كَيْدُ الْكَافِرِينَ إِلَّا فِي ضَلَالٍ ﴿٢٥﴾ وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ ذَرُونِي أَقْتُلْ مُوسَىٰ وَلْيَدْعُ رَبَّهُ إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَن يُبَدِّلَ دِينَكُمْ أَوْ أَن يُظْهِرَ فِي الْأَرْضِ الْفَسَادَ ﴿٢٦﴾ وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ إِنِّي عُذْتُ بِرَبِّي وَرَبِّكُم مِّن كُلِّ مُتَكَبِّرٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُ بِيَوْمِ الْحِسَابِ ﴿٢٧﴾ وَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مُّؤْمِنٌ مِّنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَكْتُمُ إِيمَانَهُ أَتَقْتُلُونَ رَجُلًا أَن يَقُولَ رَبِّيَ اللَّـهُ وَقَدْ جَاءَكُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ وَإِن يَكُ كَاذِبًا فَعَلَيْهِ كَذِبُهُ وَإِن يَكُ صَادِقًا يُصِبْكُم بَعْضُ الَّذِي يَعِدُكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يَهْدِي مَنْ هُوَ مُسْرِفٌ كَذَّابٌ ﴿٢٨﴾ يَا قَوْمِ لَكُمُ الْمُلْكُ الْيَوْمَ ظَاهِرِينَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَمَن يَنصُرُنَا مِن بَأْسِ اللَّـهِ إِن جَاءَنَا قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ مَا أُرِيكُمْ إِلَّا مَا أَرَىٰ وَمَا أَهْدِيكُمْ إِلَّا سَبِيلَ الرَّشَادِ ﴿٢٩﴾ وَقَالَ الَّذِي آمَنَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُم مِّثْلَ يَوْمِ الْأَحْزَابِ ﴿٣٠﴾ مِثْلَ دَأْبِ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَعَادٍ وَثَمُودَ وَالَّذِينَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ وَمَا اللَّـهُ يُرِيدُ ظُلْمًا لِّلْعِبَادِ ﴿٣١﴾ وَيَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَوْمَ التَّنَادِ ﴿٣٢﴾ يَوْمَ تُوَلُّونَ مُدْبِرِينَ مَا لَكُم مِّنَ اللَّـهِ مِنْ عَاصِمٍ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللَّـهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ ﴿٣٣﴾ (غَافِرُ ، 40: 23-33).

And We did certainly send Moosa (Moses) with Our signs and a clear authority (23), to Pharaoh, Haman, and Qaroon; but they said: "(He is) a magician (and) a liar." (24) And when he brought them the truth from Us, they said: "Kill the sons of those who have believed with him and keep their women alive." But the plan of the disbelievers (ends in nothing but) in error. (25) And Pharaoh said: "Let me kill Moosa and let him call upon his Lord. Indeed, I fear that he will change your religion or that he will cause corruption in the land." (26) Moosa said (in reply): "I have sought refuge in my Lord and your Lord from every arrogant one who does not believe in the Day of Reckoning." (27) And a believing man from the family of Pharaoh who concealed his faith said: "Do you kill a man (merely) because he says: 'My Lord is Allah' while he has brought you clear proofs from your Lord? And if he is lying, then upon him is (the consequence of) his lie; but if he is truthful, there will strike you some of what he promises you. Indeed, Allah does not guide (the) one who is a transgressor, (and) a liar. (28) O my people, sovereignty is yours today, (your being) dominant in the land. But who would protect us from the punishment of Allah if it came to us?" Pharaoh said: "I do not show you except what I see, and I do not guide you except to the way of right conduct." (29) And he who believed said: "O my people, I fear for you (a fate) like the day of the (wrong-doing) parties - (30) Like what happened to the people of Noo'h, 'Aad, Thamood, and those after them. And Allah wants no injustice for (His) worshippers. (31) And O my people, I fear for you the Day of Calling - (32) The Day you will turn your backs fleeing; there is not for you from Allah any protector. And whoever Allah leaves astray, there is no guide for him (33) (Ghafir, 40: 23-33).

***

The Pharaoh reminded Moosa of the favors he showered him with as he brought him up in the palace. Then, he threatened to imprison him if he would persist in worshipping another god than him. Moosa replied by showing him and his audience the two proofs of God's support for him in his mission. He threw his stick (staff) on the ground, which turned into a huge snake. He also got his hand out of his pocket, which turned white. The Pharaoh replied that this was just magic and his advisers suggested for him to have a contest between Moosa and Egypt's magicians, to refute his claims about being a Messenger of Allah, as mentioned in verses 18-40 of Soorat Al-Shu'ara (Chapter 26) of the Holy Quran.

قَالَ أَلَمْ نُرَبِّكَ فِينَا وَلِيدًا وَلَبِثْتَ فِينَا مِنْ عُمُرِكَ سِنِينَ ﴿١٨﴾ وَفَعَلْتَ فَعْلَتَكَ الَّتِي فَعَلْتَ وَأَنتَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ ﴿١٩﴾ قَالَ فَعَلْتُهَا إِذًا وَأَنَا مِنَ الضَّالِّينَ ﴿٢٠﴾ فَفَرَرْتُ مِنكُمْ لَمَّا خِفْتُكُمْ فَوَهَبَ لِي رَبِّي حُكْمًا وَجَعَلَنِي مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ ﴿٢١﴾ وَتِلْكَ نِعْمَةٌ تَمُنُّهَا عَلَيَّ أَنْ عَبَّدتَّ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ ﴿٢٢﴾ قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ وَمَا رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٢٣﴾ قَالَ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۖ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ ﴿٢٤﴾ قَالَ لِمَنْ حَوْلَهُ أَلَا تَسْتَمِعُونَ ﴿٢٥﴾ قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ وَرَبُّ آبَائِكُمُ الْأَوَّلِينَ ﴿٢٦﴾ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَكُمُ الَّذِي أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ لَمَجْنُونٌ ﴿٢٧﴾ قَالَ رَبُّ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٢٨﴾ قَالَ لَئِنِ اتَّخَذْتَ إِلَـٰهًا غَيْرِي لَأَجْعَلَنَّكَ مِنَ الْمَسْجُونِينَ ﴿٢٩﴾ قَالَ أَوَلَوْ جِئْتُكَ بِشَيْءٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴿٣٠﴾ قَالَ فَأْتِ بِهِ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ ﴿٣١﴾ فَأَلْقَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ ثُعْبَانٌ مُّبِينٌ ﴿٣٢﴾ وَنَزَعَ يَدَهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ بَيْضَاءُ لِلنَّاظِرِينَ ﴿٣٣﴾ قَالَ لِلْمَلَإِ حَوْلَهُ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَسَاحِرٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٣٤﴾ يُرِيدُ أَن يُخْرِجَكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِكُم بِسِحْرِهِ فَمَاذَا تَأْمُرُونَ ﴿٣٥﴾ قَالُوا أَرْجِهْ وَأَخَاهُ وَابْعَثْ فِي الْمَدَائِنِ حَاشِرِينَ ﴿٣٦﴾ يَأْتُوكَ بِكُلِّ سَحَّارٍ عَلِيمٍ ﴿٣٧﴾ فَجُمِعَ السَّحَرَةُ لِمِيقَاتِ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُومٍ ﴿٣٨﴾ وَقِيلَ لِلنَّاسِ هَلْ أَنتُم مُّجْتَمِعُونَ ﴿٣٩﴾ لَعَلَّنَا نَتَّبِعُ السَّحَرَةَ إِن كَانُوا هُمُ الْغَالِبِينَ ﴿٤٠﴾ (الشُّعَرَاءُ ، 26: 18-40).

(Pharaoh) said, "Did we not raise you among us as a child, and you remained among us for years? (18) And you did your deed, which you did, and you were of the ungrateful." (19) (Moosa) said: "I did it, then, while I was of those astray. (20) So, I fled from you when I feared you. Then, my Lord granted me wisdom and made me (one) of the messengers. (21) And is this a favor of which you remind me, that you have enslaved the Children of Israel?" (22) Pharaoh said: "And what is the Lord of the Worlds?" (23) (Moosa) said: "(He is) the Lord of the heavens and the Earth and that between them, if you (want to be) certain." (24) (Pharaoh) said to those around him: "Do you not hear?" (25) (Moosa) said: "Your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers." (26) (Pharaoh) said: "Indeed, your 'messenger' who has been sent to you is mad." (27) (Moosa) said: "Lord of the east and the west and that between them, if you were to reason." (28) (Pharaoh) said: "If you take a god other than me, I will place you among those imprisoned." (29) (Moosa) said: "Even if I bring you a manifest proof (sigh)?" (30) (Pharaoh) said: "Then bring it on, if you are of the truthful." (31) So, (Moosa) threw his staff, and it (became) a manifest serpent. (32) And he drew out his hand (from his pocket), thereupon it was white for the observers. (33) (Pharaoh) said to the eminent ones around him: "This is a learned (skilled) magician. (34) He wants to drive you out of your land by his magic. So, what do you advise?" (35) They said: "Postpone (the matter with) him and his brother and send among the cities gatherers (36) Who will bring you every learned (skilled) magician." (37) So, the magicians were assembled for the appointment of a well-known day. (38) And it was said to the people: "Will you congregate (39) That we might follow the magicians, if they are the predominant?" (40) (Al-Shu'ara, 26: 18-39).

***

The Egyptian magicians threw their sticks and ropes on the ground, which turned into what looks like moving snakes. Moosa, then, threw his stick on the ground. It turned into a huge snake, which devoured all of their made-believe snakes. At that moment, the Egyptian magicians realized that Moosa was a real Messenger of God, not a magician, like them. Therefore, they made prostration to Allah, proclaiming their faith in Him. However, this sign from God was not enough for the Pharaoh to believe. He ordered the magicians to be tortured and crucified, accusing them of being followers of Moosa. This scene is described in several Sooras (Chapters) of the Holy Quran, such as in Ta Ha, 20: 49-76; Al-A'araf, 7: 113-126; Younus, 10: 79-89; and Al-Shu'ara, 26: 41-51.

