Islamic view of Moses
Encyclopedia
Musa known as Moses
in the Old Testament
, is considered an Islamic prophet
, messenger
, lawgiver
and leader
in Islam
. Moses is mentioned more in the Quran than any other individual, and his life is narrated and recounted more than that any other prophet
. According to Islam
, all Muslim
s must have faith in all mentioned prophets (nabi
) and messengers (rasul
) in the Qur'an, which includes Moses and his brother Aaron
(Harun). The Qur'an
states:
Many authors and scholars have generally attributed the tale of Moses as a spiritual parallel to the life of Muhammad
, since many aspects of their lives are shared. Moses is also believed by Muslims to have foretold the coming of Muhammad
, who would be the last prophet (Family tree with prophets on right).
Moses is revered in Islam
as one of the greatest men of all time and, although the Qur'an mentions his full narrative, there are many sayings
of Muhammad related to Moses and his life and tasks. Muslims also acknowledge that Moses was given a revealed book from God known as the Torah
. According to Islamic tradition, Moses was one of the many prophets Muhammad met in the event of the Mi'raj
, when he ascended through the seven heavens
.
.
on the advice of his soothsayers
, ordered the killing of all new-born Israelite males.
. He was discovered by the Pharaoh's wife, Asiya, who adopted him.
After travelling in the desert for a long time, he arrived in Midian
and came into the company of an old man (some Muslims say he was the prophet Shoaib
), who recognized Moses as a man of God. He arranged a marriage between Moses and his daughter (Zipporah
in Biblical and Hebrew tradition) and then Moses worked for him for eight to ten years.
He traveled through the dark finding a small burning bush
. Moses approached cautiously. A voice suddenly called out to him, and he heard God speaking to him. God told him to return to Egypt and free the Jewish
people. Moses, however, was fearful of the Pharaoh, and wanted signs.
God ordered Moses to throw his staff
onto the ground. As a sign to Moses from God, the staff was transformed into a snake. Moses became scared, but God ordered Moses to pick it up, as it would change back to its original form. He also ordered Moses to press his right hand to his left side and it would shine in a bright, white radiant light. Moses admitted that he was afraid of getting arrested on the previous murder charge, and also because he could not speak fluently due to a speech impediment
. God told him that his brother, Aaron, could accompany him in his tasks, help in preaching to the Israelites and speak for him in general.
, by informing him that his claim of godhood
was false, for there is but one God
who created both the Pharaohs and their subjects. He controls all that is in this world and beyond. Moses warned the Pharaoh about God's punishment and told him that he had come with a clear sign and asked for the release of his people from their bondage in Egypt.
to the floor and it turned into a serpent. He then drew out his hand and it shined in white. The Pharaoh's counselors advised him that this was sorcery and on their advice he summoned the best sorcerers of the town. On the day of the festival of Egypt, the summoned sorcerers threw their rods on the floor on Moses' offer and it too changed into snakes. However, when Moses reacted likewise with his rod, the serpent from his rod
devoured all the wriggling snakes. At once the sorcerers, who had come to compete against Moses and win a reward from the Pharaoh, realized this was not magic and believed in the message of Moses despite threats from the Pharaoh. They were then crucified by the orders of Pharaoh for their firmness in their faith.
happened (not mentioned in detail in the Qur'an) and the Pharaoh gave up his defiance. However, Pharaoh was angry and wanted to chase the Israelites after realizing that they have left during night time.
to Mount Sinai
. Moses told the people that Aaron was to be the leader while he was gone. Moses then climbed the mountain.
Moses returned to the spot where he had first received his miracles from God. He took off his shoes as before and went down into subjugation to The Creator. He prayed to God for guidance. He was given the Ten Commandments
at this session. Before leaving, he begged God to be revealed to him. God told him that it would not be possible for him to see God, but that God will reveal himself to the mountain stating: "By no means canst thou see Me (direct); But look upon the mount; if it abide in its place, then shalt thou see Me." When God revealed himself to the mountain it instantaneously turned into ashes. Moses lost consciousness. When he recovered, he went down in total submission and asked forgiveness of God.
Having thus received the scriptures for his people, Moses came down from the mountain and returned to his people. However, he was shocked to find that the Israelites had revolted against his brother Aaron and started worshiping a golden calf
fashioned by a person named Samiri
.
