Musa The One Who Spoke to Allah

Pharaoh had ordered something terrible: every newborn boy among Bani Israel was to be killed. He feared a prophecy that one of them would one day end his power.

When Musa (as) was born, his mother was terrified. Then Allah spoke to her heart directly:

"Nurse him. And when you fear for him, cast him into the river. Do not fear, and do not grieve. We will return him to you, and We will make him one of the messengers." (Qur'an 28:7)

She built a small basket of reeds, placed her baby inside, and set it on the waters of the Nile. She told his sister to follow at a distance.

The basket floated. And it floated all the way to Pharaoh's own palace.

Pharaoh's wife found the basket. She opened it and saw the baby. And she loved him immediately.

She said to Pharaoh: "He will be a comfort to me and to you. Do not kill him. Perhaps he will benefit us, or we will adopt him as a son." (Qur'an 28:9)

Pharaoh agreed. The very child he was trying to kill was now being raised in his own palace, under his own roof, with his own resources.

But the baby would not accept any wet-nurse. His sister, watching from a distance, stepped forward and said she knew a woman who could nurse him. She brought his own mother. Musa was returned to the arms he had left just days before.

Allah had kept every word of His promise. Not one word was broken.

Years later, Musa (as) had left Egypt after an incident and settled in Madyan, where he married and lived for years as a shepherd. One night, traveling with his family, he saw something extraordinary on the side of a mountain.

A bush was on fire. But it did not burn.

He went to look closer. And then a voice called out:

"O Musa! Indeed, I am your Lord. Remove your sandals, for you are in the sacred valley of Tuwa. And I have chosen you, so listen to what will be revealed. Indeed, I am Allah. There is no god except Me. So worship Me and establish prayer." (Qur'an 20:11-14)

Then Allah gave him two signs: his staff became a living serpent when he threw it down. And his hand came out glowing white with light when he placed it in his cloak.

The shepherd who had been tending flocks in the desert was now a prophet, sent to the most powerful man on earth.

Musa (as) walked into the most powerful palace in the ancient world and told Pharaoh two things: free Bani Israel, and acknowledge that there is no god but Allah.

Pharaoh's response? "I am your lord most high." (Qur'an 79:24)

He reminded Musa that he had raised him, fed him. He mocked him, threatened him, and called his miracles "magic."

Musa (as) remained steady. Allah had said: "Do not fear. You are the uppermost." (Qur'an 20:68)

Pharaoh called the greatest magicians in all of Egypt to defeat Musa publicly. They came from every city. Thousands gathered. It was to be the day that finished Musa and his claim forever.

It did not go as Pharaoh planned.

The magicians threw their ropes and staffs. By their craft, they appeared to move like snakes. The crowd gasped. Musa (as) felt a flicker of fear.

Allah said: "Do not fear. You are the uppermost. Throw what is in your right hand."

He threw his staff. It became a real serpent and swallowed everything they had made. Their magic vanished.

And then something no one expected happened. The magicians fell down in prostration.

They had spent their lives studying magic. They recognised in an instant what they were seeing was not magic. "We believe in the Lord of Musa and Harun!" they cried.

Pharaoh was furious. He threatened to cut off their hands and feet and crucify them. They replied calmly: "We will never prefer you over what has come to us of clear proofs." (Qur'an 20:72)

They had believed for minutes. They were prepared to die for it.

After years of plagues and broken promises, Allah commanded Musa (as) to lead Bani Israel out of Egypt by night. Pharaoh discovered and chased them with his entire army.

Bani Israel reached the sea. Behind them: Pharaoh's army. In front: water. They said: "We are caught!"

Musa (as) said: "No! My Lord is with me. He will guide me." (Qur'an 26:62)

Allah commanded: "Strike the sea with your staff."

He struck it. The sea split into twelve great paths, walls of water standing on either side like mountains. Bani Israel crossed on dry ground.

Pharaoh and his army followed. The waters came crashing back. Pharaoh, in his final moments, said: "I believe there is no god except the One Bani Israel believe in!"

Allah said: "Now? When you disobeyed before? Today We will preserve your body as a sign for those who come after you." (Qur'an 10:90-92)

After crossing the sea, Allah summoned Musa (as) to Mount Sinai for forty nights to receive the Torah and the commandments for Bani Israel.

Musa asked the greatest request a human has ever made: "My Lord, show me, that I may look at You."

Allah answered: "You will not see Me. But look at the mountain. If it remains in place, then you will see Me." When the divine light appeared on the mountain, it crumbled to dust. Musa fell unconscious. When he recovered he said: "Glory be to You. I repent to You, and I am the first of the believers." (Qur'an 7:143)

He was given the Torah. He spoke to Allah directly, without any angel in between. He is Kalimullah, the one who Allah spoke to directly.

Musa (as) is mentioned more than any other prophet in the Quran. His story is told so we would know: Allah does not abandon those He loves, no matter how impossible the situation appears.