فَلَمَّا جَاءَ السَّحَرَةُ قَالُوا لِفِرْعَوْنَ أَئِنَّ لَنَا لَأَجْرًا إِن كُنَّا نَحْنُ الْغَالِبِينَ ﴿٤١﴾ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَإِنَّكُمْ إِذًا لَّمِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ ﴿٤٢﴾ قَالَ لَهُم مُّوسَىٰ أَلْقُوا مَا أَنتُم مُّلْقُونَ ﴿٤٣﴾ فَأَلْقَوْا حِبَالَهُمْ وَعِصِيَّهُمْ وَقَالُوا بِعِزَّةِ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الْغَالِبُونَ ﴿٤٤﴾ فَأَلْقَىٰ مُوسَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَلْقَفُ مَا يَأْفِكُونَ ﴿٤٥﴾ فَأُلْقِيَ السَّحَرَةُ سَاجِدِينَ ﴿٤٦﴾ قَالُوا آمَنَّا بِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٤٧﴾ رَبِّ مُوسَىٰ وَهَارُونَ ﴿٤٨﴾ قَالَ آمَنتُمْ لَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ آذَنَ لَكُمْ إِنَّهُ لَكَبِيرُكُمُ الَّذِي عَلَّمَكُمُ السِّحْرَ فَلَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ لَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُم مِّنْ خِلَافٍ وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿٤٩﴾ قَالُوا لَا ضَيْرَ إِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا مُنقَلِبُونَ ﴿٥٠﴾ إِنَّا نَطْمَعُ أَن يَغْفِرَ لَنَا رَبُّنَا خَطَايَانَا أَن كُنَّا أَوَّلَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٥١﴾ (الشُّعَرَاءُ ، 26: 40-51).

And when the magicians arrived, they said to Pharaoh: "Is there for us a reward if we are the predominant?" (41) He said: "Yes, and you will then be of those near (to me)." (42) Moosa said to them: "Throw whatever you will throw." (43) So, they threw their ropes and their staffs and said: "By the might of Pharaoh, it is we who are predominant." (44) Then, Moosa threw his staff, and it devoured what they falsified (tried to deceive with). (45) So, the magicians fell down in prostration (to Allah). (46) They said: "We have believed in the Lord of the Worlds, (47) The Lord of Moosa and Haroon." (48) (Pharaoh) said: "You believed (Moosa) before I gave you permission. He is your leader, who has taught magic, but you are going to know. I will cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will crucify you all." (49) They said, "No harm. To our Lord we will return. (50) We aspire that our Lord will forgive us our sins because we were the first of the believers." (51) (Al-Shu'ara, 26: 40-51).

***

6. Pharaoh's Refusal to Believe and God's Nine Signs to Convince him

Despite the fact that Moosa (Moses), pbuh, won the contest against the Egyptian magicians, the Pharaoh and his inner circle still persisted in their arrogance. The Pharaoh continued demanding that people worship him as their only god (Al-Qasas, 28: 38). The above-mentioned two miracles (the staff and the color change of his hand), intended as proofs or signs (26: 32-33) were not enough for him to believe that Moosa was really a Messenger of Allah, as mentioned in Soorat Younus (10: 75-78), Soorat Al-A'araf (7: 127-129), and Soorat Al-Zukhruf (43: 46-56).

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مُوسَىٰ بِآيَاتِنَا إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِ فَقَالَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٤٦﴾ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُم بِآيَاتِنَا إِذَا هُم مِّنْهَا يَضْحَكُونَ ﴿٤٧﴾ وَمَا نُرِيهِم مِّنْ آيَةٍ إِلَّا هِيَ أَكْبَرُ مِنْ أُخْتِهَا وَأَخَذْنَاهُم بِالْعَذَابِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ ﴿٤٨﴾ وَقَالُوا يَا أَيُّهَ السَّاحِرُ ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ بِمَا عَهِدَ عِندَكَ إِنَّنَا لَمُهْتَدُونَ ﴿٤٩﴾ فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمُ الْعَذَابَ إِذَا هُمْ يَنكُثُونَ ﴿٥٠﴾ وَنَادَىٰ فِرْعَوْنُ فِي قَوْمِهِ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ أَلَيْسَ لِي مُلْكُ مِصْرَ وَهَـٰذِهِ الْأَنْهَارُ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِي أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ ﴿٥١﴾ أَمْ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِّنْ هَـٰذَا الَّذِي هُوَ مَهِينٌ وَلَا يَكَادُ يُبِينُ ﴿٥٢﴾ فَلَوْلَا أُلْقِيَ عَلَيْهِ أَسْوِرَةٌ مِّن ذَهَبٍ أَوْ جَاءَ مَعَهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ مُقْتَرِنِينَ ﴿٥٣﴾ فَاسْتَخَفَّ قَوْمَهُ فَأَطَاعُوهُ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمًا فَاسِقِينَ ‎﴿٥٤﴾‏ فَلَمَّا آسَفُونَا انتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ فَأَغْرَقْنَاهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ‎﴿٥٥﴾‏ فَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ سَلَفًا وَمَثَلًا لِّلْآخِرِينَ ‎﴿٥٦﴾‏ (الزُّخْرُفُ ، 43: 46-56).

And certainly, did We send Moosa with Our signs to Pharaoh and his establishment (elite inner circle), and he said: "Indeed, I am the Messenger of the Lord of the Worlds." (46) But when he brought them Our signs, they laughed at them. (47) And We showed them not a sign except that it was greater than its sister, and We seized them with affliction that perhaps they might return (to faith). (48) And they said (to Moosa): "O magician, invoke for us your Lord by what He has promised you. Indeed, we will be guided (to Him)." (49) But when We removed from them the affliction, they broke their word. (50) And Pharaoh called out among his people. H said: "O my people, does not the kingdom of Egypt belong to me; and these rivers flowing beneath me; then do you not see? (51) Or am I (not) better than this one who is insignificant and hardly makes himself clear? (52) Then, why have there not been bracelets of gold placed upon him or the angels come with him in conjunction?" (53) So, he (Pharaoh) bluffed his people, and they obeyed him. Indeed, they were a defiantly disobedient people. (54) And when they angered Us, We took retribution from them and drowned them all. (55) And We made them a precedent and an example for the later (peoples). (56) (Al-Zukhruf, 43: 46-56).

***

Because the Pharaoh asked for more proofs, Allah, praise to Him, supported Moosa with seven more signs, which did affect the Pharaoh this time. These were years of famine, shortage in fruits, the flood, locusts, lice, frogs, and blood, as mentioned in verses 101-102 of Soorat Al-Isra (Chapter 17) and verses 130-133 of Soorat Al-A'araf (Chapter 7) of the Holy Quran.

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَىٰ تِسْعَ آيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ فَاسْأَلْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِذْ جَاءَهُمْ فَقَالَ لَهُ فِرْعَوْنُ إِنِّي لَأَظُنُّكَ يَا مُوسَىٰ مَسْحُورًا ﴿١٠١﴾ قَالَ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا أَنزَلَ هَـٰؤُلَاءِ إِلَّا رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ بَصَائِرَ وَإِنِّي لَأَظُنُّكَ يَا فِرْعَوْنُ مَثْبُورًا ﴿١٠٢﴾ (الإسْرَاءُ ، 17: 101-102).

And We had given Moosa nine evident signs (miracles). So, ask the Children of Israel (about) when he came to them and Pharaoh said to him: "I think, O Moosa, that you are affected by magic." (101) (Moosa) said: "You have already known that none has sent down these (signs) except the Lord of the heavens and the Earth as evidence, and I think, O Pharaoh, that you are (going to be) destroyed" (102) (Al-Isra, 17: 101-102).

وَلَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ بِالسِّنِينَ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ ﴿١٣٠﴾ فَإِذَا جَاءَتْهُمُ الْحَسَنَةُ قَالُوا لَنَا هَـٰذِهِ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَطَّيَّرُوا بِمُوسَىٰ وَمَن مَّعَهُ أَلَا إِنَّمَا طَائِرُهُمْ عِندَ اللَّـهِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿١٣١﴾ وَقَالُوا مَهْمَا تَأْتِنَا بِهِ مِنْ آيَةٍ لِّتَسْحَرَنَا بِهَا فَمَا نَحْنُ لَكَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١٣٢﴾ فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ الطُّوفَانَ وَالْجَرَادَ وَالْقُمَّلَ وَالضَّفَادِعَ وَالدَّمَ آيَاتٍ مُّفَصَّلَاتٍ فَاسْتَكْبَرُوا وَكَانُوا قَوْمًا مُّجْرِمِينَ ﴿١٣٣﴾ وَلَمَّا وَقَعَ عَلَيْهِمُ الرِّجْزُ قَالُوا يَا مُوسَى ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ بِمَا عَهِدَ عِندَكَ لَئِن كَشَفْتَ عَنَّا الرِّجْزَ لَنُؤْمِنَنَّ لَكَ وَلَنُرْسِلَنَّ مَعَكَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ ﴿١٣٤﴾ فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمُ الرِّجْزَ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ هُم بَالِغُوهُ إِذَا هُمْ يَنكُثُونَ ﴿١٣٥﴾ (الأعْرَافُ ، 7: 130-135).

And We certainly seized the people of Pharaoh with years )of famine( and a deficiency in fruits that perhaps they would be reminded. (130) But when good came to them, they said: "This is ours (by right)." And if a bad (condition) struck them, they saw an evil omen in Moosa and those with him. Unquestionably, their fortune (or misfortune is by permission) from Allah, but most of them do not know. (131) And they said: "No matter what sign you bring us with which to bewitch us, we will not be believers in you." (132) So, We sent upon them the flood, locusts, lice, frogs, and blood, as distinct signs, but they were arrogant and were a criminal people (133) (Al-A'araf, 7: 130-133).

***

The Pharaoh and his inner circle pleaded with Moosa to ask Allah to stop the punishment He inflected on them and they promised to end the suffering of the Children of Israel, by letting them go with him. However, they broke their promise after Allah, praise to Him, had stopped punishing them, as mentioned in verses 134-135 of Soorat Al-A'araf (Chapter 7), of the Holy Quran.

وَلَمَّا وَقَعَ عَلَيْهِمُ الرِّجْزُ قَالُوا يَا مُوسَى ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ بِمَا عَهِدَ عِندَكَ لَئِن كَشَفْتَ عَنَّا الرِّجْزَ لَنُؤْمِنَنَّ لَكَ وَلَنُرْسِلَنَّ مَعَكَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ ﴿١٣٤﴾ فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمُ الرِّجْزَ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ هُم بَالِغُوهُ إِذَا هُمْ يَنكُثُونَ ﴿١٣٥﴾ (الأعْرَافُ ، 7: 134-135).

And when the punishment descended upon them, they said: "O Moosa, invoke for us your Lord, by what He has promised you. If you stop the punishment (inflicted) on us, we will believe you, and we will send with you the Children of Israel." (134) But when We stopped the punishment (inflicted) on them, until a term which they were to reach, then they broke their word (135) (Al-A'araf, 7: 134-135).