Shortly thereafter, the elders asked to see the God of Moses, so he took them up the mountain. While climbing, a white bolt of lightning struck their path, and they all bowed in submission. Moses prayed for their forgiveness, and they returned to camp and set up a tent dedicated to worshipping God as Aaron taught them from the Torah.
They resumed their journey towards the promised land
, but ran out of food. God gave them a gift of food called Manna
, but eventually the people became restless and asked for a variety of foods such as vegetables. Moses became angry with them and admonished them for their lack of gratitude.
, the promised land, and decided to send spies to see the land. While two pious and believing men (Joshua
and Caleb
) told the Israelites to put their trust in God and enter, telling them the best tactics to assault the Canaanites, the people believed it was too dangerous and refused to enter the promised land. Moses pleaded to them to come, but they refused.
God says in the Qur'an:
and 20 km (12.4 mi) east of Jerusalem in the Judea
n wilderness. A side road to the right of the main Jerusalem-Jericho road, about 2 km (1.2 mi) beyond the sign indicating sea level, leads to the site. Fatimid/Taiyabi
/Dawoodi Bohra
also believe in the same.
The main body of the present shrine, mosque
, minaret
and some rooms were built during the reign of Baibars
, a Mamluk
Sultan
, in 1270 AD. Over the years Nebi Musa was expanded, protected by walls, and includes 120 rooms in its two levels which hosted the visitors. A large open cemetery is located around the complex.
Moses
Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
in the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
, is considered an Islamic prophet
Prophets of Islam
Muslims identify the Prophets of Islam as those humans chosen by God and given revelation to deliver to mankind. Muslims believe that every prophet was given a belief to worship God and their respective followers believed it as well...
, messenger
Apostle (Islam)
In Islam, an Apostle or Messenger is a prophet sent by God.According to the Qur'an, God sent many prophets to mankind. The five universally acknowledged messengers in Islam are Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus and Muhammad, as each is believed to have been sent with a scripture...
, lawgiver
Culture hero
A culture hero is a mythological hero specific to some group who changes the world through invention or discovery...
and leader
Leader
A leader is one who influences or leads others.Leader may also refer to:- Newspapers :* Leading article, a piece of writing intended to promote an opinion, also called an editorial* The Leader , published 1909–1967...
in Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. Moses is mentioned more in the Quran than any other individual, and his life is narrated and recounted more than that any other prophet
Prophets of Islam
Muslims identify the Prophets of Islam as those humans chosen by God and given revelation to deliver to mankind. Muslims believe that every prophet was given a belief to worship God and their respective followers believed it as well...
. According to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, all Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s must have faith in all mentioned prophets (nabi
Nabi
Nabi may refer to:* Prophets of Islam, humans who, in the Islamic faith, have been chosen as prophets by God**Nabi * Butterfly in the Korean language** Nabi , a 2001 South Korean film** The Korean language title of Mr...
) and messengers (rasul
Rasul
In Islam, an Apostle or Messenger is a prophet sent by God.According to the Qur'an, God sent many prophets to mankind. The five universally acknowledged messengers in Islam are Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus and Muhammad, as each is believed to have been sent with a scripture...
) in the Qur'an, which includes Moses and his brother Aaron
Aaron
In the Hebrew Bible and the Qur'an, Aaron : Ααρών ), who is often called "'Aaron the Priest"' and once Aaron the Levite , was the older brother of Moses, and a prophet of God. He represented the priestly functions of his tribe, becoming the first High Priest of the Israelites...
(Harun). The Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
states:
Many authors and scholars have generally attributed the tale of Moses as a spiritual parallel to the life of Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
, since many aspects of their lives are shared. Moses is also believed by Muslims to have foretold the coming of Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
, who would be the last prophet (Family tree with prophets on right).
Moses is revered in Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
as one of the greatest men of all time and, although the Qur'an mentions his full narrative, there are many sayings
Hadith
The term Hadīth is used to denote a saying or an act or tacit approval or criticism ascribed either validly or invalidly to the Islamic prophet Muhammad....
of Muhammad related to Moses and his life and tasks. Muslims also acknowledge that Moses was given a revealed book from God known as the Torah
Tawrat
Tawrat is the Arabic word for the Torah. Muslims believe it was a holy book of Islam given by Allah to Musa . The Hebrew word for their scripture, the Torah means instructions, that is why Tawrat does not refer to the entire Tanakh or Old Testament...
