Musa: patience and trust

9 min read

Musa, peace be upon him, known in English as Moses, is one of the prophets whose story the Quran tells most fully, across many surahs. He was given a special honor: "And Allah spoke to Moses with [direct] speech." (Quran 4:164). His life was full of fear, hard choices, and long waiting, and through all of it he learned to trust Allah. That is why his story speaks so directly to anyone starting something new.

A baby in the river

Musa was born in Egypt at a time when Pharaoh was oppressing the Children of Israel and killing their newborn sons (Quran 28:4). Allah inspired his mother with a plan that must have seemed impossible:

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."
Quran 28:7 (Saheeh International translation)

Pharaoh's own household picked the baby out of the river, and Pharaoh's wife said, "Do not kill him" (Quran 28:9). Then Allah kept His promise:

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.
Quran 28:13 (Saheeh International translation)

Allah's plan was working the whole time, even while it looked like the worst was happening.

A mistake, and forgiveness

As a young man, before he became a prophet, Musa stepped into a fight to help someone. He struck a man, and the man died, which Musa did not intend (Quran 28:15). He turned to Allah at once:

He said, "My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me," and He forgave him. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
Quran 28:16 (Saheeh International translation)

If you carry regret about your past, notice this: Musa admitted his wrong, asked for forgiveness, and Allah forgave him. Then Musa left Egypt in fear, alone, saying: "Perhaps my Lord will guide me to the sound way." (Quran 28:22). In the land of Madyan he helped two women water their flocks, then sat down in the shade, hungry and far from home, and made this dua:

Arabic: رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلْتَ إِلَىَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍۢ فَقِيرٌۭ

How to say it: Rabbi inni lima anzalta ilayya min khayrin faqir

Meaning: My Lord, indeed I am, for whatever good You would send down to me, in need.

Called to a mission

Years later, traveling at night with his family, Musa saw a fire in the distance (Quran 20:10). When he came near, Allah called to him:

Indeed, I am Allah. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance.
Quran 20:14 (Saheeh International translation)

Then Allah gave him a task that would frighten anyone: "Go to Pharaoh" (Quran 20:24). Musa did not pretend to be fearless. He asked Allah for exactly what he needed:

Arabic: رَبِّ ٱشْرَحْ لِى صَدْرِى وَيَسِّرْ لِىٓ أَمْرِى وَٱحْلُلْ عُقْدَةًۭ مِّن لِّسَانِى يَفْقَهُوا۟ قَوْلِى

How to say it: Rabbish-rahli sadri, wa yassirli amri, wahlul 'uqdatan min lisani, yafqahu qawli

Meaning: My Lord, expand for me my breast [with assurance], and ease for me my task, and untie the knot from my tongue, that they may understand my speech.

He also asked for his brother Harun (Aaron) to help him, and Allah answered: "You have been granted your request, O Moses." (Quran 20:36). Allah even told them how to speak to the most arrogant ruler on earth:

And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allah].
Quran 20:44 (Saheeh International translation)

When they said they were afraid, Allah reassured them: "Fear not. Indeed, I am with you both; I hear and I see." (Quran 20:46).

Practice Musa's dua

Tick each step as you do it.

Read the Arabic slowly with the transliteration, a few times.

Choose one thing today that makes you nervous: a hard conversation, a new job, telling someone you are Muslim.

Say the dua just before it, in Arabic or in your own language.

Then do your part, and leave the result to Allah.

0 of 4 done

The sea

In the end, Allah told Musa to leave Egypt by night with the believers (Quran 26:52), and Pharaoh chased them with his army. They reached the sea with nowhere to go:

And when the two companies saw one another, the companions of Moses said, "Indeed, we are to be overtaken!" [Moses] said, "No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me."
Quran 26:61-62 (Saheeh International translation)

Allah told Musa to strike the sea with his staff, and it parted (Quran 26:63). "And We saved Moses and those with him, all together" (Quran 26:65).

Musa's patience became an example for the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, too. Once, when someone accused him of being unfair, the Prophet said:

May Allah have mercy upon Mūsa! He was hurt more than this but he remained patient.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3150 and Sahih Muslim 1062

When the sea was in front of them and Pharaoh's army behind, what did Musa say?

Remember

When a task feels too big, do what Musa did: tell Allah honestly what you need, ask Him to open your heart and ease your way, speak gently, and trust that He is with you.

Next, you will learn about Isa (Jesus) and his mother Maryam (Mary), peace be upon them, as the Quran presents them.

Sources

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Up next: Isa and Maryam in Islam

Step 3: The prophets before him, 9 min

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