The story of Asiya and baby Musa, for kids

The story of baby Musa floating down the river to the palace of Pharaoh is one of the gentlest stories in the Qur’an, and one of the best for little children. At its heart is Asiya, the kind wife of a cruel king, who loved a baby that was not her own and who came to believe in Allah. Here is the story retold from the Qur’an for you to read aloud, with the lessons, questions to ask afterwards and where it is in the Qur’an.

Who was Asiya?

Asiya was the wife of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt in the time of Prophet Musa, alayhis salaam. She was not a Prophet, but Allah praises her in the Qur’an as an example for all believers (66:11), and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ named her, with Maryam, as one of the women who reached perfection (Sahih al-Bukhari 3411; Sahih Muslim 2431). The Qur’an calls her “the wife of Pharaoh”; we know her name from that hadith.

The story of Asiya and baby Musa, to read aloud

The numbers in brackets are the surah and ayah, for you rather than for reading aloud. When you say Musa’s name, add “alayhis salaam”: peace be upon him.

Long ago, Egypt was ruled by a king called Pharaoh. He was proud and cruel, and he treated the Children of Israel very badly (28:4). He was so cruel that their mothers were afraid for their baby boys.

In those days, a baby boy was born. His name was Musa.

Allah put a message into the heart of Musa’s mother: “Feed him. And when you are afraid for him, put him in the river. Do not be afraid, and do not be sad. We will bring him back to you, and We will make him one of the messengers” (28:7).

So she placed baby Musa in a little box, and set it on the river (20:39). The water carried the box along, all the way to Pharaoh’s palace.

Musa’s big sister followed the box along the riverbank, watching it, while no one noticed her (28:11).

At the palace, Pharaoh’s family picked up the box (28:8). Inside was a baby! When Pharaoh’s wife, Asiya, saw him, she loved him at once. Allah says He put love for Musa into people’s hearts (20:39).

“He will be a joy for me and for you,” Asiya said to Pharaoh. “Do not kill him. Maybe he will be good for us, or we can take him as our son” (28:9). And so baby Musa stayed in the palace.

Back at home, Musa’s mother missed him so much that her heart felt empty. But Allah made her heart strong (28:10).

In the palace, the baby was hungry, but he would not drink milk from any of the nurses they brought (28:12). Then his sister came and said: “Shall I show you a family who will look after him for you, and be kind to him?” (28:12)

And so baby Musa was brought back to his own mother! She could feed him and hold him again, and she was happy, and she knew that Allah’s promise is always true (28:13).

Musa grew up in Pharaoh’s palace (26:18), and Asiya cared for him like her own son. Years later, Allah made Musa a Prophet.

Asiya believed in Allah, even though her husband was Pharaoh. She made a beautiful dua: “My Lord, build for me a house near You in Paradise. Save me from Pharaoh and what he does, and save me from the wrongdoing people” (66:11).

Allah tells us about Asiya in the Qur’an, as an example for every believer.

What does the story of Asiya teach children?

• Allah’s plan keeps us safe. Allah protected baby Musa in the very house of the king who was a danger to him.
• Trust Allah when you are afraid. Musa’s mother was frightened, but she did what Allah told her, and Allah kept His promise.
• Be kind and merciful. Asiya loved a baby who was not her own, and spoke up to save him.
• You can be good even when others are not. Asiya lived with the cruellest king, and still chose Allah.
• Brothers and sisters help each other. Musa’s sister watched over him and helped bring him home.

What can I ask my child after the story?

1. Who told Musa’s mother to put him in the river?
2. Who followed the box along the riverbank?
3. What did Asiya say when she saw the baby?
4. How did baby Musa get back to his mother?
5. What did Asiya ask Allah to build for her?

What age is this story for?

From about three, this is a gentle story: a baby, a river, a kind lady and a mother made happy again. For young children, keep Pharaoh’s cruelty to a single sentence. From six or seven, teach Asiya’s dua. From about nine, read Al-Qasas 28:7-13 together in a translation you trust, then go on to Musa’s life as a grown man in the story of Prophet Musa.

