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)