Towering of the Mount - Verses 2:63, 2:93 and 7:171

[Ruhi_Rose]

BismAllah Ar Rehman Ar Raheem

Salams all ....

It's obvious that all these 3 verses refer to the same event, that is, Allah was ratifying with the Israelites the pact or agreement He made with them of following the laws of His Scripture.  Was it an earthquake as some commentators say?

[Zainab_M]

 


Wa'Salaam Sister

2:63
"And (remember, O Children of Israel) when We made a covenant with you and caused the mount to tower above you, (saying): Hold fast that which We have given you, and remember that which is therein, that ye may ward off (evil)."
Well yes, in my opinion too it was an event when Jews were entrusted with an undertaking and commitment to Allah that they would hold fast to His Book and its Laws and never leave it.  I don't see any reasons to specify that it was an earthquake.  Might have been though, it's not possible to confirm that point.   

Since this historical occurrence of the time of Prophet Moses (pbuh) is described in at least 3 verses of the Quran, makes it obvious that by the 7th century when the Quran was revealed, it was well known to the Jews.  Allah reminds the Jews of the promise their ancestors hadmade earlier and yet how they drifted into misguidance later. 

As Mr. Abu Ala Maududi states, being such an old historical event, the details of this precise event cannot be stated with certainty.  "All we can say is that while the Children of IsraeI were making their covenant in the shadow of Mount Sinai, they witnessed an aweseme or inexplicable phenomenon and felt as if the mountain was about to fall upon them."

2:93
"And when We made with you a covenant and caused the Mount to tower above you, (saying): Hold fast by that which We have given you, and hear (Our Word), they said: We hear and we rebel. And (worship of) the calf was made to sink into their hearts because of their rejection (of the covenant). Say (unto them): Evil is that which your belief enjoineth on you, if ye are believers."
The above Verse explains the same phenonomen as Verse 2:63 and additionally confirms the disobedience of the Israelites to the Covenant of Allah.

7:171
"And when We shook the Mount above them as it were a covering, and they supposed that it was going to fall upon them (and We said): Hold fast that which We have given you, and remember that which is therein, that ye may ward off (evil)."
This Verse is almost identical as V.2:63 as far as its contents and explanation are concerned.  It's only a bit more descriptive mentioning that the Mount shook in such a way that they thought it was going to fall.

[Ruhi_Rose]

O shukriya Sis.  Following Monday kids at our Islamic community are havin queston/answer session and mothers are invited to explain certain Quranic passages.  These Verses are included in Monday's reading ... so I thought I'd confirm. 

[Zainab_M]

Wow great idea.  Your kids are going too? 

You've taken off from work I guess, your husband will be at the store.

[Ruhi_Rose]

O yeah, kids are goin too.  We don't go to work on Monday.  Like I said, we take at least one day off to be together with family, and Monday is the quietest day so we picked that as our holiday ......

[Zainab_M]

   superb idea.  InshAllah, hope all of you have a successful Quran reading and explaining session.  Allah bless.

[Ruhi_Rose]

Thanks again dear Sister