***

7. The Exodus, the Miracle of Splitting the Sea, Death of the Pharaoh and Preserving his Body, Glad Tiding to the Oppressed that they Inherit the Land

As the Pharaoh broke his promise to let the Children of Israel go, Allah, praise to Him, inspired Moosa (Moses) to lead them out of Egypt. The Pharaoh still followed them with his soldiers and they were close to them near the sea. At that point, Allah, praise to Him, inspired Moosa to hit the sea with his stick (staff). When he did, the sea was split into two great mountains of water. The Israelites passed safely to the other shore but the Pharaoh still followed them with his soldiers. Then, the sea path was closed and the Pharaoh and his soldiers drowned. At that moment, the Pharaoh said that he believed in Allah, the God of the Children of Israel. But Allah answered him that his body will be rescued from the sea, in order to be a sign to the people after him. [6]

Thus, Allah, praise to Him, is telling us the story of the Pharaoh and the Children of Israel, so we know that He may punish the tyrants and may enable His oppressed worshippers to become the heirs who inherit the land, as stated in verses 77-79 of Soorat Ta-Ha (Chapter 20), verses 90-92 of Soorat Younus (Chapter 10), verses 61-66 of Soorat Al-Shu'ara (Chapter 26), and verses 136-137 of Soorat Al-A'araf (Chapter 7), of the Holy Quran.

وَلَقَدْ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ أَنْ أَسْرِ بِعِبَادِي فَاضْرِبْ لَهُمْ طَرِيقًا فِي الْبَحْرِ يَبَسًا لَّا تَخَافُ دَرَكًا وَلَا تَخْشَىٰ ﴿٧٧﴾ فَأَتْبَعَهُمْ فِرْعَوْنُ بِجُنُودِهِ فَغَشِيَهُم مِّنَ الْيَمِّ مَا غَشِيَهُمْ ﴿٧٨﴾ وَأَضَلَّ فِرْعَوْنُ قَوْمَهُ وَمَا هَدَىٰ ﴿٧٩﴾ (طَهَ ، 19: 77-79).

And We had inspired to Moosa: "Travel by night with My worshippers and strike for them a dry path through the sea, you will not fear being overtaken (by Pharaoh), nor be afraid (of drowning)." (77) So, Pharaoh pursued them with his soldiers, and there, (they were) covered from the sea that which covered them, (78) And Pharaoh led his people astray and did not guide (them to the right path). (79) (Ta-Ha, 20: 77-79).

وَجَاوَزْنَا بِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ الْبَحْرَ فَأَتْبَعَهُمْ فِرْعَوْنُ وَجُنُودُهُ بَغْيًا وَعَدْوًا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَدْرَكَهُ الْغَرَقُ قَالَ آمَنتُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا الَّذِي آمَنَتْ بِهِ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ﴿٩٠﴾ آلْآنَ وَقَدْ عَصَيْتَ قَبْلُ وَكُنتَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ ﴿٩١﴾ فَالْيَوْمَ نُنَجِّيكَ بِبَدَنِكَ لِتَكُونَ لِمَنْ خَلْفَكَ آيَةً وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ عَنْ آيَاتِنَا لَغَافِلُونَ ﴿٩٢﴾ (يُونُسُ ، 10: 90-92).

And We took the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued them in tyranny and enmity, until when drowning overtook him, he said: "I believe that there is no deity except that in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of the Muslims." (90) (Allah said): Now? And you had disobeyed (Me) before and you were of the corrupters? (91) So, today, We will save you in body, that you may be a sign to those who succeed you. And many among the people are heedless of signs (92) (Younus, 10: 75-92).

فَلَمَّا تَرَاءَى الْجَمْعَانِ قَالَ أَصْحَابُ مُوسَىٰ إِنَّا لَمُدْرَكُونَ ﴿٦١﴾ قَالَ كَلَّا إِنَّ مَعِيَ رَبِّي سَيَهْدِينِ ﴿٦٢﴾ فَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ أَنِ اضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ الْبَحْرَ فَانفَلَقَ فَكَانَ كُلُّ فِرْقٍ كَالطَّوْدِ الْعَظِيمِ ﴿٦٣﴾ وَأَزْلَفْنَا ثَمَّ الْآخَرِينَ ﴿٦٤﴾ وَأَنجَيْنَا مُوسَىٰ وَمَن مَّعَهُ أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿٦٥﴾ ثُمَّ أَغْرَقْنَا الْآخَرِينَ ﴿٦٦﴾ (الشُّعَرَاءُ ، 26: 61-66).

And when the two companies saw each other, the companions of Moosa said: "We are to be overtaken!" (61) (Moosa) said: "No! With me is my Lord; He will guide me." (62) Then, We inspired to Moosa: "Strike the sea with your staff," and it parted, and each portion was like a great towering mountain. (63) And We advanced thereto the pursuers. (64) And We saved Moosa and those with him, all together. (65) Then, We drowned the others. (66) (Al-Shu'ara, 26: 61-66).

فَانتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ فَأَغْرَقْنَاهُمْ فِي الْيَمِّ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَكَانُوا عَنْهَا غَافِلِينَ ﴿١٣٦﴾ وَأَوْرَثْنَا الْقَوْمَ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا يُسْتَضْعَفُونَ مَشَارِقَ الْأَرْضِ وَمَغَارِبَهَا الَّتِي بَارَكْنَا فِيهَا وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ الْحُسْنَىٰ عَلَىٰ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ بِمَا صَبَرُوا وَدَمَّرْنَا مَا كَانَ يَصْنَعُ فِرْعَوْنُ وَقَوْمُهُ وَمَا كَانُوا يَعْرِشُونَ ﴿١٣٧﴾ (الأعْرَافُ ، 7: 136-137).

So, We took retribution from them, and We drowned them in the sea because they denied Our signs and were heedless of them. (136) And We caused the people who had been weakened (oppressed) to inherit the eastern regions of the land and the western ones, which We had blessed. And the good word of your Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel because of what they had patiently endured. And We destroyed that which Pharaoh and his people were making and what they had been building (137) (Al-A'araf, 7: 136-137).

***

8. Inability to Enter the Holy Land from the Coastal Region and Getting Lost in Sinai for Forty Years

As the Children of Israel were safe after the death of the Pharaoh, they were instructed by Moosa (Moses) to enter the Holy Land. However, they refused to obey him because they were afraid of the mighty people who were living there. They told him that they would not enter it until these mighty people leave it. Furthermore, they asked him to go together with his Lord to fight them, and that they would stay in the Sinai Peninsula, waiting for that to happen. Allah, praise to Him, replied that they would be prohibited from entering it for forty years, wandering therein aimlessly, as a punishment for their disobedience, as mentioned in verses 20-26 of Soorat Al-Ma-ida (Chapter 5) of the Holy Quran.

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ يَا قَوْمِ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّـهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَعَلَ فِيكُمْ أَنبِيَاءَ وَجَعَلَكُم مُّلُوكًا وَآتَاكُم مَّا لَمْ يُؤْتِ أَحَدًا مِّنَ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٢٠﴾ يَا قَوْمِ ادْخُلُوا الْأَرْضَ الْمُقَدَّسَةَ الَّتِي كَتَبَ اللَّـهُ لَكُمْ وَلَا تَرْتَدُّوا عَلَىٰ أَدْبَارِكُمْ فَتَنقَلِبُوا خَاسِرِينَ ﴿٢١﴾ قَالُوا يَا مُوسَىٰ إِنَّ فِيهَا قَوْمًا جَبَّارِينَ وَإِنَّا لَن نَّدْخُلَهَا حَتَّىٰ يَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا فَإِن يَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا فَإِنَّا دَاخِلُونَ ﴿٢٢﴾ قَالَ رَجُلَانِ مِنَ الَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّـهُ عَلَيْهِمَا ادْخُلُوا عَلَيْهِمُ الْبَابَ فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُمُوهُ فَإِنَّكُمْ غَالِبُونَ وَعَلَى اللَّـهِ فَتَوَكَّلُوا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٢٣﴾ قَالُوا يَا مُوسَىٰ إِنَّا لَن نَّدْخُلَهَا أَبَدًا مَّا دَامُوا فِيهَا فَاذْهَبْ أَنتَ وَرَبُّكَ فَقَاتِلَا إِنَّا هَاهُنَا قَاعِدُونَ ﴿٢٤﴾ قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي لَا أَمْلِكُ إِلَّا نَفْسِي وَأَخِي فَافْرُقْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ الْقَوْمِ الْفَاسِقِينَ ﴿٢٥﴾ قَالَ فَإِنَّهَا مُحَرَّمَةٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً يَتِيهُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَلَا تَأْسَ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْفَاسِقِينَ ﴿٢٦﴾ (الْمَائِدَةُ ، 5: 20-26).

And (mention, O Mu’hammed), when Moosa said to his people: "O my people, remember the favor of Allah upon you, when He appointed among you prophets, and made you possessors (of property), and gave you that which He had not given anyone among the worlds. (20)

O my people, enter the Holy Land, which Allah has assigned to you, and do not turn back (from fighting in God's cause) and (thus) become losers." (21)

They said, "O Moosa, within it, there is a mighty (strong) people, and we will never enter it until they leave it. So, if they leave it, then we will enter." (22)

Two men from those who feared (to disobey God), upon whom Allah had bestowed favors, said: "Enter upon them through the gate, for when you have entered it, you will be predominant. And rely upon Allah, if you are believers." (23)

They said: "O Moosa, we will not enter it, ever, as long as they are in it. So, go, you and your Lord, and fight (them). We are sitting right here." (24)

(Moosa) said: "My Lord, I do not possess (anything else) except myself and my brother. So, part us from the (defiantly) disobedient people." (25)

(Allah) said: "Then, it is forbidden to them for forty years, (during which) they will get lost (wander aimlessly) throughout the land. So, (O Moosa) do not grieve over the (defiantly) disobedient people." (26) (Al-Ma-ida, 5: 20-26).

***

9. God's Favors to the Israelites in the Sinai Desert, Water, Cloud Shade, Manna and Quails, Sabbath Transgressors, and the Yellow Cow

Allah, praise to Him, reminded the children of Israel of His favors to them, which were met with their disobedience, more demands, and transgression! He reminded them that He rescued them from the Pharaoh's humiliation and punishment, saved them by splitting the sea for them and drowning the Pharaoh, providing them with water, shading them with clouds in the hot desert, providing them with manna and quails, and granting them a Covenant with Him. However, they demanded to have the same vegetables they used to eat in Egypt. Further, some of them transgressed on the Sabbath while they were prohibited to do so, as mentioned in verse 160 of Soorat Al-A'araf (Chapter 7) and verses 47-66 of Soorat Al-Baqara (Chapter 2), of the Holy Quran.

يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتِيَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَنِّي فَضَّلْتُكُمْ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٤٧﴾ وَاتَّقُوا يَوْمًا لَّا تَجْزِي نَفْسٌ عَن نَّفْسٍ شَيْئًا وَلَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهَا شَفَاعَةٌ وَلَا يُؤْخَذُ مِنْهَا عَدْلٌ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ ﴿٤٨﴾ وَإِذْ نَجَّيْنَاكُم مِّنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوءَ الْعَذَابِ يُذَبِّحُونَ أَبْنَاءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَاءَكُمْ وَفِي ذَٰلِكُم بَلَاءٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ ﴿٤٩﴾ وَإِذْ فَرَقْنَا بِكُمُ الْبَحْرَ فَأَنجَيْنَاكُمْ وَأَغْرَقْنَا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ ﴿٥٠﴾ (الْبَقَرَةُ ، 2 : 47-50).

O Children of Israel, remember My favor that I have bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the worlds. (47) And fear a Day when no soul will suffice for another soul at all, nor will intercession be accepted from it, nor will compensation be taken from it, nor will they be aided. (48) And (recall) when We saved you from the people of Pharaoh, who afflicted you with the worst torment, slaughtering your (newborn) sons and keeping your females alive. And in that was a great trial from your Lord. (49) And (recall) when We parted the sea for you, and saved you and drowned the people of Pharaoh, while you were looking on. (50) (Al-Baqara, 2: 47-50).

وَقَطَّعْنَاهُمُ اثْنَتَيْ عَشْرَةَ أَسْبَاطًا أُمَمًا وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ إِذِ اسْتَسْقَاهُ قَوْمُهُ أَنِ اضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ الْحَجَرَ فَانبَجَسَتْ مِنْهُ اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ عَيْنًا قَدْ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٍ مَّشْرَبَهُمْ وَظَلَّلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ الْغَمَامَ وَأَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَنَّ وَالسَّلْوَىٰ كُلُوا مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ وَمَا ظَلَمُونَا وَلَـٰكِن كَانُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُون (الأعْرَافُ ، 7: 160).

And We divided them into twelve descendant tribes, (as distinct) nations. And We inspired to Moosa when his people implored him for water, "Strike with your staff the stone," and there gushed forth from it twelve springs. Each people (tribe) knew its watering place. And We shaded them with clouds and sent down upon them manna and quails, (saying to them): "Eat from the good things with which We have provided you." And they wronged Us not, but they were (only) wronging themselves. (160) (Al-A'araf, 7: 160).

وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَا مُوسَىٰ لَن نَّصْبِرَ عَلَىٰ طَعَامٍ وَاحِدٍ فَادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُخْرِجْ لَنَا مِمَّا تُنبِتُ الْأَرْضُ مِن بَقْلِهَا وَقِثَّائِهَا وَفُومِهَا وَعَدَسِهَا وَبَصَلِهَا قَالَ أَتَسْتَبْدِلُونَ الَّذِي هُوَ أَدْنَىٰ بِالَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ اهْبِطُوا مِصْرًا فَإِنَّ لَكُم مَّا سَأَلْتُمْ وَضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الذِّلَّةُ وَالْمَسْكَنَةُ وَبَاءُوا بِغَضَبٍ مِّنَ اللَّـهِ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يَكْفُرُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّـهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ النَّبِيِّينَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا وَّكَانُوا يَعْتَدُونَ (الْبَقَرَةُ ، 2 : 61).

And (recall) when you said: "O Moosa, we can never endure one (kind of) food. So, call upon your Lord to bring forth for us from the earth its green herbs, its cucumbers, its garlic, its lentils, and its onions." (Moosa) said: "Would you exchange what is better for what is less? Go down (back) to (the lower land of) Egypt and you will have what you have asked (for)." And they were covered with humiliation and poverty and returned with anger from Allah (upon them). That was because they (repeatedly) disbelieved in the signs of Allah and killed the prophets, without a right. That was because they disobeyed and were (habitually) transgressing. (61) (Al-Baqara, 2: 61).

وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ الطُّورَ خُذُوا مَا آتَيْنَاكُم بِقُوَّةٍ وَاذْكُرُوا مَا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿٦٣﴾ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيْتُم مِّن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ فَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّـهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ لَكُنتُم مِّنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ ﴿٦٤﴾ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ الَّذِينَ اعْتَدَوْا مِنكُمْ فِي السَّبْتِ فَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُوا قِرَدَةً خَاسِئِينَ ﴿٦٥﴾ فَجَعَلْنَاهَا نَكَالًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا وَمَا خَلْفَهَا وَمَوْعِظَةً لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٦٦﴾ (الْبَقَرَةُ ، 2 : 63-66).

And (recall) when We took your covenant, and We raised the Toor (mountain) over you, (saying): "Take what We have given you with determination, and remember what is in it, that you may become righteous." (63) Then you turned away after that. And if not for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy, you would have been among the losers. (64) And you had already known about those who transgressed among you concerning the Sabbath, and We said to them: "Be despised monkeys." (65) And We made it a deterrent punishment for those who were present and those who succeeded (them), and a lesson for those who fear (the punishment of) Allah. (66) (Al-Baqara, 2: 63-66).

***

In another favor, Allah, praise to Him, guided them to identify the perpetrator in a murder case, which they could not solve. He inspired Moosa, pbuh, to tell them to slaughter a cow and invite everybody to eat from its meat, then to hit the dead body with part of its meat or bone. When they did, the dead man spoke and told them about the name of the murderer. However, they gave Moosa a difficult time by asking him many questions about which cow was the one God wanted them to slaughter. If they were obedient, they could have slaughtered any cow but by asking too many questions about it, they just made the job harder on themselves, than it was supposed to be (Al-Baqara, 2: 67-74).

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تَذْبَحُوا بَقَرَةً قَالُوا أَتَتَّخِذُنَا هُزُوًا قَالَ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّـهِ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ ﴿٦٧﴾ قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِيَ قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَّا فَارِضٌ وَلَا بِكْرٌ عَوَانٌ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ فَافْعَلُوا مَا تُؤْمَرُونَ ﴿٦٨﴾ قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا لَوْنُهَا قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ صَفْرَاءُ فَاقِعٌ لَّوْنُهَا تَسُرُّ النَّاظِرِينَ ﴿٦٩﴾ قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِيَ إِنَّ الْبَقَرَ تَشَابَهَ عَلَيْنَا وَإِنَّا إِن شَاءَ اللَّـهُ لَمُهْتَدُونَ ﴿٧٠﴾ قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَّا ذَلُولٌ تُثِيرُ الْأَرْضَ وَلَا تَسْقِي الْحَرْثَ مُسَلَّمَةٌ لَّا شِيَةَ فِيهَا قَالُوا الْآنَ جِئْتَ بِالْحَقِّ فَذَبَحُوهَا وَمَا كَادُوا يَفْعَلُونَ ﴿٧١﴾ وَإِذْ قَتَلْتُمْ نَفْسًا فَادَّارَأْتُمْ فِيهَا وَاللَّـهُ مُخْرِجٌ مَّا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ ﴿٧٢﴾ فَقُلْنَا اضْرِبُوهُ بِبَعْضِهَا كَذَٰلِكَ يُحْيِي اللَّـهُ الْمَوْتَىٰ وَيُرِيكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٧٣﴾ ثُمَّ قَسَتْ قُلُوبُكُم مِّن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ فَهِيَ كَالْحِجَارَةِ أَوْ أَشَدُّ قَسْوَةً وَإِنَّ مِنَ الْحِجَارَةِ لَمَا يَتَفَجَّرُ مِنْهُ الْأَنْهَارُ وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَشَّقَّقُ فَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ الْمَاءُ وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَهْبِطُ مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّـهِ وَمَا اللَّـهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٧٤﴾ (الْبَقَرَةُ ، 2 : 67-74).

And (mention) when Moosa said to his people: "Allah commands you to slaughter a cow." They said, "Do you take us in ridicule?" He said: "I seek refuge in Allah from being among the ignorant." (67) They said: "Call upon your Lord to make clear to us what it is." (Moosa) said: "(Allah) says, 'It is a cow which is neither old nor virgin, but median between that.” So, do what you are commanded." (68) They said: "Call upon your Lord, to show us what is her color." He said, "He says: 'It is a yellow cow, bright in its color, pleasing to the observers.' " (69) They said: "Call upon your Lord to make clear to us what it is. (All) cows look alike to us. And if Allah wills, we will be guided (to it)." (70) He said: "He says, 'It is a cow neither trained to plow the earth nor to irrigate the field, one free from fault with no spot upon her.' " They said: "Now you have come with the truth." So, they slaughtered her, but they could hardly do it. (71) And (recall) when you killed a man and disputed over it, but Allah was to bring out that which you were concealing. (72) So, We said: "Strike him (the slain man) with part of it." Thus, does Allah bring the dead to life, and He shows you His signs that you might reason. (73) Then, your hearts became hardened after that, being like stones or even harder. For indeed, there are stones from which rivers burst forth, and there are some of them that split open and water comes out, and there are some of them that fall down for fear of Allah. And Allah is not unaware of what you do. (74) (Al-Baqara, 2: 67-74).

***

10. The Tablets and the Calf Worship Ordeal

In Sinai, the Israelites saw people who were worshipping statues, they asked Moosa (Moses), pbuh, to make an idol god for them to worship. Moosa was shocked by their request, after all of the miracles they had seen. He reminded them of the favors God bestowed on them, and yet they wanted to worship a statue, instead of Him.

Then, Allah, praise to Him, called Moosa to teach him for forty nights. Before leaving, Moosa appointed his brother, Haroon, pbuh, to lead the Israelites righteously, during his absence, and admonished him not to follow the way of the corrupters among them.

When he was there, in the sacred place, Allah praise to Him, spoke to Moosa, through a barrier (the fire), which encouraged him to ask his Lord to see Him physically. Allah told him that he cannot see Him. He said that He would show Himself to the mountain and that if the mountain stays intact, then Moosa can see Him. But the mountain crumbled down in destruction and Moosa fell unconscious, as mentioned in verses 138-143 of Soorat Al-A'araf (Chapter 7), of the Holy Quran.

