THE STORY OF THE PROPHET MOSES (AND PROPHET AARON) - Debate between Prophet Moses that Accompanied by Prophet Aaron and Pharaoh

Prophet Moses and Prophet Aaron wanted to meet Pharaoh to preach. Both of them carry out the tasks given by Allah SWT to uphold the truth, namely God who deserves worship only Allah SWT. Prophet Moses and Prophet Aaron wanted to fight the tyranny and arrogance of Pharaoh who had dared to claim to be a god. Pharaoh did arbitrarily, the people of Israel who were descendants of noble people, namely the Prophet Jacob, were lowered by unbelievers, namely Pharaoh and his followers. This action is truly alarming. Prophet Moses and Prophet Aaron did not accept if their people were treated as such and intended to free their people from the cruelty of Pharaoh.

So with strong determination and genuine intention, Prophet Moses and Prophet Aaron set out to meet Pharaoh. They always pray to Allah SWT to be given strength and help and embedded in their hearts that the truth will win. After going through a long twist, both of them have succeeded in facing Pharaoh. They are in a vast palace environment. In that place were also royal families, dignitaries, advisers, and scholars. All of them looked at Prophet Moses and Prophet Aaron.

In these conditions, Prophet Moses and Prophet Aaron remained calm and confident, even though in front of him there was a king who had broad and arrogant power, but Allah SWT was the Almighty who became their protector. Prophet Moses called upon Pharaoh and officials that he and Prophet Aaron were a Prophet and Apostle sent by Allah SWT. Both were sent to liberate the Israelites from slavery and oppression by the Pharaoh's government and to let the nation of Israel join with Prophet Moses and Prophet Aaron.

Hearing that, Pharaoh became cynical and mocked the Prophet Moses because he was not aware of himself. In the past the Prophet Moses was treated in the palace by Pharaoh, and now the Prophet Moses actually opposed Pharaoh. Pharaoh also discussed the murder that Moses had done first. Moses is considered a criminal.

For the Prophet Moses, that he was treated by Pharaoh was due to the mistake of Pharaoh himself. If Pharaoh did not order the murder of every Israeli boy, Moses would not be washed into the river nor was he found by the family of Pharaoh. In addition, Pharaoh's atrocities against the Israelites were not able to be repaid by nurturing Moses. Therefore, the Prophet Moses felt indebted.

Then, the mistake of the Prophet Moses in the past was because he the temptation of the satan, especially the act was to defend the weak. At that time the Prophet Moses had not received revelation. After going through various trips the Prophet Moses received revelations from Allah SWT and was sent to be an Apostle. His mistake was a valuable lesson and now the Prophet Moses invited Pharaoh and his people to worship Allah SWT and to liberate the people of Israel to worship Allah SWT too.

Pharaoh asked the Prophet Moses, who exactly was the God he called it. With pride, Pharaoh considered that only he should be worshiped.

Prophet Moses replied that the God he called was the God of the entire universe. He is the God who created everything, including the Prophet Moses and Pharaoh. All things in this universe are governed and nurtured by Him. He is the one who gives life and benefits to all His creatures. He is the one who should be worshiped.

There was a debate between the Prophet Moses and Pharaoh. Pharaoh could not argue the explanation of Moses with Prophet Aaron at all. So Pharaoh threatened to put Prophet Moses and Prophet Aaron into prison if he did not want to recognize Pharaoh as god.

Moses challenged Pharaoh's words by saying that whether Pharaoh would indeed put him in prison if the Prophet Moses was able to prove and give signs of the truth of his da'wah. So Pharaoh also turned to challenge and invited Prophet Moses to prove the truth of his teachings.

So the Prophet Moses will issue a miracle which is a gift from Allah SWT. Then the Prophet Moses threw his staff and suddenly the staff turned into a snake that crawled nimbly and agile. Pharaoh and royal officials were shocked to see the event. Prophet Moses held the snake and turned into a staff again. There is still the next miracle. Prophet Moses put his hand in the clothes he wore. After that, Prophet Moses showed his bright white hands, all saw the miracle shown by the Prophet Moses.

