Moses in Islam

For other uses, see Musa (name).

Islamic prophet Mūsa ٰمُوسَى Moses
The name Moses written in Islamic calligraphy followed by Peace be upon him
Born	c. 2076 BH (c. 1392 BCE) Egypt
Died	c. 1952 BH (c. 1272 BCE) Moab

Mûsâ ibn Amram (Arabic: ٰمُوسَى‎, translit. Mūsa; c. 2076 (c. 1392) – c. 1952 BH (c. 1272 BCE)), known as Moses in the Hebrew Bible, considered a prophet, messenger, and leader in Islam, is the widely mentioned individual in the Quran. In Islamic tradition instead of introducing a new religion, Moses is regarded by Muslims as teaching and practicing the religion of his predecessors and confirming the scriptures and prophets before him. The Quran states that Moses was sent by God (Arabic: [[Allah|الله‎]] Allāh) to the Pharaoh of Egypt and the Israelites for guidance and warning. Moses is mentioned more in the Quran than any other individual, and his life is narrated and recounted more than that of any other prophet. According to Islam, all Muslims must have faith in every prophet (nabi) and messengers (rasul) which includes Moses and his brother Aaron (Harun). The Quran states:

Also mention in the Book (the story of) Moses: for he was specially chosen, and he was a messenger (and) a prophet.
And we called him from the right side of Mount (Sinai), and made him draw near to Us, for mystic (converse).
And, out of Our Mercy, We gave him his brother Aaron, (also) a prophet.

— Quran, sura 19 (Maryam), ayat 51–53

Moses is considered to be a prophetic predecessor to Muhammad. Generally attributed the tale of Moses as a spiritual parallel to the life of Muhammad, considering many aspects of their lives to be shared. Islamic literature also describes a parallel between their believers and the incidents which occurred in their lifetimes. The exodus of the Israelites from Egypt is considered similar to the migration (hijra) made by the followers of Muhammad. Moses is also believed by Muslims to have foretold the coming of Muhammad, who would be the last prophet.

Moses is also very important in Islam for having been given the revelation of the Torah, which is considered to be one of the true revealed scriptures in Muslim theology, and Muslims generally hold that much of the Torah is confirmed and repeated in the Qur'an. Moreover, according to Islamic tradition, Moses was one of the many prophets Muhammad met in the event of the Mi'raj, when he ascended through the seven heavens. In Muslim belief, Moses is regarded as having urged Muhammad during his Mi'raj to reduce the number of prayers until they were only five remaining, which are regarded as being the five obligatory prayers. Moses is further revered in Islamic literature, which expands upon the incidents of his life and the miracles attributed to him in the Qur'an and hadith, such as his direct conversation with God.

Historical narrative in Islam

Youth

According to Islamic tradition, Moses was born into a family of Israelites living in Egypt. Of his family, Islamic tradition generally names his father 'Imran, corresponding to the Amram of the Hebrew Bible, and traditional genealogies name Levi as his ancestor. Islam states that Moses was born in a time when the ruling Pharaoh had enslaved the Israelites after the time of the prophet Joseph (Yusuf). Around the time of Moses' birth, Islamic literature states that the Pharaoh had a dream, in which he saw fire coming from the city of Jerusalem, which burnt everything in his kingdom except that of the Israelites. When the Pharaoh described his dream to his priests and soothsayers, they predicted that the fall of the Pharaoh would be brought about by a boy from the Israelites. Islamic tradition states that when the Pharaoh was informed that one of the male children would grow up to overthrow him, he ordered the killing of all new-born Israelite males in order to prevent the prediction from occurring. Islamic literature further states that the experts of economics in Pharaoh's court advised him that killing the male infants of the Israelites, would result in loss of manpower. Therefore, they suggested that the male infants should be killed in one year but spared the next. Aaron was born in the year in which infants were spared, while Moses was born in the year in which infants were to be killed.

On the Nile

According to Islamic tradition, Moses's mother suckled him secretly during this period. The Qur'an states that when they were in danger of being caught God inspired her to put him in a basket and set him adrift on the Nile. She instructed her daughter to follow the course of the ark and to report back to her. As the daughter followed the ark along the riverbank, Moses was discovered by the Pharaoh's wife, Asiya, who convinced the Pharaoh to adopt him. The Qur'an states that when Asiya ordered wet nurses for Moses, Moses refused to be breastfed. Islamic tradition states that this was because God had forbidden Moses from being fed by any wet nurse as to reunite his mother with him. His sister worried that Moses had not been fed for some time, therefore, she appeared to the Pharaoh and informed him that she knew someone, who could feed him. Islamic tradition states that after being questioned, she was ordered to bring the woman being discussed. The sister brought their mother who fed Moses and thereafter she was appointed as the wet nurse of Moses.

Test of prophecy

According to Isra'iliyat hadith, during his childhood when Moses was playing on Pharaoh's lap, he grabbed the Pharaoh's beard. This action prompted the Pharaoh to consider Moses as the Israelite who would overthrow him. The Pharaoh decided to kill Moses but stopped after the Pharaoh's wife interceded and argued that he was just an infant, and due to her intercession the Pharaoh decided to test Moses. Two plates were set before young Moses, one contained rubies and the other held glowing coals. Moses reached out for the rubies, but the angel Gabriel directed his hand to the coals. Moses grabbed a glowing coal and put it in his mouth, burning his tongue. After the incident Moses suffered from a speech defect, but was spared by the Pharaoh.

