The nine signs given to Moses
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Wood Pigeon
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The nine signs given to Musa عليه السلام are generally understood as:
1.) The staff turned into a serpent
“So he threw it down, and it became a serpent, moving quickly.” (20:20)
2.) The hand coming out white
“And draw your hand close to your side; it will come out white without harm.” (20:22)
3.) Flood
4.) Locusts
5.) Lice
6.) Frogs
7.) Blood
“So We sent upon them the flood, the locusts, the lice, the frogs, and the blood as distinct signs…” (7:133)
8.) Drought
9.) Shortage of fruits/crops
“And We seized Pharaoh’s people
with years of famine and shortness of fruits…” (7:130)
1.) The staff turned into a serpent
“So he threw it down, and it became a serpent, moving quickly.” (20:20)
2.) The hand coming out white
“And draw your hand close to your side; it will come out white without harm.” (20:22)
3.) Flood
4.) Locusts
5.) Lice
6.) Frogs
7.) Blood
“So We sent upon them the flood, the locusts, the lice, the frogs, and the blood as distinct signs…” (7:133)
8.) Drought
9.) Shortage of fruits/crops
“And We seized Pharaoh’s people
with years of famine and shortness of fruits…” (7:130)
What flood?
Why does the Quran omit the death of the first born when homes were not marked with the blood of the lamb in the door posts?
Wood Pigeon
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1.) The KJV Bible does not describe a “flood” among Moses’ signs or the Egyptian plagues. The closest event is the severe hailstorm, which included rain, thunder, and fire. The relevant passage is Exodus 9:22–26, 33–34 (KJV):
2.) The Qur’an does not narrate the Passover story—the death of Egypt’s firstborn and the Israelites’ protection by lambs’ blood on their doorposts. It mentions several signs against Pharaoh, including the flood, locusts, lice, frogs, and blood, but it does not mention the final plague or the lamb’s blood.”
The Qur’an’s list appears in 7:133:
As-Salaamu Alaykum!
The passage says hail and rain, not a flood. In the Qur’an, the “flood” is usually understood as one of the signs given to Pharaoh in Qur’an 7:133 and 17:101. In Exodus, the corresponding judgment is generally identified with the hail—the seventh plague—not a separate flood. The Bible records ten plagues, whereas the Qur’an refers to Moses being given nine signs.
2.) The Qur’an does not narrate the Passover story—the death of Egypt’s firstborn and the Israelites’ protection by lambs’ blood on their doorposts. It mentions several signs against Pharaoh, including the flood, locusts, lice, frogs, and blood, but it does not mention the final plague or the lamb’s blood.”
The Qur’an’s list appears in 7:133:
It also says:
The Passover account is found in Exodus 11–12. The key KJV passage is:
And regarding the firstborn:
So the straightforward answer is: it is not in the Qur’an because the Qur’an gives a shorter account of Moses and Pharaoh and does not reproduce every event recorded in Exodus. From a Christian perspective, the omission is significant because Passover is central to the Bible’s redemption theme. From a Muslim perspective, the Qur’an’s account is selective and focuses on Moses’ signs, Pharaoh’s arrogance, and his eventual destruction—not on retelling the entire Exodus narrative.
As-Salaamu Alaykum!
Thank you.
I would say that specifically mentioning only 9 signs would have confounded Jews and
Christians who were reading their scripture. I count about 24 signs.
I'll comment on a few and mention the list later.
The staff turned into a serpent
He left out some key details. While it was a serpent, it ate the serpents which the Egpytian magicians
also produced. Then it became a staff again.
The hand coming out white
Leprosy is mentioned a few times in the Quran (3:49 and 5:110) but it doesn't appear Muhammad was aware
that what happened to Moses was not just a change in colour but leprosy, later to be healed by God
(Exodus 4:6–7).