Even though he had seen the miracle of Moses, Pharaoh remained apostatize. Actually, there was a belief in Pharaoh that the Prophet Moses was the right person, but because of prestige, Pharaoh still did not want to accept the preaching of the Prophet Moses. Pharaoh considered the Prophet Moses to be a sorcerer. Pharaoh and the royal officials agreed to give respite to the Prophet Moses and Prophet Aaron first. Pharaoh decided to gather the best sorcerers in the entire kingdom of Egypt to fight Moses. Pharaoh presented the challenge to Prophet Moses and the time of its implementation was determined by Moses himself. Prophet Moses said that when the match was held during the feast at dhuha so that many Egyptian people who saw the match and the Prophet Moses could show the truth to the wider community. The Prophet Moses truly agreed to the challenge. Then just waiting for the specified match time.

The following are the verses of the Holy Qur'an which tell about the debate of Prophet Moses who was accompanied by Prophet Aaron against Pharaoh.

Surah Al-A'raf verses 103-112:

ثُمَّ بَعَثۡنَا مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِم مُّوسَىٰ بِ‍َٔايَٰتِنَآ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَمَلَإِيْهِۦ فَظَلَمُواْ بِهَاۖ فَٱنظُرۡ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ  ١٠٣ وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ يَٰفِرۡعَوۡنُ إِنِّي رَسُولٞ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ  ١٠٤ حَقِيقٌ عَلَىٰٓ أَن لَّآ أَقُولَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلۡحَقَّۚ قَدۡ جِئۡتُكُم بِبَيِّنَةٖ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ فَأَرۡسِلۡ مَعِيَ بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ  ١٠٥ قَالَ إِن كُنتَ جِئۡتَ بِ‍َٔايَةٖ فَأۡتِ بِهَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ  ١٠٦ فَأَلۡقَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ ثُعۡبَانٞ مُّبِينٞ  ١٠٧ وَنَزَعَ يَدَهُۥ فَإِذَا هِيَ بَيۡضَآءُ لِلنَّٰظِرِينَ  ١٠٨ قَالَ ٱلۡمَلَأُ مِن قَوۡمِ فِرۡعَوۡنَ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَسَٰحِرٌ عَلِيمٞ  ١٠٩ يُرِيدُ أَن يُخۡرِجَكُم مِّنۡ أَرۡضِكُمۡۖ فَمَاذَا تَأۡمُرُونَ  ١١٠ قَالُوٓاْ أَرۡجِهۡ وَأَخَاهُ وَأَرۡسِلۡ فِي ٱلۡمَدَآئِنِ حَٰشِرِينَ  ١١١ يَأۡتُوكَ بِكُلِّ سَٰحِرٍ عَلِيمٖ  ١١٢

103.  Then We sent after them Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his establishment, but they were unjust toward them. So see how was the end of the corrupters.

104.  And Moses said, "O Pharaoh, I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds

105.  [Who is] obligated not to say about Allah except the truth. I have come to you with clear evidence from your Lord, so send with me the Children of Israel."

106.  [Pharaoh] said, "If you have come with a sign, then bring it forth, if you should be of the truthful."

107.  So Moses threw his staff, and suddenly it was a serpent, manifest.

108.  And he drew out his hand; thereupon it was white [with radiance] for the observers.

109.  Said the eminent among the people of Pharaoh, "Indeed, this is a learned magician

110.  Who wants to expel you from your land [through magic], so what do you instruct?"

111.  They said, "Postpone [the matter of] him and his brother and send among the cities gatherers

112.  Who will bring you every learned magician."

Surah Yunus verses 75-79:

ثُمَّ بَعَثۡنَا مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِم مُّوسَىٰ وَهَٰرُونَ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَمَلَإِيْهِۦ بِ‍َٔايَٰتِنَا فَٱسۡتَكۡبَرُواْ وَكَانُواْ قَوۡمٗا مُّجۡرِمِينَ  ٧٥ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡحَقُّ مِنۡ عِندِنَا قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَسِحۡرٞ مُّبِينٞ  ٧٦ قَالَ مُوسَىٰٓ أَتَقُولُونَ لِلۡحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَكُمۡۖ أَسِحۡرٌ هَٰذَا وَلَا يُفۡلِحُ ٱلسَّٰحِرُونَ  ٧٧ قَالُوٓاْ أَجِئۡتَنَا لِتَلۡفِتَنَا عَمَّا وَجَدۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ ءَابَآءَنَا وَتَكُونَ لَكُمَا ٱلۡكِبۡرِيَآءُ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا نَحۡنُ لَكُمَا بِمُؤۡمِنِينَ  ٧٨ وَقَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ ٱئۡتُونِي بِكُلِّ سَٰحِرٍ عَلِيمٖ  ٧٩

75.  Then We sent after them Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh and his establishment with Our signs, but they behaved arrogantly and were a criminal people

76.  So when there came to them the truth from Us, they said, "Indeed, this is obvious magic."

77.  Moses said, "Do you say [thus] about the truth when it has come to you? Is this magic? But magicians will not succeed."

