The story of prophet moosa

[jameelash]

The Story of Prophet Musa:
The Prophet Mūsā is the most commonly mentioned prophet in the Qur’an. His story is repeated numerous times and his names appears from the very first juz’ [part] to the very last juz’ of the Qur’an. In fact, his name is mentioned from the very beginning of the prophethood of the Messenger Muhammad . After the first interaction with Jibrīl in the Cave of Ḥirā’, Khadījah , the wife of the Prophet took him to her cousin, a learned man by the name of Waraqah ibn Nawfal. Upon hearing the Prophet’s story, he immediately recognised what had happened and said, ‘This is the same angel that came to Mūsā.” Notice how it is the name of Mūsā mentioned, not Ibrāhīm who is an ancestor to the Arabs and known to them or ‘Īsā who is the closest prophet to our Prophet chronologically.

From that moment onwards, it is this mighty prophet whose name and story keeps reappearing throughout our early tradition. During the Night Journey and ascension to the heavens, the Prophet met many prophets. He also received the greatest of commandments in the obligation of the prayer which was initially enjoined as fifty prayers every day and night. It is the Prophet Mūsā who encourages the Prophet to keep returning to Allah and seeking a lessening of the number of prayers.

Even on the Day of Judgement, when all of creation will fall unconscious with the blowing of the trumpet, the Prophet will be the first to awake and he will see Mūsā already clinging to the Throne of Allah . All of this is due to the many benefits and lessons we can derive from the story of Mūsā and his nation.



One of the greatest lessons is how the story of Mūsā is a story of optimism in the midst of the harshest of trials and difficulties. In this and the coming couple of articles, we will look at three instances from the life of this mighty messenger of Allah and how in the most difficult of circumstances, he was optimistic of Allah’s help and aid.

In this article we will look at the birth of Mūsā . Before the birth of Mūsā , Pharaoh issued an edict calling for the massacre of all male newborn children from the Children of Israel. Mūsā was born into this context. The soldiers of Pharaoh would periodically search the houses of the Israelites so as to carry out Pharaoh’s orders. Mūsā’s mother had formulated a plan. She would, upon hearing the approach of the soldiers, take Mūsā out in his basket and place him in the river Nile at the rear of her house. She would tie the basket to a post and then retrieve him after the soldiers had left. Allah says,

“And We inspired to the mother of Moses, “Suckle him; but when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear and do not grieve. Indeed, We will return him to you and will make him [one] of the messengers.”[1]

The plan was simple and made sense. However, when the time came to put it into effect, through her sheer terror and panic she carried out most of her plan but forgot to tie the basket to the post. Oblivious of her oversight, once the soldiers left her house, satisfied there is no child to be found, she raced out to retrieve her son. Only her is no longer there. He has been carried by the current of the river. Rather than panicking and screaming for help, she remains calm and collected, trusting in Allah .

Allah describes her emotional state in the Qur’an with the beautiful use of the Arabic language. Allah says,

“And the heart of Moses’ mother became empty [of all else]. She was about to disclose [the matter concerning] him had We not bound fast her heart that she would be of the believers.”[2]

Allah describes the heart of Mūsā’s mother using two different Arabic words. The first is ‘fu’ād’ and the second is ‘qalb’. Both words refer to the heart but there is a subtle difference between the two. The word ‘fu’ād’ refers to a heart overcome by emoti