Ramses II: the Pharaoh of Moses

In my childhood days I used to hear the old and the elderly people in our neighbourhood discuss that Pharaoh’s body had been discovered in Egypt. Back then I had little or no knowledge about Islamic teachings and wondered how someone’s body that died thousands of years ago could remain intact.             

The body of the Pharaoh was only discovered in 1898 but the Quran was revealed nearly 1400 years ago from where we are now. It really was the dead body of Ramses II, the Egyptian Pharaoh (king) in the era of Prophet Moses (AS). Its age is approximately 3000 years old and it was found by the Red Sea, at the place called Jabalain but is now on display in the Royal Mummies Chamber of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

‘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.” “What, now! When previously you rebelled and were one of the corrupters? Today We will preserve (save) your body so you can be a Sign for people who come after you. Surely many people are heedless of Our Signs.’ (Quran 10:90-92)

The last minute conversion of the arrogant Pharaoh who persecuted Israelite believers was not accepted. The most amazing thing with this dead body is that it is not a mummy. Scientists say that this dead body is amazingly preserved without any mummification; no inside organs have been removed. So what is the secret of such good preservation of this body? See the answer in the Glorious Quran where Allah Almighty says that Pharaohs body will be preserved as a warning for generations. It means his body will not decay.        

‘Today We will preserve your body so you can be a Sign for people who come after you.’ (Quran 10: 92)

Dr Maurice Bucaille was one of the top scientists of the world and the head of a group of physicians concerned on doing researches of the body in France in 1981. Ramses II was really old, perhaps was in his early 90’s when he died. He discovered traces of salt in the mummy’s respiratory system and concluded that most probably he died of drowning. Other examinations showed that Pharaoh’s body did not remain in the water for too long after drowning. After it was verified that the mummy in fact was the Pharaoh who rejected the message of Moses, the body was flown to major cities of the world for people to see. Later Dr Bucaille began working on Ramses II’s son Merneptah who probably was another witness to the deeds of Moses.        

Dr Maurice Bucaille was preparing a final report on what he believed to be a new discovery until he was told that Muslims knew about drowning of this mummy as it is mentioned in the Quran and it really was the tyrant who ruled Egypt during Moses’ time.  

It is almost impossible for a man to say accurately how a certain thing happened in the ancient past and make a connection with that thing to predict how it would be in the future. The Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) only repeats what he hears from Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. The Quran is the final Revelation sent down for mankind to follow until the Last Day.      

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Written by: Ibrahim Nazim
3 November 2010, Wednesday
26 Zulqaida 1431