وَجَاوَزْنَا بِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ الْبَحْرَ فَأَتَوْا عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ يَعْكُفُونَ عَلَىٰ أَصْنَامٍ لَّهُمْ قَالُوا يَا مُوسَى اجْعَل لَّنَا إِلَـٰهًا كَمَا لَهُمْ آلِهَةٌ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُونَ ﴿١٣٨﴾ إِنَّ هَـٰؤُلَاءِ مُتَبَّرٌ مَّا هُمْ فِيهِ وَبَاطِلٌ مَّا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٣٩﴾ قَالَ أَغَيْرَ اللَّـهِ أَبْغِيكُمْ إِلَـٰهًا وَهُوَ فَضَّلَكُمْ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿١٤٠﴾ وَإِذْ أَنجَيْنَاكُم مِّنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوءَ الْعَذَابِ يُقَتِّلُونَ أَبْنَاءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَاءَكُمْ وَفِي ذَٰلِكُم بَلَاءٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ ﴿١٤١﴾ وَوَاعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰ ثَلَاثِينَ لَيْلَةً وَأَتْمَمْنَاهَا بِعَشْرٍ فَتَمَّ مِيقَاتُ رَبِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِأَخِيهِ هَارُونَ اخْلُفْنِي فِي قَوْمِي وَأَصْلِحْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ ﴿١٤٢﴾ وَلَمَّا جَاءَ مُوسَىٰ لِمِيقَاتِنَا وَكَلَّمَهُ رَبُّهُ قَالَ رَبِّ أَرِنِي أَنظُرْ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ لَن تَرَانِي وَلَـٰكِنِ انظُرْ إِلَى الْجَبَلِ فَإِنِ اسْتَقَرَّ مَكَانَهُ فَسَوْفَ تَرَانِي فَلَمَّا تَجَلَّىٰ رَبُّهُ لِلْجَبَلِ جَعَلَهُ دَكًّا وَخَرَّ مُوسَىٰ صَعِقًا فَلَمَّا أَفَاقَ قَالَ سُبْحَانَكَ تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١٤٣﴾ (الأعْرَافُ ، 7: 138-143).

And We took the Children of Israel across the sea; then they came upon a people intent in devotion to (some) idols of theirs. (The Israelites) said: "O Moosa, make for us a god just as they have gods." He said: "Indeed, you are a people behaving ignorantly. (138) Those (idol worshippers), it is destroyed that in which they are (engaged), and whatever they were doing is worthless." (139) He said: "Is it other than Allah I should desire for you as a god, while He has preferred you over the worlds?" (140) And (recall, O Children of Israel), when We saved you from the people of Pharaoh, (who were) afflicting you with the worst torment, killing your sons and keeping your women alive. And in that was a great trial from your Lord. (141) And We made an appointment with Moosa for thirty nights and perfected them by (the addition of) ten, so the term of his Lord was completed as forty nights. And Moosa said to his brother Haroon: "Take my place among my people, do right (by them), and do not follow the way of the corrupters." (142) And when Moosa arrived at Our appointed time, and his Lord spoke to him, he said: "My Lord, show me (Yourself) that I may look at You." (Allah) said: "You will not see Me, but look at the mountain, if it should remain in its place, then you will see Me." But when his Lord appeared to the mountain, He rendered it level, and Moosa fell unconscious. And when he awoke, he said: "Exalted are You! I have repented to You, and I am the first of the believers" (143) (Al-A'araf, 7: 138-143).

***

Allah, praise to Him, still assured Moosa, pbuh, that He favored him by speaking to him and by giving him written tablets, which included preaching and guidance for his people. But when Moosa returned with the Tablets, only after being absent for forty nights, he was shocked that the Israelites were worshipping a calf made of gold. Then, Moosa told them to repent to their Creator, and kill themselves, as punishment for what they did. However, Allah, praise to Him, accepted their repentance and forgave them, as mentioned in verses 144-156 of Soorat Al-A'araf (Chapter 7), verses 51-57 of Soorat Al-Baqara (Chapter 2), and verses 83-98 of Soorat Ta-Ha (Chapter 20), of the Holy Quran.

قَالَ يَا مُوسَىٰ إِنِّي اصْطَفَيْتُكَ عَلَى النَّاسِ بِرِسَالَاتِي وَبِكَلَامِي فَخُذْ مَا آتَيْتُكَ وَكُن مِّنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ ﴿١٤٤﴾ وَكَتَبْنَا لَهُ فِي الْأَلْوَاحِ مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مَّوْعِظَةً وَتَفْصِيلًا لِّكُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَخُذْهَا بِقُوَّةٍ وَأْمُرْ قَوْمَكَ يَأْخُذُوا بِأَحْسَنِهَا سَأُرِيكُمْ دَارَ الْفَاسِقِينَ ﴿١٤٥﴾ سَأَصْرِفُ عَنْ آيَاتِيَ الَّذِينَ يَتَكَبَّرُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَإِن يَرَوْا كُلَّ آيَةٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُوا بِهَا وَإِن يَرَوْا سَبِيلَ الرُّشْدِ لَا يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلًا وَإِن يَرَوْا سَبِيلَ الْغَيِّ يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلًا ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَكَانُوا عَنْهَا غَافِلِينَ ﴿١٤٦﴾ وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَلِقَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ هَلْ يُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٤٧﴾ وَاتَّخَذَ قَوْمُ مُوسَىٰ مِن بَعْدِهِ مِنْ حُلِيِّهِمْ عِجْلًا جَسَدًا لَّهُ خُوَارٌ أَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّهُ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمْ وَلَا يَهْدِيهِمْ سَبِيلًا اتَّخَذُوهُ وَكَانُوا ظَالِمِينَ ﴿١٤٨﴾ وَلَمَّا سُقِطَ فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ وَرَأَوْا أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ ضَلُّوا قَالُوا لَئِن لَّمْ يَرْحَمْنَا رَبُّنَا وَيَغْفِرْ لَنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ ﴿١٤٩﴾ (الأعْرَافُ ، 7: 144-149).

(Allah) said, "O Moosa, I have chosen you over the people with My messages and My words (by speaking to you). So, take what I have given you and be among the grateful." (144) And We wrote for him on the tablets preaching and details for all things. So, "Take them with determination and order your people to take the best of it. I will show you the home of the (defiantly) disobedient." (145) I will turn away from My signs those who are arrogant upon the Earth without right; and if they should see every sign, they will not believe in it. And if they see the right path, they will not adopt it as a way; but if they see the wrong path, they will adopt it as a way. That is because they have denied Our signs and they were heedless of them. (146) Those who denied Our signs and the meeting of the Hereafter, their deeds will be worthless. Are they going to be recompensed except for what they used to do? (147) And the people of Moosa made, after (his departure), from their ornaments a calf, a body having a lowing sound. Did they not see that it could neither speak to them nor guide them to a way? They took it (for worship), and they were self-oppressors (wrongdoers). (148) And when regret overcame them and they saw that they had gone astray, they said: "If our Lord does not have mercy upon us and forgive us, we will surely be among the losers" (149) (Al-A'araf, 7: 144-149).

وَإِذْ وَاعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً ثُمَّ اتَّخَذْتُمُ الْعِجْلَ مِن بَعْدِهِ وَأَنتُمْ ظَالِمُونَ ﴿٥١﴾ ثُمَّ عَفَوْنَا عَنكُم مِّن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٥٢﴾ وَإِذْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَالْفُرْقَانَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ ﴿٥٣﴾ وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ يَا قَوْمِ إِنَّكُمْ ظَلَمْتُمْ أَنفُسَكُم بِاتِّخَاذِكُمُ الْعِجْلَ فَتُوبُوا إِلَىٰ بَارِئِكُمْ فَاقْتُلُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ عِندَ بَارِئِكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ ﴿٥٤﴾ وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَا مُوسَىٰ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّىٰ نَرَى اللَّـهَ جَهْرَةً فَأَخَذَتْكُمُ الصَّاعِقَةُ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ ﴿٥٥﴾ ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَاكُم مِّن بَعْدِ مَوْتِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٥٦﴾ وَظَلَّلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ الْغَمَامَ وَأَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَنَّ وَالسَّلْوَىٰ كُلُوا مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ وَمَا ظَلَمُونَا وَلَـٰكِن كَانُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ ﴿٥٧﴾ (الْبَقَرَةُ ، 2 : 51-57).

And We made an appointment with Moosa for forty nights. Then, you took the calf (for worship) after him, while you were self-oppressors (wrongdoers). (51) Then, We forgave you after that so perhaps you would be grateful. (52) And We gave Moosa the Scripture and criterion (to differentiate right from wrong) that perhaps you would be guided. (53) And Moosa said to his people: "O my people, you have oppressed (wronged) yourselves by your taking of the calf (for worship). So, repent to your Creator and kill yourselves. That is better for you in the sight of your Creator." Then, He accepted your repentance. Indeed, He is the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful. (54) And you (Children of Israel) said: "O Moosa, we will never believe you until we see Allah outright." So, the thunderbolt took (killed) you, while you were looking on. (55) Then, We resurrected you after your death that perhaps you would be grateful. (56) And We shaded you with clouds and sent down to you manna and quails, (saying): "Eat from the good things with which We have provided you." And they did not wrong Us. Rather, they were (only) wronging themselves. (57) (Al-Baqara, 2: 51-57).

