Question:
In the Qur’an verse 44:23–24, it is mentioned that Prophetﷺ Musa (Moses) already knew what would happen. But in another passage, it appears that Musa waited for Allahﷻ’s help without knowing what to do. Which is correct?
Answer:
In Surah 44:23–24, Allahﷻ tells Musa: Take My servants and leave during the night. Leave Egypt secretly with the Children of Israel. You will be pursued by Pharaoh. Leave the sea parted and they will be drowned.
From this it appears that Musa already knew that they would cross the sea and Pharaoh would drown. But in Surah 26:61–67, when Musa and his people reach the sea and Pharaoh’s army approaches, another scene appears.
The followers of Musa say: “We are caught! We are trapped!”
Behind them Pharaoh’s army is approaching, and in front of them is the sea.
At that moment Musa says: “No! My Lord is with me. He will guide me.”
Immediately Allahﷻ reveals to Musa: Strike the sea with your staff.
When he strikes it, the sea splits and each side rise like a huge mountain of water. Musa and his people cross. Pharaoh enters and is drowned. So, the question is: if Musa already knew what would happen, why did he stand there waiting?
The answer is this: Allahﷻ told Musa the outcome, but not the method.
Allahﷻ told him that he would escape and Pharaoh would drown. But Allahﷻ did not say how the sea would split. When Musa reached the sea, the sea had not yet split. Pharaoh’s army was approaching. At that moment Musa did not yet know the exact method by which Allahﷻ would save them. But he had certainty that Allahﷻ would guide him.
That is why he said: “My Lord is with me. He will guide me.”
After that Allahﷻ revealed the specific instruction: strike the sea with your staff.
So, there is no contradiction. Musa knew the promise of salvation, but the exact method of the miracle was revealed at that moment.