The story of why Prophet Musa was forced to leave Egypt after accidentally killing someone from Pharaoh's people while helping a person from the Children of Israel who was fighting.
The Story of Prophet Musa Leaving Egypt
Since he was returned to the palace by his mother after being nursed, Musa lived as one of the royal family until he reached adulthood, where he received upbringing and education according to palace tradition. Allah granted him wisdom and knowledge as preparation for the task of prophethood and the message revealed to him. In addition to spiritual perfection and strength, Allah blessed him with physical perfection and bodily strength.
Musa knew and was aware that he was only an adopted child in the palace and not a drop of Pharaoh's blood flowed in his body, and that he was a descendant of the Children of Israel who were oppressed and treated arbitrarily by Pharaoh's people. Therefore, he promised himself that he would become a defender of his oppressed people and a protector of the weak group that became the target of tyranny and brutality of the rulers. Thus, driven by his loyalty to the wronged and oppressed people, an event occurred that forced him to leave the palace and depart from Egypt.
The incident occurred when Musa was walking through an alley in the middle of the day when the city was quiet as its people were taking an afternoon nap. He saw two fighting - one from the Children of Israel named Samiri and another from Pharaoh's people named Fatun. Musa, hearing Samiri's cry for help against an enemy who was stronger and larger, immediately threw a punch and struck Fatun, who fell dead on the spot and breathed his last.
The Story of Prophet Musa Leaving Egypt
Musa was shocked to see Fatun, the Pharaonic, dead from his unintentional blow. He had not expected to kill him. He prayed and sought forgiveness from Allah, asking for pardon for his unintended deed that had taken the life of one of Allah's servants.
The death of Fatun became the subject of much talk and attracted the attention of the kingdom's rulers who suspected that it was surely the Israelites who had committed the murder. They demanded that the perpetrator be given severe punishment if caught.
Security forces and agents of the state were sent throughout the city searching for traces of the person who had killed Fatun, which was actually known only to Samiri and Musa. However, even though there was no third person who witnessed the event, Musa felt anxious and afraid and was prepared to face the consequences of his deed if it should be discovered by the authorities.
The Story of Prophet Musa Leaving Egypt
How unfortunate was Musa's fate, having been careful enough to avoid the revelation of the secret of the murder he had committed, when he inadvertently became trapped again in an act that caused his name to be mentioned as the killer being sought. Musa met again with Samiri, whom he had helped against Fatun, also in a state of fighting for the second time with one of Pharaoh's people. Seeing Musa, Samiri cried out asking for his help. Musa approached those who were fighting and said, rebuking Samiri: "Indeed, you are truly a strayer."
Samiri became alarmed that Musa would kill him when he approached him, and Samiri cried out saying: "Do you intend to kill me as you killed someone yesterday? It seems you want to be a tyrant in this land and not one who establishes peace."
Samiri's words were quickly caught by Pharaoh's people, who swiftly reported it to the rulers who were indeed seeking his trace. Then the nobles and rulers of Egypt deliberated and finally decided to arrest Musa and kill him in retaliation for the death of one of Pharaoh's people.
The Story of Prophet Musa Leaving Egypt
While Pharaoh's people were planning Musa's arrest, a man, one of his friends, came from the edge of the city to inform him and advised him to leave Egypt immediately, because the rulers of Egypt had decided to kill him if he was arrested. Then Musa hurried out of Egypt, before the police could close and seal the city gates.
Regarding the contents of this story, it can be found in the Qur'an which can be read in surah "al-Qasas" verses 14 - 21 as follows:
"14. And when Musa attained his full strength and became mature, We gave him wisdom and knowledge. And thus do We reward those who do good."
"15. And he entered the city when its people were in a sleep [of heedlessness] and found therein two men fighting - one from his faction and one from among his enemy. So the one from his faction called for help against the one from his enemy, and Musa struck him [with his fist] and [unintentionally] killed him. [Musa] said, 'This is of the work of Satan. Indeed, he is a manifest misleader.'"
"16. He said, 'My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me.' And He forgave him. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful."
"17. He said, 'My Lord, for the favor You have bestowed upon me, I will never be an assistant to the criminals.'"
"18. And he became in the city fearful, anticipating [punishment], when suddenly the one who had sought his help the day before cried out to him for help. Musa said to him, 'Indeed, you are clearly someone who is misguided.'"
"19. And when he went to strike the one who was an enemy to both of them, the man said, 'O Musa, do you intend to kill me as you killed a soul yesterday? You only want to be a tyrant in the land and do not want to be of the reformers.'"
"20. And there came a man from the farthest end of the city, running. He said, 'O Musa, indeed the eminent ones have decided to kill you, so flee and be not among the wrongdoers.'"
"21. So he left it, fearful and anticipating [punishment]. He said, 'My Lord, save me from the wrongdoing people.' (al-Qasas: 14-21)"
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