وَلَمَّا رَجَعَ مُوسَىٰ إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ غَضْبَانَ أَسِفًا قَالَ بِئْسَمَا خَلَفْتُمُونِي مِن بَعْدِي أَعَجِلْتُمْ أَمْرَ رَبِّكُمْ وَأَلْقَى الْأَلْوَاحَ وَأَخَذَ بِرَأْسِ أَخِيهِ يَجُرُّهُ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ ابْنَ أُمَّ إِنَّ الْقَوْمَ اسْتَضْعَفُونِي وَكَادُوا يَقْتُلُونَنِي فَلَا تُشْمِتْ بِيَ الْأَعْدَاءَ وَلَا تَجْعَلْنِي مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿١٥٠﴾ قَالَ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِأَخِي وَأَدْخِلْنَا فِي رَحْمَتِكَ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ ﴿١٥١﴾ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا الْعِجْلَ سَيَنَالُهُمْ غَضَبٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَذِلَّةٌ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُفْتَرِينَ ﴿١٥٢﴾ وَالَّذِينَ عَمِلُوا السَّيِّئَاتِ ثُمَّ تَابُوا مِن بَعْدِهَا وَآمَنُوا إِنَّ رَبَّكَ مِن بَعْدِهَا لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿١٥٣﴾ وَلَمَّا سَكَتَ عَن مُّوسَى الْغَضَبُ أَخَذَ الْأَلْوَاحَ وَفِي نُسْخَتِهَا هُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِرَبِّهِمْ يَرْهَبُونَ ﴿١٥٤﴾ وَاخْتَارَ مُوسَىٰ قَوْمَهُ سَبْعِينَ رَجُلًا لِّمِيقَاتِنَا فَلَمَّا أَخَذَتْهُمُ الرَّجْفَةُ قَالَ رَبِّ لَوْ شِئْتَ أَهْلَكْتَهُم مِّن قَبْلُ وَإِيَّايَ أَتُهْلِكُنَا بِمَا فَعَلَ السُّفَهَاءُ مِنَّا إِنْ هِيَ إِلَّا فِتْنَتُكَ تُضِلُّ بِهَا مَن تَشَاءُ وَتَهْدِي مَن تَشَاءُ أَنتَ وَلِيُّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْغَافِرِينَ ﴿١٥٥﴾ وَاكْتُبْ لَنَا فِي هَـٰذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ إِنَّا هُدْنَا إِلَيْكَ قَالَ عَذَابِي أُصِيبُ بِهِ مَنْ أَشَاءُ وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَسَأَكْتُبُهَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَالَّذِينَ هُم بِآيَاتِنَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١٥٦﴾ (الأعْرَافُ ، 7: 150-156).

And when Moosa returned to his people, angry and grieved, he said: "How wretched is that by which you have replaced me after (my departure). Were you impatient over the matter of your Lord?" And he threw down the tablets and seized his brother by (the hair of) his head, pulling him toward him. (Haroon) said: "O son of my mother, the people oppressed me and were about to kill me. So, do not let the enemies rejoice over me and do not place me among the wrongdoing people." (150) (Moosa) said: "My Lord, forgive me and my brother and admit us into Your mercy, for You are the Most Merciful of the merciful." (151) Indeed, those who took the (golden) calf (for worship) will obtain anger from their Lord and humiliation in the lower life (of this world), and thus do We recompense the perpetrators (of falsehood). (152) But those who committed misdeeds then repented after them and believed, your Lord, thereafter, is Forgiving (and) Merciful. (153) And when the anger subsided in Moosa, he took up the tablets; and in their inscription was guidance and mercy for those who are fearful of their Lord. (154) And Moosa chose from his people seventy men for Our appointment. And when the earthquake seized them, he said: "My Lord, if You had willed, You could have destroyed them and me before. Would You destroy us for what the foolish among us have done? This is not but Your trial by which You send astray whom You will and guide whom You will. You are our Patron (Protector). So, forgive us and have mercy upon us; and You are the Best of Forgivers. (155) And decree for us in this world (that which is) good and (also) in the Hereafter. We have turned back to You." (Allah) said: "My punishment, I inflict it on whom I will, but My mercy encompasses everything." So, I will decree it for those who are righteous and give zakat, and those who believe in Our verses (156) (Al-A'araf, 7: 150-156).

وَمَا أَعْجَلَكَ عَن قَوْمِكَ يَا مُوسَىٰ ﴿٨٣﴾ قَالَ هُمْ أُولَاءِ عَلَىٰ أَثَرِي وَعَجِلْتُ إِلَيْكَ رَبِّ لِتَرْضَىٰ ﴿٨٤﴾ قَالَ فَإِنَّا قَدْ فَتَنَّا قَوْمَكَ مِن بَعْدِكَ وَأَضَلَّهُمُ السَّامِرِيُّ ﴿٨٥﴾ فَرَجَعَ مُوسَىٰ إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ غَضْبَانَ أَسِفًا قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ أَلَمْ يَعِدْكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ وَعْدًا حَسَنًا أَفَطَالَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْعَهْدُ أَمْ أَرَدتُّمْ أَن يَحِلَّ عَلَيْكُمْ غَضَبٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ فَأَخْلَفْتُم مَّوْعِدِي ﴿٨٦﴾ قَالُوا مَا أَخْلَفْنَا مَوْعِدَكَ بِمَلْكِنَا وَلَـٰكِنَّا حُمِّلْنَا أَوْزَارًا مِّن زِينَةِ الْقَوْمِ فَقَذَفْنَاهَا فَكَذَٰلِكَ أَلْقَى السَّامِرِيُّ ﴿٨٧﴾ فَأَخْرَجَ لَهُمْ عِجْلًا جَسَدًا لَّهُ خُوَارٌ فَقَالُوا هَـٰذَا إِلَـٰهُكُمْ وَإِلَـٰهُ مُوسَىٰ فَنَسِيَ ﴿٨٨﴾ أَفَلَا يَرَوْنَ أَلَّا يَرْجِعُ إِلَيْهِمْ قَوْلًا وَلَا يَمْلِكُ لَهُمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا ﴿٨٩﴾ وَلَقَدْ قَالَ لَهُمْ هَارُونُ مِن قَبْلُ يَا قَوْمِ إِنَّمَا فُتِنتُم بِهِ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ الرَّحْمَـٰنُ فَاتَّبِعُونِي وَأَطِيعُوا أَمْرِي ﴿٩٠﴾ قَالُوا لَن نَّبْرَحَ عَلَيْهِ عَاكِفِينَ حَتَّىٰ يَرْجِعَ إِلَيْنَا مُوسَىٰ ﴿٩١﴾ قَالَ يَا هَارُونُ مَا مَنَعَكَ إِذْ رَأَيْتَهُمْ ضَلُّوا ﴿٩٢﴾ أَلَّا تَتَّبِعَنِ أَفَعَصَيْتَ أَمْرِي ﴿٩٣﴾ قَالَ يَا ابْنَ أُمَّ لَا تَأْخُذْ بِلِحْيَتِي وَلَا بِرَأْسِي إِنِّي خَشِيتُ أَن تَقُولَ فَرَّقْتَ بَيْنَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَلَمْ تَرْقُبْ قَوْلِي ﴿٩٤﴾ قَالَ فَمَا خَطْبُكَ يَا سَامِرِيُّ ﴿٩٥﴾ قَالَ بَصُرْتُ بِمَا لَمْ يَبْصُرُوا بِهِ فَقَبَضْتُ قَبْضَةً مِّنْ أَثَرِ الرَّسُولِ فَنَبَذْتُهَا وَكَذَٰلِكَ سَوَّلَتْ لِي نَفْسِي ﴿٩٦﴾ قَالَ فَاذْهَبْ فَإِنَّ لَكَ فِي الْحَيَاةِ أَن تَقُولَ لَا مِسَاسَ وَإِنَّ لَكَ مَوْعِدًا لَّن تُخْلَفَهُ وَانظُرْ إِلَىٰ إِلَـٰهِكَ الَّذِي ظَلْتَ عَلَيْهِ عَاكِفًا لَّنُحَرِّقَنَّهُ ثُمَّ لَنَنسِفَنَّهُ فِي الْيَمِّ نَسْفًا ﴿٩٧﴾ إِنَّمَا إِلَـٰهُكُمُ اللَّـهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَسِعَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا ﴿٩٨﴾ (طَهَ ، 20: 83-98).

(Allah) said: "And what made you hasten from your people, O Moosa?" (83) He said: "They are close upon my tracks, and I hastened to You, my Lord, that You be pleased." (84) (Allah) said: "But We have tried your people after you (had departed), and the Samiri has led them astray." (85) So, Moosa returned to his people, angry and grieved. He said: "O my people, did your Lord not make you a good promise? Was the time (of its fulfillment) too long for you? Or did you wish that wrath from your Lord descend upon you? So, you broke your promise (of obedience) to me?" (86) They said: "We did not break our promise to you by our will, but we were made to carry burdens from the ornaments of the (Egyptian) people. So, we threw them (into the fire) and thus did the Samiri throw." (87) And he extracted for them (the statue of) a calf, which had a lowing sound, and they said: "This is your god and the god of Moosa, but he forgot." (88) Did they not see that it could not return to them any speech and that it did not possess any harm or benefit, for them? (89) And Haroon (Aaron) had already told them before (the return of Moosa): "O my people, you are only being tested by it, and indeed, your Lord is the Most Merciful, So, follow me and obey my order." (90) They said: "We will never cease being devoted to (the calf) until Moosa returns to us." (91) (Moosa) said: "O Haroon, what prevented you, when you saw them going astray, (92) From following me? Then have you disobeyed my order?" (93) (Haroon) said: "O son of my mother, do not seize (me) by my beard or by my head. Indeed, I feared that you would say, 'You caused division among the Children of Israel, and you did not observe my word.' " (94) (Moosa) said: "And what is your case, O Samiri?" (95) He said: "I saw what they did not see. So, I took a handful (of dust) from the track of the messenger and threw it, and thus did my soul entice me." (96) (Moosa) said: "Then go. And indeed, it is (decreed) for you in (this) life to say: 'No contact.' And indeed, you have an appointment (in the Hereafter), you will not fail to keep. And look at your 'god' to which you remained devoted. We will surely burn it and blow it into the sea with a blast. (97) Your god is only Allah, except for whom there is no deity. He has encompassed everything in knowledge." (98) (Ta-Ha, 20: 80-98).

***

11. Moosa's Crash Course of Learning from Al-Khadhir

Allah, praise to Him, wanted to teach Moosa (Moses), pbuh, a humility lesson. Despite the fact that he was His Messenger, there were other worshippers of Allah on the Earth, who were more knowledgeable than him. One of these was Al-Khadhir (The Green One), peace be to him, whose name was not mentioned in the Holy Quran verses but it was given to us in a 'Hadeeth by the Messenger of Allah, Mu’hammed, pbbuh, as follows:

عَن ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ ، رضي الله عنهما ، أنَّ أُبَيَّ بنَ كَعْبٍ ، رَضِيَ اللهُ عنهُ ، قال: سَمِعتُ رَسولَ اللهِ ، صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّم ، يقولُ: "بَيْنَمَا مُوسَى فِي مَلَإٍ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ ، جَاءَهُ رَجُلٌ ، فَقَالَ: هَلْ تَعْلَمُ أَحَدًا أَعْلَمَ مِنْكَ؟ قَالَ مُوسَى: لَا. فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ ، عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ، إِلَى مُوسَى: بَلَى ، عَبْدُنَا خَضِرٌ. فَسَأَلَ مُوسَى السَّبِيلَ إِلَيْهِ. فَجَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ الْحُوتَ آيَةً ، وَقِيلَ لَهُ إِذَا فَقَدْتَ الْحُوتَ ، فَارْجِعْ فَإِنَّكَ سَتَلْقَاهُ."

