Author: Abdul Hai Lay'yan
The Divine Education Model in the Family of the Prophets (Part 130)
Educational Lessons from the Story of Prophet Musa (AS) (Continued)
Lesson Twenty-Three: The Constructive Role of the Believing Woman in Nurturing and Supporting Divine Missions
Another important educational lesson that can be derived from the story of Prophet Musa (AS) is the prominent and influential role of women in building family life, nurturing future generations, spreading virtues, supporting truth, and assisting the divine missions.
A believing woman has a significant and influential role in building society, spreading virtues, safeguarding divine missions, resisting oppression, and supporting the righteous. Therefore, a woman should never underestimate her abilities, talents, creativity, thoughts, or perspectives. Throughout the history of the divine missions, there have been noble women who, through their faith, sacrifice, foresight, and steadfastness, played lasting roles in supporting the Prophets and advancing divine objectives.
One of the most prominent examples is the mother of Prophet Musa (AS). Allah Almighty mentions her in the story of Prophet Musa (AS) and describes her important role in protecting and saving this noble Prophet. When the lives of the children of Banu Israil were in danger and Pharaoh had ordered the killing of male infants, Allah inspired the mother of Musa (AS) to breastfeed her child and, when she feared for his life, to place him in a chest and cast him into the river: [1] «وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى أُمِّ مُوسَى أَنْ أَرْضِعِيهِ فَإِذَا خِفْتِ عَلَيْهِ فَأَلْقِيهِ فِي الْيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِي وَلَا تَحْزَنِي إِنَّا رَادُّوهُ إِلَيْكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ» Translation: “And We inspired the mother of Musa: ‘Nurse him, but when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear nor grieve. Surely, we will return him to you and make him one of the messengers.’” [2]
This action demonstrates, on the one hand, the profound faith and trust of the mother of Musa (AS) in the promise of Allah (SWT), and on the other, the important position of a mother in protecting her child and providing the conditions for his development and future. Her heart remained deeply concerned for her child, and had Allah (SWT) not strengthened her heart, she would almost have revealed the secret.
Ultimately, Allah (SWT) fulfilled His promise and returned Musa (AS) to his mother so that her eyes would be comforted and she would no longer grieve. This story demonstrates that a mother’s role in raising and protecting a generation is not merely emotional; she can also have an impact on the destiny of a divine mission and the future of an entire society. The mother of Musa (AS), under extremely difficult circumstances, was placed between her natural maternal emotions and the divine command, and through her trust in Allah, she placed His command above her natural feelings. [3]
Alongside the mother of Musa (AS), Asiyah, the wife of Pharaoh, is another prominent figure in this story. She lived in an environment in which Pharaoh represented oppression and tyranny, yet that corrupt environment could not destroy her faith. When Musa (AS) was in danger of being killed, Asiyah supported him and said, [4] «قُرَّتُ عَيْنٍ لِّي وَلَكَ لَا تَقْتُلُوهُ عَسَى أَن يَنفَعَنَا أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُ وَلَدًا.» Translation: “He will be a comfort of the eye for me and for you. Do not kill him; perhaps he may benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son.” [5]
Allah Almighty also presented her as an example for the believers: [6] «وَضَرَبَ اللهُ مَثَلًا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا امْرَأَتَ فِرْعَوْنَ إِذْ قَالَتْ رَبِّ ابْنِ لِي عِندَكَ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَنَجِّنِي مِن فِرْعَوْنَ وَعَمَلِهِ وَنَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ» Translation: “And Allah (SWT) presents an example for those who believe: the wife of Pharaoh, when she said, ‘My Lord, build for me a house with You in Paradise, and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds, and save me from the wrongdoing people.’” [7]
This verse demonstrates that a person’s ability to develop morally and spiritually and the strength of his or her faith are not necessarily determined by social or family environment. Asiyah lived in Pharaoh’s palace, yet she did not submit to his oppression and preserved her faith. From this perspective, she is a model for the believing woman who can maintain an independent character, firm faith, and strong will even in an unfavorable environment.
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) also mentioned Asiyah among the greatest women: [8] «كَمُلَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ كَثِيرٌ، وَلَمْ يَكْمُلْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ إِلَّا آسِيَةُ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَرْيَمُ بِنْتُ عِمْرَانَ» Translation: “Many men attained perfection, but among women, none attained perfection except Asiyah, the wife of Pharaoh, and Maryam, daughter of Imran.”
The third example in the story of Prophet Musa (AS) is his sister. When the mother of Musa (AS) placed him in the chest and set him afloat on the river, his sister was instructed to follow him and find out what happened to him: [9] «وَقَالَتْ لِأُخْتِهِ قُصِّيهِ فَبَصُرَتْ بِهِ عَن جُنُبٍ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ» Translation: “And she said to his sister, ‘Follow him.’ So, she watched him from a distance while they were unaware.” [10]
The sister of Musa (AS) carried out this task with precision, alertness, skill, and caution. Without allowing Pharaoh’s agents to discover her, she followed the child’s path until she ultimately helped create the circumstances for his return to his mother.
This part of the story also provides an important educational and managerial principle: in carrying out important responsibilities, capable, trustworthy, alert, and competent individuals should be selected. The mother of Musa (AS) entrusted this sensitive mission to her daughter, and she successfully fulfilled it.
Taken together, these examples demonstrate that the realization of divine objectives and the success of the missions of the Prophets (Peace and Blessings of Allah Be Upon Them) did not depend solely on the efforts of men. Believing women also played essential and decisive roles at various stages. The mother of Musa (AS), through faith and trust in Allah; Asiyah, through resistance to oppression; and the sister of Musa (AS), through vigilance and responsibility, each provide valuable models for believing women.
Therefore, an Islamic family should not view a woman merely as an emotional member of the household. Rather, she should be recognized as one of the important pillars in raising future generations, reforming society, supporting truth, and safeguarding religious values. Mothers, in particular, should understand that raising righteous children, nurturing faith, strengthening moral character, and developing resilience and a sense of responsibility in children can leave an impact on society for many years and even across generations.
Today, more than ever, there is a need for women who draw inspiration from these Quranic models—women who combine faith with awareness, emotion with sound reasoning, motherhood with nurturing, and family life with social responsibility, and who contribute to raising a generation that is faithful, righteous, knowledgeable, and responsible.
To be continued…
References:
[2] Mahmud al-Hasan Deobandi, Tafsir Kabuli, vol. 2, pp. 1139–1140.
[3] Farooq Hamadah, Aba wa Abna: Malamih Tarbawiyyah fi al-Quran al-Karim, pp. 201–202.
[4] Surah al-Qasas: 9.
[5] Mahmud al-Hasan Deobandi, Tafsir Kabuli, vol. 2, pp. 1141–1142.
[6] Surah al-Tahrim: 11.
[7] Mahmud al-Hasan Deobandi, Tafsir Kabuli, vol. 3, p. 799.
[8] Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Anbiya, Hadith no. 3411.
[9] Surah al-Qasas: 11.
[10] Mahmud al-Hasan Deobandi, Tafsir Kabuli, vol. 2, p. 1143.
