Stories
The most-told story in the Qur'an
A baby in a basket on the Nile grew up to face Pharaoh.
7 min, Intro, Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
Part 1 of 6
Pharaoh was killing the boys of the Israelites. God inspired Moses's mother: nurse him, and when you fear for him, put him in the river. The baby floated to Pharaoh's palace, and was raised there.
Qur'an 28:7
وَأَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنۡ أَرۡضِعِيهِۖ فَإِذَا خِفۡتِ عَلَيۡهِ فَأَلۡقِيهِ فِي ٱلۡيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِي وَلَا تَحۡزَنِيٓۖ إِنَّا رَآدُّوهُ إِلَيۡكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ ٧
7 We inspired the mother of Moses, “Suckle him; but when you fear for him, cast him into the river, and do not fear or grieve. We will surely return him to you, and will make him one of the messengers.”
Lesson
God returned the baby Moses to his mother through his enemy's own house.
Part 2 of 6
Moses grew up in Pharaoh's palace. As a young man, he struck an Egyptian who was fighting an Israelite, and the man died. Moses repented at once, then fled to Madyan, where he married and worked as a shepherd for years.
Qur'an 28:16
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي ظَلَمۡتُ نَفۡسِي فَٱغۡفِرۡ لِي فَغَفَرَ لَهُۥٓۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ١٦
16 He said, “My Lord, I have wronged myself, so forgive me,” Then He forgave him, for He is indeed the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
Lesson
Even Moses, a prophet, had a past he repented of.
Part 3 of 6
Leaving Madyan with his family, Moses saw a fire on Mount Sinai. Going to it, he was called: I am your Lord. Remove your sandals. He was given signs, a staff that became a snake and a hand that shone, and sent to Pharaoh.
Qur'an 20:11-12
فَلَمَّآ أَتَىٰهَا نُودِيَ يَٰمُوسَىٰٓ ١١ إِنِّيٓ أَنَا۠ رَبُّكَ فَٱخۡلَعۡ نَعۡلَيۡكَ إِنَّكَ بِٱلۡوَادِ ٱلۡمُقَدَّسِ طُوࣱى ١٢
11 When he came to it, he was called, “O Moses,
12 Indeed, I am your Lord, so take off your shoes; you are in the sacred valley of Tuwā.
Lesson
Sent to Pharaoh, Moses asked for his brother's help, and was given it.
Part 4 of 6
Moses and Aaron asked Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. Pharaoh called his magicians, whose ropes seemed to move. Moses's staff swallowed them, and the magicians fell in prostration, believing, despite Pharaoh's threats.
Qur'an 20:70
فَأُلۡقِيَ ٱلسَّحَرَةُ سُجَّدࣱا قَالُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا بِرَبِّ هَٰرُونَ وَمُوسَىٰ ٧٠
70 So the magicians fell down in prostration, saying, “We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses.”
Lesson
Pharaoh's magicians knew a trick when they saw one, and knew this was not.
Part 5 of 6
Moses leads the Israelites out by night. Trapped at the sea with Pharaoh's army behind, his people cry: we are caught! Moses says: my Lord is with me. The sea parts, and closes over Pharaoh.
Qur'an 26:61-62
فَلَمَّا تَرَٰٓءَا ٱلۡجَمۡعَانِ قَالَ أَصۡحَٰبُ مُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّا لَمُدۡرَكُونَ ٦١ قَالَ كَلَّآۖ إِنَّ مَعِيَ رَبِّي سَيَهۡدِينِ ٦٢
61 When the two groups saw each other, the companions of Moses said, “We are surely overtaken!”
62 Moses said, “Certainly not! My Lord is with me; He will guide me.”
The passage continues in Read.
Lesson
Moses said "My Lord is with me" with Pharaoh's army in sight.
Part 6 of 6
Crossing the sea did not end the trials of Moses. While he was on the mountain receiving the tablets, some of his people worshipped a golden calf. His story goes on as the story of leading a difficult people, patiently.
Lesson
For Moses and the Israelites, freedom was the beginning of the test, not the end.
Reflect, just for you
Seen by lamplight. It gives more each time.
A baby in a basket on the Nile grew up to face Pharaoh.