. According to Islamic tradition, Moses was one of the many prophets Muhammad met in the event of the Mi'raj
Isra and Mi'raj
The Isra and Mi'raj , are the two parts of a Night Journey that, according to Islamic tradition, the Islamic prophet Muhammad took during a single night around the year 621. It has been described as both a physical and spiritual journey...
, when he ascended through the seven heavens
Jannah
Jannah , is the Islamic conception of paradise. The Arabic word Jannah is a shortened version meaning simply "Garden". According to Islamic eschatology, after death, one will reside in the grave until the appointed resurrection on . Muslims believe that the treatment of the individual in the life...
.
Story of Moses
According to Islamic tradition, Moses was born into a family of Israelites living in EgyptAncient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
.
When he was young
The ruling PharaohPharaoh
Pharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. The title originates in the term "pr-aa" which means "great house" and describes the royal palace...
on the advice of his soothsayers
Fortune-telling
Fortune-telling is the practice of predicting information about a person's life. The scope of fortune-telling is in principle identical with the practice of divination...
, ordered the killing of all new-born Israelite males.
In the basket
To protect her son, Moses's mother put him in a basket and set him adrift on the NileNile
The Nile is a major north-flowing river in North Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. It is long. It runs through the ten countries of Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Egypt.The Nile has two major...
. He was discovered by the Pharaoh's wife, Asiya, who adopted him.
Finding out if Moses is a prophet
The Pharaoh was still wondering if this was the Israelite boy that would get him out of power, so he asked his advisers for advise. They told him to bring two bowls, one with fireballs and the other with gems. If he was a normal baby, he would go for the fire, if he was a prophet, he would go for the gems. Then they brought baby Moses and put him near the two bowls. Moses was reaching for the gems when God made his hands change direction and go to the fire. then' like all babies, he swallowed the fire; therefore, he stammered.Growing up
Moses grew up as a member of the Pharaoh's household, sleeping in the Pharaoh's palace, and for some days of the week, he went to his mother's house, where he learned about worshipping God.Having to leave
One day when he was walking outside he saw an Egyptian in a fight with an Israelite, and went to the Egyptian and hit him, in the process killing him. When he found out what he did, he prayed to God for forgiveness. The next day, he saw the same Israelite in a fight with another Egyptian. When Moses refused, realizing that the Israelite was troublemaker, the Israelite mentioned what happened the day before. When the Egyptian heard, he ran into the palace. He then came out running, telling Moses that they planned to kill him and so Moses had to run.After travelling in the desert for a long time, he arrived in Midian
Midian
Midian , Madyan , or Madiam is a geographical place and a people mentioned in the Bible and in the Qur'an. It is believed to be in northwest Saudi Arabia on the east shore of the Gulf of Aqaba and the northern Red Sea...
and came into the company of an old man (some Muslims say he was the prophet Shoaib
Shoaib
Shuʿayb, or Shoaib, , was an ancient Midianite prophet, who is mentioned in the Qur'an a total of 11 times. He is believed to have lived after Abraham, and Muslims believe that he was sent as a prophet to two communities, namely the Midianites and the People of the Wood. To both the people, Shoaib...
), who recognized Moses as a man of God. He arranged a marriage between Moses and his daughter (Zipporah
Zipporah
Zipporah or Tzipora is mentioned in the Book of Exodus as the wife of Moses, and the daughter of Reuel/Jethro, the priest or prince of Midian...
in Biblical and Hebrew tradition) and then Moses worked for him for eight to ten years.
God calls Moses
Ten years after the well incident, Moses became very home sick. He approached his wife and told her his plans. They would leave in the morning for Egypt. After briefly reassuring her fears, they left the next morning traveling through the desert until he reached Mount Sinai. At nightfall they reached Mount Tur. Moses noticed a fire in the distance. He told his family to stay in their tents and that he would get fire to warm them.He traveled through the dark finding a small burning bush
Burning bush
The burning bush is an object described by the Book of Exodus as being located on Mount Sinai; according to the narrative, the bush was on fire, but was not consumed by the flames, hence the name...
