We Placed Mount Sinai Above the Children of Israel
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Q6: First the placing of the mountain and raising of Mount Sinai over the Children of Israel was because they
were at the foot of the mountain, and the meaning is not that the mountain rose above them as if it were a canopy?
A6: Allah the Exalted informed in verses of the Qur'an that He placed Mount Sinai and that He raised it above the Children of Israel until it became like a canopy over them, and until they thought it would fall upon them. He the Exalted said:[Al-A'raf 7:171] , and He said: [Al-Baqarah 2:63] , and He said: [An-Nisa 4:154] . These are several diverse, consecutive reports that confirm one another, and each one alone indicates that Allah placed the mountain above their heads in reality. How much more so when they are combined, corroborating one another? There is no apparent or hidden indication that directs us to divert these reports from their literal meaning or turn them away from what comes to mind from them. Rather, the indication of the threat of punishment if they did not take what was given to them with strength, and their feeling that it was happening to them, indicates that Allah moved the mountain from its place, uprooted it from its location, and placed it as mentioned in the verses in reality that does not accept figurative interpretation. Whoever interprets its placing and raising over them by saying that they were on the slope of the mountain has committed blasphemy in the verses of Allah, distorted them from their places, and was among those who deviated
their hearts from the truth, strayed from the path of correctness, and fell into a life of disbelief and misguidance. We seek refuge in Allah from that.
were at the foot of the mountain, and the meaning is not that the mountain rose above them as if it were a canopy?
A6: Allah the Exalted informed in verses of the Qur'an that He placed Mount Sinai and that He raised it above the Children of Israel until it became like a canopy over them, and until they thought it would fall upon them. He the Exalted said:
And [mention] when We raised the mountain above them as if it was a dark cloud and they were certain that it would fall upon them, [and Allah said], "Take what We have given you with determination and remember what is in it that you might fear Allah."
وَإِذْ نَتَقْنَا الْجَبَلَ فَوْقَهُمْ كَأَنَّهُ ظُلَّةٌ وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُ وَاقِعٌ بِهِمْ خُذُوا مَا آتَيْنَاكُمْ بِقُوَّةٍ وَاذْكُرُوا مَا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَAnd [recall] when We took your covenant, [O Children of Israel, to abide by the Torah] and We raised over you the mount, [saying], "Take what We have given you with determination and remember what is in it that perhaps you may become righteous."
وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ الطُّورَ خُذُوا مَا آتَيْنَاكُمْ بِقُوَّةٍ وَاذْكُرُوا مَا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَAnd We raised over them the mount for [refusal of] their covenant
وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَهُمُ الطُّورَ بِمِيثَاقِهِمْtheir hearts from the truth, strayed from the path of correctness, and fell into a life of disbelief and misguidance. We seek refuge in Allah from that.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.