Moses in The Quran

By: Maged Taman:

1- God revealed himself to Moses:

وَهَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ مُوسَى (20:9) (Picktall) Hath there come unto thee the story of Moses?
إِذْ رَأَى نَارًا فَقَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ امْكُثُوا إِنِّي آنَسْتُ نَارًا لَّعَلِّي آتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِقَبَسٍ أَوْ أَجِدُ عَلَى النَّارِ هُدًى (20:10)
20:10 (Picktall) When he saw a fire and said unto his folk: Wait! I see a fire afar off. Peradventure I may bring you a brand therefrom or may find guidance at the fire.
فَلَمَّا أَتَاهَا نُودِي يَا مُوسَى (20:11)
20:11 (Picktall) And when he reached it, he was called by name: O Moses!
إِنِّي أَنَا رَبُّكَ فَاخْلَعْ نَعْلَيْكَ إِنَّكَ بِالْوَادِ الْمُقَدَّسِ طُوًى (20:12)
20:12 (Picktall) Lo! I, even I, am thy Lord. So take off thy shoes, for Lo! thou art in the holy valley of Tuwa.
وَأَنَا اخْتَرْتُكَ فَاسْتَمِعْ لِمَا يُوحَى (20:13) 20:13 (Picktall) And I have chosen thee, so hearken unto that which is inspired.
إِنَّنِي أَنَا اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدْنِي وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِذِكْرِي (20:14) 20:14 (Picktall) Lo! I, even I, am Allah. There is no God save Me. So serve Me and establish worship for My remembrance.
إِنَّ السَّاعَةَ ءاَتِيَةٌ أَكَادُ أُخْفِيهَا لِتُجْزَى كُلُّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا تَسْعَى (20:15)
20:15 (Picktall) Lo! the Hour is surely coming. But I will to keep it hidden, that every soul may be rewarded for that which it striveth (to achieve).
فَلاَ يَصُدَّنَّكَ عَنْهَا مَنْ لاَ يُؤْمِنُ بِهَا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ فَتَرْدَى (20:16) 20:16 (Picktall) Therefor, let not him turn thee aside from (the thought of) it who believeth not therein but followeth his own desire, lest thou perish.
وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يَا مُوسَى (20:17)
20:17 (Picktall) And what is that in thy right hand, O Moses?
قَالَ هِيَ عَصَايَ أَتَوَكَّأُ عَلَيْهَا وَأَهُشُّ بِهَا عَلَى غَنَمِي وَلِيَ فِيهَا مَآرِبُ أُخْرَى (20:18) 20:18 (Picktall) He said: This is my staff whereon I lean, and wherewith I beat down branches for my sheep, and wherein I find other uses.
قَالَ أَلْقِهَا يَا مُوسَى (20:19) 20:19 (Picktall) He said: Cast it down, O Moses!
فَأَلْقَاهَا فَإِذَا هِيَ حَيَّةٌ تَسْعَى (20:20
20:20 (Picktall) So he cast it down, and Lo! it was a serpent, gliding.
قَالَ خُذْهَا وَلَا تَخَفْ سَنُعِيدُهَا سِيرَتَهَا الْأُولَى (20:21)
20:21 (Picktall) He said: Grasp it and fear not. We shall return it to its former state.
وَاضْمُمْ يَدَكَ إِلَى جَنَاحِكَ تَخْرُجْ بَيْضَاء مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوءٍ آيَةً أُخْرَى (20:22)
20:22 (Picktall) And thrust thy hand within thine armpit, it will come forth white without hurt. (That will be) another token.
لِنُرِيَكَ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا الْكُبْرَى (20:23)
20:23 (Picktall) That We may show thee (some) of Our greater portents,

2- God sent Moses to Pharaoh: This was the first main message of God is to send Moses to Pharaoh who became a tyrant and oppressive against the Children of Israel.

اذْهَبَا إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغَى (20:43)
20:43 (Picktall) Go, both of you, unto Pharaoh. Lo! he hath transgressed (the bounds).
فَقُولَا لَهُ قَوْلًا لَّيِّنًا لَّعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَى (20:44)
20:44 (Picktall) And speak unto him a gentle word, that peradventure he may heed or fear.
قَالَا رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا نَخَافُ أَن يَفْرُطَ عَلَيْنَا أَوْ أَن يَطْغَى (20:45)
20:45 (Picktall) They said: Our Lord! Lo! we fear that he may be beforehand with us or that he may play the tyrant.
قَالَ لَا تَخَافَا إِنَّنِي مَعَكُمَا أَسْمَعُ وَأَرَى (20:46)
20:46 (Picktall) He said: Fear not. Lo! I am with you twain, Hearing and Seeing.
فَأْتِيَاهُ فَقُولَا إِنَّا رَسُولَا رَبِّكَ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعَنَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَلَا تُعَذِّبْهُمْ قَدْ جِئْنَاكَ بِآيَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَى (20:47)
20:47 (Picktall) So go ye unto him and say: Lo! we are two messengers of thy Lord. So let the Children of Israel go with us, and torment them not. We bring thee a token from thy Lord And peace will be for him who followeth right guidance.

