The First Reaction of Musa (AS) When His Staff Turned into a Serpent
Authored by: Dr. Raza Abdullah Pasha (Hafizahullah)
❖ Question:
What did Sayyiduna Musa (AS) do the first time he saw his staff move like a serpent?
❖ Answer:
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَأَلْقِ عَصَاكَ ۚ فَلَمَّا رَآهَا تَهْتَزُّ كَأَنَّهَا جَانٌّ وَلَّىٰ مُدْبِرًا وَلَمْ يُعَقِّبْ ۚ يَا مُوسَىٰ لَا تَخَفْ إِنِّي لَا يَخَافُ لَدَيَّ الْمُرْسَلُونَ ﴾ [النمل: 10]
"And throw down your staff." But when he saw it moving as though it were a serpent, he turned in flight and did not look back. [Allah said:] "O Musa, fear not; indeed, the messengers do not fear in My presence."
Allah commanded Musa (AS) to throw his staff upon the ground so that it would become a clear proof for him that Allah ﷻ is All-Powerful over everything.
The verse says: فَلَمَّا رَآهَا تَهْتَزُّ كَأَنَّهَا جَانٌّ — "When he saw it moving as if it were a jann (a type of snake)," meaning a very swift and restless serpent.
It is mentioned in Hadith that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade killing house-snakes.
When Musa (AS) observed this, he was overtaken by intense fear: وَلَّىٰ مُدْبِرًا وَلَمْ يُعَقِّبْ — he turned in retreat and did not even look back.
Allah ﷻ then reassured him: "O Musa! Do not fear what you are seeing. Indeed, I have chosen you as My Messenger and will grant you honor and a noble status."
Allah ﷻ further says:
﴿فَلَمَّا جَاءَتْهُمْ آيَاتُنَا مُبْصِرَةً قَالُوا هَٰذَا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ ﴾ [النمل: 13]
"So when Our enlightening signs came to them, they said: ‘This is obvious sorcery.’"
Pharaoh and his army attempted to oppose these signs with their sorcery, but they were overcome and returned disgraced.
