Exploring the Possibility that Prophet Musa may have Lead the Bani Israel from Indus Valley to Israel

Abstract

It is believed that Prophet Musa led the Bani Israel from Egypt to Israel at c. 1500 BCE. However, evidence from archaeology and Egyptian literature in support of such movement is not forthcoming. This study aims to examine whether the Quranic narrative of Prophet Musa’s journey matches with the Indus Valley. Ten descriptions are identified related to Prophet Musa’s stay in Misr (the name for Egypt in the Quran). We call these “parameters.” We find favorable evidence from the Indus Valley on all ten parameters. In contrast the evidence from Egypt is favorable in four parameters, silent in three parameters and against in three parameters. Overall, the Indus Valley matches the Quranic descriptions much better. This suggests that Prophet Musa may have lived in the Indus Valley and led the Bani Israel from there to Israel. An implication of this study is that the prophets before Prophet Musa, specifically, Adam, Nuh and Ibrahim may also have lived in the Indus Valley. This study opens up the possibility that the origins of the Abrahamic religions may lie in the Indus Valley and lays the foundation of an inter-religious dialogue between Muslims and Hindus at a scriptural level.