Do Muslims believe in Moses?

Moses in the Quran

The Quran tells the story of Moses in many chapters: his mother placing him in the river, his upbringing in Pharaoh's palace, the burning bush, the plagues, the parting of the sea and the long journey of the Children of Israel. God describes him with special honor:

Moses has a title in Islam: Kalimullah, "the one God spoke to." The Quran says, "And Allah spoke to Moses with [direct] speech" (Quran 4:164). Muslims also believe God revealed the Torah (Tawrah) to him as guidance and light for his people.

What Muslims share with Jews and Christians

Much of the story will feel familiar if you grew up with the Bible. Muslims agree that Moses was a real man, that he confronted Pharaoh, that God saved the Israelites from slavery and that he received God's law. Muslims say "peace be upon him" after his name, just as they do for every prophet. See Do I have to believe in all the prophets to become Muslim?

There are some differences in detail between the two accounts, and Muslims use the Quran as the final reference. Above all, the Quran presents his message as the same core message every prophet brought: worship one God alone.

How the Prophet ﷺ spoke about Moses

When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ arrived in Medina, he saw the Jewish community fasting on the day of Ashura to remember how God saved Moses. He said, "We have more claim over Moses than you," and fasted that day too (Sahih al-Bukhari 2004). Muslims still fast on Ashura today.

He also told his followers not to rank him above Moses in a way that belittles him, saying, "Don't give me superiority over Moses" (Sahih al-Bukhari 3408). Respect for Moses is built into the faith.

Lessons Muslims take from his life

• Courage: he stood up to the most powerful ruler of his time.
• Honesty about weakness: he worried about his speech, and prayed, "My Lord, expand for me my breast" (Quran 20:25). Many Muslims still say this dua before a hard conversation or exam.
• Patience with people: he led a community that often complained and tested him.

If you come from a Jewish background, you may find Islam feels less like leaving Moses behind and more like continuing to honor him. See Can I become Muslim if I'm Jewish?