God said in Quran, “Therefore be patient (O Mohammed) as the Messenger of strong will and be in no haste about them (disbelievers).” [46:35].
Do you know that prophet Moses is one of the messengers of strong will? Do you know that the story of his birth is very inspiring? Do you know that He endured a lot of harm in order to convey the message of God? Do you know that Moses (Peace be upon him) is considered a role model for gentleness? Do you know that Moses’ story urges people to seek knowledge and respect scholars?
General information about Moses (PBUH)
Prophet Moses (PBUH) was mentioned in Quran 136 times. His story is one of the most popular stories in Quran. In fact, telling stories has powerful influence and naturally affects people, as God said in Quran:
Verily, (there) is in their (prophets) stories a lesson for men of understanding” [12:111].
The special story of Moses is full of events that convey great moral lessons starting from the story of his birth passing through the stories of his escape, his traveling to Madyan, his journey with Al-Khidr (righteous man and scholar), and his talk with God.
Birth of Moses’ (PBUH)
Let’s start with prophet Moses’ birth. When Pharaoh was persecuting the people of Israel, prophet Moses was born. Pharaoh was killing any male infant of Israelites, because Pharaoh dreamed that a fire coming from Jerusalem reaching Egypt was damaging all places and people except Israelites, so he was terrified and he asked the parsons for interpretation. The parsons said that a boy was going to be born to the Israelites and he was going to topple the Pharaoh from his throne, so he decided to kill all the male infants of the Israelites. Look at this verse, as God said:
Indeed, Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and made its people into factions, oppressing a sector among them, slaughtering their [newborn] sons and keeping their females alive. Indeed, he was of the corrupters.” [4]
Then God protected Moses from Pharaoh’s transgression, as God said in Quran: “And We inspired to the mother of Moses, Suckle him; but when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear and do not grieve. Indeed, We will return him to you and will make him [one] of the messengers.” [7]
Quran stated the events of Moses’ birth in a very intelligent way. As God stated in Quran, “And the family of Pharaoh picked him up [out of the river] so that he would become to them an enemy and a [cause of] grief. Indeed, Pharaoh and Haman and their soldiers were deliberate sinners.
– And the wife of Pharaoh said: “[He will be] a comfort of the eye for me and for you. Do not kill him; perhaps he may benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son.” And they perceived not.
And the heart of Moses’ mother became empty [of all else]. She was about to disclose [the matter concerning] him had We not bound fast her heart that she would be of the believers.
– And she said to his sister, “Follow him”; so she watched him from a distance while they perceived not. And We had prevented from him [all] wet nurses before,
– So she said: “Shall I direct you to a household that will be responsible for him for you while they are to him [for his upbringing] sincere?”. So We restored him to his mother that she might be content and not grieve and that she would know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of the people do not know” [28:7–13].
Why did God save him from pharaoh? God said:
And when he attained his full strength and was [mentally] mature, We bestowed upon him judgement and knowledge. And thus do We reward the doers of good.”
Do you know what is the lesson that we can learn from this story? It is to put your trust in God and rely upon Him, because He is the only sufficient, as when Moses’ mother put her trust in God, He saved her son and He honored Moses by making him a messenger.
His gentleness
Moses (PBUH) is a role model of a gentleman that men should follow. When Moses was oppressed in Egypt, he decided to travel to Madyan. In his way to water of Madyan, he found there a group of men watering their flocks and beside them he found two women who were keeping back their flocks. Moses asked these women
What is the matter with you?” they said “we cannot water our flocks until the shepherds take their flocks, and our father is an old man.”
Do you know what Moses did? He watered the flocks for the two women, and he returned back without asking them for a reward or help, in spite of being in need. In this situation, Moses was positive and gentle, although other people were negative and selfish. Although he was in a very hard situation, he never left them and went away.
Nowadays, we really need to adopt this example and if we find someone in need, we shouldn’t hesitate to help him/her.