Escape to Midian

After having reached adulthood, the Qur'an states that when Moses was passing through a city, he came across an Egyptian fighting with an Israelite. The Israelite asked for his assistance against the Egyptian. Moses attempted to intervene and became involved in the dispute. In Islamic tradition, Moses struck the Egyptian in a state of anger which resulted in his death. Moses repented to God and the following day, he again came across the same Israelite fighting with another Egyptian. The Israelite again asked Moses for help, and as Moses approached the Israelite, he reminded Moses of his manslaughter, and asked if Moses intended to kill him. Moses was reported and the Pharaoh ordered Moses to be killed. However, Moses fled to the desert after being alerted to his punishment. According to Islamic tradition, after Moses arrived in Midian, he witnessed two female shepherds driving back their flocks from a well. Moses approached them and inquired about their work as shepherds and their retreat from the well. Upon hearing their answers and the old age of their father, Moses watered their flocks for them. The two females returned to their home and informed their father of the incident. The Quran states that Moses was invited by them for a feast. At that feast, their father asked Moses to work for him for a period of eight or ten years, in return for marriage to one of his daughters. Moses consented and worked for him during the period.

Preaching

Call to prophethood

Mount Sinai, the location where Moses first spoke to God (Arabic: الله Allāh)

According to Islamic tradition, Moses departed for Egypt along with his family after completing the time period. The Qur'an states that during their travel, as they stopped near Mount Tur, Moses observed a fire and instructed the family to wait until he returned with fire for them. When Moses reached the valley of Tuwa, God called out to him from the right side of the valley from a tree on what is revered as blessed ground in the Qur'an. Moses was commanded by God to remove his shoes and informed him of his selection as a prophet, his obligation of prayer and the Day of Judgment. Moses was then ordered to throw his rod which turned into a snake and later instructed to hold it. The Qur'an then narrates Moses being ordered to insert his hand into his clothes and upon revealing it would shine a bright light. God states that these are signs for the Pharaoh, and orders Moses to invite Pharaoh to the worship of one God. Moses states his fear of Pharaoh and requests God to heal his speech impediment, and grant him his brother Aaron (Harun) as a helper. According to Islamic tradition, both of them stated their fear of Pharaoh but were assured by God that he would be observing them and commands them to inform the Pharaoh to free the Israelites. Therefore, they depart to preach to the Pharaoh.

Arrival at Pharaoh's court

When Moses and Aaron arrived in the court of Pharaoh and proclaimed their prophethood to the Pharaoh, the Pharaoh began questioning Moses about the God he followed. The Quran narrates Moses answering the Pharaoh, by stating that he followed the God who gave everything its form and guided them. The Pharaoh then inquires about the generations who passed before them and Moses answers that knowledge of the previous generations was with God. The Qur'an also mentions the Pharaoh questioning Moses: “And what is the Lord of the worlds?” Moses replies that God was the lord of the heavens, the earth and what was between them. The Pharaoh then reminds Moses of his childhood with them and the killing of the man he had done. Moses admitted that he had committed the deed in ignorance, but insisted that he was now forgiven and guided by God. Pharaoh accused him of being mad and threatened to imprison him if he continued to proclaim that the Pharaoh was not the true God. Moses informed him that he had come with manifest signs from God. In response, the Pharaoh demanded to see the signs. Moses threw his staff to the floor and it turned into a serpent. He then drew out his hand and it shined a bright white light. The Pharaoh's counselors advised him that this was sorcery and on their advice he summoned the best sorcerers in the kingdom. Pharaoh challenged him to a battle between him and the Pharaoh's magicians, asking him to choose the day. Moses chose the day of a festival.

Confrontation with sorcerers

When the sorcerers came to the Pharaoh, he promised them that they would be amongst the honored among his assembly. On the day of the festival of Egypt, Moses granted the sorcerers the chance to perform first and warned them that God would expose their tricks. The Qur'an states that the sorcerers bewitched the eyes of the observing people and caused terror into them. The summoned sorcerers threw their rods on the floor and they appeared to change into snakes by the effect of their magic. At first, Moses became concerned witnessing the tricks of the magicians, but was assured by God to not be worried. When Moses reacted likewise with his rod, the serpent devoured all the snakes. The sorcerers realized that they had witnessed a miracle. They proclaimed belief in the message of Moses and fell onto their knees in prostration despite threats from the Pharaoh. Pharaoh was enraged by this and accused them of working under Moses. He warned them that if they insisted in believing in Moses, that he would cut their hands and feet on opposite sides, and crucify them on the trunks of palm trees for their firmness in their faith. The magicians however, remained steadfast to their newfound faith and were killed by Pharaoh.