Shortage of fruits/crops
“And We certainly seized the people of Pharaoh with years of drought and a shortage of fruits,
so that perhaps they would take heed” (7:130)
Did Muhammad really believe the plagues (the flood and the locusts and the lice and the frogs and the blood)
spanned a long time when you add the years of drought?
I don't see anything in the Quran where Muhammad gives people the impression he is giving a shorter
account.
Miracles surrounding Moses and the Exodus
1. Moses' staff becomes a serpent, then a staff again - Exodus 4:2–5
2. Moses' hand becomes leprous and is healed - Exodus 4:6–7
3. Water becomes blood - Exodus 4:8–9
Then the Ten Plagues of Egypt
4. Water turned to blood - Exodus 7:14–25
5. Frogs - Exodus 8:1–15
6. Lice/gnats - Exodus 8:16–19
7. Flies - Exodus 8:20–32
8. Death of Egyptian livestock - Exodus 9:1–7
9. Boils - Exodus 9:8–12
10. Hail and fire - Exodus 9:13–35
11. Locusts - Exodus 10:1–20
12. Three days of darkness - Exodus 10:21–29
13. Death of the firstborn - Exodus 11:4–10; 12:29–30
The Exodus itself
14. The pillar of cloud and fire - Exodus 13:21–22
15. The Red Sea is divided - Exodus 14:16, 21–22
16. The Egyptians are destroyed in the sea - Exodus 14:26–28
Miracles in the wilderness
17. Bitter water made drinkable - Exodus 15:22–25
18. Manna from heaven - Exodus 16:4, 13–15, 35
19. Quail provided for Israel - Exodus 16:12–13
20. Water comes from the rock - Exodus 17:1–6
21. Israel's victory while Moses holds up his hands - Exodus 17:8–13
22. Mount Sinai covered with fire, smoke, thunder, and an earthquake-like shaking - Exodus 19:16–19; 20:18
23. Moses' face shines after speaking with God - Exodus 34:29–35
24. God's glory appears at the tabernacle - Exodus 40:34–38
I would say that specifically mentioning only 9 signs would have confounded Jews and
Christians who were reading their scripture. I count about 24 signs.
I'll comment on a few and mention the list later.
The staff turned into a serpent
He left out some key details. While it was a serpent, it ate the serpents which the Egpytian magicians
also produced. Then it became a staff again.
The hand coming out white
Leprosy is mentioned a few times in the Quran (3:49 and 5:110) but it doesn't appear Muhammad was aware
that what happened to Moses was not just a change in colour but leprosy, later to be healed by God
(Exodus 4:6–7).
Shortage of fruits/crops
“And We certainly seized the people of Pharaoh with years of drought and a shortage of fruits,
so that perhaps they would take heed” (7:130)
Did Muhammad really believe the plagues (the flood and the locusts and the lice and the frogs and the blood)
spanned a long time when you add the years of drought?
I don't see anything in the Quran where Muhammad gives people the impression he is giving a shorter
account.
Miracles surrounding Moses and the Exodus
1. Moses' staff becomes a serpent, then a staff again - Exodus 4:2–5
2. Moses' hand becomes leprous and is healed - Exodus 4:6–7
3. Water becomes blood - Exodus 4:8–9
Then the Ten Plagues of Egypt
4. Water turned to blood - Exodus 7:14–25
5. Frogs - Exodus 8:1–15
6. Lice/gnats - Exodus 8:16–19
7. Flies - Exodus 8:20–32
8. Death of Egyptian livestock - Exodus 9:1–7
9. Boils - Exodus 9:8–12
10. Hail and fire - Exodus 9:13–35
11. Locusts - Exodus 10:1–20
12. Three days of darkness - Exodus 10:21–29
13. Death of the firstborn - Exodus 11:4–10; 12:29–30
The Exodus itself
14. The pillar of cloud and fire - Exodus 13:21–22
15. The Red Sea is divided - Exodus 14:16, 21–22
16. The Egyptians are destroyed in the sea - Exodus 14:26–28
Miracles in the wilderness
17. Bitter water made drinkable - Exodus 15:22–25
18. Manna from heaven - Exodus 16:4, 13–15, 35
19. Quail provided for Israel - Exodus 16:12–13
20. Water comes from the rock - Exodus 17:1–6
21. Israel's victory while Moses holds up his hands - Exodus 17:8–13
22. Mount Sinai covered with fire, smoke, thunder, and an earthquake-like shaking - Exodus 19:16–19; 20:18
23. Moses' face shines after speaking with God - Exodus 34:29–35
24. God's glory appears at the tabernacle - Exodus 40:34–38
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Hello,
For discussions like this it's important to be aware that the Qur'an does not simply reproduce material found in the Bible, rather there are major variations in narratives, including details which are absent in the Judeo-Christian texts. The story of Prophet Musa عليه السلام is mentioned in great detail in the Qur'an and as with the other narratives, there are details that are different from those in the Bible.
