How did a baby floating on a river end up in the palace of the very king who wanted him dead, and become the Prophet who stood before that king? The Quran answers this in one of its most detailed stories. It tells of Musa (AS), a tyrant named Pharaoh (Firaun), a mother whose heart was calmed by Allah, a long exile in Madyan, and a calling at Mount Tur. This article covers the first half of that journey, the same part told in Episode 3 of the Qasas-ul-Anbiya series.
Watch the full video: Hazrat Musa aur Firaun ka Waqia Part 1 | हज़रत मूसा (अ.स.) की पूरी कहानी | Qasas-ul-Anbiya Ep. 3 on the Ruhani Dua YouTube channel.
Quick facts about this story
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Prophet | Musa (AS), sent to Pharaoh and the Children of Israel |
| Main Quranic passages | Surah Al-Qasas 28:3–35 and Surah Ta-Ha 20:9–44 |
| Place of the calling | The sacred valley of Tuwa (Surah Ta-Ha 20:12) |
| Years of service in Madyan | Eight, with ten offered as a favour (Surah Al-Qasas 28:27) |
| Series | Qasas-ul-Anbiya, Episode 3 |
Pharaoh’s Egypt: a ruler who raised himself above others
The Quran opens the story by describing the ruler. In Surah Al-Qasas (28:4), Allah says that Pharaoh exalted himself in the land, divided its people into factions, oppressed one group among them, slaughtered their sons and kept their women alive, and that he was among the corrupters. Commentators explain that the oppressed group was the Children of Israel.
This is where the story begins, not with a miracle, but with injustice. The Quran presents Pharaoh’s real problem as arrogance. He was a man who could not accept anything above himself, and the rest of the story shows where that leads.
The baby in the river
Into this world Musa (AS) was born. Surah Al-Qasas (28:7) tells us that Allah inspired the mother of Musa to nurse him, and when she feared for him, to cast him into the river, with the instruction not to fear or grieve, because Allah would return him to her and make him one of the messengers. The Arabic of this well-known verse is:
وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰ أَنْ أَرْضِعِيهِ ۖ فَإِذَا خِفْتِ عَلَيْهِ فَأَلْقِيهِ فِي الْيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِي وَلَا تَحْزَنِي ۖ إِنَّا رَادُّوهُ إِلَيْكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ
Surah Al-Qasas 28:7
The very next verses show the twist. Pharaoh’s household picked the child up, and, as the Quran puts it, he became their enemy and a source of grief (28:8). Pharaoh’s wife said the child could be a source of joy for her and for him, and asked that he not be killed, since he might be useful or they might adopt him (28:9). The child Pharaoh feared was raised in Pharaoh’s own house. The Quran also says Allah restored Musa to his mother so that she would be content and know that Allah’s promise is true (28:13).
From the palace to Madyan
The Quran then moves forward to Musa’s adult life. According to the narrative in Surah Al-Qasas, he left Egypt and headed for Madyan, saying that perhaps his Lord would guide him to the right way (28:22). At the well of Madyan he found men watering their flocks and two women holding their animals back. The women explained that they could not water their flock until the shepherds had left, and that their father was a very old man (28:23). Musa helped them.
Later, one of the women said to her father that the best person to hire is the strong and trustworthy one (28:26). The old man offered one of his daughters in marriage on condition that Musa serve him for eight years, with ten as a favour if Musa chose to complete them, adding that he did not wish to make it difficult (28:27). Musa agreed, saying that whichever term he fulfilled, there should be no injustice to him, and that Allah was the witness over what they said (28:28).
Many narrations and commentaries identify the old man as the Prophet Shuayb (AS), but the Quran itself does not name him in these verses, so scholars have differed on this point. The video’s summary of “ten years of hard work” fits the longer of the two terms mentioned in the verse. The Quran does not state how many years Musa finally served, so that detail is best left as the verse leaves it.
