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Prophet / MessengerPhase 1 · Adam to IsaMain personality

Prophet Musa (Kalimullah) (AS)

موسى

c. 13th century BCE (common estimate; some propose 15th century BCE; disputed) date disputed

The great messenger to Pharaoh and the Children of Israel, to whom Allah spoke directly and revealed the Torah. He is the most frequently mentioned prophet in the Quran.

Biography

Musa was born when Pharaoh was oppressing the Children of Israel and killing their sons (28:4). Inspired by Allah, his mother placed him in a chest on the river (28:7); Pharaoh's household picked him up, and Pharaoh's wife asked that he be spared (28:9). Allah returned him to his mother for nursing (28:12-13). As a young man he struck and unintentionally killed an Egyptian while defending an Israelite (28:15-16), fled to Madyan, helped two women water their flock, and married one of them after working for their father (28:22-28).

Returning, he saw a fire at Mount Tur in the sacred valley of Tuwa, where Allah spoke to him: 'Indeed, I am Allah; there is no god but Me' (20:12-14; 28:30). He was given signs such as the staff and the shining hand (20:17-22; 28:31-32) and, at his request, his brother Harun as a helper (20:29-32). They addressed Pharaoh with gentle speech (20:44). Pharaoh's magicians, seeing the staff swallow their illusions, prostrated and believed despite his threats (20:70-72). After nine clear signs (17:101), Musa led the Israelites out; the sea was parted (26:63) and Pharaoh drowned, declaring belief too late, and his body was preserved as a sign (10:90-92).

In the wilderness they were given manna and quails and twelve springs (2:57; 2:60). Musa went for forty nights to receive the Tablets/Torah (7:142-145); meanwhile al-Samiri led the people to worship a calf (20:85-97). When they refused to enter the Holy Land, they were made to wander for forty years (5:21-26). His journey with al-Khidr, who showed that divine wisdom underlies apparently troubling events, is told in 18:60-82 and in Sahih Bukhari (Kitab al-Ilm; Tafsir Surat al-Kahf). On the night of the Mi'raj, Musa (in the sixth heaven) advised the Prophet ﷺ to ask for a reduction of the fifty daily prayers (Sahih Bukhari 349; Sahih Muslim 162).

He is Kalimullah (4:164), one of the Ulul-Azm (33:7; 46:35), and the Torah he received is the root of the Judaism branch. The identity of his Pharaoh (e.g. Ramesses II) and the date of the Exodus are disputed and not specified by the Quran.

Sources & explanation

۞ Qur'an

2:49 2:50 2:51 2:53 2:54 2:57 2:60 4:153 4:164 5:20 5:21 5:24 5:26 7:103 7:104 7:107 7:108 7:117 7:120 7:121 7:133 7:136 7:138 7:142 7:143 7:145 7:148 7:150 7:155 10:90 10:92 17:101 18:60 18:65 18:82 19:51 19:52 19:53 20:9 20:12 20:14 20:17 20:22 20:29 20:30 20:36 20:39 20:44 20:70 20:77 20:85 20:88 20:95 20:97 26:10 26:52 26:61 26:62 26:63 26:66 28:3 28:4 28:7 28:8 28:9 28:12 28:13 28:15 28:16 28:22 28:23 28:24 28:27 28:29 28:30 28:31 28:32 28:34 61:5 79:15 79:16 79:17 79:24 53:36 87:19 33:69 46:35 33:7

Links open quran.com.

📜 Hadith verified on sunnah.com

  • Sahih al-Bukhari 3409 Sahih

    Adam and Musa argued; Musa blamed Adam for mankind's expulsion from Paradise and Adam replied that it had been decreed; 'Adam overcame Musa in argument'.

  • Sahih al-Bukhari 3207 Sahih

    The Mi'raj: the Prophet ﷺ met Adam, Yahya and Isa, Yusuf, Idris, Harun, Musa and Ibrahim in successive heavens.

  • Sahih Muslim 162a Sahih

    The Isra and Mi'raj in Sahih Muslim, including meeting Yusuf ('granted half of beauty'), Idris, Harun, Musa and Ibrahim.

  • Sahih al-Bukhari 2004 Sahih

    In Madinah the Prophet ﷺ found the Jews fasting 'Ashura because Allah saved Musa and Bani Isra'il that day; he said 'We have more right to Musa than you' and fasted it.

  • Sahih al-Bukhari 3404 Sahih

    Musa was a very shy and modest man; Allah cleared him of what Bani Isra'il said about him (33:69).

  • Sahih al-Bukhari 3408 Sahih

    'Do not give me superiority over Musa': on the Day of Resurrection Musa will be found holding the side of the Throne.

💬 Explanation Unverified

Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza's perspective

Methodological note (not a direct quote): Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza's widely known approach is to build narratives primarily on the Quran and Sahih Hadith, to set aside Israiliyat (Judeo-Christian lore absorbed into later tafsir) and weak or fabricated narrations, and to avoid sectarian framing. Applied to this node: The Quranic narrative and Sahih Hadith (Khidr story, Mi'raj) are relied upon; the Quran's defence of Musa against his people's slander (33:69, explained in Sahih Bukhari) is a reminder to reject defamatory Israiliyat.

Empires in their lifetime

  • New Kingdom of Egypt c. 1570 – c. 1069 BCE
    The common estimate (13th century BCE, Ramesside era) places Musa and the Pharaoh in the New Kingdom; the identification is disputed.

Further references

  • Quran 20:9-98
  • Quran 28:3-46
  • Quran 7:103-162
  • Quran 18:60-82
  • Quran 4:164
  • Quran 10:90-92
  • Sahih Bukhari 349
  • Sahih Muslim 162
  • Sahih Bukhari (Musa and al-Khidr, Kitab al-Ilm)

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