. Moses approached cautiously. A voice suddenly called out to him, and he heard God speaking to him. God told him to return to Egypt and free the Jewish
Hebrews
Hebrews is an ethnonym used in the Hebrew Bible...
people. Moses, however, was fearful of the Pharaoh, and wanted signs.
God ordered Moses to throw his staff
Aaron's rod
Aaron's rod refers to any of the staves carried by Moses' brother, Aaron, in the Old Testament of the Bible. The Bible tells how, along with Moses' rod, Aaron's rod was endowed with miraculous power during the Plagues of Egypt which preceded the Exodus...
onto the ground. As a sign to Moses from God, the staff was transformed into a snake. Moses became scared, but God ordered Moses to pick it up, as it would change back to its original form. He also ordered Moses to press his right hand to his left side and it would shine in a bright, white radiant light. Moses admitted that he was afraid of getting arrested on the previous murder charge, and also because he could not speak fluently due to a speech impediment
Speech disorder
Speech disorders or speech impediments are a type of communication disorders where 'normal' speech is disrupted. This can mean stuttering, lisps, etc. Someone who is unable to speak due to a speech disorder is considered mute.-Classification:...
. God told him that his brother, Aaron, could accompany him in his tasks, help in preaching to the Israelites and speak for him in general.
Moses and Aaron arrive at Pharaoh's Court
Moses thus embarked for Egypt and faced the Fir'awn. Moses and Aaron arrived in the court of the Pharaoh and admonished the Pharaoh and his chief minister, HamanHaman (Islam)
In the Qur'an, Haman was the vizier of Pharaoh at the time of Moses. Haman's name appears six times throughout the whole Qur'an, four times with Pharaoh and twice by himself. According to the Qur'an, both Pharaoh and Haman had armies responsible for killing the sons of the Israelites...
, by informing him that his claim of godhood
Divinity
Divinity and divine are broadly applied but loosely defined terms, used variously within different faiths and belief systems — and even by different individuals within a given faith — to refer to some transcendent or transcendental power or deity, or its attributes or manifestations in...
was false, for there is but one God
Monotheism
Monotheism is the belief in the existence of one and only one god. Monotheism is characteristic of the Baha'i Faith, Christianity, Druzism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Samaritanism, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism.While they profess the existence of only one deity, monotheistic religions may still...
who created both the Pharaohs and their subjects. He controls all that is in this world and beyond. Moses warned the Pharaoh about God's punishment and told him that he had come with a clear sign and asked for the release of his people from their bondage in Egypt.
Moses and the magicians of Pharaoh
To this, the Pharaoh demanded to see the sign to clarify the truth. Moses threw his staffThe Staff of Moses
According to the Book of Exodus in the Bible, the staff used by Moses was by his side throughout important milestones in the narrative...
to the floor and it turned into a serpent. He then drew out his hand and it shined in white. The Pharaoh's counselors advised him that this was sorcery and on their advice he summoned the best sorcerers of the town. On the day of the festival of Egypt, the summoned sorcerers threw their rods on the floor on Moses' offer and it too changed into snakes. However, when Moses reacted likewise with his rod, the serpent from his rod
Nehushtan
The Nehushtan , in the Hebrew Bible, was a sacred object in the form of a snake of brass upon a pole.The priestly source of the Torah says that Moses used a 'fiery serpent' to cure the Israelites from snakebites...
devoured all the wriggling snakes. At once the sorcerers, who had come to compete against Moses and win a reward from the Pharaoh, realized this was not magic and believed in the message of Moses despite threats from the Pharaoh. They were then crucified by the orders of Pharaoh for their firmness in their faith.