Exodus

Plagues of Egypt

After losing to Moses, the Pharaoh continued to plan against Moses and the Israelites, and ordered meetings of the ministers, princes and priests. According to the Quran, the Pharaoh is reported to have ordered his minister, Haman, to build a tower so that he "may look at the God of Moses". Gradually, Pharaoh began to fear that Moses may convince the people that he was not the true God, and wanted to have Moses killed. After this threat, a man from the family of Pharaoh, who had years ago warned Moses, came forth and warned the people of the punishment of God for the wrongdoers and reward for the righteous. The Pharaoh defiantly refused to allow the Israelites to leave Egypt. The Quran states that God decreed punishments over him and his people. These punishments came in the form of floods that demolished their dwellings, swarms of locust that destroyed the crops, pestilence of lice that made their life miserable, toads that croaked and sprang everywhere, and the turning of all drinking water into blood. Each time the Pharaoh was subjected to humiliation, his defiance became greater. The Quran mentions that God instructed Moses to travel at night with the Israelites, and warned them that they would be pursued. The Pharaoh chased the Israelites with his army after realizing that they had left during the night.

Splitting of the sea

Having escaped and then being pursued by the Egyptians, the Israelites stopped when they reached the seafront. The Israelites exclaimed to Moses that they would be overtaken by Pharaoh and his army. The Quran narrates God commanding Moses to strike the sea with his staff, instructing them not to fear being overtaken or drowning. Upon striking the sea, it divided into twelve parts, that allowed the Israelites to pass through. The Pharaoh witnessed the sea splitting alongside his army, but as they also tried to pass through, the sea closed in on them. As he was about to die, Pharaoh claimed belief in the God of Moses and the Israelites, but his belief was rejected by God. The Quran states that the body of the Pharaoh was made a sign and warning for all future generations. As the Israelites continued their journey to the Promised Land, they came upon a people who were worshipping idols. The Israelites requested to have an idol to worship, but Moses refused and stated that the polytheists would be destroyed by God. They were granted manna and quail as sustenance from God, but the Israelites asked Moses to pray to God for the earth to grow lentils, onions, herbs and cucumbers for their sustenance. When they stopped in their travel to a promised land due to their lack of water, Moses was commanded by God to strike a stone, and upon its impact twelve springs came forth, each for a specific tribe of the Israelites.

Arrival at Canaan

They eventually reached the promised land, known as Canaan in Biblical tradition, and decided to send twelve spies to observe the land and its residents. Islamic literature narrates that the twelve Israelite spies encountered a giant named in Islamic folklore as Uj often identified with Og, king of Bashan from Biblical traditions. The giant Og was astonished by the Israelite spies and carried them in his pocket to his king (other narrations state that he carried them to his wife). Og displayed them to the king and informed him that the Israelites wished to fight them. The king ordered him to release them so that they may warn their fellow Israelites. Islamic literature further states when Og released them and discovered the camp of the Israelites, he broke a rock from a mountain to crush them. However, according to Islamic literature, God sent a hoopoe that created a hole in the rock and it fell like a collar onto Og. Moses attacked Og and slew him by striking his ankle with his staff. The Israelites having witnessed the strength of the inhabitants refused to fight. The Quran states that two men urged the Israelites to put their trust in God and fight, however the people refused and told Moses "Go, you and your Lord, and fight. Indeed, we are remaining right here". Islamic tradition states that as punishment God forbade the land to them, for a period of forty years, during which they would remain wandering.

Years in the wilderness

Revelation of the Torah

The Revelation of the Torah at Mount Sinai as depicted in Biblical illustrations.

After leaving the promised land, Moses led the Israelites to Mount Sinai (Mount Tur). Upon arrival, Moses left the people, instructing them that Aaron was to be their leader during his absence. Moses was commanded by God to fast for thirty days and to then proceed to the valley of Tuwa for guidance. God ordered Moses to fast again for ten days before returning. After completing his fasts, Moses returned to the spot where he had first received his miracles from God. He took off his shoes as before and went down into prostration. Moses prayed to God for guidance, and he begged God to reveal himself to him. It is narrated in the Qur'an that God told him that it would not be possible for Moses to perceive God, but that He would reveal himself to the mountain stating: "By no means canst thou see Me (direct); But look upon the mount; if it abide in its place, then shalt thou see Me." When God revealed himself to the mountain, it instantaneously turned into ashes, and Moses lost consciousness. When he recovered, he went down in total submission and asked forgiveness of God.

Moses was then given the Ten Commandments by God as Guidance and as Mercy. Meanwhile, in his absence, a man named Samiri had created a Golden Calf, proclaiming it to be the God of Moses. The people began to worship it. Aaron attempted to guide them away from the Golden Calf, but the Israelites refused to do so until Moses had returned. Moses, having thus received the scriptures for his people, was informed by God that the Israelites had been tested in his absence and they had gone astray by worshiping the Golden Calf. Moses came down from the mountain and returned to his people. The Quran states that Moses, in his anger, grabbed hold of Aaron by his beard and admonished him for doing nothing to stop them. But when Aaron told Moses of his fruitless attempt to stop them, Moses understood his helplessness and they both prayed to God for forgiveness. Moses then questioned Samiri for creating the Golden Calf. Samiri replied that it had occurred to him and he had done so. Samiri was exiled and the Golden Calf was burned to ashes, and the ashes were thrown into the sea. The wrong-doers who had worshipped the Calf were ordered to be killed for their crime.