Companion Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him (mAbpwh), and his father, said that Ubay Bin Ka’b, mAbpwh, heard the Messenger of Allah, pbbuh, saying: "While Moosa was with a group of people from the Children of Israel, a man came to him and said: 'Do you know if there is anybody who is more knowledgeable than you?' Moosa said: 'No.' Then, Allah, praise to Him, inspired to Moosa: 'Yes, Our worshipper Khadhir (is more knowledgeable than you). So, Moosa asked about the way to him. Allah made the fish as a sign, saying to him: 'If you lose your fish, go back and you will find him (there)." [7]

So, when Moosa met with Al-Khadhir, the latter told him up front that he may not be able to accompany him for long, to learn from him, because he may not be patient towards Al-Khadhir’s actions. However, he agreed to allow Moosa to accompany him on condition that he should be patient. He should not comment on or ask about Al-Khadhir’s actions until he would explain them to him. Nevertheless, Moosa, pbuh, could not stay patient and asked him three times to explain his actions, which was a violation of the agreement, leading Al-Khadhir to part with him.

The three actions were making a hole in a ship to drown it on the shore before sailing, killing a young boy without an apparent reason, and building a fence for free in an inhospitable village. At that moment, Al-Khadhir told him that he could not accompany him anymore but explained to him the reasons for doing the three actions. The morale of the story is that we may get sad or upset about things which may happen to us or around us because we do not know if there's any good thing coming out of them. This story, including the explanations, is related in verses 60-82 of Soorat Al-Kahf (Chapter 18) of the Holy Quran, as follows:

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَاهُ لَا أَبْرَحُ حَتَّىٰ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِيَ حُقُبًا ﴿٦٠﴾ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَا مَجْمَعَ بَيْنِهِمَا نَسِيَا حُوتَهُمَا فَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ سَرَبًا ﴿٦١﴾ فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَا قَالَ لِفَتَاهُ آتِنَا غَدَاءَنَا لَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِن سَفَرِنَا هَـٰذَا نَصَبًا ﴿٦٢﴾ قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَا إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّي نَسِيتُ الْحُوتَ وَمَا أَنسَانِيهُ إِلَّا الشَّيْطَانُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُ وَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا ﴿٦٣﴾ قَالَ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبْغِ فَارْتَدَّا عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمَا قَصَصًا ﴿٦٤﴾ فَوَجَدَا عَبْدًا مِّنْ عِبَادِنَا آتَيْنَاهُ رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِنَا وَعَلَّمْنَاهُ مِن لَّدُنَّا عِلْمًا ﴿٦٥﴾ قَالَ لَهُ مُوسَىٰ هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَىٰ أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًا ﴿٦٦﴾ قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْرًا ﴿٦٧﴾ وَكَيْفَ تَصْبِرُ عَلَىٰ مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ خُبْرًا ﴿٦٨﴾ قَالَ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّـهُ صَابِرًا وَلَا أَعْصِي لَكَ أَمْرًا ﴿٦٩﴾ قَالَ فَإِنِ اتَّبَعْتَنِي فَلَا تَسْأَلْنِي عَن شَيْءٍ حَتَّىٰ أُحْدِثَ لَكَ مِنْهُ ذِكْرًا ﴿٧٠﴾ (الْكَهْفُ ، 18: 60-70).

And (mention) when Moosa said to his servant: "I will not cease (traveling) until I reach the junction of the two seas, or (I will) continue for a long period." (60) But when they reached the junction between them, they forgot their fish, (which) took its course into the sea, slipping away. (61) So, when they had passed beyond it, (Moosa) said to his servant: "Bring us our meal. We have certainly suffered in this, our journey, (much) fatigue." (62) (His servant) said: "Did you see when we retired to the rock? I forgot the fish (there). And none made me forget it except the Shaytan (Satan), that I should remember it. And it took its course into the sea amazingly". (63) (Moosa) said: "That is what we were seeking for." So, they returned, following their footprints. (64) And they found a worshipper from among Our worshippers, to whom we had given mercy from us, and had taught him from Us a (certain) knowledge. (65) Moosa said to him: "May I follow you on (the condition) that you teach me from what you have been taught of sound judgment?" (66) (Al-Khadhir) said: "You will never be able to have patience with me. (67) And how can you have patience for what you do not encompass in knowledge?" (68) (Moosa) said: "If Allah wills, you will find me patient, and I will not disobey you in (any) order." (69) (Al-Khadhir) said: "Then if you follow me, do not ask me about anything, until I mention (an explanation) about it to you." (70) (Al-Kahf, 18: 60-70).

فَانطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا رَكِبَا فِي السَّفِينَةِ خَرَقَهَا قَالَ أَخَرَقْتَهَا لِتُغْرِقَ أَهْلَهَا لَقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْئًا إِمْرًا ﴿٧١﴾ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْرًا ﴿٧٢﴾ قَالَ لَا تُؤَاخِذْنِي بِمَا نَسِيتُ وَلَا تُرْهِقْنِي مِنْ أَمْرِي عُسْرًا ﴿٧٣﴾ فَانطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا لَقِيَا غُلَامًا فَقَتَلَهُ قَالَ أَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا زَكِيَّةً بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ لَّقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْئًا نُّكْرًا ﴿٧٤﴾ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْرًا ﴿٧٥﴾ قَالَ إِن سَأَلْتُكَ عَن شَيْءٍ بَعْدَهَا فَلَا تُصَاحِبْنِي قَدْ بَلَغْتَ مِن لَّدُنِّي عُذْرًا ﴿٧٦﴾ فَانطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَتَيَا أَهْلَ قَرْيَةٍ اسْتَطْعَمَا أَهْلَهَا فَأَبَوْا أَن يُضَيِّفُوهُمَا فَوَجَدَا فِيهَا جِدَارًا يُرِيدُ أَن يَنقَضَّ فَأَقَامَهُ قَالَ لَوْ شِئْتَ لَاتَّخَذْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا ﴿٧٧﴾ قَالَ هَـٰذَا فِرَاقُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنِكَ سَأُنَبِّئُكَ بِتَأْوِيلِ مَا لَمْ تَسْتَطِع عَّلَيْهِ صَبْرًا ﴿٧٨﴾ (الْكَهْفُ ، 18: 71-78).

So, they set out, until they had embarked on the ship, (Al-Khadhir) tore it open (made a hole in it). (Moosa) said: "Have you torn it open to drown its people? You have certainly done a grave thing." (71) (Al- Khadhir) said: "Did I not say that you would never be able to have patience with me?" (72) (Moosa) said: "Do not blame me (pardon me) for what I forgot and do not add more difficulty to my matter." (73) So, they set out, until they met a boy, (Al-Khadhir) killed him. (Moosa) said: "Have you killed a pure soul for other than (having killed) a soul? You have certainly done a deplorable thing." (74) (Al-Khadhir) said, "Did I not tell you that you would never be able to have patience with me?" (75) (Moosa) said: "If I ask you about anything after this, then do not keep me as a companion. You have (then) obtained an excuse from me." (76) So, they set out, until they came to the people of a village, they asked its people for food, but they refused to offer them hospitality. And they found therein a wall about to collapse. So, (Al-Khadhir) restored it. (Moosa) said: "If you wished, you could have taken a payment for it." (77) (Al-Khadhir) said: "This is a separation (parting) between me and you. I will inform you of the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience. (78) (Al-Kahf, 18: 71-78).

أَ

مَّا السَّفِينَةُ فَكَانَتْ لِمَسَاكِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ فِي الْبَحْرِ فَأَرَدتُّ أَنْ أَعِيبَهَا وَكَانَ وَرَاءَهُم مَّلِكٌ يَأْخُذُ كُلَّ سَفِينَةٍ غَصْبًا ﴿٧٩﴾ وَأَمَّا الْغُلَامُ فَكَانَ أَبَوَاهُ مُؤْمِنَيْنِ فَخَشِينَا أَن يُرْهِقَهُمَا طُغْيَانًا وَكُفْرًا ﴿٨٠﴾ فَأَرَدْنَا أَن يُبْدِلَهُمَا رَبُّهُمَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهُ زَكَاةً وَأَقْرَبَ رُحْمًا ﴿٨١﴾ وَأَمَّا الْجِدَارُ فَكَانَ لِغُلَامَيْنِ يَتِيمَيْنِ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ وَكَانَ تَحْتَهُ كَنزٌ لَّهُمَا وَكَانَ أَبُوهُمَا صَالِحًا فَأَرَادَ رَبُّكَ أَن يَبْلُغَا أَشُدَّهُمَا وَيَسْتَخْرِجَا كَنزَهُمَا رَحْمَةً مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَمَا فَعَلْتُهُ عَنْ أَمْرِي ذَٰلِكَ تَأْوِيلُ مَا لَمْ تَسْطِع عَّلَيْهِ صَبْرًا ﴿٨٢﴾ (الْكَهْفُ ، 18: 79-82).

As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working at the sea. So, I intended to cause defect in it, as there was after them a king, who seized every ship by force. (79) And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared that he would overburden them by (his) transgression and disbelief. (80) So, we intended that their Lord would substitute for them one better than him, in purity and nearer (to them in) mercy. (81) And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure for them, and their father had been righteous. So, your Lord wanted (that) they reach maturity and extract their treasure, as a mercy from your Lord, and I did not do it of my own accord. That is the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience." (82) (Al-Kahf, 18: 79-82).

***

Conclusion

Moosa (Moses), pbuh, is one of the five major Islamic Messengers of Allah “with Determination” (Ulul ‘Azm): Noo'h (Noah), Ibraheem (Abraham), 'Eisa (Jesus), and Mu’hammed, peace be upon them all. His story of leading the Israelites out of Egypt, where they were persecuted, is intended to be a lesson to humanity that Allah, praise to Him, helps the oppressed and punishes the tyrants. The story also shows that despite the countless favors Allah, praise to Him, showered the Israelites with, they were still ungrateful, disobedient, and even turned to the worship of the golden calf.

The Holy Quran focuses on the lessons to be learned, that is why the various stories about Moosa and the Israelites were not mentioned in one chapter or in a chronological order. This author has attempted to present the verses which tell the stories in some kind of a sequence or chronological order, for the sole purpose of education about Moosa and the Israelites, from an Islamic perspective.