Pharaoh's arrogance
Although the magic of the Pharaoh was beaten, he would not relent to the power of God. He defiantly refused to allow Israelites to leave Egypt. As a result, God decreed punishments over him and his people. These punishments came in the form of floods that demolished their dwellings, swarms of locust that destroyed the crops, pestilence of lice that made life miserable, toads that croaked and sprang everywhere, plagues, and the turning of all drinking water into blood. Each time the Pharaoh was subjected to humiliation, his defiance became greater. Finally a great plaguePlagues of Egypt
The Plagues of Egypt , also called the Ten Plagues or the Biblical Plagues, were ten calamities that, according to the biblical Book of Exodus, Israel's God, Yahweh, inflicted upon Egypt to persuade Pharaoh to release the ill-treated Israelites from slavery. Pharaoh capitulated after the tenth...
happened (not mentioned in detail in the Qur'an) and the Pharaoh gave up his defiance. However, Pharaoh was angry and wanted to chase the Israelites after realizing that they have left during night time.
Splitting of the Red Sea
Upon seeing the Pharaoh and his army approaching the Israelites started to run but stopped at the seafront where they could not go any further. Here Moses used his staff to part the sea that allowed the Israelites to pass through, then the Pharaoh also followed but the sea closed on him drowning and killing Pharaoh and his entire army.The Ten Commandments and the Golden Calf
Moses led his people on the ExodusThe Exodus
The Exodus is the story of the departure of the Israelites from ancient Egypt described in the Hebrew Bible.Narrowly defined, the term refers only to the departure from Egypt described in the Book of Exodus; more widely, it takes in the subsequent law-givings and wanderings in the wilderness...
to Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai , also known as Mount Horeb, Mount Musa, Gabal Musa , Jabal Musa meaning "Moses' Mountain", is a mountain near Saint Catherine in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. A mountain called Mount Sinai is mentioned many times in the Book of Exodus in the Torah and the Bible as well as the Quran...
. Moses told the people that Aaron was to be the leader while he was gone. Moses then climbed the mountain.
Moses returned to the spot where he had first received his miracles from God. He took off his shoes as before and went down into subjugation to The Creator. He prayed to God for guidance. He was given the Ten Commandments
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue , are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity. They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath, and prohibitions against idolatry,...
at this session. Before leaving, he begged God to be revealed to him. God told him that it would not be possible for him to see God, but that God will reveal himself to the mountain stating: "By no means canst thou see Me (direct); But look upon the mount; if it abide in its place, then shalt thou see Me." When God revealed himself to the mountain it instantaneously turned into ashes. Moses lost consciousness. When he recovered, he went down in total submission and asked forgiveness of God.
Having thus received the scriptures for his people, Moses came down from the mountain and returned to his people. However, he was shocked to find that the Israelites had revolted against his brother Aaron and started worshiping a golden calf
Golden calf
According to the Hebrew Bible, the golden calf was an idol made by Aaron to satisfy the Israelites during Moses' absence, when he went up to Mount Sinai...
fashioned by a person named Samiri
Samaritan
The Samaritans are an ethnoreligious group of the Levant. Religiously, they are the adherents to Samaritanism, an Abrahamic religion closely related to Judaism...
.
Shortly thereafter, the elders asked to see the God of Moses, so he took them up the mountain. While climbing, a white bolt of lightning struck their path, and they all bowed in submission. Moses prayed for their forgiveness, and they returned to camp and set up a tent dedicated to worshipping God as Aaron taught them from the Torah.
They resumed their journey towards the promised land
Promised land
The Promised Land is a term used to describe the land promised or given by God, according to the Hebrew Bible, to the Israelites, the descendants of Jacob. The promise is firstly made to Abraham and then renewed to his son Isaac, and to Isaac's son Jacob , Abraham's grandson...
, but ran out of food. God gave them a gift of food called Manna
Manna
Manna or Manna wa Salwa , sometimes or archaically spelled mana, is the name of an edible substance that God provided for the Israelites during their travels in the desert according to the Bible.It was said to be sweet to the taste, like honey....
, but eventually the people became restless and asked for a variety of foods such as vegetables. Moses became angry with them and admonished them for their lack of gratitude.
Arrival at Canaan
They eventually reached CanaanCanaan
Canaan is a historical region roughly corresponding to modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and the western parts of Jordan...
, the promised land, and decided to send spies to see the land. While two pious and believing men (Joshua
Joshua
Joshua , is a minor figure in the Torah, being one of the spies for Israel and in few passages as Moses's assistant. He turns to be the central character in the Hebrew Bible's Book of Joshua...
and Caleb
Caleb
Caleb is a male given name. A character called Caleb is named in both the Bible and Quran.-Caleb:When the Hebrews came to the outskirts of Canaan, the land that had been promised to them by God, after having fled slavery in Egypt, Moses sent twelve spies into Canaan to report on what was...