Moses then chose seventy elites from among the Israelites and ordered them to pray for forgiveness. Shortly thereafter, the elders traveled alongside Moses to witness the speech between Moses and God. Despite witnessing the speech between them, they refused to believe until they saw God with their own eyes, so as punishment, a thunderbolt killed them. Moses prayed for their forgiveness, and they were resurrected and returned to camp and set up a tent dedicated to worshiping God as Aaron had taught them from the Torah. They resumed their journey towards the promised land.

The Israelites and the cow

Islamic exegesis narrates the incident of an old and pious man who lived among the Israelites. He used to earn his living honestly. As he was dying, he placed his wife, his little son and his only possession, a calf in God's care, and instructed his wife to take the calf and leave it in a forest. His wife did as she was told, and after a few years when the son had grown up, she informed him about the calf. The son traveled to the forest with a rope. He prostrated and prayed to God to return the calf to him. As the son prayed, the now-grown cow stopped beside him. The son took the cow with him. The son was also pious and used to earn his living as a lumberjack.

One wealthy man among the Israelites died and left his wealth to his son. The relatives of the wealthy son secretly murdered the son in order to inherit his wealth. The other relatives of the son came to Moses and asked his help in tracing the killers. Moses instructed them to slaughter a cow and cut out its tongue, and then place it on the corpse, and that this would reveal the killers. This confused the relatives who did not believe Moses, and did not understand why they were instructed to slaughter a cow when they were trying to find the killers. They accused Moses of joking, but Moses managed to convince them that he was serious.

Out of what Islamic scholars agreed, the relatives asked the type and age of the cow they should slaughter out of tardiness and implicit desire to delay, but Moses told them that it was neither old nor young but in-between the two ages. Instead of searching for the cow described, they inquired about its colour, to which Moses replied that it was yellow. They asked Moses for more details, and he informed them that it was unyoked, and did not plow the soil nor did it water the tilth. The relatives and Moses went in search of the described cow, but the only cow that they found to fit the description belonged to the orphaned youth. The youth refused to sell the cow without consulting his mother. All of them traveled together to the youth's home. The mother refused to sell the cow, despite the relatives constantly increasing the price. They urged the orphaned son to tell his mother to be more reasonable. However, the son refused to sell the cow without his mother's agreement, claiming that he would not sell it even if they offered to fill its skin with gold. At this the mother agreed to sell it for its skin filled with gold. The relatives and Moses consented, and the cow was slaughtered and the corpse was touched by the piece. The corpse rose back to life and revealed the identity of the killers.

Meeting with Khidr

According to a hadith, once when Moses delivered an impressive sermon, an Israelite inquired if there was anyone more knowledgeable than him. When Moses denied any such person existed, he received a revelation from God, which admonished Moses for not attributing absolute knowledge to God and informed Moses that there was someone named Khidr who was more knowledgeable than him. Upon inquiry, God informed Moses that Khidr would be found at the junction of two seas. God instructed Moses to take a live fish and at the location where it would escape, Khidr would be found. Afterwards Moses departed and traveled alongside with Joshua (Yeshua bin Nun), until they stopped near a rock where Moses rested. While Moses was asleep, the fish escaped from the basket. When Moses woke up, they continued until they stopped for eating. At that moment, Joshua remembered that the fish had slipped from the basket at the rock. He informed Moses about the fish, and Moses remembered God's statement, so they retraced their steps back to the rock. There they saw Khidr. Moses approached Khidr and greeted him. Khidr instead asked Moses how people were greeted in their land. Moses introduced himself, and Khidr identified him as the prophet of the Israelites. According to the Quran, Moses asked Khidr "shall I closely follow you on condition that you teach me of what you have been taught". Khidr warned that he would not be able to remain patient and consented on the condition that Moses would not question his actions.

They walked on the seashore and passed by a ship. The crew of the ship recognized Khidr and offered them to come aboard their ship without any price. When they were on the boat, Khidr took an adze and pulled up a plank. When Moses noticed what Khidr was doing, he was astonished and stopped him. Moses reminded Khidr that the crew had taken them aboard freely. Khidr admonished Moses for forgetting his promise of not asking. Moses stated that he had forgotten and asked to be forgiven. When they left the seashore, they passed by a boy playing with others. Khidr took a hold of the boy's head and killed him. Moses was again astonished by this action and questioned Khidr regarding what he had done. Khidr admonished Moses again for not keeping his promise, and Moses apologized and asked Khidr to leave him if he again questioned Khidr. Both of them traveled on until they came along some people of a village. They asked the villagers for food, but the inhabitants refused to entertain them as guests. They saw therein a wall which was about to collapse, and Khidr repaired the wall. Moses asked Khidr why he had repaired the wall when the inhabitants had refused to entertain them as guests and had not given them food. Moses stated that Khidr could have taken wages for his work.

