A story
Prophet Musa, the Little Basket, and the Parted Sea
Long ago, in the land of Egypt, there was a proud king called Pharaoh. He thought he was the greatest of all. He even told people that he was their lord. He made the Children of Israel, who lived in Egypt, work very hard as his servants.
Pharaoh was afraid. He had heard that a boy would be born among the Children of Israel who would one day end his power. So he gave a harsh order against their baby boys.
In those days, a baby boy was born to a believing family. His name was Musa, peace be upon him. In English, he is called Moses.
Musa's mother loved him very much, and she was worried. But Allah put a message into her heart. Allah told her to feed her baby, and when she was afraid for him, to put him into the river. "Do not fear and do not grieve," Allah told her, in meaning. "We will bring him back to you, and We will make him one of the messengers" (Surah Al-Qasas, 28:7).
So Musa's mother made a little box, like a basket. She placed baby Musa gently inside. Then she set it on the River Nile. The water carried the basket softly along, past the tall reeds and the lotus flowers.
Musa's sister followed the basket along the riverbank. She watched it carefully, without letting anyone notice her.
The basket floated right up to the palace of Pharaoh! The people of the palace picked it up. Pharaoh's wife, Asiyah, looked inside and saw the baby. Her heart filled with love.
"He will be a joy for me and for you," she said to Pharaoh. "Do not harm him. Perhaps he will be useful to us, or we may take him as a son" (Surah Al-Qasas, 28:9). Asiyah was a good woman who later believed in Allah.
But the baby was hungry, and he would not drink milk from any of the nurses. Allah had made him refuse them all.
Then Musa's sister came forward politely. "Shall I show you a family who will take care of him for you?" she asked.
They agreed. And so baby Musa was brought back to his own mother! She could feed him and hold him again. Allah had kept His promise, just as He always does. Allah says that He returned Musa to his mother "so that she would be happy and not sad, and so that she would know that the promise of Allah is true" (Surah Al-Qasas, 28:13).
Musa grew up strong and wise. Later he lived for many years in Madyan, where he worked as a shepherd. Then, while traveling with his family, he saw a fire on the side of a mountain called Tur. He went toward it. There, Allah spoke to Musa and chose him to be a prophet.
Allah gave Musa signs. His staff could become a moving snake by Allah's command, and then turn back into a staff. His hand could shine bright white. Allah told Musa to go to Pharaoh, together with his brother Harun, peace be upon him, and to speak to him gently, so that perhaps he would remember Allah (Surah Taha, 20:44).
Musa went to Pharaoh. He spoke kindly. He asked Pharaoh to worship Allah and to let the Children of Israel go free. But Pharaoh was too proud. He called his magicians to beat Musa.
The magicians threw down their ropes and sticks. They made them look like they were moving. Then Musa threw down his staff, and by Allah's command it swallowed up all their tricks.
The magicians knew this was not magic. This was real. They fell down in prostration and said, "We believe in the Lord of all the worlds, the Lord of Musa and Harun."
Even after many signs, Pharaoh still would not listen. So Allah told Musa to leave Egypt at night with the Children of Israel.
They walked and walked until they came to the edge of the sea. Then they looked back. Pharaoh and his army were coming after them!
The people were afraid. "We are going to be caught!" they cried.
But Musa was calm. He trusted Allah completely. He said, "No! My Lord is with me. He will guide me" (Surah Ash-Shu'ara, 26:62).
Then Allah told Musa to strike the sea with his staff. Musa struck the water. And the sea split apart! The water stood up on each side, like two great mountains. In the middle, a dry path appeared.
The Children of Israel walked across the dry seabed. They walked between the walls of water, safe and sound, all the way to the other side.
Pharaoh and his army followed them into the path. But when the believers were safe, Allah let the water come back together. Pharaoh and his army were drowned in the sea. At the very end, Pharaoh said that he believed, but it was too late, because he had refused for so long (Surah Yunus, 10:90-91).
On the other side, the believers thanked Allah. They had been saved. Allah had kept His promise to them.
Later, Allah gave Musa the Tawrah, a book of guidance, light, and good laws for his people. Musa taught his people for many years. Sometimes they were stubborn and difficult, but Musa was patient with them, and he kept teaching them about Allah.
Musa is one of the greatest prophets. Allah spoke to him directly, which is why he is called Kalimullah, the one to whom Allah spoke.
Think about how many times Musa trusted Allah. When he was a baby in a basket, Allah protected him. When he faced a proud king, Allah helped him. When the sea was in front and the army was behind, Allah opened a path.
