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Musa (Moses), Kalim Allah, the prophet of the Children of Israel
Life of the Prophet Musa (Moses)
Historical Setting and Birth
- Period: around 1500-1400 BC
- Place: ancient Egypt under the rule of Pharaoh
- Setting: the persecution of the Children of Israel
A Miraculous Childhood
Divine Protection
- His mother is inspired by Allah to place him in a basket on the Nile
- The basket is taken up by Pharaoh's household
- Asiya, Pharaoh's wife, takes him under her protection
- He miraculously refuses every wet nurse but his own mother
Youth in the Palace
- A princely education at Pharaoh's court
- The forming of a leader's qualities
- Awareness of his Hebrew identity
- Standing up for the oppressed
The Divine Revelation
The Signs Granted to Him
- The staff turning into a serpent
- The hand shining with light
- The parting of the sea
- Water gushing from the rock
Confronting Pharaoh
- The dialogue with Pharaoh
- The showing of the signs
- The contest with the magicians
- The plagues of Egypt
The Gathering
- The departure from Egypt with the Children of Israel
- The crossing of the sea — the miracle of the parting waters
- Forty years in the wilderness
The Tablets and the Torah
- Receiving the Tablets on Mount Sinai
- Speaking directly with Allah
- Establishing the Law for the Children of Israel
Character and Virtues
- Kalim Allah (the one to whom Allah spoke)
- One of the five great prophets (Ulu al-Azm)
- Exceptional strength of body and of character
- Patience in the face of trials
His Legacy in Islam
- Named 136 times in the Quran
- The most fully told story in the Quran
- An example of leadership and perseverance
- A model of resistance to oppression
Musa, prophet of Islam: discover his remarkable story
Musa, known as Moses in other traditions, holds a central place among the prophets of Islam. His story is told again and again in the Quran, which makes him one of the most frequently named messengers after Muhammad. His extraordinary life begins at his birth in Egypt, at a time when Pharaoh was oppressing the people of Israel.
The account of Musa begins with a divine miracle. His mother, inspired by Allah, places him in a basket on the Nile to save him from the slaughter ordered by Pharaoh. The river carries him straight to the royal palace, where Pharaoh's wife decides to adopt him. By that divine irony, the future liberator of Israel is placed at the very heart of the power that oppresses him.
As a grown man, Musa flees Egypt after killing a man by accident. It is in the desert that Allah entrusts him with his prophetic mission. The episode of the burning bush marks the beginning of his divine calling. Allah orders him to return to Egypt to free his people from bondage.
The nine signs granted to Musa bear witness to his truthfulness. The staff that turns into a serpent, the hand that shines white, the plagues of Egypt… These divine signs confirm his prophethood before Pharaoh and his magicians. The most striking remains the crossing of the Red Sea, where the waters part to let the believers through.
The revelation of the Torah on Mount Sinai is the high point of his mission. Musa receives the divine commandments after forty days of fasting and prayer. His spiritual legacy still shapes the prophets of Islam and enriches our understanding of the divine teachings.
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ReadYou may be wondering…
Who is Musa in Islam?
Musa (Moses) is one of the five great prophets known as Ulu al-Azm, endowed with exceptional firmness. Sent to the Children of Israel, oppressed by Pharaoh, he received the Torah. He is called Kalim Allah, because Allah spoke to him directly. His story is the most fully told in the Quran, where his name appears 136 times.
Why is Musa called Kalim Allah?
Kalim Allah means the one to whom Allah spoke. The title comes from the fact that Allah addressed Musa directly, above all at the burning bush, where He said to him: Indeed, I am Allah; there is no deity but Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance. It is a distinction unique among the prophets.
What are the miracles of the Prophet Musa?
The Quran speaks of nine signs granted to Musa before Pharaoh: the staff turned into a serpent, the hand that shone white, and then the plagues that struck Egypt. The most striking remain the parting of the sea that saved the Children of Israel and the water gushing from the rock in the desert.
How was Musa saved from Pharaoh as a child?
Pharaoh was having the newborn boys of the Children of Israel killed. Inspired by Allah, Musa's mother placed him in a basket on the Nile. The basket was taken up by Pharaoh's household, and his wife Asiya took the child under her protection. He refused every wet nurse, which allowed his own mother to find him and nurse him.
What did Musa receive on Mount Sinai?
After an appointment of forty nights, Musa received on Mount Sinai the Tablets containing the Law for the Children of Israel, that is, the Torah (Tawrat). Allah confirmed to him that He had chosen him above mankind to deliver His messages and His word, making him the lawgiver of his people.