Was There a Flood During the Time of Moses?

A Critical and Scholarly Examination of a Major Qur’anic Contradiction
By Dr. Max Shimba | Max Shimba Ministries

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Introduction

Thursday, December 2, 2021
This article presents a scholarly examination of a theological and historical issue arising in the Qur'an—namely, the claim that there was a flood during the time of Prophet Moses. According to the Bible, there was no such event recorded as part of the ten plagues in Egypt. This analysis draws upon Qur’anic verses, classical tafsir (commentaries), and the biblical record to highlight a contradiction that carries theological significance.

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1. Flood in the Days of Noah

The Qur’an clearly attributes a global flood to the time of Prophet Noah, as seen in the following verses:

“Indeed, We sent Noah to his people, and he dwelt among them for a thousand years minus fifty. Then the flood overtook them while they were wrongdoers.” (Surah 29:14, Arberry)

“But they denied him, so We saved him and those with him in the Ark, and We drowned those who rejected Our signs. Indeed, they were blind people.” (Surah 7:64, Arberry)

“So they denied him, and We saved him and those with him in the Ark, and made them successors, and drowned those who denied Our signs. So see what was the end of those who were warned.” (Surah 10:73, Arberry)

These verses unmistakably affirm the flood during Noah’s time.

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2. Alleged Flood During the Time of Moses

However, the Qur’an appears to suggest that another flood occurred during Moses' confrontation with Pharaoh:

“So We sent upon them the flood, the locusts, the lice, the frogs, and the blood as clear signs, but they were arrogant and were a criminal people…” (Surah 7:133, Arberry)

“So We took retribution from them and drowned them in the sea because they denied Our signs and were heedless of them.” (Surah 7:136, Arberry)

“And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh and his hosts followed them in arrogance and enmity, until drowning overtook him…” (Surah 10:90–92, Arberry; cf. Yusuf Ali version)

The Yusuf Ali translation emphasizes Pharaoh dying in a “flood,” implying more than just a parting of the Red Sea. This interpretation creates confusion when read alongside biblical accounts.

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3. Contradiction with the Biblical Record

The Bible, in the Book of Exodus, documents ten distinct plagues sent by God upon Egypt for Pharaoh's refusal to release the Israelites. These are:

1. Water turned to blood (Ex. 7:20)

2. Frogs (Ex. 8:6)

3. Lice (Ex. 8:17)

4. Swarms of flies (Ex. 8:24)

5. Death of livestock (Ex. 9:6)

6. Boils (Ex. 9:10)

7. Hailstorm (Ex. 9:23)

8. Locusts (Ex. 10:14)

9. Darkness (Ex. 10:22)

10. Death of the firstborn (Ex. 12:29)

Nowhere is a “flood” mentioned as one of the ten plagues. The drowning of Pharaoh and his army occurs at the Red Sea during the Exodus but not as a flood judgment over the land of Egypt.

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4. Qur’anic Exegetical Evidence: Classical Tafsir

Classical Islamic commentators confirm the presence of a flood in the story of Moses:

Ibn Kathir on Surah 7:133:

“Ibn Abbas said it was heavy rain that destroyed the crops and fruits... Mujahid said it refers to water that carried plague and death across the land... The land was covered with water, so they begged Moses to pray for them...”

Al-Tabari:

“Then Allah sent the flood upon them... Everything they had was submerged...”

Ibn Ishaq (through Ibn Humayd and Salamah):

“Allah sent him with signs... He sent the flood, then locusts, then vermin, then frogs, and finally blood... The flood submerged the land’s surface, then withdrew...”

Ibn Abbas (Tanwîr al-Miqbâs):

“(We sent upon them) unceasing rain from Saturday to Saturday...”

Al-Jalalayn:

“We sent upon them a flood of water that entered their homes and reached their necks for seven days...”

This extensive traditional evidence affirms that the Qur’anic commentators understood “Tufan” (flood) to mean literal flooding during Moses’ time.

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5. A Further Inconsistency: Nine Signs Instead of Ten

The Qur’an also claims that Moses was sent with nine signs:

“And We gave Moses nine clear signs. Ask the Children of Israel when he came to them...” (Surah 17:101, Arberry)

This contradicts the well-documented ten plagues in the Torah. Even Qur’anic exegesis attempts to reconcile this by listing the signs:

Ibn Abbas (Tafsir on 17:101):

“The hand, the staff, the flood, locusts, lice, frogs, blood, years of famine, and loss of wealth.”

Al-Jalalayn:

“The hand, the staff, the flood, locusts, lice, frogs, blood, loss of wealth, and years of scarcity...”

The omission of the death of the firstborn—arguably the most severe of the plagues—is noteworthy and further highlights the inconsistency.

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6. Conclusion

The Qur'an presents an anachronistic and historically inaccurate claim that a flood occurred in Egypt during the time of Moses as one of the plagues. This is at odds with both the Biblical record and historical understanding. The confusion likely stems from a conflation of the Noahic flood and the Exodus narrative.

As noted by Christian apologist Abdallah Abd al-Fadi:

“There was no flood in Egypt during the Exodus. This confusion is likely due to a misplacement of the global flood of Noah into Moses' timeline.”
(Does the Qur'an Have Errors? Nuru ya Maisha, p. 88–89)

Thus, this is yet another example where the Qur'an appears to contradict previous divine revelations and historically accurate accounts.

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Shalom,
Dr. Max Shimba
Max Shimba Ministries