Prophet Musa, peace be upon him, teaches us that when we are scared and do not know what to do, we can say what he said: "My Lord is with me. He will guide me." Allah always finds a way for those who trust Him.
Pharaoh was afraid. He had heard that a boy would be born among the Children of Israel who would one day end his power. So he gave a harsh order against their baby boys.
In those days, a baby boy was born to a believing family. His name was Musa, peace be upon him. In English, he is called Moses.
Musa's mother loved him very much, and she was worried. But Allah put a message into her heart. Allah told her to feed her baby, and when she was afraid for him, to put him into the river. "Do not fear and do not grieve," Allah told her, in meaning. "We will bring him back to you, and We will make him one of the messengers" (Surah Al-Qasas, 28:7).
So Musa's mother made a little box, like a basket. She placed baby Musa gently inside. Then she set it on the River Nile. The water carried the basket softly along, past the tall reeds and the lotus flowers.
Musa's sister followed the basket along the riverbank. She watched it carefully, without letting anyone notice her.
The basket floated right up to the palace of Pharaoh! The people of the palace picked it up. Pharaoh's wife, Asiyah, looked inside and saw the baby. Her heart filled with love.
"He will be a joy for me and for you," she said to Pharaoh. "Do not harm him. Perhaps he will be useful to us, or we may take him as a son" (Surah Al-Qasas, 28:9). Asiyah was a good woman who later believed in Allah.
But the baby was hungry, and he would not drink milk from any of the nurses. Allah had made him refuse them all.
Then Musa's sister came forward politely. "Shall I show you a family who will take care of him for you?" she asked.
They agreed. And so baby Musa was brought back to his own mother! She could feed him and hold him again. Allah had kept His promise, just as He always does. Allah says that He returned Musa to his mother "so that she would be happy and not sad, and so that she would know that the promise of Allah is true" (Surah Al-Qasas, 28:13).
Musa grew up strong and wise. Later he lived for many years in Madyan, where he worked as a shepherd. Then, while traveling with his family, he saw a fire on the side of a mountain called Tur. He went toward it. There, Allah spoke to Musa and chose him to be a prophet.
Allah gave Musa signs. His staff could become a moving snake by Allah's command, and then turn back into a staff. His hand could shine bright white. Allah told Musa to go to Pharaoh, together with his brother Harun, peace be upon him, and to speak to him gently, so that perhaps he would remember Allah (Surah Taha, 20:44).
Musa went to Pharaoh. He spoke kindly. He asked Pharaoh to worship Allah and to let the Children of Israel go free. But Pharaoh was too proud. He called his magicians to beat Musa.
The magicians threw down their ropes and sticks. They made them look like they were moving. Then Musa threw down his staff, and by Allah's command it swallowed up all their tricks.
The magicians knew this was not magic. This was real. They fell down in prostration and said, "We believe in the Lord of all the worlds, the Lord of Musa and Harun."
Even after many signs, Pharaoh still would not listen. So Allah told Musa to leave Egypt at night with the Children of Israel.
They walked and walked until they came to the edge of the sea. Then they looked back. Pharaoh and his army were coming after them!
The people were afraid. "We are going to be caught!" they cried.
But Musa was calm. He trusted Allah completely. He said, "No! My Lord is with me. He will guide me" (Surah Ash-Shu'ara, 26:62).
Then Allah told Musa to strike the sea with his staff. Musa struck the water. And the sea split apart! The water stood up on each side, like two great mountains. In the middle, a dry path appeared.
The Children of Israel walked across the dry seabed. They walked between the walls of water, safe and sound, all the way to the other side.
Pharaoh and his army followed them into the path. But when the believers were safe, Allah let the water come back together. Pharaoh and his army were drowned in the sea. At the very end, Pharaoh said that he believed, but it was too late, because he had refused for so long (Surah Yunus, 10:90-91).
On the other side, the believers thanked Allah. They had been saved. Allah had kept His promise to them.
Later, Allah gave Musa the Tawrah, a book of guidance, light, and good laws for his people. Musa taught his people for many years. Sometimes they were stubborn and difficult, but Musa was patient with them, and he kept teaching them about Allah.
Musa is one of the greatest prophets. Allah spoke to him directly, which is why he is called Kalimullah, the one to whom Allah spoke.
Think about how many times Musa trusted Allah. When he was a baby in a basket, Allah protected him. When he faced a proud king, Allah helped him. When the sea was in front and the army was behind, Allah opened a path.
Prophet Musa, peace be upon him, teaches us that when we are scared and do not know what to do, we can say what he said: "My Lord is with me. He will guide me." Allah always finds a way for those who trust Him.
