Out of Egypt: The Story of Passover in the Quran
Many Jews may be surprised to learn that Islam as preached by
Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, was the same
religion preached by Abraham, as well as of all other prophets mentioned in the
Torah and the Bible. Muslims honor all the prophets of the Jews – Abraham,
Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David and Solomon among others – as their own
prophets and believe that they all preached on message, that is the belief in the
Oneness of God.
Here is how God ordered Muhammad to uphold the belief in the Oneness
of God, which was upheld by Prophet Abraham:
“Then We revealed to you, [O Muhammad], to follow the
religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth; and he was
not of those who associate with Allah. .” (Quran 16:123)
It is particularly noteworthy that in the Quran, there is no story that is
recounted as many times and with as much emphasis, as the story of the
bondage of the Children of Israel and their subsequent deliverance from
Egypt’s Pharaoh. The Quran quotes Moses as saying to his people:
“O my people! Remember the blessings which God
bestowed upon you when he raised up prophets among you,
and made you your own masters, and granted unto you
favors such as He had not granted to anyone else in the
world.” (Quran 5:20)
It was Moses, with the help and guidance of God Almighty, who led them
out of Egypt towards a land of promise. God in the Quran says what means:
“O children of Israel! Remember those blessings of Mine
with which I graced you, and how I favored you above all
other people. And guard yourselves against a day when no
soul will in aught avail another, nor will intercession be
accepted from it, nor will compensation be received from
it, nor will they be helped. And remember the time when
We saved you from Pharaoh’s people, who afflicted you
with cruel suffering, slaughtering your sons and sparing
only your women — which was an awesome trial from your
Sustainer; and when We cleft the sea before you, and thus
saved you and caused Pharaoh’s people to drown before
your very eyes.” (Quran 2:47-50)
The story is narrated elsewhere in the Quran, where we may read these
verses:
“And We took the Children of Israel across the sea, and
Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued them in tyranny and
enmity until, when drowning overtook him, he said, "I
believe that there is no deity except that in whom the
Children of Israel believe, and I am of the Muslims." Now?
And you had disobeyed [Him] before and were of the
corrupters? So today We will save you in body that you
may be to those who succeed you a sign. And indeed, many
among the people, of Our signs, are heedless. And We had
certainty settled the Children of Israel in an agreeable
settlement and provided them with good things. And they
did not differ until [after] knowledge had come to them.
Indeed, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of
Resurrection concerning that over which they used to
differ” (Quran 10:90-93)
The torments inflicted on the Children of Israel by the Pharaoh were
continuous and harsh; and so God sent His prophets Moses and Aaron (peace
be upon them) to warn the tyrant that he should stop the oppression of the
Children of Israel and free them.
But he was arrogant and refused to free the Jews, until the last of the
plagues God sent as punishment.
Under guidance from God, the Israelites fled Egypt; while the Pharaoh and
his men pursued them. It seemed like their journey would end at the Red Sea
which prevented their escape.
But a miracle happened when Moses struck the water with his staff: The
waves of the Red Sea parted and the Israelites hurried along the passage
between the parted waves. Pharaoh and his soldiers followed; but by the time
the Israelites reached the other shore, the sea closed in engulfing their
pursuers. Thus the Israelites were delivered from bondage, and the Pharaoh
and his people perished.
When the Prophet Muhammad came to Madinah on the tenth of the lunar
month of Muharram, he found that the Jews there were fasting.
“The Prophet asked them why they were fasting on this day, and they
explained that it was the day that God saved the Children of Israel from
the Pharaoh, and that Moses fasted in thanks on this day. The Prophet
said, “We have more claim to Moses than you.” He fasted on that day and
commanded Muslims to fast on the day.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)