) told the Israelites to put their trust in God and enter, telling them the best tactics to assault the Canaanites, the people believed it was too dangerous and refused to enter the promised land. Moses pleaded to them to come, but they refused.
God says in the Qur'an:
Burial place
Certain Muslims believe that the grave of Moses is located at Maqam El-Nabi Musa lies 11 km (6.8 mi) south of JerichoJericho
Jericho ; is a city located near the Jordan River in the West Bank of the Palestinian territories. It is the capital of the Jericho Governorate and has a population of more than 20,000. Situated well below sea level on an east-west route north of the Dead Sea, Jericho is the lowest permanently...
and 20 km (12.4 mi) east of Jerusalem in the Judea
Judea
Judea or Judæa was the name of the mountainous southern part of the historic Land of Israel from the 8th century BCE to the 2nd century CE, when Roman Judea was renamed Syria Palaestina following the Jewish Bar Kokhba revolt.-Etymology:The...
n wilderness. A side road to the right of the main Jerusalem-Jericho road, about 2 km (1.2 mi) beyond the sign indicating sea level, leads to the site. Fatimid/Taiyabi
Taiyabi
Tayyibi is a branch of Mustaali Ismailism that split with the Fatimid supporting Hafizi branch by believing Taiyab abi al-Qasim was the rightful Imam. They are the surviving branch of the Mustaali and have split into Dawoodi Bohra, Sulaimani Bohra, and Alavi Bohra.Upon the death of the 20th Imam...
/Dawoodi Bohra
Dawoodi Bohra
Dawoodi Bohra is a subsect of Ismāʿīlī Shīʿa Islām. While the Dawoodi Bohra is based in India, their belief system originates in Yemen, where it evolved from the Fatimid Caliphate and where they were persecuted due to their differences from mainstream Sunni Islam...
also believe in the same.
The main body of the present shrine, mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
, minaret
Minaret
A minaret مناره , sometimes مئذنه) is a distinctive architectural feature of Islamic mosques, generally a tall spire with an onion-shaped or conical crown, usually either free standing or taller than any associated support structure. The basic form of a minaret includes a base, shaft, and gallery....
and some rooms were built during the reign of Baibars
Baibars
Baibars or Baybars , nicknamed Abu l-Futuh , was a Mamluk Sultan of Egypt. He was one of the commanders of the forces which inflicted a devastating defeat on the Seventh Crusade of King Louis IX of France and he led the vanguard of the Egyptian army at the Battle of Ain Jalut in 1260, which marked...
, a Mamluk
Mamluk
A Mamluk was a soldier of slave origin, who were predominantly Cumans/Kipchaks The "mamluk phenomenon", as David Ayalon dubbed the creation of the specific warrior...
Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
, in 1270 AD. Over the years Nebi Musa was expanded, protected by walls, and includes 120 rooms in its two levels which hosted the visitors. A large open cemetery is located around the complex.
See also
- Biblical narratives and the Qur'an
- Legends and the Qur'an
- Children of Israel
- Moses in rabbinic literatureMoses in rabbinic literatureAllusions in rabbinic literature to the Biblical character Moses, who led the people of Israel out of Egypt and through their wanderings in the wilderness, contain various expansions, elaborations and inferences beyond what is presented in the text of the Bible itself.- Overview :Of all Biblical...
- Prophets of IslamProphets of IslamMuslims identify the Prophets of Islam as those humans chosen by God and given revelation to deliver to mankind. Muslims believe that every prophet was given a belief to worship God and their respective followers believed it as well...
- Stories of The ProphetsStories of The ProphetsStories of The Prophets or Qasas al-anbiya is a famous work of Islamic literature, written by the Muslim scholar Ibn Kathir. In the book, Kathir has compiled all accounts of information regarding various prophets and messengers through Islamic history...
- TawratTawratTawrat is the Arabic word for the Torah. Muslims believe it was a holy book of Islam given by Allah to Musa . The Hebrew word for their scripture, the Torah means instructions, that is why Tawrat does not refer to the entire Tanakh or Old Testament...