The preservation of Pharaoh’s body described in the Qur’an is an important miracle of the Qur’an. It is said in Surah Yunus (10:92), when Pharaoh drowned in the sea while chasing the Israelites, Allah ordered his body to be preserved. The verse says-

So today We will save you in body that you may be to those who succeed you a sign. And indeed, many among the people, of Our signs, are heedless (Surah Yunus: verse 92).

The word نُنَجِّيْكَ in the verse means I will protect you and the word بِبَدَنِكَ means your body or corpse. The Qur’an foretold that after Pharaoh drowned in the sea, Allah would preserve his body so that it would be a sign for future generations. This prophecy of the Quran has come true in a very surprising way. 1400 years ago, people had no idea about where and how the body of the pharaoh was preserved. Most of the remains of pharaohs have been found in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Ramesses II was one of the most important of the pharaohs, whose mummy was discovered in 1881. It is believed that the reign of Ramesses II was going on during the time of Prophet Moses (pbuh). Because the reign of this Ramesses II lasted the longest among the pharaohs. The Qur’an does not specifically mention any pharaoh’s name. But the Qur’an refers to a pharaoh whose reign lasted at least 40 years. Because it is said in the Prophet Qur’an that Moses (pbuh) was brought up and raised from childhood in Pharaoh’s house. It is said in verse 14 of Surah Qasas of the Qur’an that when Musa (A.S.) reached the age of maturity, Allah gave him prophethood.

Pharaoh’s body and a fulfilled Quranic prophecy

Photo: Mummy of Ramesses II.

 

When Moses was young and matured, I gave him wisdom and knowledge. Thus I reward the righteous. [Surah Qasas –  28:14 ]

Mature age usually means 20 to 30 years of age. That is, until such an age, Musa was in Pharaoh’s house. Incidentally, Musa (A.S.) accidentally killed an Egyptian man and fled from Egypt to Madian in fear of his life, married there and stayed for about 8 to 10 years as mentioned in the Qur’an (Surah Qasas 28:27).

The father said to Moses, I want to give one of my two daughters in marriage to you on the condition that you will serve me for eight years, if you complete ten years, it is your wish. I don’t want to hurt you. God willing, you will find me righteous. [Surah Qasas –  28:27 ]

After that, Allah ordered Musa to return to Egypt and invite Pharaoh, so at this time Musa was about 40 years old.

This means that the Qur’an refers to a pharaoh whose reign lasted for more than 40 years. Calculating the reigns of the pharaohs shows that Ramesses II reigned the longest, about 66 years. The Bible records that he used forced labor and built large palaces. Considering the reigns of other pharaohs, it seems that Ramesses II was reigning as pharaoh during the time of Musa a.h.

Pharaoh’s body and a fulfilled Quranic prophecy

The mummies of 15 pharaohs are preserved in various museums in Egypt. Notable among them are-

• Ramesses II (Ramesses the Great) – one of Egypt’s most powerful pharaohs, his mummy was discovered in 1881 and is now in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
• Tutankhamun (King Tut) – His complete tomb was discovered by Howard Carter in 1922 and his mummy is also in Cairo.
• The first is the father of Ramesses II, whose mummy is well preserved and is in Cairo.
• Merneptah – According to some researchers he may be the pharaoh of the Exodus, his mummy was found in 1898 and is in Cairo.

That is, only 100 to 150 years ago, the mummies of several pharaohs were found, including the mummy of Ramesses II. However, it is predicted in the Quran that Pharaoh’s body will be preserved as a sign for 1400 years, which is definitely proof of the miracles of the Quran and the authenticity of the Quran.