Body of Fir’awn

This is the body of Fir’awn (Rameses II), believed

to be the Pharoah in the time of Musa (upon him

be peace). His mummy is preserved and is

currently on display in the Royal Mummies

Chamber in Cairo Museum, Egypt.

Fir’awn was a mighty tyrannical ruler who

greatly persecuted the Bani Israil (Children of

Israel). Musa (upon him be peace) was sent to

invite him towards the truth but he rejected his

teachings, considering himself to be God. Musa

(upon him be peace), accompanied by his

brother Harun (upon him be peace) and Yusha

(upon him be peace) led the Bani Israil out of

Egypt, Fir’awn and his army pursued them but

were drowned in the Red Sea.

There is great debate as to the identity of the

Pharoah in the time of Musa (upon him be

peace) with some identifying him as

Merneptah. However, most of the evidence

backed up by verses of the Holy Quran point

towards him being Rameses II. The Quran and

the Bible [Exodus 14:21-30 and Exodus

15:19-21] state that the Pharaoh was drowned

in the sea. However, the Qur’an differs from

the Bible and it makes a very unique statement

that the body of the drowned Pharaoh was

saved as a sign for future generations. The

Quranic statement about rescuing Pharaoh’s

body would be in total agreement with the fact

that the body of Rameses II has survived in a

mummified form. It was discovered in 1881

among a group of royal mummies that had

been removed from their original tombs for fear

of theft. Priests of the 21st Dynasty had

reburied them in a cache at Deir al-Bahari on

Luxor’s west bank. Nothing whatsoever was

known at the time of the revelation of the

Quran about the mummy of Rameses II.

With regards the end point of his life, Allah

(Glorified and Exalted is He) makes mention in

the Holy Quran in Surah Yunus: “We brought

the tribe of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh

and his troops pursued them out of tyranny

and enmity. Then, when he was on the point of

drowning, he [Pharaoh] said: “I believe that

there is no god but Him in Whom the tribe of

Israel believes. I am one of the

Muslims.” [10:90]

However, this last-minute conversion was not

accepted, for it was not sincere. According to

the Quran, Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He)

further exclaimed: “What, now! When

previously you rebelled and were one of the

corrupters? Today we will preserve your body

so you can be a Sign for people who come

after you. Surely many people are heedless of

Our Signs.” [10:91-92]

References: Islamic-awareness.org