When the Red Sea Parted. The Great Miracle of Prophet Moses.

Ashoura’, the 10th day of the month of Al-Muharram, was the day Prophet Moses was saved and Pharaoh drowned.

Prophet Moses and 600 of the believers Israelites, left Egypt at night and headed towards the Red Sea intending to reach the area of ash-Sham  (in the direction of Jordan and Palestine).  When his people asked him why he did not take the usual route he said, “This is what I was ordered to do.”

​When the news reached the Pharaoh, he became livid with anger and gathered his army of one million and 600 thousand Copt soldiers.

The Pharaoh’s soldiers with body armors were fully equipped and the ground shook under them. When the sun rose and its light filled the earth, the two groups came face to face with each other and fighting and dueling seemed to be the only option. Prophet Moses’s companions said, “The enemy is very close to us and we do not have the ability to fight them”. They were afraid because not only were they grossly outnumbered, but they were also surrounded from all sides. Tall and mighty mountains were to their left and right, the raging sea was in front of them, and the Pharaoh and his army were behind them. Prophet Moses who was in the back to protect them from Pharaoh moved  to the front and looked at the sea and said with a heart full of courage and reliance on God, “This is the place I was ordered to come to.” When the condition became difficult, and the enemy became closer, Prophet Moses supplicated to God. A thick fog descended between the believers and their enemies blocking them from seeing each other.

Prophet Moses stood on the shore and made supplication to God saying, “Oh God, praise is due to You, on You we rely, and from You we seek help. Without your protection no one can evade sinning and without your help no one has the strength to obey You.” God, the Exalted, revealed to Prophet Moses to hit the sea with his staff.  At this point an astounding miracle occurred. The sea split into 12 different routes, one for each of the 12 Israelite tribes. The water rose high and stood firm as if they were mountains on each side of each route.  God ordered the wind to blow in the direction of the sea and the sun to shine upon the routes, which dried and solidified the soil so mud would not get stuck in the hooves of the horses and animals.  Moses and the believers entered the sea traveling towards safety. After crossing some distance, another marvelous miracle occurred. Moses moved his staff over the water’s walls and windows appeared in the waves so the Israelites could see each other and talk to one another through them.

​As the last of the Israelites were leaving the sea, the Pharaoh and his army reached the shore where they saw the strange and awe-inspiring site of the ocean split into many paths. The Pharaoh understood that the matter was beyond his control and regretted pursuing the Israelites. To his soldiers however, he showed determination and stubbornness for he was full of arrogance. His mischievous self prompted him to say, “Don’t you see that the sea has been split for me so that I can catch my enemies and kill them.” His horse though was afraid of entering the sea. Angel Gabriel came riding a mare, a female horse. When she came close to the Pharaoh’s horse, it smelled her and followed her into the sea, and the Pharaoh was unable to stop it. When the soldiers, who could not see Gabriel and his horse, saw the Pharaoh entering the sea they followed him in.  God sent a wind and darkness their way, which confused them. Once the last of the Israelites had emerged, Prophet Moses wanted to order the sea to return to its normal state but God revealed to him to leave it split until the Pharaoh and his entire army entered. Once the last solider in the Pharaoh’s army entered and as the first one was about to emerge on the other side, Prophet Moses struck the sea with his staff and it closed in on the Pharaoh and his army.

It is recommended to fast the day of Ashoura’, as instructed by our Prophet, to thank God for saving Moses, one of the greatest prophets, and those accompanying him. We thank Allah for this great endowment. We rejoice this victory!

May peace be upon Moses, an honorable prophet of Islam–the religion of all the prophets and their followers.