78.  They said, "Have you come to us to turn us away from that upon which we found our fathers and so that you two may have grandeur in the land? And we are not believers in you."

79.  And Pharaoh said, "Bring to me every learned magician."

Surah Hud verses 96-97:

وَلَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مُوسَىٰ بِ‍َٔايَٰتِنَا وَسُلۡطَٰنٖ مُّبِينٍ  ٩٦ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَمَلَإِيْهِۦ فَٱتَّبَعُوٓاْ أَمۡرَ فِرۡعَوۡنَۖ وَمَآ أَمۡرُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ بِرَشِيدٖ  ٩٧

96.  And We did certainly send Moses with Our signs and a clear authority

97.  To Pharaoh and his establishment, but they followed the command of Pharaoh, and the command of Pharaoh was not [at all] discerning.

Surah Thaha verses 42-59:

ٱذۡهَبۡ أَنتَ وَأَخُوكَ بِ‍َٔايَٰتِي وَلَا تَنِيَا فِي ذِكۡرِي  ٤٢ ٱذۡهَبَآ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ إِنَّهُۥ طَغَىٰ  ٤٣ فَقُولَا لَهُۥ قَوۡلٗا لَّيِّنٗا لَّعَلَّهُۥ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوۡ يَخۡشَىٰ  ٤٤ قَالَا رَبَّنَآ إِنَّنَا نَخَافُ أَن يَفۡرُطَ عَلَيۡنَآ أَوۡ أَن يَطۡغَىٰ  ٤٥ قَالَ لَا تَخَافَآۖ إِنَّنِي مَعَكُمَآ أَسۡمَعُ وَأَرَىٰ  ٤٦ فَأۡتِيَاهُ فَقُولَآ إِنَّا رَسُولَا رَبِّكَ فَأَرۡسِلۡ مَعَنَا بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ وَلَا تُعَذِّبۡهُمۡۖ قَدۡ جِئۡنَٰكَ بِ‍َٔايَةٖ مِّن رَّبِّكَۖ وَٱلسَّلَٰمُ عَلَىٰ مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ  ٤٧ إِنَّا قَدۡ أُوحِيَ إِلَيۡنَآ أَنَّ ٱلۡعَذَابَ عَلَىٰ مَن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ  ٤٨ قَالَ فَمَن رَّبُّكُمَا يَٰمُوسَىٰ  ٤٩ قَالَ رَبُّنَا ٱلَّذِيٓ أَعۡطَىٰ كُلَّ شَيۡءٍ خَلۡقَهُۥ ثُمَّ هَدَىٰ  ٥٠ قَالَ فَمَا بَالُ ٱلۡقُرُونِ ٱلۡأُولَىٰ  ٥١ قَالَ عِلۡمُهَا عِندَ رَبِّي فِي كِتَٰبٖۖ لَّا يَضِلُّ رَبِّي وَلَا يَنسَى  ٥٢ ٱلَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ مَهۡدٗا وَسَلَكَ لَكُمۡ فِيهَا سُبُلٗا وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءٗ فَأَخۡرَجۡنَا بِهِۦٓ أَزۡوَٰجٗا مِّن نَّبَاتٖ شَتَّىٰ  ٥٣ كُلُواْ وَٱرۡعَوۡاْ أَنۡعَٰمَكُمۡۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّأُوْلِي ٱلنُّهَىٰ  ٥٤ ۞مِنۡهَا خَلَقۡنَٰكُمۡ وَفِيهَا نُعِيدُكُمۡ وَمِنۡهَا نُخۡرِجُكُمۡ تَارَةً أُخۡرَىٰ  ٥٥ وَلَقَدۡ أَرَيۡنَٰهُ ءَايَٰتِنَا كُلَّهَا فَكَذَّبَ وَأَبَىٰ  ٥٦ قَالَ أَجِئۡتَنَا لِتُخۡرِجَنَا مِنۡ أَرۡضِنَا بِسِحۡرِكَ يَٰمُوسَىٰ  ٥٧ فَلَنَأۡتِيَنَّكَ بِسِحۡرٖ مِّثۡلِهِۦ فَٱجۡعَلۡ بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَكَ مَوۡعِدٗا لَّا نُخۡلِفُهُۥ نَحۡنُ وَلَآ أَنتَ مَكَانٗا سُوٗى  ٥٨ قَالَ مَوۡعِدُكُمۡ يَوۡمُ ٱلزِّينَةِ وَأَن يُحۡشَرَ ٱلنَّاسُ ضُحٗى  ٥٩

