Have no Fear

These verses from the Qur'an form part of the conversation between Prophet Moses and God. Before proceeding to Pharaoh, both Moses and Aaron had made their fears about the evil that might befall them known to God. This Quranic account of the incident should be read in conjunction with those accounts in the Bible and the Talmud. This comparative study clearly reveals the differences in the images of the Prophets as portrayed in the Qur'an and in the Jewish religious tradition. According to the Bible, God told Moses: ‘Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring forth my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.’ But Moses said to God: ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?’ (Exodus 3:10-11). Subsequently, even though God tried at length to persuade Moses of the same, encouraged him, and endowed him with miracles. Moses still said: ‘Oh, my Lord, send, I pray, some other person’ (Exodus 4:13).

The Talmudic account goes a step further. It states that the argument between God and Moses continued for seven days. God insisted on Moses accepting the prophetic mission whereas Moses declined to do so on the grounds of his speech impediment.