Musa (Moses)

Musa, also known as Moses in the Biblical narrative, was born as an Israelite in Egypt. A prophet in Christianity, Judaism, Bahai and several other Abrahamic religions, he is the most mentioned Prophet in the Quran, especially in a Surah (33). He was born during the time when the Pharaoh of Egypt had enslaved the Israelites. The Pharaoh had a dream where he was foretold that one of the male Israelite children would grow up to kill him. Hence, he ordered that all the infants be killed but when he thought of losing the much-required manpower, he ordered that the infants be killed only in the alternate years.

Musa was born during the year the children were to be killed but God ordered his mother to put him in a basket and set him adrift on the Nile. He was spotted by the Pharaoh’s wife who adopted him. When brought to the comfort of a home, Musa refused to be fed by any wet nurse. Pharaoh’s sister, Miriam, claimed to know the only woman who could solve this problem. Incidentally, this woman was none else but Musa’s mother herself. When presented before the court, she was accepted to be Musa’s wet mother and this is how Musa was reunited with his mother. As he grew up as a child, he once grabbed the Pharaoh’s beard which made the Pharaoh suspicious of Musa and he apprehended that he could possibly be the one who would kill him later.

Once, the young Musa saw an Israelite and an Egyptian fiercely fighting with each other. He found the Egyptian guilty and killed him. He was later charged of manslaughter. In a bid to escape punishment from Pharaoh, he left for Midian. After about ten years, he travelled back to Egypt. He was later informed of his Prophethood on Mount Sinai where God revealed Himself to Musa.

When Musa returned to Egypt, he announced his Prophethood to the Pharaoh who reminded him of his killing an Egyptian and also asked him for the proof of his being a Prophet. To show his extraordinary powers, Musa threw his staff on the floor which turned into a serpent. The Pharaoh then accused him of sorcery and invited his own magicians to compete with Musa. The magicians also produced snakes but Musa’s snake devoured them all and left them askance. This was proof enough to everyone that Musa had some real powers with him and that he was not resorting to mere sorcery. People began believing in him. Pharaoh’s magicians also submitted to Moses. This inflamed the Pharaoh further and he got his magicians killed for failing to compete with Musa and submitting to him instead.

The Pharaoh was cruel to Israelites and he refused to let them leave Egypt. So, the Israelites attempted to flee under the guidance of Musa during the night for which they reached the banks of the river Nile. At this point, God ordered Musa to strike the sea with his staff. As he did this, the Nile made way for them to cross over. When Musa arrived at Mount Sinai with his people, he asked his brother to take care of the people during his absence. Musa was instructed to fast for thirty days and again for ten days more to purify himself. He was then given the Taurat (Torah) by God as a guide on human behaviour. Meanwhile, his followers had deviated and begun worshipping a golden calf during his absence. On seeing this, Musa was furious and ordered that the calf be burnt. He took seventy leaders from his tribe to beg forgiveness from God. His people were condemned to wander in the wilderness and they continued to do so even after he was no more.

Reference: Hum tuur per gaye bhi to is shaan se gaye/Musa khade rahe yad-e baiza liye hue (Seemab Akbarabadi). Also see: https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/khizr-e-rah-shaikh-mohammad-iqbal-ebooks

Musa, also known as Moses in the Biblical narrative, was born as an Israelite in Egypt. A prophet in Christianity, Judaism, Bahai and several other Abrahamic religions, he is the most mentioned Prophet in the Quran, especially in a Surah (33). He was born during the time when the Pharaoh of Egypt had enslaved the Israelites. The Pharaoh had a dream where he was foretold that one of the male Israelite children would grow up to kill him. Hence, he ordered that all the infants be killed but when he thought of losing the much-required manpower, he ordered that the infants be killed only in the alternate years.

Musa was born during the year the children were to be killed but God ordered his mother to put him in a basket and set him adrift on the Nile. He was spotted by the Pharaoh’s wife who adopted him. When brought to the comfort of a home, Musa refused to be fed by any wet nurse. Pharaoh’s sister, Miriam, claimed to know the only woman who could solve this problem. Incidentally, this woman was none else but Musa’s mother herself. When presented before the court, she was accepted to be Musa’s wet mother and this is how Musa was reunited with his mother. As he grew up as a child, he once grabbed the Pharaoh’s beard which made the Pharaoh suspicious of Musa and he apprehended that he could possibly be the one who would kill him later.

Once, the young Musa saw an Israelite and an Egyptian fiercely fighting with each other. He found the Egyptian guilty and killed him. He was later charged of manslaughter. In a bid to escape punishment from Pharaoh, he left for Midian. After about ten years, he travelled back to Egypt. He was later informed of his Prophethood on Mount Sinai where God revealed Himself to Musa.

When Musa returned to Egypt, he announced his Prophethood to the Pharaoh who reminded him of his killing an Egyptian and also asked him for the proof of his being a Prophet. To show his extraordinary powers, Musa threw his staff on the floor which turned into a serpent. The Pharaoh then accused him of sorcery and invited his own magicians to compete with Musa. The magicians also produced snakes but Musa’s snake devoured them all and left them askance. This was proof enough to everyone that Musa had some real powers with him and that he was not resorting to mere sorcery. People began believing in him. Pharaoh’s magicians also submitted to Moses. This inflamed the Pharaoh further and he got his magicians killed for failing to compete with Musa and submitting to him instead.

The Pharaoh was cruel to Israelites and he refused to let them leave Egypt. So, the Israelites attempted to flee under the guidance of Musa during the night for which they reached the banks of the river Nile. At this point, God ordered Musa to strike the sea with his staff. As he did this, the Nile made way for them to cross over. When Musa arrived at Mount Sinai with his people, he asked his brother to take care of the people during his absence. Musa was instructed to fast for thirty days and again for ten days more to purify himself. He was then given the Taurat (Torah) by God as a guide on human behaviour. Meanwhile, his followers had deviated and begun worshipping a golden calf during his absence. On seeing this, Musa was furious and ordered that the calf be burnt. He took seventy leaders from his tribe to beg forgiveness from God. His people were condemned to wander in the wilderness and they continued to do so even after he was no more.

Reference: Hum tuur per gaye bhi to is shaan se gaye/Musa khade rahe yad-e baiza liye hue (Seemab Akbarabadi). Also see: https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/khizr-e-rah-shaikh-mohammad-iqbal-ebooks