Khidr informed Moses that they were now to part as Moses had broken his promise. Khidr then explained each of his actions. He informed Moses that he had broken the ship with the adze because a ruler who reigned in those parts took all functional ships by force, Khidr had created a defect in order to prevent their ship from being taken by force. Khidr then explained that he had killed the child because he was disobedient to his parents and Khidr feared that the child would overburden them with his disobedience, and explained that God would replace him with a better one who was more obedient and had more affection. Khidr then explained that he had fixed the wall because it belonged to two hapless children whose father was pious. God wished to reward them for their piety. Khidr stated that there was a treasure hidden underneath the wall and by repairing the wall now, the wall would break in the future and when dealing with the broken wall, the orphans would find the treasure.

Other incidents

The sayings of Muhammad (hadith), Islamic literature and Quranic exegesis also narrate some incidents of the life of Moses. Moses used to bathe apart from the other Israelites who all bathed together. This led the Bani Israel to say that Moses did so due to a scrotal hernia. One day when Moses was bathing in seclusion, he put his clothes on a stone which then fled with his clothes. Moses rushed after the stone and the Bani Israel saw him and said, 'By Allah, Moses has got no defect in his body." Moses then beat the stone with his cloths, and Abu Huraira stated, "By Allah! There are still six or seven marks present on the stone from that excessive beating." . In a hadith, Muhammad states that the stone still had three to five marks due to Moses hitting it.

In the sayings of Muhammad, another incident is mentioned regarding Moses. Moses is mentioned to have requested God for a confrontation with the prophet Adam, who brought them out of Paradise (Jannah). When God showed him Adam, Moses questioned Adam if he was their ancestor. Adam replied in the affirmative. Moses then asked Adam whether he was the person whom God taught the names of all things, blew His spirit into and ordered his angels to prostrate before. Adam again replied in the affirmative and Moses questioned him as to what led him out of Paradise. Adam asked Moses about his identity. When Moses revealed himself, Adam questioned Moses regarding whether he was the prophet of the Israelites, to whom God spoke from behind a veil and chose to be a messenger. Moses replied he was, and Adam asked Moses if he did not find his accident written in the Book of God. Moses replied that it was, and Adam then questioned Moses as to why he reproached him for something that was decreed by God forty years before his creation.

Death

Maqamu Musa, Jerico, Jerusalam

Aaron died shortly before Moses. It is reported in a sunni hadith that when the angel of death, came to Moses, Moses slapped him in the eye. The angel returned to God and told him that Moses did not want to die. God told the angel to return and tell Moses to put his hand on the back of an ox and for every hair that came under his hand he would be granted a year of life. When Moses asked God what would happen after the granted time, God informed him that he would die after the period. Moses, therefore, requested God for death at his current age near the Promised Land "at a distance of a stone's throw from it."

Isra and Mi'raj

During his Night Journey (Isra), Muhammad is known to have led Moses along with Jesus, Abraham and all other prophets in prayer. Moses is mentioned to be among the prophets which Muhammad met during his ascension to heaven (Mi'raj) alongside Gabriel.

According to the Sunni view: Moses and Muhammad are reported to have exchanged greeting with each other and he is reported to have cried due to the fact that the followers of Muhammad were going to enter Heaven in greater numbers than his followers. When God enjoined fifty prayers to the community to Muhammad and his followers, Muhammad once again encountered Moses, who asked what had been commanded by God. When Moses was told about the fifty prayers, he advised Muhammad to ask a reduction in prayers for his followers. When Muhammad returned to God and asked for a reduction, he was granted his request. Once again he met Moses, who again inquired about the command of God. Despite the reduction, Moses again urged Muhammad to ask for a reduction. Muhammad again returned and asked for a reduction. This continued until only five prayers were remaining. When Moses again told Muhammad to ask for a reduction, Muhammad replied that he was shy of asking again. Therefore, the five prayers were finally enjoined upon the Muslim community.

Title

Kalimullah

Moses is given the title Kalimullah (Arabic: كليم الله‎, translit. Kalīmullāh, Meaning: The one who talked to Allah) in Islam.

In Islamic thought

Moses with a cane in his hand, 15th century Persian miniature, Czartoryski Museum

Moses is revered as a prominent prophet and messenger in Islam, his narrative is recounted the most among the prophets in the Qur'an. He is regarded by Muslims of as one of the six most prominent prophets in Islam along with Jesus (Isa), Abraham (Ibrahim), Noah (Nuh), Adam (Adem) and Muhammad. He is among the Ulu’l azm prophets, the prophets that were favoured by God and are described in the Quran to be endowed with determination and perseverance. Islamic tradition describes Moses being granted two miracles, the glowing hand and his staff which could turn into a snake. The life of Moses is often described as a parallel to that of Muhammad. Both are regarded as being ethical and exemplary prophets. Both are regarded as lawgivers, ritual leaders, judges and the military leaders for their people. Islamic literature also identifies a parallel between their followers and the incidents of their history. The exodus of the Israelites is often viewed as a parallel to the migration of the followers of Muhammad. The drowning and destruction of the Pharaoh and his army is also described to be a parallel to the Battle of Badr. In Islamic tradition along with other miracles bestowed to Moses such as the radiant hand and his staff Moses is revered as being a prophet who was specially favored by God and conversed directly with Him, unlike other prophets who received revelation by God through an intervening angel. Moses received the Torah directly from God. Despite conversing with God, the Qur'an states that Moses was unable to see God. For these feats Moses is revered in Islam as Kalim Allah, meaning the one who talked with God.