42.  Go, you and your brother, with My signs and do not slacken in My remembrance.

43.  Go, both of you, to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed.

44.  And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allah]."

45.  They said, "Our Lord, indeed we are afraid that he will hasten [punishment] against us or that he will transgress."

46.  [Allah] said, "Fear not. Indeed, I am with you both; I hear and I see.

47.  So go to him and say, 'Indeed, we are messengers of your Lord, so send with us the Children of Israel and do not torment them. We have come to you with a sign from your Lord. And peace will be upon he who follows the guidance.

48.  Indeed, it has been revealed to us that the punishment will be upon whoever denies and turns away.' "

49.  [Pharaoh] said, "So who is the Lord of you two, O Moses?"

50.  He said, "Our Lord is He who gave each thing its form and then guided [it]."

51.  [Pharaoh] said, "Then what is the case of the former generations?"

52.  [Moses] said, "The knowledge thereof is with my Lord in a record. My Lord neither errs nor forgets."

53.  [It is He] who has made for you the earth as a bed [spread out] and inserted therein for you roadways and sent down from the sky, rain and produced thereby categories of various plants.

54.  Eat [therefrom] and pasture your livestock. Indeed, in that are signs for those of intelligence.

55.  From the earth We created you, and into it We will return you, and from it We will extract you another time.

56.  And We certainly showed Pharaoh Our signs - all of them - but he denied and refused.

57.  He said, "Have you come to us to drive us out of our land with your magic, O Moses?

58.  Then we will surely bring you magic like it, so make between us and you an appointment, which we will not fail to keep and neither will you, in a place assigned."

59.  [Moses] said, "Your appointment is on the day of the festival when the people assemble at mid-morning."

Surah Ash-Shu'ara verses 16-37:

فَأۡتِيَا فِرۡعَوۡنَ فَقُولَآ إِنَّا رَسُولُ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ  ١٦ أَنۡ أَرۡسِلۡ مَعَنَا بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ  ١٧ قَالَ أَلَمۡ نُرَبِّكَ فِينَا وَلِيدٗا وَلَبِثۡتَ فِينَا مِنۡ عُمُرِكَ سِنِينَ  ١٨ وَفَعَلۡتَ فَعۡلَتَكَ ٱلَّتِي فَعَلۡتَ وَأَنتَ مِنَ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ  ١٩ قَالَ فَعَلۡتُهَآ إِذٗا وَأَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ  ٢٠ فَفَرَرۡتُ مِنكُمۡ لَمَّا خِفۡتُكُمۡ فَوَهَبَ لِي رَبِّي حُكۡمٗا وَجَعَلَنِي مِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ  ٢١ وَتِلۡكَ نِعۡمَةٞ تَمُنُّهَا عَلَيَّ أَنۡ عَبَّدتَّ بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ  ٢٢ قَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ وَمَا رَبُّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ  ٢٣ قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآۖ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ  ٢٤ قَالَ لِمَنۡ حَوۡلَهُۥٓ أَلَا تَسۡتَمِعُونَ  ٢٥ قَالَ رَبُّكُمۡ وَرَبُّ ءَابَآئِكُمُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ  ٢٦ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَكُمُ ٱلَّذِيٓ أُرۡسِلَ إِلَيۡكُمۡ لَمَجۡنُونٞ  ٢٧ قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقِ وَٱلۡمَغۡرِبِ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآۖ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ  ٢٨ قَالَ لَئِنِ ٱتَّخَذۡتَ إِلَٰهًا غَيۡرِي لَأَجۡعَلَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلۡمَسۡجُونِينَ  ٢٩ قَالَ أَوَلَوۡ جِئۡتُكَ بِشَيۡءٖ مُّبِينٖ  ٣٠ قَالَ فَأۡتِ بِهِۦٓ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ  ٣١ فَأَلۡقَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ ثُعۡبَانٞ مُّبِينٞ  ٣٢ وَنَزَعَ يَدَهُۥ فَإِذَا هِيَ بَيۡضَآءُ لِلنَّٰظِرِينَ  ٣٣ قَالَ لِلۡمَلَإِ حَوۡلَهُۥٓ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَسَٰحِرٌ عَلِيمٞ  ٣٤ يُرِيدُ أَن يُخۡرِجَكُم مِّنۡ أَرۡضِكُم بِسِحۡرِهِۦ فَمَاذَا تَأۡمُرُونَ  ٣٥ قَالُوٓاْ أَرۡجِهۡ وَأَخَاهُ وَٱبۡعَثۡ فِي ٱلۡمَدَآئِنِ حَٰشِرِينَ  ٣٦ يَأۡتُوكَ بِكُلِّ سَحَّارٍ عَلِيمٖ  ٣٧

