South Sinai Governorate, Egypt
Coordinates: 28.555993, 33.976031
St Catherine’s Monastery also encompasses the Well of Moses, also known as the Well of Hz. Shuaib عليه اسلام, where Hz. Musa عليه اسلام is said to have met daughters of Hz. Shuaib عليه اسلام.
In gratitude, Hz. Shuaib عليه اسلام invited Hz. Musa عليه اسلام to his home and gave him his daughter in marriage.
The well is still one of the monastery’s main sources of water.
Hz. Musa عليه اسلام helps daughters of Hz. Shuaib عليه اسلام (Narrated by Ibn Kathir)
After fleeing from egypt, He traveled for eight nights, hiding during the day. After crossing the main desert, he reached a watering hole outside Madyan where shepherds were watering their flocks. No sooner had Hz. Musa عليه اسلام reached the Madyan than he threw himself under a tree to rest. He suffered from hunger and fatigue. The soles of his feet felt as if they were worn out from hard walking on sand and rocks and from the dust. He did not have any money to buy a new pair of sandals, nor to buy food or drink.
Hz. Musa عليه اسلام noticed a band of shepherds watering their sheep. He went to the spring, where he saw two young women preventing their sheep from mixing with the others. Hz. Musa عليه اسلام sensed that the women were in need of help. Forgetting his thirst, he drew nearer to them and asked if he could help them in any way.
The older sister said: “We are waiting until the shepherds finish watering their sheep, then we will water ours.” Hz. Musa عليه اسلام asked again: “Why are you waiting?” The younger one: “We cannot push men.”
Hz. Musa عليه اسلام was surprised that women were shepherding, as only men were supposed to do it. It is hard and tiresome work, and one needs to be on the alert. Hz. Musa عليه اسلام asked: “Why are you shepherding?” The younger sister said: “Our father is an old man; his health is too poor for him to go outdoors for pasturing sheep.” Hz. Musa عليه اسلام (pbuh) said: “I will water the sheep for you.”
When Hz. Musa عليه اسلام approached the water, he saw that the shepherds had put over the mouth of the spring an immense rock that could only be moved by ten men. Hz. Musa عليه اسلام embraced the rock and lifted it out of the spring’s mouth, the veins of his neck and hands standing out as he did so. Hz. Musa عليه اسلام was certainly strong. He watered their sheep and put the rock back in its place. He returned to sit in the shade of the tree. At this moment he realized that he had forgotten to drink. His stomach was sunken because of hunger.
Hz. Musa عليه اسلام Helps Women Shepherds – Quranic
Almighty Allah described this event:
“And when he arrived at the water of Madyan he found there a group of men watering their flocks, and besides them he found two women who were keeping back their flocks. He said:
“What is the matter with you?” They said: “We cannot water (our flocks) until the shepherds take their flocks. And our father is a very old man.” So he watered their flocks for them, then he turned back to shade, and said: “My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!”
Quran: Ch 28:22-24