Where is the story of Asiya and baby Musa in the Qur’an?

• Al-Qasas 28:3-6: Pharaoh’s cruelty
• Al-Qasas 28:7-13: Baby Musa on the river; Asiya; back to his mother
• Ta-Ha 20:38-40: The box, the river and the love Allah gave him
• At-Tahrim 66:11: Asiya’s dua; an example for believers
• Sahih al-Bukhari 3411; Sahih Muslim 2431: The women who reached perfection

Which ilmbee book tells this story?

Asiya Found a Baby in the Basket (Book 80) tells this story for children aged 4 to 11, and the retelling above follows it. It is narrated, like every book in Series 01: with Read to me, each word lights up as it is read; with Watch, the pages turn by themselves. The first three books of the series are free to read now. Musa’s story continues in The Stick of Musa (Book 46).

The books in this guide

From ilmbee Series 01, 100 illustrated books read in order. The first 3 are free to read.

• Book 46The Stick of MusaProphets & Quran Stories
• Book 80Asiya Found a Baby in the BasketProphets & Quran Stories

Frequently asked questions

Who was Asiya in Islam?

Asiya was the wife of Pharaoh, who took in baby Musa and believed in Allah. The Qur’an gives her as an example for all believers (66:11).

What was Asiya’s dua?

“Rabbi-bni li ’indaka baytan fil-jannah”: my Lord, build for me a house near You in Paradise, and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds, and save me from the wrongdoing people (66:11).

Who found baby Musa in the river?

Pharaoh’s family picked up the box (28:8), and Pharaoh’s wife, Asiya, asked that the baby not be killed (28:9).

How did baby Musa go back to his mother?

Allah made him refuse every nurse, and his sister offered to show them a family who would care for him; so he was returned to his own mother (28:12-13).

Is Asiya one of the best women in Islam?

Yes. The Prophet ﷺ said that among women, Maryam the daughter of Imran and Asiya the wife of Pharaoh reached perfection (Sahih al-Bukhari 3411; Sahih Muslim 2431).

Where is the story of baby Musa in the Qur’an?

In Surah Al-Qasas, 28:7-13, and Surah Ta-Ha, 20:38-40. Asiya’s dua is in Surah At-Tahrim, 66:11.

Sources

Qur'an references are given as surah:ayah, with the meaning in plain English. Hadith are from the collections named.

• Qur’an 28:3-6 (Al-Qasas): Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and oppressed a group of its people, killing their sons.
• Qur’an 28:7 (Al-Qasas): Allah inspired the mother of Musa: nurse him, and when you fear for him, put him in the river; do not fear or grieve; We will return him to you and make him one of the messengers.
• Qur’an 20:38-40 (Ta-Ha): put him in the chest and put it in the river; I cast love upon you from Me, so that you would be brought up under My eye; your sister walking and saying “Shall I show you someone who will care for him?”; We returned you to your mother.
• Qur’an 28:8-9 (Al-Qasas): the family of Pharaoh picked him up; Pharaoh’s wife said, “A comfort of the eye for me and for you; do not kill him; perhaps he will benefit us, or we may take him as a son.”
• Qur’an 28:10-13 (Al-Qasas): his mother’s heart became empty, and Allah made it firm; his sister followed him; he refused the nurses; returned to his mother so she would be content and know Allah’s promise is true.
• Qur’an 26:18 (Ash-Shu’ara): Pharaoh: “Did we not raise you among us as a child?”
• Qur’an 66:11 (At-Tahrim): Allah gives the wife of Pharaoh as an example for the believers: “My Lord, build for me a house near You in Paradise, and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds, and save me from the wrongdoing people.”
• Sahih al-Bukhari 3411; Sahih Muslim 2431: many men reached perfection, but among women only Maryam daughter of Imran and Asiya the wife of Pharaoh.