The Story of Moses in the Qur’an According to its Historical Sequence

The Story of Moses in the Qur’an According to its Historical Sequence

The Israelites in Egyptian Society:

The Israelites lived and multiplied in Egyptian society since the migration of Jacob and his sons to Egypt. The Pharaohs oppressed the Israelites before the birth of Moses, reaching a terrifying level when they decided to slaughter the sons of the Israelites and keep their women alive for service and work. Allah, the Almighty, desired to bestow His mercy upon these oppressed people and save them from their condition. He prepared Prophet Moses to save and guide them from the Pharaohs.

Moses’ Birth and Nursing:

When Moses (PBUH) was born, Allah revealed to his mother to nurse him. If she feared for him due to the general decree of killing the newborns, she was to place him in a box and cast him into the river. As Allah willed, the river carried him to the shore, where Pharaoh’s family found him. They recognized him as one of the children of the Israelites. Pharaoh’s wife intervened and asked that the child be left with them to either serve them or be adopted as a child to bring comfort to Pharaoh.

Moses’ mother experienced intense moments when she cast him into the river, so she instructed his sister to follow the box and discover its fate. When Moses was presented to the wet nurses, none could nurse him. His sister saw this as an opportunity and suggested to Pharaoh’s family that she could find a woman to nurse him. This woman was, in fact, Moses’ mother. Thus, the child returned to his mother, reassuring her heart and confirming that what Allah had promised—His protection of Moses and returning him to her—was true. Moses grew up in Pharaoh’s palace, and when he reached maturity, Allah granted him wisdom and knowledge.

Moses’ Escape from Egypt:

One day, Moses entered the city unexpectedly and found one of his followers fighting with an enemy. The man from his group sought Moses’ help, and Moses struck the enemy, killing him. Moses didn’t anticipate that this blow would result in death, so he regretted his hasty action and sought forgiveness from Allah.

Later, Moses found himself in a similar situation. The man he had helped earlier called for his assistance again. When Moses confronted the situation, he scolded the man for his behavior, accusing him of trying to entrap him. Then, when Moses tried to intervene with the Pharaoh’s enemy again, the man thought Moses was intending to harm him. The Israelite asked Moses: “Do you want to kill me as you killed someone yesterday? You only want to be a tyrant in the land.” The Israelite thus revealed Moses’ earlier action, and Pharaoh’s people sought to kill him.

A man from the far side of the city came to warn Moses that the leaders were plotting to kill him. He urged Moses to flee. Moses fled in fear and prayed to Allah for safety from the oppressive people.

Moses in the Land of Midian:

Moses arrived in the land of Midian, where he felt hope and said, “Perhaps my Lord will guide me to the straight path.” When he came to the well of Midian, he found a crowd of shepherds watering their flocks. Two women were waiting aside, unable to water their sheep because their father was too old to do it. Moses felt compassion for them, asked them why they weren’t watering their sheep, and then helped them. Afterward, he withdrew to the shade, feeling hungry, lonely, and distressed. He prayed to Allah, saying, “My Lord, indeed I am, for whatever good You would send down to me, in need.”

When the women returned to their father and told him about the stranger, their father sent one of them to invite Moses. She came to him shyly and said that her father wanted to reward him for helping them. Moses accepted the invitation and, upon meeting the father, shared his story. The father, a wise old man, assured Moses that he had nothing to fear. He then offered Moses a job, suggesting that he marry one of his daughters in exchange for working for him for eight years, with the possibility of extending it to ten years. Moses agreed to this arrangement.

Moses’ Mission and Return to Egypt:

After completing his term with his father-in-law, Moses was on his way home with his family when he saw a fire on the side of Mount Sinai. He told his family to wait while he approached it to find a light or guidance. When he reached the fire, Allah called to him from the right side of the valley, from the blessed tree: “Indeed, I am Allah, Lord of the worlds. Remove your sandals, for you are in the sacred valley of Tuwa. And I have chosen you, so listen to what is revealed to you.”