The verse in the Qur'an mentions that nine clear signs were given to Prophet Musa عليه السلام. This does not mean that the signs were limited to nine; indeed, many others are mentioned in the Qur'an. It is also important to note that the verse does not explicitly mention what these signs are and scholars differed as to what is being referred to here. This is why one cannot assume that this 'would have confounded the Jews', especially considering that the Bible does not specify a number of signs and recounts the plagues differently, with Exodus mentioning ten, Psalm 78:44–51 describing nine and Psalm 105:26–36 describing seven.
Then We inspired Moses, “Throw down your staff,” and—behold!—it devoured the objects of their illusion! [7:117]
He said, ‘Pick it up without fear: We shall turn it back into its former state. [20:21]
The Qur'an makes it clear that the hand becoming white was not a form of disease, as Allah سبحانه وتعالى tells us (interpretation of the meaning):
And draw in your hand to your side; it will come out white without disease - another sign [20:22]
And he drew out his hand; thereupon it was white [with radiance] for the observers. [7:108]
Prophet Musa's (عليه السلام) hand became white with light, with some narrations mentioning that his hand shone brilliantly like the sun. Hence the verse mentions 'for the observers', meaning a whiteness that would be witnessed with amazement due to its brightness.
I don't see what is difficult to believe about the drought spanning a long time. Didn’t the drought at the time of Prophet Yusuf عليه السلام span a number of years?
For discussions like this it's important to be aware that the Qur'an does not simply reproduce material found in the Bible, rather there are major variations in narratives, including details which are absent in the Judeo-Christian texts. The story of Prophet Musa عليه السلام is mentioned in great detail in the Qur'an and as with the other narratives, there are details that are different from those in the Bible.
The verse in the Qur'an mentions that nine clear signs were given to Prophet Musa عليه السلام. This does not mean that the signs were limited to nine; indeed, many others are mentioned in the Qur'an. It is also important to note that the verse does not explicitly mention what these signs are and scholars differed as to what is being referred to here. This is why one cannot assume that this 'would have confounded the Jews', especially considering that the Bible does not specify a number of signs and recounts the plagues differently, with Exodus mentioning ten, Psalm 78:44–51 describing nine and Psalm 105:26–36 describing seven.
Please refer to the following verses (interpretation of the meaning):
Then We inspired Moses, “Throw down your staff,” and—behold!—it devoured the objects of their illusion! [7:117]
He said, ‘Pick it up without fear: We shall turn it back into its former state. [20:21]
The Qur'an makes it clear that the hand becoming white was not a form of disease, as Allah سبحانه وتعالى tells us (interpretation of the meaning):
And draw in your hand to your side; it will come out white without disease - another sign [20:22]
And he drew out his hand; thereupon it was white [with radiance] for the observers. [7:108]
Prophet Musa's (عليه السلام) hand became white with light, with some narrations mentioning that his hand shone brilliantly like the sun. Hence the verse mentions 'for the observers', meaning a whiteness that would be witnessed with amazement due to its brightness.
