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Musa the son of Imran, was born in Egypt 450 years after Yusuf (Joseph). In Egypt at that time the kings were known as Fir’awn (Pharaoh).
The followers of Prophet Yaqub (Jacob), father of Prophet Yusuf, are called Banu Israil (Israelites). Banu Israil had lived in Egypt since the days of Prophet Yusuf Prophet Ya’qub was known as Israil.
Fir’awn, the ruler of Egypt, looked upon the Banu Israil as ‘foreigners’ and treated them harshly. He feared that one day the Banu Israil would grow in number and be powerful. So Fir’awn issued orders to kill every male child born in the family of Isra’il (28:4—6).
Musa was born during this critical time. His mother managed to conceal him for three months and when she could not manage any longer, she was inspired by Allah to put Musa into a waterproof basket and throw it into the river (20:38—39). Maryam, Musa’s sister, was asked to watch the floating box from a distance to avoid suspicion (28:11).
The box reached the other shore and one of the members of Fir’awn’s family picked it up and was excited to find a lovely baby boy inside. Musa was then taken to Fir’awn’s wife and she was very glad to have the baby and adopted him (28:8—9). Musa’s sister went to Fir’awn’s palace and suggested a nanny to look after the baby, a woman who would be suitable to suckle him. This woman was none other than Musa’s mother (28:12).
So Musa came back to his mother’s lap. This is how Allah protects whoever He wills.
Musa grew up in Fir’awn’s house and during this time he came across an Egyptian who was beating an Israelite. Musa gave the Egyptian a blow and killed him accidentally (28:15).
He left Fir’awn’s house and went to Midian (28:22—28). He stayed there for ten years before moving on to Tuwa, a valley at the foot of Mount Sinai. Here, Musa received divine guidance and was selected as a messenger of Allah (28:30).
Allah bestowed on Ms two signs: a ‘stick’ which, when thrown down, would turn into a living serpent, and the ability to make his hand shine after it was drawn out from under his arm (20:17—22).
Allah commanded Musa to go to Fir’awn and invite him to Tawhid (20:42—44). He begged Allah to make his brother Harun his helper and Allah granted his prayer (20:24—36).
Musa and Harun went to Fir’awn. They exhorted him to obey Allah and grant the Israelites their freedom. Fir’awn refused to do either (20:47— 54; 26:16—17).
Instead, he made fun of Musa. Musa showed his signs to impress upon Fir’awn that his message was true. He threw his stick to the ground and it changed into a serpent. Musa picked it up and it turned back into a stick. Fir’awn and his followers were amazed to see this, but he thought that Musa was a magician and challenged him to face his own magicians who could show ever more stunning magic (26:23—37).
On the appointed day, the magicians of Fir’awn were badly defeated. The false s
nakes they produced by their sticks were all swallowed up by the serpent of Musa’s stick. Fir’awn and his magicians could hardly believe their eyes. His magicians bowed to the truth and professed their faith in Allah (26:38—47).
Fir’awn became angry and began to torture the Banu Israil even more. It was during this time that Allah commanded Musa to leave Egypt with his followers (20:77). Musa asked his followers to get ready and they slipped out at night to avoid Fir’awn’s attention and reached the shore of the sea. They were chased by Fir’awn’s and his soldiers. They almost caught the Israelites, in front of who was the mighty sea. At this moment, Allah ordered Musa to throw his stick in the water and, as he did so, the sea was divided into two and a road was ready in the middle, allowing the Israelites to cross (26:2—65).
Fir’awn followed in hot pursuit. Musa and his people safely reached the other shore. Fir’awn and his soldiers were still in the middle of sea when suddenly the water on both sides began to pour over them.
Fir’awn and his soldiers were drowned (26:66).This is how Allah punishes transgressors and helps His servants.
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