How many times did Allah "speak" to Moses?

 

Today a friend of mine said that some of his friends who read my blog (thank you very much) said that for quite some time now I have not written much about the Quran. He suggested that perhaps I could write something about Islam and/or the Quran. It is true that I have not written about the Quran for some time. But I constantly read and research the topic non stop. It has become a life long hobby.  

So here are some verses from the Quran about Moses. (Non Muslims may find this unfamiliar so you may skip reading this.) 

The following is nothing more than me reproducing some verses from the English translation of the Quran about the story of Moses. This will not tally with the Jewish and Christian narratives. (I have checked). 

Moses has the distinction (as mentioned within the pages of the Quran itself) of having had audiences / conversations with Allah.  Well here goes.

The following is taken from Surah 20.

1. "Allah" spoke to Moses at the site of the fire :

20:9         Have you noted the history of Moses?
20:10 When he saw a fire, he said to his family, "Stay here. I have seen a fire. Maybe I can bring you some of it, or find some guidance at the fire."

20:11 When he came to it, he was called, "O, Moses."
20:12 "I am your Lord; remove your sandals. You are in the sacred valley, Tuwaa.
20:13 "I have chosen you, so listen to what is being revealed.

20:24 "Go to Pharaoh, for he has transgressed."
20:25 He (Moses) said, "My Lord, cool my temper.
20:26 "And make this matter easy for me.
20:27 "And untie a knot from my tongue.
20:28 "So they can understand my speech.
20:29 "And appoint an assistant for me from my family.
20:30 "My brother Aaron (Harun).
20:31 "Strengthen me with him.

So this was the first time that Allah spoke to Moses. Moses was travelling with his family. He saw a fire in the distance and went towards the fire to get some assistance. And that was where Allah first called out to Moses. Moses did not expect to be talking with Allah.  (There are many more verses in the Quran describing this meeting in more detail but I need not reproduce all of them here.)

Note here that Allah swt tells Moses that he has been chosen. Then Allah commands Moses to go to Pharaoh who was a tyrant. (Again there are more verses detailing this task also).  

Moses then asks that his brother Aaron (Harun) be allowed to go with him. 

2. After rescuing the Israelites, Allah summons Moses for FORTY NIGHTS.

So after talking with Allah for the first time, Moses and his brother Aaron go off to Egypt to confront Pharaoh.  

Fast forwarding, the Quran then talks about the great adventure of Moses and his brother Aaron in Egypt. And Moses frees the Israelites from the terrible slavery they were suffering under the Pharaoh. 

That is a long story and you can read the many verses in the Quran.  Finally Moses escapes with the Israelites or the Bani Israel.

7:138 We delivered the Children of Israel across the sea. When they passed by people who were worshiping statues, they said, "O Moses, make a god for us, like the gods they have." He said, "Indeed, you are ignorant people.

7:139 "These people are committing a blasphemy, for what they are doing is disastrous for them.

7:140 "Shall I seek for you other than Allah to be your god, when He has blessed you more than anyone else in the world?"

7:141 Recall that we delivered you from Pharaoh's people, who inflicted the worst persecution upon you, killing your sons and sparing your daughters. That was an exacting trial for you from your Lord.

Then in the following verse 7:142,  after Moses and the Israelites had escaped, Allah summons Moses for FORTY NIGHTS  for another "audience".

7:142 We summoned Moses for thirty* nights, and completed them by adding ten.* Thus, the audience with his Lord lasted forty* nights. Moses said to his brother Aaron, "Stay here with my people, maintain righteousness, and do not follow the ways of the corruptors."

7:143 When Moses came at our appointed time, and his Lord spoke with him, he said, "My Lord, let me look and see You." He said, "You cannot see Me. Look at that mountain; if it stays in its place, then you can see Me." Then, his Lord manifested Himself to the mountain, and this caused it to crumble. Moses fell unconscious. When he came to, he said, "Be You glorified. I repent to You, and I am the most convinced believer."

In the earlier "audience" Moses did not expect to be talking with Allah. Moses was travelling with his family and he saw a fire in the distance. When he went to the fire suddenly a voice called out to him.  That was the 1st audience.

In the second time around (7:142 above), Moses was specifically summoned by Allah swt for an audience that lasted FORTY NIGHTS.    The Quran does not say that anyone else went with Moses.  The Quran does say that Moses left his brother Aaron (Harun) behind to take charge of the Israelites and prevent them from following the idol worshippers.  Moses would be gone for FORTY nights.  

In this SECOND AUDIENCE Allah tells Moses "Moses, I have chosen you above all mankind with My scripture and by speaking to you' ("Qaala ya moosa innee istafaytuka alaa al-naas bi risalati wa bi kalami. . .").  Here is 7:144,

7:144 He said, "O Moses, I have chosen you, above all mankind, with My scripture and by speaking to you. Therefore, take what I have given you and be appreciative."

7:145 We wrote for him on the tablets all kinds of enlightenments and explanations of everything. "You shall uphold these teachings strongly, and exhort your people to uphold them - these are the best teachings. I will point out for you the fate of the wicked."