I don't see what is difficult to believe about the drought spanning a long time. Didn’t the drought at the time of Prophet Yusuf عليه السلام span a number of years?
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The drought during the time of Joseph was seven years (Genesis 41:29–30). It had already ended by the time Moses was born. So the drought was not one of the signs given to Moses. When Jacob’s family went to Egypt, two years of famine had already passed, with five years remaining (Genesis 45:6).
As for details, Muhammad seemed unaware of several Egyptian plagues: the swarms of flies, boils or skin sores, the three days of darkness, and most importantly the death of the firstborn. This last plague resulted in the Jewish exodus and the Passover memorial.
Psalm 78:44 - Rivers and streams turned to blood - Exodus 7:14–24
Psalm 78:45 - Flies and frogs - Exodus 8:1–32
Psalm 78:46 - Crops eaten by locusts - Exodus 10:1–20
Psalm 78:47 - Vines destroyed by hail and sycamore trees by frost - Exodus 9:13–35
Psalm 78:48 - Cattle exposed to hail and lightning - Exodus 9:22–26
Psalm 78:49 - God's anger, fury, and destroying angels sent against Egypt - A poetic description of judgment, not a separately numbered plague
Psalm 78:50–51 - Pestilence and the death of the firstborn - Exodus 9:1–7; 12:29–30
Notice that Psalm 78 is a poetic summary, not a complete, sequential list of all ten plagues. Some events are grouped together, and verse 49 describes the divine judgment behind them.
The Quran seems to equate signs with plagues (afflictions).
If so, I count much more than 9.
Psalm 105:26–27 - Moses and Aaron sent; God's signs begin - Exodus 7:1–13
Psalm 105:28 - Darkness - Exodus 10:21–29
Psalm 105:29 - Water turned to blood; fish died - Exodus 7:14–25
Psalm 105:30 - Frogs - Exodus 8:1–15
Psalm 105:31 - Flies and lice (depending on translation) - Exodus 8:16–32
Psalm 105:32–33 - Hail and destruction of trees and plants - Exodus 9:13–35
Psalm 105:34–35 - Locusts and other consuming insects - Exodus 10:1–20
Psalm 105:36 - Death of the firstborn - Exodus 12:29–30
The passage groups some plagues together and omits others that Exodus lists separately, such as the livestock disease and boils.
Why this matters for comparing the Bible and Quran?
Exodus 7–12 presents the familiar sequence of ten plagues.
Psalm 78:44–51 retells several plagues in poetic form.
Psalm 105:26–36 gives another poetic retelling, emphasizing God's acts in Egypt.
Quran 7:133 names five afflictions: flood, locusts, lice or vermin, frogs, and blood.
So, neither Psalm 78 nor Psalm 105 should be treated as a complete numbered list of the ten plagues. They are different poetic summaries of the same biblical events, and their wording varies by translation.
As for details, Muhammad seemed unaware of several Egyptian plagues: the swarms of flies, boils or skin sores, the three days of darkness, and most importantly the death of the firstborn. This last plague resulted in the Jewish exodus and the Passover memorial.
Psalm 78:44 - Rivers and streams turned to blood - Exodus 7:14–24
Psalm 78:45 - Flies and frogs - Exodus 8:1–32
Psalm 78:46 - Crops eaten by locusts - Exodus 10:1–20
Psalm 78:47 - Vines destroyed by hail and sycamore trees by frost - Exodus 9:13–35
Psalm 78:48 - Cattle exposed to hail and lightning - Exodus 9:22–26
Psalm 78:49 - God's anger, fury, and destroying angels sent against Egypt - A poetic description of judgment, not a separately numbered plague
Psalm 78:50–51 - Pestilence and the death of the firstborn - Exodus 9:1–7; 12:29–30
Notice that Psalm 78 is a poetic summary, not a complete, sequential list of all ten plagues. Some events are grouped together, and verse 49 describes the divine judgment behind them.