Thus, the story of Moosa started from his birth, to his adoption and education in the Pharaoh's palace, then his running away from Egypt, settling down in Madyan, speaking with Allah and receiving his mission mandate, his encounter with the Pharaoh and demanding him to free the Children of Israel, the Pharaoh's refusal and God's signs to convince him, the Exodus and the miracle of splitting the sea, death of the Pharaoh by drowning and preserving his body as a lesson to humanity, the inability of the Israelites to enter the Holy Land from the coastal Palestinian region, wandering in Sinai for forty years, the Tablets and the calf ordeal, and finally Moosa's crash course of learning from Al-Khadhir.

***

Notes of Elaboration and Documentation

[1] See Endnote Number 31, in the Section about Noo’h (Noah), in this Chapter, which provides texts of the mentioned verses, about the “Messengers with Determination.

[2] The Holy Quran teaches humanity through the life, experiences, and missions of the Messengers of Allah, particularly the five Messengers with Determination (Ulul 'Azm). Noo’h (Noah) was mentioned by name 43 times in the Holy Quran, Ibrahim (Abraham) was mentioned by name 69 times, Moosa (Moses) was mentioned by name 136 times, 'Eisa (Jesus) was mentioned by name 25 times, and Mu’hammed was mentioned by name 4 times as Mu’hammed and once as A’hmed, peace and blessings of Allah be upon them all.

These statistics are provided by the search functions in the websites which carry the Holy Quran in Arabic, such as www.tanzil.net.

Before the internet age, Muslim scholars counted the words of the Holy Quarn, including the names of the Messengers of Allah. One such great works was the Holy Quran Index in Arabic by Muhammed Fu-ad Abdul Baqi. Cairo: Dar Al-Fikr. 1406 (1986). The Arabic Title of the index is: “Al-Mu’jam Al-Mufahras Li Alfadth Al-Qur-an Al-Kareem.”

[3] There is no agreement among historians about the Pharaoh who drowned while pursuing the Children of Israel, when they left Egypt. One reason for that disagreement is that the ancient Egyptian records did not mention that event. Another reason is that both of the Holy Quran and the Old Testament did not mention his name. This opened the door for several opinions about who he was and about the time of the Israelite exodus from Egypt.

The Encyclopedia Britannica mentioned that the Pharaoh who refused to let the Israelites leave Egypt with Moosa (Moses) was Ramesses II (1299-1212 BC). However, the Exodus took place under the reign of his son, Mernepta’h (1212-1202 BC).

This opinion is supported by Joshua Mark, who rejects the opinion that Ramesses II was the drowned Pharaoh. It is also supported by Maurice Bucaille, who said that Ramesses II was the Pharaoh who used to mistreat the Israelites, but he died when Moosa (Moses), pbuh, was in Madyan. This means that his son, Mernepta’h was the Pharaoh who followed them and drowned in the Gulf of Suez, while chasing them in it.

Egyptologists discovered Mernepta’h’s mummy in the Valley of the Kings, in Thebes, in 1898, together with mummies of other Egyptian Pharaohs. In 1975, Maurice Bucaille participated with a group of medical doctors in the examination of Mernepta’h’s mummy. They found that he died by drowning. This discovery, in addition to other scientific facts in the Holy Quran led Bucaille to accept Islam, as he expressed that in his books, articles, and interviews.

The Encyclopedia Britanica opinion, that the Exodus Pharaoh was Mernepta’h (1212-1202 BC), can be found at the following link:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/biblical-literature/Non-European-versions#ref597585

The book, which Maurices Bucaille wrote about the examination of the mummies of the Egyptian Pharaohs, titled: “Mummies of the Pharaohs: Modern Medical Investigations, “ can be found at the following link:

https://www.amazon.com/Mummies-Pharaohs-Modern-Medical-Investigations/dp/031205131X

Maurice Bucaille’s second book, titled: “The Bible, The Quran and Science,” was translated from French by Alastair D. Pannell and the Author (Bucaille). It can be found at the following link:

https://archive.org/stream/TheBibletheQuranScienceByDr.mauriceBucaille/TheBibletheQuranScienceByDr.mauriceBucaille_djvu.txt

The 1250-1200 BC opinion about entry of the Israelites to Palestine is mentioned at:

https://www.ancient.eu/canaan/

In the 13th Century BC, during which the Israelite Exodus took place, Egypt was ruled by six Pharaohs. These were Ramesses I (1295-1294), Siti I (1294-1279), Ramesses II 1279-1212), Mernepta’h (1212-1202), Amin Misa (1202-1200), and Siti II (1200-1194).

See also the encyclopedic articles about the ancient history of Egypt, by Joshua Mark, in which he rejected the opinion that Ramesses II was the drowned Pharaoh, at the following link:

Joshua J. Mark is a co-founder, editor, and a director of Ancient History Encyclopedia.

https://www.ancient.eu/timeline/pharaoh/

See the Tentative Table, Appended to the second Chapter of this book, about the approximate times in which the Prophets and the Messengers, as well as the kings, lived, after the Israelite Exodus from Egypt.

[4] It is worth mentioning that the English translation of the verses here, as well as throughout the Book, is based mainly on the translation of "Sahih International," which is published at the www.tanzil.net website. However, this author is solely responsible for any changes in the translation.

[5] In verses 42: 51-52, Allah, praise to Him, tells us that he speaks to humans, including His Messengers, in three ways: by inspiration, from behind a barrier, or by sending an angel messenger. Verses 28: 29-35 show that Allah, praise to Him, spoke to Moosa, pbbuh, through a barrier, which was the fire in the tree, in this case.

وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُكَلِّمَهُ اللَّـهُ إِلَّا وَحْيًا أَوْ مِن وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ رَسُولًا فَيُوحِيَ بِإِذْنِهِ مَا يَشَاءُ إِنَّهُ عَلِيٌّ حَكِيمٌ ﴿٥١﴾ وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ رُوحًا مِّنْ أَمْرِنَا ... ﴿٥٢﴾ (الشُّورَى ، 42: 51-52).

And it is not for any human being that Allah should speak to except by inspiration (revelation), or from behind a barrier, or that He sends (an angel) messenger to inspire (reveal), by His permission, what He wills. Indeed, He is Most High and Wise. (51) And thus We have inspired to you a Spirit (the Angel Jibreel) of Our command … (52) (Al-Shoora, 42: 51-52).

[6] The Holy Quran is God's Message of Guidance to Humanity. Therefore, it focuses on teaching humans about what's good for them during their life on Earth, which would help them have an everlasting life in Paradise in the Hereafter. Thus, the story of the Israelites is intended to be a lesson to humanity about God's countless favors to humans, some of whom may be ungrateful and disobedient.

The Holy Quran does not mention the details about the Exodus of the Israelites, which sea they passed through, or which part of the Holy Land of Palestine they were instructed by Moosa, pbuh, to enter. However, from the verses together with the geographical and historical facts (see Endnote # 104 above), it can be concluded that the sea they crossed was the Gulf of Suez, at its northern tip. The part of the Holy Land they couldn't enter was the coastal Palestinian region, starting at Rafah, south of present Gaza Strip. Then, the Israelites were lost in the Sinai desert for forty years. Finally, they reached the area east of the River Jordan, where Moosa, pbuh, died. It was his deputy, Yosha' Bin Noon, who led the Israelites westward towards the Holy Land of Palestine, through Aree'ha (Jericho).

[7] The Ibn ‘Abbas ‘Hadeeth, about Moosa and Al-Khadhir, pbut both, was authenticated as a Sa’hee’h ‘Hadeeth by Al-Bukhari: 78, 3400, and 7478, with the Ubay Bin Ka’b narration, and by Muslim: 2380, with the Ubaidullah Bin ‘Abdullah Bin Mas’ood narration.

Al-Albani authenticated another version of the ‘Hadeeth, in Sa’hee’h El-Jami’: 4357, and based on Sa’hee’h El-Tirmidthi: 3149. It was also authenticated in Sa’hee’h El-Bukhari: 122 and Sa’hee’h Muslim: 2380, with few differences, as follows:

Companion Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him (mAbpwh), and his father, said that Ubay Bin Ka’b, mAbpwh, heard the Messenger of Allah, pbbuh, saying: “(As) Moosa stood speaking to the Children of Israel, he was asked: Who is more knowledgeable among people?' (Moosa) said: I am more knowledgeable.' Then, Allah reproached him for not referring knowledge (about it) to Him. So, He inspired to him: ‘One of My worshippers, in (the area) where the two seas meet, is more knowledgeable than you. Moosa said: ‘Yes, my Lord,’ and asked about the way to him. (Allah) said: ‘carry fish (as your food) in a basket. Then, where you lose it, he will be (there)."

The Arabic text of the above version of the ‘Hadeeth, is as follows:

وقد صَحَّحَ الألْبَانِيُّ رُوايَةً أُخْرى لِلْحَديثِ ، في صَحِيحِ الْجَامِعِ: 4357 ، وَعَنْ صَحِيحِ التِّرْمِذِيِّ: 3149. كَما أخْرَجَهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ: 122 ، ومُسْلِمً: 2380 ، في صَحِيحَيْهِما ، بِاختلافٍ يَسيرٍ. وَنَصُّ هَذِهِ الرُّوايَةِ كَما يَلِي:

عَن ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ ، رضي الله عنهما ، أنَّ أُبَيَّ بنَ كَعْبٍ ، رَضِيَ اللهُ عنهُ ، قال: سمِعتُ رسولَ اللَّهِ ، صلَّى اللَّهُ علَيهِ وسلَّمَ ، يقولُ: "قامَ موسَى خطيبًا في بني إسرائيلَ. فسُئِلَ: أيُّ النَّاسِ أعلمُ؟ فقالَ: أنا أعلمُ. فَعَتِبَ اللَّهُ علَيهِ ، إذ لم يَرُدَّ العلمَ إليهِ. فأوحَى اللَّهُ إليهِ ، أنَّ عبدًا مِنْ عبادي ، بمَجمعِ البحرينِ ، هوَ أعلمُ منكَ. قالَ موسَى: أيْ ربِّ ، فَكَيفَ لي بِهِ؟ فقالَ لَهُ: احمِل حوتًا في مِكْتلٍ ، فحيثُ تفقدُ الحوتَ فَهُوَ.َ"

===================================================================================================================================

يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِئُوا نُورَ اللَّـهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَاللَّـهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ (الصف ، 61: 8).

They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light, although the disbelievers dislike it (Al-Saff, 61: 8).