Revealed scripture

A handwritten copy of the Torah.

In Islam, Moses is revered as the receiver of a scripture known as the Torah (Tawrat). The Quran describes the Torah to be “guidance and a light" for the Israelites and that it contained teachings about the Oneness of God, prophethood and the Day of Judgment. It is regarded as containing teachings and laws for the Israelites which was taught and practiced by Moses and Aaron to them. Among the books of the complete Hebrew Bible, only the Torah, meaning the books of Genesis, Deuteronomy, Numbers, Leviticus and Exodus are considered to divinely revealed instead of the whole Tanakh or the Old Testament. The Quran mentions the Ten Commandments given to the Israelites through Moses which it claims contained guidance and understanding of all things. The Qur'an states that the Torah was the "furqan" meaning difference, a term which the Quran is regarded as having used for itself as well. The Qur'an states that Moses preached the same message as Muhammad and the Torah foretold that arrival of Muhammad. Modern Muslim scholars such as Mark N. Swanson and David Richard Thomas cite Deuteronomy 18:15–18 as foretelling the arrival of Muhammad.

Islamic teachings state that the Torah has been corrupted (tahrif). The exact nature of the corruption has been discussed among scholars. The majority of Muslim scholars including Ibn Rabban and Ibn Qutayba have stated that the Torah had been distorted in its interpretation rather than in its text. The scholar Tabari considered the corruption to be caused by distortion of the meaning and interpretation of the Torah. Tabari considered the learned rabbis of producing writings alongside the Torah, which were based on their own interpretations of the text. The rabbis then reportedly "twisted their tongues" and made them appear as though they were from the Torah. In doing so, Al-Tabari concludes that they added to the Torah what was not originally part of it and these writings were used to denounce the prophet Muhammad and his followers. Tabari also states that these writings of the rabbis were mistaken by some Jews to be part of the Torah. A minoritiy view held among scholars such as Al-Maqdisi is that the text of the Torah itself was corrupted. Maqdisi claimed that the Torah had been distorted in the time of Moses, by the seventy elders when they came down from Mount Sinai. Maqdisi states that the Torah was further corrupted in the time of Ezra, when his disciples made additions and subtractions in the text narrated by Ezra. Maqdisi also stated that discrepancies between the Jewish Torah, the Samaritan Torah and the Greek Septuagint pointed to the fact that the Torah was corrupted. Ibn Hazm viewed the Torah of his era as a forgery and considered various verses as contradicting other parts of the Torah and the Quran. Ibn Hazm considered Ezra as the forger of the Torah, who dictated the Torah from his memory and made significant changes to the text. Ibn Hazm accepted some verses which he stated, foretold the arrival of Muhammad.

In religious sects

Sunni Muslims fast on the Day of Ashura to commemorate the liberation of the Israelites from the Pharaoh. Shia Muslims view Moses and his relation to Aaron as a prefiguration of the relation between Muhammad and his cousin, Ali ibn Abi Talib. Ismaili Shias regard Moses as 4th in the line of the seven 'speaking prophets' (natiq), whose revealed law was for all believers to follow. In Sufism Moses is regarded as having a special position, being described as a prophet as well as a spiritual wayfarer. The author Paul Nwyia notes that the Qur'anic accounts of Moses have inspired Sufi exegetes to "meditate upon his experience as being the entry into a direct relationship with God, so that later the Sufis would come to regard him as the perfect mystic called to enter into the mystery of God". Muslim scholars such as Norman Solomon and Timothy Winter state without naming that some Sufi commentators excused Moses from the consequence of his request to be granted a vision of God, as they considered that it was "the ecstasy of hearing God which compelled him to seek completion of union through vision". The Qur'anic account of the meeting of Moses and Khidr is also noted by Muslim writers as being of special importance in Sufi tradition. Some writers such as John Renard and Phyllis G. Jestice note that Sufi exegetes often explain the narrative by associating Moses for possessing exoteric knowledge while attributing esoteric knowledge to Khidr. The author John Renard states that Sufis consider this as a lesson, "to endure his apparently draconian authority in view of higher meanings".

In Islamic literature

Moses is also revered in Islamic literature, which narrates and explains different parts of the life of Moses. The Muslim scholar and mystic Rumi, who titles Moses as the "spirit enkindler" also includes a story of Moses and a shepherd in his book, the Masnavi. The story narrates the horror of Moses, when he encounters a shepherd who is engaged in anthropomorphic devotions to God. Moses accuses the shepherd of blasphemy; when the shepherd repents and leaves, Moses is rebuked by God for "having parted one of His servants from Him". Moses seeks out the shepherd and informs him that he was correct in his prayers. The authors Norman Solomon and Timothy Winter regard the story to be "intended as criticism of and warning to those who in order to avoid anthropomorphism, negate the Divine attributes". Rumi mainly mentions the life of Moses by his encounter with the burning tree, his white hand, his struggle with the Pharaoh and his conversation with God on Mount Sinai. According to Rumi, when Moses came across the tree in the valley of Tuwa and perceived the tree consumed by fire, he in fact saw the light of a "hundred dawns and sunrises". Rumi considered the light a "theater" of God and the personification of the love of God. Many versions of the conversation of Moses and God are presented by Rumi; in all versions Moses is commanded to remove his footwear, which is interpreted to mean his attention to the world. Rumi commented on the Quranic verse 4:162 considering the speech of God to be in a form accessible only to prophets instead of verbal sounds. Rumi considers the miracles given to Moses as assurance to him of the success of his prophethood and as a means of persuasion to him to accept his mission. Rumi regarded Moses as the most important of the messenger-prophets before Muhammad.

