Moses in Islam

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Moses in Islam : biography

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

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. Islamic literature states that towards the end of the thirty days of fasting, Moses noticed that he had a pungent smell coming from his mouth. Therefore, he ate a scented plant to improve his mouth odor, breaking his fast. 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 and the Torah (Tawrat) 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 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.