3- Moses message was to all people particularly the children of Israel:

قَالَ يَا مُوسَى إِنِّي اصْطَفَيْتُكَ عَلَى النَّاسِ بِرِسَالاَتِي وَبِكَلاَمِي فَخُذْ مَا آتَيْتُكَ وَكُن مِّنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ (7:144) 7:144 (Picktall) He said : O moses ! I have preferred thee above mankind by My messages and by My speaking (unto thee). So hold that which I have given thee, and be among the thankful.

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مُوسَى بِآيَاتِنَا أَنْ أَخْرِجْ قَوْمَكَ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ وَذَكِّرْهُمْ بِأَيَّامِ اللّهِ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لآيَاتٍ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ (14:5) 14:5 (Picktall) We verily sent moses with Our revelations, saying: Bring thy people forth from darkness unto light. And remind them of the days of Allah. Lo! therein are revelations for each steadfast, thankful (heart).

4- God talked to Moses, however he did not see God: Moses was believing in God however humans like to see to believe. God showed Moses that he would not be able as well all humans to see him in this life.

وَكَلَّمَهُ رَبُّهُ قَالَ رَبِّ أَرِنِي أَنظُرْ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ لَن تَرَانِي وَلَـكِنِ انظُرْ إِلَى الْجَبَلِ فَإِنِ اسْتَقَرَّ مَكَانَهُ فَسَوْفَ تَرَانِي فَلَمَّا تَجَلَّى رَبُّهُ لِلْجَبَلِ جَعَلَهُ دَكًّا وَخَرَّ موسَى صَعِقًا فَلَمَّا أَفَاقَ قَالَ سُبْحَانَكَ تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَأَنَاْ أَوَّلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (7:143) 7:143 (Picktall) And when moses came to Our appointed tryst and his Lord had spoken unto him, he said: My Lord! Show me (Thy self), that I may gaze upon Thee. He said: Thou wilt not see Me, but gaze upon the mountain! If it stand still in its place, then thou wilt see Me. And when his Lord revealed (His) glory to the mountain He sent it crashing down. And moses fell down senseless. And when he woke he said: Glory unto Thee! I turn unto Thee repentant, and I am the first of (true) believers. -

5- God gave Moses the miracles that support his prophethood:

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى تِسْعَ آيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ فَاسْأَلْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِذْ جَاءهُمْ فَقَالَ لَهُ فِرْعَونُ إِنِّي لَأَظُنُّكَ يَا مُوسَى مَسْحُورًا (17:101) 17:101 (Picktall) And verily We gave unto moses nine tokens, clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty). Do but ask the Children of Israel how he came unto them, then Pharaoh said unto him: Lo! I deem thee one bewitched, O moses.

6- As happened with all prophets tyranny stands to prophets:

قَالُواْ أَجِئْتَنَا لِتَلْفِتَنَا عَمَّا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءنَا وَتَكُونَ لَكُمَا الْكِبْرِيَاء فِي الأَرْضِ وَمَا نَحْنُ لَكُمَا بِمُؤْمِنِينَ (10:78) 10:78 (Picktall) They said: Hast thou come unto us to pervert us from that (faith) in which we found our fathers, and that you two may own the place of greatness in the land? We will not believe you two.

وَلَقَدْ أَرَيْنَاهُ آيَاتِنَا كُلَّهَا فَكَذَّبَ وَأَبَى (20:56)
20:56 (Picktall) And We verily did show him all Our tokens(Pharoah), but he denied them and refused.

7- Thus Moses kept the call to God to mostly his people:

فَمَا آمَنَ لِمُوسَى إِلاَّ ذُرِّيَّةٌ مِّن قَوْمِهِ عَلَى خَوْفٍ مِّن فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِمْ أَن يَفْتِنَهُمْ وَإِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ لَعَالٍ فِي الأَرْضِ وَإِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْمُسْرِفِينَ (10:83) 10:83 (Picktall) But none trusted moses, save some scions of his people, (and they were) in fear of Pharaoh and their chiefs, that they would persecute them. Lo! Pharaoh was verily a tyrant in the land, and Lo! he verily was of the wanton.

وَقَالَ مُوسَى يَا قَوْمِ إِن كُنتُمْ آمَنتُم بِاللّهِ فَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلُواْ إِن كُنتُم مُّسْلِمِينَ (10:84) 10:84 (Picktall) And moses said: O my people! If ye have believed in Allah then put trust in Him, if ye have indeed surrendered (unto Him)!

وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى مُوسَى وَأَخِيهِ أَن تَبَوَّءَا لِقَوْمِكُمَا بِمِصْرَ بُيُوتًا وَاجْعَلُواْ بُيُوتَكُمْ قِبْلَةً وَأَقِيمُواْ الصَّلاَةَ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (10:87) 10:87 (Picktall) And We inspired moses and his brother, (saying): Appoint houses for your people in Egypt and make your houses oratories, and establish worship. And give good news to the believers.

8- When Pharaoh continued in his tyranny Moses called into God for victory:

وَقَالَ الْمَلأُ مِن قَوْمِ فِرْعَونَ أَتَذَرُ مُوسَى وَقَوْمَهُ لِيُفْسِدُواْ فِي الأَرْضِ وَيَذَرَكَ وَآلِهَتَكَ قَالَ سَنُقَتِّلُ أَبْنَاءهُمْ وَنَسْتَحْيِـي نِسَاءهُمْ وَإِنَّا فَوْقَهُمْ قَاهِرُونَ (7:127) 7:127 (Picktall) The chiefs of Pharaoh's people said: (O King), wilt thou suffer moses and his people to make mischief in the land, and flout thee and thy gods? He said: We will slay their sons and spare their women, for lo! we are in power over them.

وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ ذَرُونِي أَقْتُلْ مُوسَى وَلْيَدْعُ رَبَّهُ إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَن يُبَدِّلَ دِينَكُمْ أَوْ أَن يُظْهِرَ فِي الْأَرْضِ الْفَسَادَ (40:26) 40:26 (Picktall) And Pharaoh said: Suffer me to kill moses, and let him cry unto his Lord. Lo! I fear that he will alter your religion or that he will cause confusion in the land.

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَى لِقَوْمِهِ يَا قَوْمِ لِمَ تُؤْذُونَنِي وَقَد تَّعْلَمُونَ أَنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ فَلَمَّا زَاغُوا أَزَاغَ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمْ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْفَاسِقِينَ (61:5) 61:5 (Picktall) And (remember) when moses said unto his people: O my people! Why persecute ye me, when ye well know that I am Allah's messenger unto you? So when they went astray Allah sent their hearts astray. And Allah guideth not the evil-living folk.

وَقَالَ مُوسَى رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ آتَيْتَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلأهُ زِينَةً وَأَمْوَالاً فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا رَبَّنَا لِيُضِلُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِكَ رَبَّنَا اطْمِسْ عَلَى أَمْوَالِهِمْ وَاشْدُدْ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَلاَ يُؤْمِنُواْ حَتَّى يَرَوُاْ الْعَذَابَ الأَلِيمَ (10:88) 10:88 (Picktall) And moses said: Our Lord! Lo! Thou hast given Pharaoh and his chiefs splendor and riches in the life of the world, Our Lord! that they may lead men astray from Thy way. Our Lord! Destroy their riches and harden their hearts so that they believe not till they see the painful doom.

9- Pharaoh continued in his tyranny and chased Moses to his death:

وَلَقَدْ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى مُوسَى أَنْ أَسْرِ بِعِبَادِي فَاضْرِبْ لَهُمْ طَرِيقًا فِي الْبَحْرِ يَبَسًا لَّا تَخَافُ دَرَكًا وَلَا تَخْشَى (20:77) 20:77 (Picktall) And verily We inspired Moses, saying: Take away My slaves by night and strike for them a dry path in the sea, fearing not to be overtaken, neither being afraid (of the sea).
فَأَتْبَعَهُمْ فِرْعَوْنُ بِجُنُودِهِ فَغَشِيَهُم مِّنَ الْيَمِّ مَا غَشِيَهُمْ (20:78) 20:78 (Picktall) Then Pharaoh followed with his hosts and there covered them that which did cover them of the sea.
وَأَضَلَّ فِرْعَوْنُ قَوْمَهُ وَمَا هَدَى (20:79) 20:79 (Picktall) And Pharaoh led his folk astray, he did not guide them.

10- Moses and the Children of Israel started new life:

وَإِذْ فَرَقْنَا بِكُمُ الْبَحْرَ فَأَنجَيْنَاكُمْ وَأَغْرَقْنَا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ (2:50) 2:50 (Picktall) And when We brought you through the sea and rescued you, and drowned the folk of Pharaoh in your sight.

11- God revealed the Torah and the ten commandments to Moses:

وَآتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلْنَاهُ هُدًى لِّبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَلاَّ تَتَّخِذُواْ مِن دُونِي وَكِيلاً (17:2) 17:2 (Picktall) We gave unto moses the Scripture, and We appointed it a guidance for the Children of Israel, saying: Choose no guardian beside Me. -

12- Of the followers of Moses those who continue in guidance and justice:

وَمِن قَوْمِ مُوسَى أُمَّةٌ يَهْدُونَ بِالْحَقِّ وَبِهِ يَعْدِلُونَ (7:159) 7:159 (Picktall) And of moses' folk there is a community who lead with truth and establish justice therewith.