The Shi'a Quranic exegesis scholar and thinker Muhammad Husayn Tabatabaei, in his commentary Balance of Judgment on the Exegesis of the Qur'an attempted to show the infallibility of Moses in regard to his request for a vision of God and his breaking of his promise to Khidr as a part of the Shi'a doctorine of prophetic infallibility (Ismah). Tabatabaei attempted to solve the problem of vision by using various philosophical and theological arguments to state that the vision for God meant a necessary need for knowledge. According to Tabatabaei, Moses was not responsible for the promise broken to Khidr as he had added "God willing" after his promise. The Islamic reformist and activist Sayyid Qutb, also mentions Moses in his work, In the Shade of the Qur'an. Sayyid Qutb interpreted the narrative of Moses, keeping in view the sociological and political problems facing the Islamic world in his era; he considered the narrative of Moses to contain teachings and lessons for the problems which faced the Muslims of his era. According to Sayyid Qutb, when Moses was preaching to the Pharaoh, he was entering the "battle between faith and oppression". Qutb believed that Moses was an important figure in Islamic teachings as his narrative symbolized the struggle to "expel evil and establish righteousness in the world" which included the struggle from oppessive tyrants, a struggle which Qutb considered was the core teaching of the Islamic faith.

The Sixth Imam, Ja'far al-Sadiq, regarded the journey of Moses to Midian and to the valley of Tuwa as a spiritual journey. The turning of the face of Moses towards Midian is stated to be the turning of his heart towards God. His prayer to God asking for help of is described to be his awareness of his need. The commentary alleged to the Sixth Imam then states the command to remove his shoes symbolized the command to remove everything from his heart except God. These attributes are stated to result in him being honoured by God's speech. The Andalusian Sufi mystic and philosopher, Ibn Arabi wrote about Moses in his book The Bezels of Wisdom dedicating a chapter discussing "the Wisdom of Eminence in the word of Moses". Ibn Arabi considered Moses to be a "fusion" of the infants murdered by the Pharaoh, stating that the spiritual reward which God had chosen for each of the infants manifested in the character of Moses. According to Ibn Arabi, Moses was from birth an "amalgam" of younger spirits acting on older ones. Ibn Arabi considered the ark to be the personification of his humanity while the water of the river Nile to signifiy his imagination, rational thought and sense perception.

Burial place

Grave, Nabi Musa, Jerico-Jerusalam

Muslims believe that the grave of Moses is located at Maqam El-Nabi Musa, which lies 11 km (6.8 mi) south of Jericho and 20 km (12 mi) east of Jerusalem in the Judean wilderness. A side road to the right of the main Jerusalem-Jericho road, about 2 km (1.2 mi) beyond the sign indicating sea level, leads to the site. The Fatimid, Taiyabi and Dawoodi Bohra sects also believe in the same.

The main body of the present shrine, mosque, minaret and some rooms were built during the reign of Baibars, a Mamluk Sultan, in 1270 AD. Over the years Nebi Musa was expanded, protected by walls, and includes 120 rooms in its two levels which hosted the visitors.

See also

• Biblical narratives and the Quran# Moses— Comparison between the Quranic and Biblical accounts of Moses.
• Moses in rabbinic literature— A rabbinic view of Moses and his life.
• Moses in Judeo-Hellenistic literature
• Burning bush— The bush through which some believe God spoke to Moses.
• Scrolls of Moses—Another scripture believed to be given to Moses in Islam.
• Tawrat—an Islamic view of the Torah.
• Ten Commandments— the ten commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai.
• Biblical Mount Sinai— Mount Sinai as viewed in Biblical tradition.
• Prophets of Islam—for other characters viewed as Prophets in Islam.
• Aaron— also known as Harun, the brother of Moses.
• Amram— the father of Moses and Aaron.
• Jochebed— also known as Aisha the mother of Moses and Aaron in Biblical tradition.
• Miriam— the sister of Moses in Biblical tradition.