The fire at Tur and the calling
The most important moment of the story comes next. Surah Ta-Ha (20:9–10) begins by asking whether the story of Musa has reached us, then describes how he saw a fire and told his family to stay while he went to bring a torch or find some guidance at the fire. When he came to it, he was called by name (20:11). Then Allah said:
“Indeed, I am your Lord, so remove your sandals. Indeed, you are in the sacred valley of Tuwa. And I have chosen you, so listen to what is revealed.” (Surah Ta-Ha 20:12–13, Sahih International)
The next verse gives the heart of the message: “Indeed, I am Allah. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance” (20:14). A man who went looking for fire was given something far greater: guidance, and the first message of every prophet, which is the worship of Allah alone and the establishment of prayer.
The video also covers the two signs given to Musa at this moment, which are detailed in Surah Ta-Ha and Surah Al-Qasas, and the command to go to Pharaoh. Please watch the video for that part of the account, which continues in the next episode.
Musa’s dua before facing Pharaoh
When commanded to go to Pharaoh, Musa (AS) did not rely on himself. He asked Allah for help. This dua is recorded in Surah Ta-Ha (20:25–28):
رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِنْ لِسَانِي يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي
“My Lord, expand for me my breast, and ease for me my task, and untie the knot from my tongue, that they may understand my speech.” (Surah Ta-Ha 20:25–28)
This is a dua of a prophet in a specific situation. We can learn from its manners: it admits weakness, asks for ease, and asks for clear speech. It is not a formula that guarantees any result, because outcomes are in Allah’s hands alone.
Why the Prophet ﷺ linked himself to Musa (AS)
An authentic hadith shows how much respect the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had for Musa (AS). Ibn Abbas (RA) reported that when the Prophet ﷺ came to Madinah he found the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. They said it was the day Allah saved Musa and the Children of Israel and drowned Pharaoh, and that Musa fasted that day in gratitude. The Prophet ﷺ replied that Muslims have more right to Musa than they do, then fasted that day and told others to fast. This report is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari (no. 2004) and Sahih Muslim (no. 1130).
So the story of Musa (AS) is not a distant tale. It is part of our own faith, and the Prophet ﷺ himself connected it to an act of worship.
Lessons for us today
- Arrogance is a dead end. Pharaoh exalted himself and spread corruption (28:4). Real greatness belongs to Allah alone.
- Allah’s plan cannot be stopped. The child Pharaoh feared was raised in his own house, and Allah fulfilled His promise to Musa’s mother (28:7, 28:13).
- Honest work and trustworthiness matter. The words “strong and trustworthy” (28:26) describe the character that was valued in Musa (AS).
- Keep your promises. Musa and the old man agreed clear terms and made Allah their witness (28:27–28).
- Ask Allah for help before a hard task. Even a prophet made dua for ease and clear speech (20:25–28).
Frequently asked questions
Where is the story of Musa and Pharaoh found in the Quran?
Musa (AS) is mentioned many times in the Quran. The video draws on Surah Al-Qasas 28:3–35 and Surah Ta-Ha 20:9–44, which cover Pharaoh’s rule, Musa’s childhood, his stay in Madyan and his calling at Tur.
Was the father of the two women in Madyan the Prophet Shuayb (AS)?
Many commentators say so, but the Quran does not name him in Surah Al-Qasas 28:23–28. Scholars have differed, so it is safest to say that he was a righteous old man of Madyan, and that Allah knows best.
Is the dua of Musa (AS) in Surah Ta-Ha a guaranteed solution?
No. It is a Quranic supplication that teaches us how to ask Allah for ease, confidence and clear speech. We may recite it with sincerity, but acceptance and results are only in Allah’s hands.
Read more:
- Surah Al-Kahf: Four Stories, Four Trials and the Friday Sunnah
- Khadija (RA): The Woman Allah Sent Salaam To
Sources:
- Quran 28:4 (Surah Al-Qasas)
- Quran 28:7–13 (Surah Al-Qasas)
- Quran 28:22–28 (Surah Al-Qasas)
- Quran 20:9–15 (Surah Ta-Ha)
- Quran 20:25–28 (Surah Ta-Ha)
- Sahih Muslim 1130 (Ashura and Musa)
- Sahih al-Bukhari 2004 reference (Ashura and Musa)
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