Moses’ journey with Al-Khidr
When Moses was asked who is the most knowledgeable one on earth, Moses said: “I am the most learned.” God admonished Moses as he did not attribute absolute knowledge to Him (Allah; Praise Due to Him). So God instructed him to go to the junction of the two seas where he would meet one who was more learned than Moses. Moses (PBUH) started to prepare for his special journey to meet Al-Khidr (a scholar and a righteous man). Moses said to his servant:
I will not cease [traveling] until I reach the junction of the two seas or continue for a long period.” [60].
In his way to meet Al-Khidr Moses wanted to take some rest, so “[Moses] said to his boy: ‘Bring us our morning meal. We have certainly suffered in this, our journey, [much] fatigue’.” [62].
– His servant replied: “Did you see when we retired to the rock? Indeed, I forgot [there] the fish. And none made me forget it except Satan – that I should mention it. And it took its course into the sea amazingly.”
– [Moses] said: “That is what we were seeking.” So they returned, following their footprints. [18:63].
Finally, they arrived at the the junction of the two seas, and they met the righteous man (Al-Khidr). Moses showed great respect to Al-Khidr and asked him gently to teach him some of the knowledge that God provided him with. But Al-Khidr said to Moses that he will never be able to have patience, and he wandered how Moses can have patience for what he does not encompass in knowledge. But Moses promised Al-Khidr that he will be patient and he will not disobey him in [any] order. Then Moses began his journey with Al-Khidr and saw strange actions that Al-Khidr made.
What did Al-Khidr do? Do you think that Moses was able to keep patient or his human nature compelled him to ask? What lessons can one learn from this story?
Firstly, they set out, until when they had embarked on the ship, Al-Khidr tore it open.
– Moses said: “Have you torn it open to drown its people? You have certainly done a grave thing.” [71].
– Then, Al-Khidr said: “Did I not say that with me you would never be able to have patience?” [72].
– Moses said: “Do not blame me for what I forgot and do not cover me in my matter with difficulty.” [73].
Secondly, they set out, until when they met a boy, Al-Khidr killed him.
– Moses said: “Have you killed a pure soul for other than [having killed] a soul? You have certainly done a deplorable thing!” [18:74].
– Al-Khidr admonished Moses and said: “Did I not tell you that with me you would never be able to have patience?”
– Moses apologized and said: “If I should ask you about anything after this, then do not keep me as a companion.”
Thirdly, they set out, until when they came to the people of a town, they asked its people for food, but they refused to offer them hospitality. And they found therein a wall about to collapse, so Al-Khidr repaired it.
– Moses said: “If you wished, you could have taken for it a payment.” [77].
– Al-Khidr said: “This is parting between me and you. I will inform you of the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience.” [18:78].
Al-Khidr started to justify his strange actions saying:
As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working at sea. So I intended to cause defect in it as there was after them a king who seized every [good] ship by force. And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared that he would overburden them by transgression and disbelief, so we intended that their Lord should substitute for them one better than him in purity and nearer to mercy. And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure for them, and their father had been righteous. So your Lord intended that they reach maturity and extract their treasure, as a mercy from your Lord. And I did it not of my own accord. That is the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience.”
The lessons behind moses’ journey with Al-Khidr
- Seeking knowledge is a great deed that really deserves to exert effort for attaining it.
- Man must have great determination to achieve his/her goal. Moses gives a remarkable example in determination, as he decides to engage in such hard journey to attain knowledge.
- Showing great respect to men of knowledge, like what Moses did with Al-Khidr.
- Patience is required in order to acquire knowledge.
- We can see any incidents as calamities, but after a while, one discovers that it is mercy from God. This is very clear when Moses thought that damaging the ship, killing the innocent boy or the wall were calamities, but in fact, these incidents were mercies. Behind calamities, there is good.
- God doesn’t create pure evil.
To sum up, the story of Moses is very inspiring and teaches great values. Read in Quran about Moses you must greatly enjoy the story.
