But Almighty Allah revealed to her...

But Almighty Allah revealed to her, asking her to take the child in her arms affectionately and to suckle him and if danger arises drop him in the river Nile without any anxiety as Allah would return him to her very soon and would give him a high rank of a great messenger.[1] This hidden divine announcement calmed the anxious mother’s heart and she began to nourish her son comfortably and three months passed away in this manner.[2] Musa’s mother observed that Pharaoh’s agents were becoming more and more oppressive and she became fearful once again.

She prepared a small box and placed her dearer- than-life child in it and floated the box in the river waters as commanded by Almighty God. Simultaneously she instructed her daughter (Musa’s sister) to stroll by the bank of the river observing the sight so that the child may not be harmed. Musa’s sister then saw that some of the coastguards of the Pharaoh’s riverside palace dived into the river and fetched out that box.

How were they to know that they were [1] See Surah Qasas [2] See Majmaul Bayan not carrying a box but were paving the way to their own destruction![1] It should be kept in mind that Pharaoh’s wife had seen that box floating in the river and that it was she who had ordered her servants to bring that box to her. When the box was opened she saw a moon-like little child joyfully sucking its thumb. Pharaoh’s wife, the lady named Asiya, was very much attracted with the newfound baby.

So she said to Pharaoh, “This is the coolness of my eyes and yours. Do not kill him. He may prove beneficial to us later on or we may adopt him as our son.” But these people did not know what was the secret behind this entire happening.[2] On the other hand, Musa’s sister entered Pharaoh’s palace and became a resident servant of his wife, the queen. She saw that ladies who were called to suckle Musa failed as Musa turned away his face from every one of them.

Musa’s sister told the queen, “I know a very good wet nurse. If you so desire I may call her. Maybe the baby will suck at her.”[3] At first, the royal guards suspected some plan in this but when all of them saw that the child was not turning his face to anyone of the midwives, they were obliged to bring Musa’s mother, guided by his sister, to the palace. No sooner than Musa’s mother placed her breast in the mouth of the child, Musa began to suckle.