Then, Allah asked, “What is that in your right hand, O Moses?” Moses replied, “It is my staff; I lean on it and use it to gather leaves for my sheep, and I have other uses for it.” Allah said, “Throw it down, O Moses.” When Moses threw it, it became a serpent slithering. Moses fled, but Allah called to him: “Do not fear; you are among the safe. Return your hand to your side, it will come out white without harm. These are two signs from your Lord to Pharaoh and his people. Indeed, they are a defiantly disobedient people.”

Moses then expressed fear of returning to Pharaoh because of the killing of the Egyptian. He requested that his brother Aaron be sent with him as a spokesman. Allah granted Moses’ request, assuring him that both he and Aaron would be protected. Allah instructed Moses to approach Pharaoh and call him to worship Allah, and to free the Israelites from bondage.

Moses and Pharaoh’s Challenge:

Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh, presenting themselves as messengers from the Lord of the worlds. Pharaoh questioned Moses’ identity, recalling his upbringing in Pharaoh’s house and accusing him of killing an Egyptian. Moses explained that he had done so in self-defense and that Allah had granted him wisdom and made him a prophet.

Pharaoh, in his arrogance, challenged Moses and Aaron about their claim of God’s sovereignty. Moses responded that his Lord was the Creator of the heavens and earth, and that He had control over all things. Pharaoh doubted Moses’ words and accused him of sorcery. He threatened Moses with punishment, but Moses, in obedience to Allah, presented miracles: his staff turned into a serpent and his hand became white.

Despite these signs, Pharaoh accused Moses of sorcery and refused to heed his message. Pharaoh’s advisers suggested that Moses be confronted by magicians, and Pharaoh agreed.

The Contest with the Magicians:

Pharaoh gathered his magicians and invited Moses to a contest. The magicians threw their staffs and ropes, and by their magic, they appeared to move like snakes. Moses, feeling fear, was reassured by Allah, who told him to throw his staff. When Moses did, it consumed all that the magicians had created. The magicians, recognizing the divine power in Moses’ staff, immediately believed in the Lord of Moses and Aaron, declaring their faith in Allah. Pharaoh, enraged, threatened them with severe punishment, but the magicians remained steadfast in their belief.

The Plagues upon Egypt:

Pharaoh continued to reject Moses’ message, and as a result, Allah sent a series of plagues upon Egypt: famine, locusts, lice, frogs, and blood. Each time a plague struck, Pharaoh and his people would plead with Moses to pray to Allah to remove it, promising they would believe in him and release the Israelites. However, once the plague was lifted, they broke their promises, and Allah continued to send them further punishment.

The Exodus of the Israelites:

When Moses saw that Pharaoh was determined to continue oppressing the Israelites, he decided to lead them out of Egypt. Pharaoh pursued them with his army, but when the Israelites reached the Red Sea, they found themselves trapped. Moses, in his unwavering faith in Allah, struck the sea with his staff, and it parted, creating a path of dry land. The Israelites crossed, and when Pharaoh’s army tried to follow, the waters closed in, drowning Pharaoh and his soldiers.

Moses and the Israelites:

After their escape, the Israelites continued their journey, during which they faced further challenges, including their worship of the golden calf. Moses went to meet Allah on Mount Sinai, leaving the people behind. In his absence, they fell into idolatry, and Moses returned to confront them. Allah then commanded Moses to guide the people further, including their eventual entry into the Promised Land.

The Qur’an also narrates the story of Moses’ encounter with the rebellious figure, Qarun, who was swallowed by the earth, as well as various other incidents that reveal the trials and struggles faced by Moses and the Israelites.

This brief overview of Moses’ life as presented in the Qur’an covers his early life, mission, trials, and eventual leadership of the Israelites. The Qur’an emphasizes the signs and miracles given to Moses, the challenges he faced in his mission, and the spiritual lessons drawn from his story, such as the consequences of arrogance and disobedience to Allah’s will.