References

References in the Quran

• Appraisals of Moses: 2:136, 4:164, 6:84, 6:154, 7:134, 7:142, 19:51–52, 20:9, 20:13, 20:36–37, 20:41, 25:35, 26:10, 26:21, 27:8–9, 28:7, 28:14, 33:69, 37:114, 37:118–122, 44:17
• Moses' attributes: 7:150, 20:94, 28:15, 28:19, 28:26
• Moses' prophecy: 7:144, 20:10–24, 26:10, 26:21, 27:7–12, 28:29–35, 28:46, 79:15–19,
• The prophet whom God spoke to: 2:253, 4:164, 7:143–144, 19:52, 20:11–24, 20:83–84, 26:10–16, 27:8–11, 28:30–35, 28:46, 79:16–19,
• The Torah: 2:41–44, 2:53, 2:87, 3:3,3:48, 3:50, 3:65, 3:93, 5:43–46, 5:66–68, 5:110, 6:91, 6:154–157, 7:145, 7:154–157, 9:111, 11:110, 17:2, 21:48, 23:49, 25:35, 28:43, 32:23, 37:117, 40:53, 41:45, 46:12, 48:29, 53:36, 61:6, 62:5 87:19
• The valley: 20:12, 20:20, 28:30, 79:16
• Moses' miracle: 2:56, 2:60, 2:92, 2:211, 7:107–108, 7:117–120, 7:160, 11:96, 17:101, 20:17–22, 20:69, 20:77, 26:30–33, 26:45, 26:63, 27:10–12, 27:12, 28:31–32, 40:23, 40:28, 43:46, 44:19, 44:33, 51:38, 79:20
• Moses and the Pharaoh
  • Moses' life inside the palace: 20:38–39, 26:18, 28:8–12,
  • Returned to his mother: 20:40, 28:12–13,
  • God's revelation to Moses' mother: 20:38–39, 28:7–10,
  • Moses' preaching: 7:103–129, 10:84, 20:24, 20:42–51, 23:45, 26:10–22, 28:3, 43:46, 44:18, 51:38, 73:15–17,
  • Moses met the Pharaoh: 20:58–59, 20:64–66, 26:38–44,
  • The Pharaoh's magicians: 7:111–116, 10:79–80, 20:60–64, 26:37–44,
  • Moses vs. the magicians: 7:115–122, 10:80–81, 20:61–70, 26:43–48,
  • Dispute among the magicians: 20:62, 26:44–47,
  • Moses warned the magicians: 10:81, 20:61
  • Moses and Aaron were suspected to be magicians too: 7:109, 7:132, 10:76–77, 17:101, 20:63, 40:24, 43:49
  • Belief of the magicians: 7:119–126, 20:70, 26:46–50,
  • The belief of Asiya: 66:11
  • Trial to Pharaoh's family: 7:130–135,
  • Pharaoh's weakness: 7:103–126, 10:75, 11:97–98, 17:102, 20:51, 23:46–47, 25:36, 26:11, 26:23–49, 28:36–39, 29:39, 38:12, 40:24–37, 43:51–54, 44:17–22, 50:13, 51:39, 54:41–42, 69:9, 73:16, 79:21–24,
  • Moses and his followers went away: 20:77, 26:52–63, 44:23–24,
  • Moses and his followers were safe: 2:50, 7:138, 10:90, 17:103, 20:78–80, 26:65, 37:115–116, 44:30–31,
  • Pharaoh's belief was too late: 10:90–91,
  • Pharaoh's and his army: 2:50, 3:11, 7:136–137, 8:52–54, 10:88–92, 17:103, 20:78–79, 23:48, 25:36, 26:64–66, 28:40, 29:40, 40:45, 43:55–56, 44:24–29, 51:40, 54:42, 69:10, 73:16, 79:25, 85:17–18, 89:13
  • Believer among Pharaoh's family: 40:28–45
  • The Pharaoh punished the Israelites: 2:49, 7:124–141, 10:83, 14:6, 20:71, 26:22, 26:49, 28:4, 40:25
  • The Pharaohs and Haman were among the rejected: 10:83, 11:97, 28:4–8, 28:32, 28:42, 29:39, 40:36, 44:31
• Moses killed an Egyptian: 20:40, 26:19–21, 28:15–19, 28:33
• Moses' journey to Median:
  • Moses and Jethro: 28:25–28,
  • Moses and two daughters of Shoaib.: 28:23–27,
• The people who insulted Moses: 33:69
• Travel to the Promised Land
  • The Israelites entered the Promised Land: 2:58, 5:21–23,
  • Moses' dialogue with God: 2:51, 7:142–143, 7:155, 20:83–84,
  • The Israelites worshipped the calf: 2:51–54, 2:92–93, 4:153, 7:148–152, 20:85–92,
  • Seven Israelites with Moses met God: 7:155
  • Moses and Samiri: 20:95–97,
  • God manifested himself to the mountain: 7:143
• Refusal of the Israelites: 2:246–249, 3:111, 5:22–24, 59:14
• Attributes of the Israelites: 2:41–44, 2:55–59, 2:61–71 2:74–76, 2:83–90, 2:93–96, 2:100, 2:104, 2:108, 2:140–142, 2:246–249, 3:24, 3:71, 3:75, 3:112, 3:181, 3:183, 4:44, 4:46–47, 4:49, 4:51, 4:53–54, 4:153, 4:155–156, 4:161, 5:13, 5:20, 5:24, 5:42–43, 5:57–58, 5:62–64, 5:70, 5:79–82, 7:134, 7:138–139, 7:149, 7:160, 7:162–163, 7:169, 9:30–31, 9:34, 16:118, 17:4, 17:101, 20:85–87, 20:92, 58:8, 59:14
• Moses and Khidir: 18:60–82,
• Qarun: 28:76–82, 29:39–40

External links

• The Qur'anic Verses About Moses
• Detailed Islamic Narrative of Moses by Ibn Kathir
• Muslim view of Moses