16.  Go to Pharaoh and say, 'We are the messengers of the Lord of the worlds,

17.  [Commanded to say], "Send with us the Children of Israel."'"

18.  [Pharaoh] said, "Did we not raise you among us as a child, and you remained among us for years of your life?

19.  And [then] you did your deed which you did, and you were of the ungrateful."

20.  [Moses] said, "I did it, then, while I was of those astray.

21.  So I fled from you when I feared you. Then my Lord granted me wisdom and prophethood and appointed me [as one] of the messengers.

22.  And is this a favor of which you remind me - that you have enslaved the Children of Israel?"

23.  Said Pharaoh, "And what is the Lord of the worlds?"

24.  [Moses] said, "The Lord of the heavens and earth and that between them, if you should be convinced."

25.  [Pharaoh] said to those around him, "Do you not hear?"

26.  [Moses] said, "Your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers."

27.  [Pharaoh] said, "Indeed, your 'messenger' who has been sent to you is mad."

28.  [Moses] said, "Lord of the east and the west and that between them, if you were to reason."

29.  [Pharaoh] said, "If you take a god other than me, I will surely place you among those imprisoned."

30.  [Moses] said, "Even if I brought you proof manifest?"

31.  [Pharaoh] said, "Then bring it, if you should be of the truthful."

32.  So [Moses] threw his staff, and suddenly it was a serpent manifest.

33.  And he drew out his hand; thereupon it was white for the observers.

34.  [Pharaoh] said to the eminent ones around him, "Indeed, this is a learned magician.

35.  He wants to drive you out of your land by his magic, so what do you advise?"

36.  They said, "Postpone [the matter of] him and his brother and send among the cities gatherers

37.  Who will bring you every learned, skilled magician."

Surah An-Naml verses 13-14:

فَلَمَّا جَآءَتۡهُمۡ ءَايَٰتُنَا مُبۡصِرَةٗ قَالُواْ هَٰذَا سِحۡرٞ مُّبِينٞ  ١٣ وَجَحَدُواْ بِهَا وَٱسۡتَيۡقَنَتۡهَآ أَنفُسُهُمۡ ظُلۡمٗا وَعُلُوّٗاۚ فَٱنظُرۡ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ  ١٤

13.  But when there came to them Our visible signs, they said, "This is obvious magic."

14.  And they rejected them, while their [inner] selves were convinced thereof, out of injustice and haughtiness. So see how was the end of the corrupters.

Surah Al-Qashash verses 36-37:

فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُم مُّوسَىٰ بِ‍َٔايَٰتِنَا بَيِّنَٰتٖ قَالُواْ مَا هَٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحۡرٞ مُّفۡتَرٗى وَمَا سَمِعۡنَا بِهَٰذَا فِيٓ ءَابَآئِنَا ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ  ٣٦ وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ رَبِّيٓ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن جَآءَ بِٱلۡهُدَىٰ مِنۡ عِندِهِۦ وَمَن تَكُونُ لَهُۥ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلدَّارِۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفۡلِحُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ  ٣٧

36.  But when Moses came to them with Our signs as clear evidences, they said, "This is not except invented magic, and we have not heard of this [religion] among our forefathers."

37.  And Moses said, "My Lord is more knowing [than we or you] of who has come with guidance from Him and to whom will be succession in the home. Indeed, wrongdoers do not succeed."