The Death of Musa (Moses) (pbuh)

The Prophets of Allah
based on the narrations by Ibn Kathir

The Story of Musa: Section Eight - The Death of Musa

Musa (PBUH) suffered terribly from his people and endured much for the sake of Allah.

'Abdullah Ibn 'Umar narrated: "Once the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) distributed something (among his companions). A man said: "This distribution has not been done (with justice) seeking Allah's Countenance.' I went to the Prophet (PBUH) and told him (of that). He became so angry that I saw the signs of anger on his face. Then he said: "May Allah bestow His Mercy on Musa, for he was harmed more (in a worse manner) than this; yet he endured patiently." Sahih Al-Bukhari

The children of Israel mistreated Musa (PBUH) a lot. His agony was not limited to mutiny, stupidity, chattering, ignorance, and idolatry; it exceeded this and went as far as inflicting personal harm on him.

Almighty Allah commanded: «O you who believe! Be not like those who annoyed Musa, but Allah cleared him of that which they alleged, and he was honorable in Allah's sight!» Surah 33: 69

Abu Hurairah narrated that Allah's Messenger Muhammad (PBUH) said: "Prophet Musa was a shy person and used to cover his body completely because of his extensive shyness. One of the children of Israel hurt him by saying: 'He covers his body in this way only because of some defect in his skin, either leprosy or scrotal hernia, or he has some other defect.'

Allah wished to clear Musa of what they said about him, so one day while Musa was in seclusion, he took his clothes and put them on a stone and started taking a bath. When he had finished the bath, he moved towards his clothes so as to take them, but the stone took his clothes and fled. Musa picked up his stick and ran after the stone saying: 'O stone! Give me my garment!' till he reached a group of the children of Israel who saw him naked then and found him in the best shape of what Allah had created, and Allah cleared him of what they had accused him of. The stone stopped there, and Musa took and put on his garment and started hitting the stone with his stick. By Allah, the stone still has some traces of the hitting, three, four, or five marks. This was what Allah the Almighty refers to in His saying: «O you who believe! Be not like those who annoyed Musa, but Allah cleared him of that which they alleged, and he was honorable in Allah's sight! Surah 33: 69, Sahih Al-Bukhari

Harun (Aaron) (PBUH) died shortly before Musa (PBUH). His people were still wandering in the wilderness when he died.

Abu Hurairah narrated: "The Angel of Death was sent to Musa (PBUH). When he came to Musa, Musa slapped him on the eye. The Angel returned to his Lord and said: 'You have sent me to a slave who does not want to die.' Allah said: 'Return to him and tell him to put his hand on the back of an ox and for every hair that will come under it, he will be granted one year of life.' Musa said: 'O Lord! What will happen after that?' Allah replied: 'Then death.' Musa said: 'Let it come now!' Musa then requested Allah to let him die close to the Holy Land so that he would be at a distance of a stone's throw from it." Abu Hurairah added: "Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: 'If I were there, I would show you his grave below the red sandhill on the side of the road." Sahih Al-Bukhari

Musa (PBUH), Prophet of Allah and the one to whom Allah spoke directly, met his death with a contented soul and a faithful heart that looked forward to righteousness and made haste to meet with Him Who bore tidings of peace.