Note that in 7:145 above, in this second audience lasting FORTY NIGHTS, Allah gave Moses all the commandments "all kinds of enlightenments and details of everything". 

However during this time when Moses was away for FORTY NIGHTS for the 2nd audience with Allah, the Bani Israel whom he had left behind had reverted to their idol worship. 

7:148 During his absence, Moses' people made from their jewelry the statue of a calf, complete with the sound of a calf. Did they not see that it could not speak to them, or guide them in any path? They worshipped it, and thus turned wicked.

7:149 Finally, when they regretted their action, and realized that they had gone astray, they said, "Unless our Lord redeems us with His mercy, and forgives us, we will be losers."

7:150 When Moses returned to his people, angry and disappointed, he said, "What a terrible thing you have done in my absence! Could you not wait for the commandments of your Lord?" He threw down the tablets, and took hold of his brother's head, pulling him towards himself. (Aaron) said, "Son of my mother, the people took advantage of my weakness, and almost killed me. Let not my enemies rejoice, and do not count me with the transgressing people."

So Moses became very angry. He threw down the tablets on which the commandments had been written and grabbed his brother Aaron to demand an explanation.  The story continues in the next few verses 7:151 till 7:154.

3. Moses is accompanied by 70 men when he goes for another audience. 

7:151 (Moses) said, "My Lord, forgive me and my brother, and admit us into Your mercy. Of all the merciful ones, You are the Most Merciful."

7:152 Surely, those who idolized the calf have incurred wrath from their Lord, and humiliation in this life. We thus requite the innovators.

7:153 As for those who committed sins, then repented thereafter and believed, your Lord - after this - is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

7:154 When Moses' anger subsided, he picked up the tablets, containing guidance and mercy for those who reverence their Lord.

7:155 Moses then selected seventy men from among his people, to come to our appointed audience. When the quake shook them, he said, "My Lord, You could have annihilated them in the past, together with me, if You so willed. Would You annihilate us for the deeds of those among us who are foolish? This must be the test that You have instituted for us. With it, You condemn whomever You will, and guide whomever You will. You are our Lord and Master, so forgive us, shower us with Your mercy; You are the best Forgiver.

So after Moses' anger had subsided (7:154) he picked up the tablets which he had thrown down.    Moses then selected 70 men from his people (7:155) to accompany him to another APPOINTED AUDIENCE WITH ALLAH swt. 

4. Moses parts company with the Israelites (Bani Israel). 

Sadly :

• despite saving the Bani Israel from Pharaoh
• despite taking them to safety across the sea
• despite saving them from worshipping the calf
• despite delivering to them a risala or scripture and 
• despite delivering the Bani Israel into the "holy land" (arda al muqaddasa) 

-  the Israelites still went astray.  The Bani Israel became fasiqeen or wicked. 

So finally Moses gave up on the Bani Israel and separated from them.  Here are the verses. Please pay close attention to 5:25 and 5:26. 

5:20 Recall that Moses said to his people, "O my people, remember Allah's blessings upon you: He appointed prophets from among you, made you kings, and granted you what He never granted any other people.

5:21 "O my people, enter the holy land ("arda al muqaddasa") that Allah has decreed for you, and do not rebel, lest you become losers."

5:22 They said, "O Moses, there are powerful people in it, and we will not enter it, unless they get out of it. If they get out, we are entering."

5:23 Two men who were reverent and blessed by Allah said, "Just enter the gate. If you just enter it, you will surely prevail. You must trust in Allah, if you are believers."

5:24 They said, "O Moses, we will never enter it, so long as they are in it. Therefore, go - you and your Lord - and fight. We are sitting right here."

5:25 He (Moses) said, "My Lord, I can only control myself and my brother. So, allow us to part company with the wicked people (al qaum al fasiqeen)."

5:26  He (Allah) said, "Henceforth, it is forbidden them for forty years, during which they will roam the earth aimlessly. Do not grieve over such wicked people (al qaum al fasiqeen)"

After escaping from Pharaoh's tyranny in Egypt,  Moses had brought the Bani Israel to the arda al muqaddasa or "holy" land. 

But they were making all sorts of excuses NOT  to enter the "holy land" (arda al muqaddasa).  So Moses finally got tired and asked Allah that he wanted to part company with the Bani Israel.

"so allow us to part company with the wicked people"  -  fa ufruq baynanaa  wabayna al-qawmil  fasiqeena.

And in 5:26 above Allah speaks to Moses again :  Qaala fa-innaha muharramatun alayhim arbaeena sanatan which means "He said, 'Henceforth, it is forbidden them for forty years..."

So Moses parted ways with the wicked (fasiqeen)  Bani Israel  'ufruq baynana wabayna qawmil fasiqeena'.  

The Bani Israel were left to wander by themselves in the wilderness for 40 years.  Moses was not with them anymore. 

What happened to Moses after that?  Maybe another day. 

So these are the different occassions when Allah spoke to Moses.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.