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Why Pharaoh did not punish Moses for the killing of the Egyptian
Fatwa No: 92659

Question

Thank you for your reply. Why didn't Pharaoh punish Moses when he returned to Egypt after many years of exile when it was known that he(Moses) was guilty of murder?.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

Indeed Allaah protected and supported Moosaa (i.e. Moses) from the plots and tyranny of Pharaoh, may Allaah curse him; whoever ponders upon their story which is mentioned in the Quran, will know this. Allaah Says to Moosaa (what means): {… in order that you may be brought up under My Eye.}[Quran 20:39]. Allaah further Says to him (what means): {Then you did kill a man, but We saved you from great distress and tried you with a heavy trial.}[Quran 20:40]. The interpreters of the Quran interpreted the saying of Allaah (which means) {…and tried you with a heavy trial.} to mean being afflicted with calamities one after another, and that Allaah saved him from them. Therefore, Allaah protected Moosaa and Pharaoh did not punish him even though he knew that he killed the Copt. The evidence proving this is that Pharaoh told Moosaa as Allaah informs us in the following verse (which means): {And you did your deed, which you did (i.e. the crime of killing a man). And you are one of the ingrates.}[Quran 26:19]. Indeed when Allaah sent Moosaa along with his brother Haaroon (i.e. Aaron), may Allaah exalt their mention, to Pharaoh, they feared to be punished and tortured by Pharaoh, however, Allaah comforted them as He Says (what means): {They said: "Our Lord! Verily! We fear lest he should hasten to punish us or lest he should transgress (all bounds against us)."  He (Allaah) said: "Fear not, verily! I am with you both, hearing and seeing.}[Quran 20:45-46]. Consequently, Pharaoh did not punish Moosaa rather, it was Pharaoh who was drowned in the sea.

For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 92626.   

Allaah Knows best.

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