Pharaoh of Egypt saw a dream. Dream interpreters told him that an Israeli lad would be the cause of the end of him and his empire. Pharaoh ordered every male child born in any Israeli family to be killed and a special department with staff was established to ensure compliance.
When Moses was born, Pharaoh’s people were spying on every Israeli family. Moses’ father Emran, mother Jochabed, and other relatives were in real trouble. They managed to hide little Moses for three months but it was not possible to keep him safe longer.
God inspired his mother to prepare a coffin-like wooden box, paint it red, put the child in it, and let it float in the river Nile. She told her daughter to follow the box downstream and see where it ended up.
The box floated and reached the place where the queen of Egypt and her maidservants were bathing. When the queen saw the box, she ordered her attendants to retrieve it. When opened, a healthy, charming baby was found sucking his thumb. The queen, who had no child, picked him up in her lap.
God inspired her to adopt the child as her son. Pharaoh and his courtiers doubted, but the queen argued that if she raised him as her son, he would not harm them. She said this child would carry Pharaoh’s name into the generations and be solace for them.
The queen named him Moses, meaning the one taken out from water.
The queen appointed royal nurses to feed him but he did not suck milk from any. Moses’ sister offered to arrange a nurse. Thus, God returned Moses to his mother, who nursed him.
Quran (S:20, 37-40): “We sent to thy mother, by inspiration, the message: Throw the child into the chest, and throw the chest into the river. The river will cast him up on the bank, and he will be taken up by one who is an enemy to Me and to him. But I cast love over thee from Me so thou may be reared under Mine eye. Thy sister went forth and said, shall I show you one who will nurse the child? So We brought thee back to thy mother that her eye might be cooled and she should not grieve.”
When Moses grew to youth, he was stout, handsome, and brave. He realized he was an Israeli and sympathized with his people, who were humiliated by the Egyptians.
Once Moses saw an Egyptian dragging an Israeli for forced labor. When the Israeli pleaded for help, Moses struck the Egyptian in rage, unintentionally killing him. He sought forgiveness from God, who forgave him.
The next day, when another fight broke out, the same Israeli exposed Moses by shouting that he had killed an Egyptian. Pharaoh ordered Moses’ arrest, and Moses fled to Madyan.
In Madyan, Moses helped two girls at a well. Their father, Prophet Shuaib, hosted him. Shuaib later offered his daughter in marriage if Moses would serve him for eight to ten years. Moses agreed, stayed, and married her.
On his way back to Egypt, Moses saw a fire at Mount Sinai.
Quran (S:20, 10): “Behold, he saw a fire. He said to his family, stay here, I perceive a fire, perhaps I can bring you a brand or find guidance.”
When he approached, the fire was burning but did not consume the bush. A voice called out: O Moses! Verily I am thy Lord. Remove thy shoes, thou art in the sacred valley Tuwa. I have chosen thee. Verily, I am Allah. There is no god but I. Serve Me and establish prayer for My praise. (S:20, 12-14)
God gave Moses miracles: his staff turned into a dragon and his hand shone with light. He was commanded to confront Pharaoh with his brother Aaron.
Pharaoh mocked him, reminding him of his upbringing and accusing him of murder. Moses replied, My Lord is the Creator of the heavens, the earth, and all between.
When Pharaoh demanded proof, Moses showed his signs. Pharaoh gathered magicians who threw ropes that became snakes. Moses’ staff turned into a great dragon and swallowed them. The magicians believed in Moses and God, angering Pharaoh, who executed them.
God sent plagues: lice, flies, frogs, livestock disease, and famine. Still Pharaoh refused.
Finally, God commanded Moses to lead the Israelites out. The sea parted with Moses’ staff, and they crossed safely. Pharaoh and his army drowned. God preserved Pharaoh’s body as a sign for future generations.
In the desert, the Israelites demanded water, food, and shade. God provided water from a rock, manna and quail, and clouds for shade. Yet they complained, asking for onions, garlic, lentils, and cucumbers instead.
God gave Moses the Torah on Mount Sinai. When Moses asked to see God, the mountain crumbled, and he fell unconscious. God said: “O Moses, I have chosen thee. Take My Revelation with firmness.” (S:7, 144-145)
In Moses’ absence, Samiri misled the Israelites into worshipping a golden calf. When Moses returned, he destroyed it and punished the guilty.
Later, God tested them again. They were ordered to slaughter a cow, proving it had no holiness. The slaughter revealed a murderer and showed life and death are in God’s hands.
Another key story is Moses’ meeting with Khizar, the servant of God, at the merging rivers. God taught Moses through Khizar that divine wisdom often surpasses human understanding.
Khizar damaged a boat, killed a boy, and repaired a wall. Moses questioned each act but Khizar explained: the boat was saved from a tyrant king, the boy replaced with a righteous child, and the wall guarded orphans’ treasure. This showed God’s hidden wisdom in events. (S:18, 78-82)