VisualDhikr|

Raising of Mount Tur

View in graph
event

Raising of Mount Tur

رَفْعُ جَبَلِ الطُّور

The raising of Mount Tur, also known as Mount Sinai, is a profound and awe-inspiring event recounted in the Quran, marking a pivotal moment in the relationship between Allah and the Children of Israel. As Allah delivered His covenant and the Torah to them, He dramatically lifted the mountain above their heads [as if it was a dark cloud], creating an unforgettable spectacle that filled them with certainty that it might fall upon them. This miraculous act was not a punishment, but a powerful divine gesture to impress upon them the extreme gravity and solemnity of their commitment to the covenant. Allah commanded them to [take what We have given you with determination and remember what is in it that perhaps you may become righteous]. Despite this incredible display, some of the Children of Israel struggled with obedience, even declaring [We hear and disobey]. The raising of Mount Tur thus stands as a timeless reminder within Islamic tradition of the sanctity of divine covenants and the critical importance of sincere and determined submission to Allah's commands. It underscores that spiritual commitment is a serious matter, requiring unwavering dedication and respect.

Quran 4 verses

وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَٰقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ ٱلطُّورَ خُذُوا۟ مَآ ءَاتَيْنَٰكُم بِقُوَّةٍ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ مَا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

Wa iz akhaznaa meesaaqakum wa rafa'naa fawqakumut Toora khuzoo maaa aatainaakum biquwwatinw wazkuroo maa feehi la'allakum tattaqoon

And [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."

اور جب ہم نے تم سے عہد (کر) لیا اور کوہِ طُور کو تم پر اٹھا کھڑا کیا (اور حکم دیا) کہ جو کتاب ہم نے تم کو دی ہے، اس کو زور سے پکڑے رہو، اور جو اس میں (لکھا) ہے، اسے یاد رکھو، تاکہ (عذاب سے) محفوظ رہو

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Having received the Torah from Allah, Sayyidna Musa (Moses علیہ السلام) returned from Mount Tur طور (Sinai) and recited it to the Israelites. The injunctions contained in the Book were rather rigorous, but their conduct and habits of mind really called for such strict discipline. To begin with, they...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And mention when We made a covenant with you your pledge to act according to what is in the Torah and We had raised above you the Mount which We uprooted from the earth and placed above you when you refused to accept it sc. the Torah and We said ‘Take forcefully seriously and with effort what We hav...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Taking the Covenant from the Jews Allah reminded the Children of Israel of the pledges, covenants and promises that He took from them to believe in Him alone, without a partner, and follow His Messengers. Allah stated that when He took their pledge from them, He raised the mountain above their heads...

وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَٰقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ ٱلطُّورَ خُذُوا۟ مَآ ءَاتَيْنَٰكُم بِقُوَّةٍ وَٱسْمَعُوا۟ قَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا وَأُشْرِبُوا۟ فِى قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلْعِجْلَ بِكُفْرِهِمْ قُلْ بِئْسَمَا يَأْمُرُكُم بِهِۦٓ إِيمَٰنُكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

Wa iz akhaznaa meesaaqakum wa rafa'naa fawqa kumut Toora khuzoo maaa aatainaakum biquwwatinw wasma'oo qaaloo sami'naa wa 'asainaa wa ushriboo fee quloobihimul 'ijla bikufrihim; qul bi'samaa yaamurukum biheee eemaanukum in kuntum m'mineen

And [recall] when We took your covenant and raised over you the mount, [saying], "Take what We have given you with determination and listen." They said [instead], "We hear and disobey." And their hearts absorbed [the worship of] the calf because of their disbelief. Say, "How wretched is that which your faith enjoins upon you, if you should be believers."

اور جب ہم نے تم (لوگوں) سے عہد واثق لیا اور کوہ طور کو تم پر اٹھا کھڑا کیا (اور حکم دیا کہ) جو (کتاب) ہم نے تم کو دی ہے، اس کو زور سے پکڑو اور جو تمہیں حکم ہوتا ہے (اس کو) سنو تو وہ (جو تمہارے بڑے تھے) کہنے لگے کہ ہم نے سن تو لیا لیکن مانتے نہیں۔ اور ان کے کفر کے سبب بچھڑا (گویا) ان کے دلوں میں رچ گیا تھا۔ (اے پیغمبر ان سے) کہہ دو کہ اگر تم مومن ہو تو تمہارا ایمان تم کو بری بات بتاتا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In refuting the claim of the Jews to be authentic and true already referred to in Verse 63. When the Israelites succeeded, with the help of Allah, in escaping from Egypt and crossing the sea, they came upon a people who used to worship idols. They found this cult so attractive that they requested Sa...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And when We made a covenant with you to act according to what is in the Torah and raised over you the Mount to drop it on you when you had refused to accept it; We said ‘Take forcefully seriously and with effort what We have given you and listen’ to what you have been commanded and be prepared to ac...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Jews rebel after Allah took Their Covenant and raised the Mountain above Their Heads Allah reminded the Jews of their errors, breaking His covenant, transgression and defiance, when He raised Mount Tur above them so that they would believe and agree to the terms of the covenant. Yet, they broke ...

وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَهُمُ ٱلطُّورَ بِمِيثَٰقِهِمْ وَقُلْنَا لَهُمُ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْبَابَ سُجَّدًا وَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ لَا تَعْدُوا۟ فِى ٱلسَّبْتِ وَأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُم مِّيثَٰقًا غَلِيظًا

Wa rafa'naa fawqahumut Toora bimeesaaqihim wa qulnaa lahumud khulul baaba sujjadanw wa qulnaa lahum laa ta'doo fis Sabti wa akhaznaa minhum meesaaqan ghaleezaa

And We raised over them the mount for [refusal of] their covenant; and We said to them, "Enter the gate bowing humbly", and We said to them, "Do not transgress on the sabbath", and We took from them a solemn covenant.

اور ان سے عہد لینے کو ہم نے ان پر کوہ طور اٹھا کھڑا کیا اور انہیں حکم دیا کہ (شہر کے) دروازے میں (داخل ہونا تو) سجدہ کرتے ہوئے داخل ہونا اور یہ بھی حکم دیا کہ ہفتے کے دن (مچھلیاں پکڑنے) میں تجاویز (یعنی حکم کے خلاف) نہ کرنا۔ غرض ہم نے ان سے مضبوط عہد لیا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Some previous verses censured Jews for their mistrustfulness in matters of faith. In the present verses too, there appears a long list of some of their other evil doings and, because of these ugly problems with them, mention has been made of their punishment. This strain continues in many more verse...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And We raised above them the Mount by the covenant with them that is on account of the covenant made with them that they might fear and so they accepted it; and We said to them while it cast a shadow hovering above them ‘Enter the gate the gate of the town bowing’; and We said to them ‘Transgress no...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Stubbornness of the Jews Muhammad bin Ka`b Al-Qurazi, As-Suddi and Qatadah said that the Jews asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to cause a book to come down to them from heaven, just as the Tawrah was sent down to Musa. Ibn Jurayj said that the Jews asked the Messenger to cause books to come down t...

وَإِذْ نَتَقْنَا ٱلْجَبَلَ فَوْقَهُمْ كَأَنَّهُۥ ظُلَّةٌ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَنَّهُۥ وَاقِعٌۢ بِهِمْ خُذُوا۟ مَآ ءَاتَيْنَٰكُم بِقُوَّةٍ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ مَا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

Wa iz nataqnal jabala fawqahum ka annahoo zullatunw wa zannooo annahoo waaqi'um bihim khuzoo maaa aatainaakum biquwwatinw wazkuroo maa feehi la'allakum tattaqoon

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."

اور جب ہم نے ان (کے سروں) پر پہاڑ اٹھا کھڑا کیا گویا وہ سائبان تھا اور انہوں نے خیال کیا کہ وہ ان پر گرتا ہے تو (ہم نے کہا کہ) جو ہم نے تمہیں دیا ہے اسے زور سے پکڑے رہو۔ اور جو اس میں لکھا ہے اس پر عمل کرو تاکہ بچ جاؤ

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The next verse (171) described another incident of the Israelites when they were forced to promise their obedience to the law of the Torah. It has also been mentioned in the Surah al-Baqarah. The Arabic word نَتَقنَا signifies drawing or lifting up. In the Surah al-Baqarah the word رَفَعنَا has been...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And mention when We wrenched the mountain above them We lifted it up unearthing it from its root as if it were a canopy and they thought they were certain that it was about to fall upon them because of God’s threat to them that it would fall upon them if they refused to accept the rulings contained ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Raising Mount Tur over the Jews, because of Their Rebellion `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas commented on the Ayah, وَإِذ نَتَقْنَا الْجَبَلَ فَوْقَهُمْ (And (remember) when We Nataqna the mountain over them), "We raised the mountain, as Allah's other statement testifies, وَرَفَعْنَا فَو...

A detailed scholarly analysis for this topic is not yet available. Get in touch to request one.

Related Topics