The Quran seems to equate signs with plagues (afflictions).
If so, I count much more than 9.
Psalm 105:26–27 - Moses and Aaron sent; God's signs begin - Exodus 7:1–13
Psalm 105:28 - Darkness - Exodus 10:21–29
Psalm 105:29 - Water turned to blood; fish died - Exodus 7:14–25
Psalm 105:30 - Frogs - Exodus 8:1–15
Psalm 105:31 - Flies and lice (depending on translation) - Exodus 8:16–32
Psalm 105:32–33 - Hail and destruction of trees and plants - Exodus 9:13–35
Psalm 105:34–35 - Locusts and other consuming insects - Exodus 10:1–20
Psalm 105:36 - Death of the firstborn - Exodus 12:29–30
The passage groups some plagues together and omits others that Exodus lists separately, such as the livestock disease and boils.
Why this matters for comparing the Bible and Quran?
Exodus 7–12 presents the familiar sequence of ten plagues.
Psalm 78:44–51 retells several plagues in poetic form.
Psalm 105:26–36 gives another poetic retelling, emphasizing God's acts in Egypt.
Quran 7:133 names five afflictions: flood, locusts, lice or vermin, frogs, and blood.
So, neither Psalm 78 nor Psalm 105 should be treated as a complete numbered list of the ten plagues. They are different poetic summaries of the same biblical events, and their wording varies by translation.
There is a hadith tradition that gives a very different interpretation of the “nine clear signs” in Qur’an 17:101.
The nine are:
This Hadith has been reported in Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah on the authority of Sayyidna Safwan ibn al-` Aththal. He says that a Jew asked one of his friends to take him to 'that' prophet. The friend said, 'do not call him a prophet. If he finds out that we too call him a prophet, he will have four eyes on him (that is, he will have an opportunity to wallow in his pride and glee).' Then they came to the Holy Prophet and asked him as to what were the nine clear signs given to Sayyidna Musa.
https://sunnah.com/nasai/37/113
https://sunnah.com/nasai:4078
Sunan an-Nasa'i - The Book of Fighting [The Prohibition of Bloodshed] - Hadith 4078
1. Do not ascribe any partners to Allah.
2. Do not steal.
3. Do not fornicate.
4. Do not unjustly take the life of the one whose killing has been forbidden by Allah.
5. Do not falsely impute anyone innocent with charges liable to the sentence of death or any other punishment.
6. Do not practice magic.
7. Do not devour interest.
8. Do not level a false accusation of fornication on a chaste woman.
9. Do not desert the battlefield in Jihad for fear of being killed.
The hadith then adds a separate command concerning the Sabbath—that they were not to violate the Sabbath injunction.
The nine are:
This Hadith has been reported in Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah on the authority of Sayyidna Safwan ibn al-` Aththal. He says that a Jew asked one of his friends to take him to 'that' prophet. The friend said, 'do not call him a prophet. If he finds out that we too call him a prophet, he will have four eyes on him (that is, he will have an opportunity to wallow in his pride and glee).' Then they came to the Holy Prophet and asked him as to what were the nine clear signs given to Sayyidna Musa.
https://sunnah.com/nasai/37/113
https://sunnah.com/nasai:4078
Sunan an-Nasa'i - The Book of Fighting [The Prohibition of Bloodshed] - Hadith 4078
1. Do not ascribe any partners to Allah.
2. Do not steal.
3. Do not fornicate.
4. Do not unjustly take the life of the one whose killing has been forbidden by Allah.
5. Do not falsely impute anyone innocent with charges liable to the sentence of death or any other punishment.
6. Do not practice magic.
7. Do not devour interest.
8. Do not level a false accusation of fornication on a chaste woman.
9. Do not desert the battlefield in Jihad for fear of being killed.
The hadith then adds a separate command concerning the Sabbath—that they were not to violate the Sabbath injunction.