Mt Sinai - Follow the Hike

As many of you know, our Headteacher, Mr Alim Shaikh, undertook a trek up Mount Sinai, Egypt, to help raise funds for our school and in particular the Quran, Arabic and Deen teaching department which is an unfunded element of our school provision. This page has been created to help share this special journey which is a well-known story from the Quran - the story of Musa (a.s.) (also known as Moses)....follow here for updates on the story and the trek as our Headteacher follows, literally, in the steps of the blessed Prophet Musa (a.s.).

Moses  (A.S.) was one of the descendants of Abraham (A.S.) and every prophet who came after Abraham (A.S.) was one of Abraham's successors.

Donations are welcome here - links directly to the school's funding page:  
https://donorbox.org/sinai-mountain-challenge

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Musa (A.S.) Begins His Prophethood

Musa (A.S.) left Midian with his family and traveled through the desert until he reached Mount Sinai. There he discovered that he had lost his way. He sought Allah's direction and was shown the right course. At nightfall they reached Mount Tur.  At-Tur (Arabic: الطور, aṭ-ṭūr; means 'The Mount', it is the 52nd sūrah (Chapter) of the Quran. The surah opens with the oath of Allah swearing by the Mount, which some believe is Mount Sinai, where the Torah was revealed to Musa (A.S.)

The Story of Musa (A.S.)

For some time, after leaving his people, Musa (A.S.) lived in seclusion far from his family and his people. A period of ten years passed, which was of importance in his life. It was a period of major preparation. Certainly Musa (A.S.) mind was absorbed in the stars every night. He followed the sunrise and the sunset every day. 

In addition to physical preparation, there was a similar spiritual preparation. It was made in complete seclusion, in the middle of the desert and in the places of pasture. Silence was his way of life, and seclusion was his vehicle. Allah the Almighty prepared for His prophet the tools he would need later on to righteously bear the commands of Allah the Exalted.

As we continued to climb...

Some 2 thousand metres high, the pre-dawn light enveloped the mountains and in so doing one cannot help pondering the wonderous story and travels of Musa (A.S.) in these very same lands...the footsteps he must have taken, following the same or very similar path...

High above the world, the beauty and Allah's splendour was truly magnificent. It symbolized the start of a new cycle of Allah’s endless blessings being showered upon us. After many hours of journeying from London, across Egypt via the Sinai desert and then our arduous ascent, we stood triumphant, filled with joy at having made it to the summit following some 3 days of travelling, resting, recuperating and then eventually climbing! But as we gazed upon what awaited us there, we were humbled by the awe-inspiring grandeur of Allah’s creation—witnessed only by those whose hearts and eyes were open to His magnificence. 

SubhanAllah! All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds!

Almighty Allah narrated this event: 

And has there come to you the story of Musa (A.S.)? When he saw a fire, he said to his family: "Wait! Verily, I have seen a fire, perhaps I can bring you some burning brand therefrom, or find some guidance at the fire." And when he came to it (the fire), he was called by name: "O Musa! Verily! I am your Lord! So take off your shoes, you are in the sacred valley, Tuwa, And I have chosen you. So listen to that which is inspired to you. Verily! I am Allah! La ilaha illa Ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I), so worship Me, and offer prayers perfectly, for My Remembrance. Verily, the Hour is coming - and My Will is to keep it hidden - that every person may be rewarded for that which he strives. Therefore, let the one who believes not therein (i.e. in the Day of Resurrection, Reckoning, Paradise and Hell, etc.), but follows his own lusts, divert you therefrom lest you perish. And what is that in your right hand, O Musa?"

He said: "This is my stick, whereon I lean, and wherewith I beat down branches for my sheep, and wherein I find other uses." (Allah) said: "Cast it down, O Moses!" He cast it down, and behold! It was a snake, moving quickly. Allah said: "Grasp it, and fear not, We shall return it to its former state, - and press your (right) hand to your (left) side, it will come forth white (and shining), without any disease as another sign, - that We may show you (some) of Our Greater Signs. "Go to Pharoah! Verily, he has transgressed (all bounds in disbelief and disobedience, and has behaved as an arrogant, and as a tyrant)." Surah 9-24

The descent down...

Inspired by Prophet Musa (A.S.)

Throughout the climb, we were deeply inspired by the story of Prophet Mūsā, who received divine revelation on this very mountain. Walking in his footsteps, we felt a profound connection to our Faith and history. We were even more inspired to learn that the Prophet pbuh himself had visited these blessed valleys on his night journey to Jerusalem, may Allah make it free, Ameen.

In Sunan Al Nasa’i Anas bin Malik said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: I was brought to an animal that was higher than a donkey and smaller than a mule. One step would take one as far as the eye could see. So I rode it, and with me was Gabriel, peace be upon him. He said: Go down and pray, so I did so and he said: Do you know where you prayed? You prayed at Taiba (the name of Madinah) and to it will be your migration. Then he said: Go down and pray, and I prayed, and he said: Do you know where you prayed? You prayed at Mount Sinai where God Almighty spoke to Moses, peace be upon him. Then he said: Go down and pray. So I went down and prayed, and he said: Do you know where you prayed? You prayed in Bethlehem where Jesus, peace be upon him, was born. Then I entered the Holy House (Baitul Maqdis), and the prophets gathered for me to lead them in prayer…