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Prophets

What did Ibn Kathir say about Prophet Mūsā?

Mūsā (Moses) is the prophet the Qurʾan mentions by name more than any other. Ibn Kathir's account is the classical long-form telling of his life — from the palace of Pharaoh to the parting of the sea.

10 passages from 3 books in the library

Ibn Kathir recounts Mūsā's confrontation with Pharaoh from infancy, including the account of the child Moses grabbing Pharaoh's beard, and the believer of Pharaoh's people who feared for Moses when Pharaoh intended to kill him. He preserves the crossing of the sea, which roared in fear, and Allah's revelation addressing 'O Moses.' He also records the dispute of Adam and Moses, where Moses called Adam 'our father.' Ibn Battuta separately mentions Mansa Mūsā of Mali, a different figure encountered on his travels.

Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.

Where the answer comes from

The classical approach.

These passages are drawn from 3 books by Ibn Kathir — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.

Read them closely. If a passage doesn't sit right, open the full book in the library and listen to the chapter around it. Context in the classical tradition is everything.

Cover of The Story of Musa
The Story of Musa
Ibn Kathir · Stories of the Prophets

14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir → · Provenance →

  1. "Moses then recalled his Lord's promise, My Lord promised me that when I reach the sea it would split into twelve paths so I might cross it. Remembering the staff, he struck the sea with it just as Pharaoh's soldiers reached the last of Moses' people. The sea split as his Lord had ordered and promised. Once Moses and his companions crossed the sea, Pharaoh and his followers entered, and the sea closed over them as commanded."

  2. "them, saying, Fear not, for Pharaoh and his troops will not return to their land after this. God then commanded Moses to strike the sea with his staff, dividing it so that the children of Israel could cross on dry land. The water stood like two mountains with dry ground in the middle, as God subjected it to the south wind and the hot wind. The children of Israel crossed the sea, and Pharaoh and his troops pursued them. When they were in the middle, God instructed Moses to strike the sea again, and the waters returned to their original state, overwhelming Pharaoh and his troops. According to the people of the book, this occurred at night, and the sea overwhelmed"

  3. "riding a gray mare, and he passed in front of Pharaoh's stallion, may Allah curse him, and it neighed towards it and approached it. Gabriel sped ahead, leading the mare into the sea, and Pharaoh's horse followed swiftly in pursuit, while Pharaoh had no control over himself for harm or benefit. When the troops saw him advancing through the sea, they plunged in behind him, hastening, and they all entered the sea whole and entire. Just as the first of them was about to emerge from it, Allah Almighty commanded his interlocutor in what he revealed to him to strike the sea with his staff. He struck it, and the sea submerged them as it had been, and not a single one of them was"

  4. "It is said by the blessing of our signs, you both and those who follow you will be the victors. victors. In Surat Taha Allah says go to Pharaoh indeed he has transgressed. Moses said my lord open for me my chest and ease for me my task and untie the knot from my tongue that they may understand my speech. It is said that he had a lisp in his tongue because of the coal he placed on it. Pharaoh wanted to test Moses's wit when as a child Moses grabbed his beard prompting Pharaoh to consider killing him. Asiyah feared for him and said he is just a child. To test him Pharaoh placed a date and a hot coal before him. Moses reached for the date"

Cover of Volume 1 — From Creation to Mūsā
Volume 1 — From Creation to Mūsā
Ibn Kathir · Al-Bidāya wal-Nihāya

14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir → · Provenance →

  1. "eastern, southern, and northern oceans. These seas are named according to the countries adjacent to them, like the Red Sea, near the village of Colsom. Other seas include the Persian Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea, and the Sea of Rome. The Sea of Pontus, known as the Blue Sea, is a city on its coast and is also called the Sea of Azov. It narrows until it It pours into the Sea of Rome south of Constantinople, known as the Gulf of Constantinople."

  2. "his arrival, she adorned and honored him, delighted by his good fortune. She then suggested taking him to Pharaoh to receive further gifts and honors. When Moses was placed in Pharaoh's lap, he grabbed Pharaoh's beard and pulled it down. Pharaoh's advisers, who were enemies of Allah, said to him, Do you not see what Allah promised his prophet Abraham? That this child would inherit from you, overcome you, and cast you down. Call the executioners to slaughter him. This was yet another trial for Moses. Pharaoh's wife rushed to Pharaoh saying, What do you plan concerning this boy whom you have gifted to me? He replied, Do you not see? He claims that he will overcome me and"

  3. "insight. He thought perhaps Moses was the one who killed the man the previous day, or he understood from the Israeli's words while requesting help from Moses what indicated this to him. God knows best. Pharaoh learned that Moses was responsible for the death of the man from the previous day, so he ordered his arrest. However, a sincere man reached Moses first, taking a shorter path. He came from the farthest part of the city, hurrying to warn Moses. He said, O Moses, indeed the chiefs are conspiring against you to kill you, so leave the city, for I am sincerely advising you. As Allah says, Moses left the"

  4. "When he saw Moses advancing towards the Egyptian, he assumed Moses had come to scold him for his earlier wrongdoing. Hence he exposed the affair from the day before to Moses, revealing it publicly, leading the Egyptian to go and report Moses to Pharaoh. something that many people did not mention otherwise. It is also possible that the speaker was the Egyptian, and when he saw Moses approaching, he was fearful, perceiving Moses' nature to strongly support the Israeli. Thus, he uttered what he said out of suspicion and insight. He thought perhaps Moses was the one who killed the man the previous day, or"

Cover of The Story of Adam
The Story of Adam
Ibn Kathir · Stories of the Prophets

14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir → · Provenance →

  1. "ibn Abd al-Rahman. Al-Hafidh Abu Ya'la al-Mawsili narrated it in his Musnad from Umar ibn al-Khattab, May God be pleased with him. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, Moses, peace be upon him, said, O Lord, show us Adam who brought us and himself out of Paradise. So Adam, peace be upon him, was shown to him. Moses said, Are you Adam? Adam replied, Yes. Moses said, Are you the one whom Allah breathed of His Spirit into you, made the angels prostrate to you, and taught you all the names? Adam replied, Yes. Moses asked, What caused you to bring us and yourself out of Paradise? Adam responded, Who are you? Moses said, I am Moses. Adam said, Are you Moses of the children of"

  2. "Moses in argument. The Prophet, peace be upon him, also said, Adam and Moses argued, and Moses said to him, Are you Adam whose sin expelled you from Paradise? Adam said to him, And you are Moses whom Allah chose with his messages and his words. Do you blame me for an affair decreed upon me before I was created? The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said, So Adam defeated Moses in argument two times. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, Adam and Moses disputed, and Moses said, O Adam, you are the one whom Allah created with his hand and breathed into from his spirit, yet you led people astray"

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