How the Story of Moses Led Me to Understand Islam

A childhood Sunday school lesson, the Day of Ashura, and the shared prophetic heritage connecting Muslims, Christians, and Jews.

Photo by Noah Holm on Unsplash

The Day I Recognized a Familiar Story

How the Story of Moses Helped Me Understand the Shared Heritage of Faith

Long before I learned about Islam, I knew the story of Prophet Musa (Moses).

As a child growing up in the 1970s, I attended Sunday school where Bible stories came alive through the gift of an unforgettable teacher. Her name was Mrs. W.

Among the students in our elementary school, Mrs. W had a fearsome reputation. She was known for her strict classroom management and the harsh disciplinary practices that were still common at the time. The dreaded dunce cap had not yet disappeared from schools, and children who struggled or misbehaved could find themselves publicly humiliated. My older siblings all passed through her classroom and endured her stern methods.

Thankfully, my mother intervened before I entered Grade One. Knowing that I was a shy child with speech and auditory processing challenges, she requested that I be placed in another class. Instead of Mrs. W’s academically prestigious classroom, I was assigned to Mrs. C, a gentle grandmotherly teacher whose kindness provided a safer environment for a child like me.

Yet something remarkable happened every Sunday.

The woman who seemed so intimidating during the school week became an entirely different person in Sunday school. She was warm, patient, and captivating. We would sit cross-legged on the floor, completely absorbed as she narrated the stories of the prophets. Her voice transformed ancient events into living scenes. We weren’t simply hearing stories; we were experiencing them.

It was at her feet that I first learned the story of Musa.

I learned about the infant placed in the Nile to escape Pharaoh’s oppression. I learned about his rescue and upbringing. I learned about the accidental killing that forced him to flee Egypt. I learned about his return, his confrontation with Pharaoh, and the signs God granted him. The details fascinated me. The courage, the struggle, the faith, and the deliverance all left a lasting impression on my young heart.

Years later, when I first began reading the Quran, I experienced something unexpected.

The stories were familiar.

The names were slightly different. Some details varied. Certain events were emphasized differently. Yet the core narrative was unmistakably recognizable. The Musa I encountered in the Quran was the same prophet whose story had captivated me as a child.

For me, this recognition became deeply significant.

The Quran repeatedly presents itself not as an entirely new message but as a confirmation and continuation of the divine guidance that came before it. Muslims believe that Allah sent revelation through many prophets throughout history, including Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Dawud (David), and Isa (Jesus), peace be upon them all.

As the Quran states:

“He has sent down upon you the Book in truth, confirming what was before it.” (Quran 3:3)

As I encountered these familiar prophetic narratives, I began to understand why Islam speaks of continuity rather than isolation. The stories connected generations of believers through a shared spiritual heritage.

This shared heritage is reflected in the Quranic term Ahl al-Kitab (أهل الكتاب), meaning “People of the Book.” This title is traditionally used for Jews and Christians because they received earlier scriptures and prophetic guidance.

While Muslims, Jews, and Christians certainly have theological differences, we also share profound common ground. We trace our spiritual lineage through many of the same prophets. We affirm belief in one Creator. We inherit stories that have shaped civilizations and inspired countless acts of faith.

One of the most beautiful reminders of this shared history occurs on the Day of Ashura.

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to Madinah and found the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. He asked about it, and they explained that it was the day on which Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy, and Musa fasted in gratitude. The Prophet ﷺ replied, “We have more right to Musa than you,” and he fasted that day and encouraged others to fast as well.

(Sahih al-Bukhari 2002; Sahih Muslim 1130)

Every year when Ashura arrives, I think about this narration.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ did not reject Musa as belonging to another community. Instead, he affirmed a connection. He recognized Musa as part of the same chain of divine guidance that culminated in the final message of Islam.

Ashura therefore becomes more than a voluntary fast. It becomes a reminder of a shared story — one that predates our contemporary divisions and reminds us of our common roots.

This spirit of coexistence also appeared in the earliest Muslim community.

When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ migrated to Madinah in 622 CE, he established what historians commonly call the Constitution of Medina (or Charter of Medina). Though the original document no longer exists as a standalone manuscript, its text was preserved through early Islamic historical sources.

The agreement brought together Muslim emigrants, local Muslim tribes, Jewish tribes, and other groups into a unified civic community. Among its principles were mutual defense, shared responsibilities, and protection of religious freedom.

One of its most frequently cited provisions recognized that different communities would maintain their own religious identities while participating in a common society. The document stands as an early example of governance that sought cooperation among diverse faith communities rather than forced uniformity.

For me, this historical moment carries an important lesson.

We live in an age when differences are often amplified and commonalities overlooked. Religious identity is frequently discussed in terms of conflict rather than connection. Yet the stories of the prophets tell another story.

They remind us that our traditions intersect.

The same Musa who inspired generations of Jews, Christians, and Muslims first entered my life through the storytelling of a Sunday school teacher. Years later, he helped me recognize familiar truths in the Quran.

That realization did not erase the distinctions between faith traditions. Nor should it. Differences matter, and each community understands these narratives through its own theological lens.

But recognizing differences does not require denying shared history.

The story of Musa belongs to a heritage that has touched billions of lives across centuries. It speaks of courage in the face of oppression, trust in God during uncertainty, and gratitude after deliverance. These are lessons that transcend time, culture, and even religious boundaries.

As Ashura approaches each year, I remember not only the fasting of Musa and the fasting of Muhammad ﷺ, but also a small Sunday school classroom where a gifted storyteller planted seeds that would bear fruit many years later.

Sometimes understanding begins with a familiar story.

And sometimes a story learned in childhood becomes a bridge to discovering deeper truths as an adult.

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