Verse 7:144 | inQuran

English - Hazrat Molavi Sher Ali ^ra

And when Moses came at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he said, ‘My Lord, show Thyself to me that I may look at Thee.’ He replied, ‘Thou shalt not see Me, but look at the mountain; if it remains in its place, then shalt thou see Me.’ And when his Lord manifested Himself on the mountain, He broke it into pieces and Moses fell down unconscious. And when he recovered, he said, ‘Holy art Thou, I turn towards Thee, and I am the first to believe.’

English - Five Volume Translation

And [a]when Moses came at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he said, ‘My Lord, show Thyself to me that I may look at Thee.’ He replied, ‘Thou shalt not see Me, but look at the mountain; and if it remain in its place, then shalt thou see Me.’ And when his Lord manifested Himself on the mountain, He broke it into pieces and Moses fell down unconscious. And when he recovered, he said, ‘Holy art Thou, I turn towards Thee, and I am the first to believe.’[1033]

2:254; 4:165.

Important Words:

تجلی (manifested Himself) is derived from جلا . They say جلاالامر i.e. the affair was or became clear, manifest, displayed, uncovered or laid open. تجلی الشیء i.e. the thing became manifest or apparent. تجلی الشیء used transitively means, he looked at the thing standing upon a higher position. The Quranic expression فلماتجلی ربه للجبل means, when his Lord became manifest to the mountain, i.e. when He manifested Himself on the mountain (Lane & Aqrab).

دکا (pieces) is the noun-infinitive from دك i.e. he broke or crushed or pounded a thing. They say دك الارض i.e. he made even the elevations and depressions of the earth. دکته الحمی means, fever weakened him. دك , therefore, means, an even or level place; a land broken and made even; a crumbled mountain; a mound or hill or dust or earth such as is a sandhill. The Quranic words جعله دکا means, He made it even or level; or He made it crumbled (Lane).

Commentary:

This verse sheds light on one of the most important religious subjects—whether it is possible for one to see God with the physical eyes. The verse lends no support to the view that God is visible to the physical eyes. Let alone seeing Him, the human eye cannot even see angels. Says the Quran: If God had appointed as Messenger an angel, He would have made him appear as a man (6:10). As we cannot see angels but only a manifestation of them, similarly we can see only a manifestation of God, and not God Himself. It is, therefore, inconceivable that a great Prophet of God like Moses with all his knowledge of the attributes of God, should have desired an impossibility. Moses knew that he could see only a manifestation of God and not God Himself. But he had already seen a manifestation of God in "the fire" when travelling from Midian to Egypt (28:30). What then did Moses mean by his request to see God, contained in the words, My Lord, show Thyself to me that I may look at Thee? The request seems to refer to the Perfect manifestation of God that was not granted to Moses but was to take place at the time of the Holy Prophet of Islam who was to be a مثیل or like of Moses. Indeed, Moses had already been given the promise that there was to appear, from among the brethren of the Israelites, a Prophet in whose mouth God was to put His word (Deut. 18:18-22). The words in which the promise was given implied a greater manifestation of God than had been vouchsafed to Moses. So Moses was naturally anxious to see what sort of God’s Glory and Majesty the promised Manifestation would be. He, therefore, wished that something of that Glory and Majesty might be shown to him. But a manifestation of that Glory was beyond the capacity of Moses to bear; it could not take place in or upon his heart. He was, therefore, asked to see a manifestation of it taking place at the Mount. But this should not be understood to mean that the Mount was to serve as a receptacle for the Great Glory: for, according to the Quran (33:73), the heart of Moses was certainly more capable of enduring it than the Mount. The Mount thus served only as the site or locality where that great manifestation was to take place. But even this proved too much for the Mount which shook violently.

The effect on the Mount was similar in nature to that produced on a Companion of the Holy Prophet when the latter’s head happened to be resting on his thigh at a time when a revelation descended on the Prophet. He felt such a heavy weight on his thigh that he feared that it would be crushed under it. Moses, too, could not bear to see the manifestation of Divine Power and Majesty and fell down unconscious, in spite of the fact that he had been warned beforehand of the terrible quaking that was to overtake the Mount. Thus it was that Moses realised that he did not possess the capacity for that powerful manifestation of Divine glory which was to take place later through the Holy Prophet of Islam. This is why when he recovered his senses, Moses cried, Holy art Thou, I turn towards Thee, and I am the first to believe. These words meant that he had realized that he did not possess the capacity for that perfect manifestation of Divine glory which was to take place through the Promised Prophet and that he was the first believer in the great spiritual eminence which that Prophet was destined to attain. This belief of Moses in the Holy Prophet has also been referred to in 46:11.

The words, He broke it into pieces, should not be taken literally, for the Mount was not actually broken into pieces. The words are used figuratively to express the great severity of the earthquake.

It may be also noted here that Moses was told to look at the mountain, and he was also told that he would see God if it remained in its place. The laying down of this condition shows that Moses had not asked for an impossible thing; for the laying down of a condition for an impossible thing is evidently meaningless.

The words, look at the mountain, implied that he should look outside himself because the manifestations could not take place within him. The fact that Moses fell down in a swoon shows that he did witness some manifestation, though only partly and imperfectly. The manifestation that takes place in the heart is permanent and lasting, while that which takes place outside is only temporary and passing.

A reference to this request of Moses to see God is to be found in Exod. 33:18.

English - Short Commentary Translation

And [b]when Moses came at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he said, ‘My Lord, show Thyself to me that I may look at Thee.’ Allah replied, ‘Thou shalt not see Me.[1046] But look at the mountain; and if it remains in its place, then shalt thou see Me.’ And when his Lord manifested Himself on the mountain, He broke it into pieces[1047] and Moses fell down unconscious. And when he recovered, he said, ‘Holy art Thou, I turn to Thee and I am the first to believe.’

اردو ترجمہ مرزا طاہر احمد خلیفة المسیح الرابعؒ

اور جب موسیٰ ہمارے مقررہ وقت پر حاضر ہوا اور اس کے ربّ نے اس سے کلام کیا تو اس نے کہا اے میرے ربّ! مجھے دکھلا دے کہ میں تیری طرف نظر بھر کر دیکھوں۔ اس نے کہا تُو ہرگز مجھے نہ دیکھ سکے گا۔ لیکن تو پہاڑ کی طرف دیکھ پس اگر یہ اپنی جگہ پر قائم رہا تو پھر تُو بھی مجھے دیکھ سکے گا۔ پس جب اس کے ربّ نے پہاڑ پر تجلی کی تو اسے ٹکڑے ٹکڑے کر دیا اور موسیٰ بے ہوش ہو کر جا پڑا۔ پس جب اسے افاقہ ہوا تو اس نے کہا پاک ہے تُو۔ میں تیری طرف توبہ کرتے ہوئے آتا ہوں اور میں مومنوں میں اوّل نمبر پر ہوں۔

French

Et quand Moïse vint à Notre heure fixée, et que son Seigneur lui eut parlé, il dit : « Mon Seigneur, montre-Toi à moi afin que je Te voie. » Allāh répondit : « Tu ne Me verras pas, mais regarde la montagne ; et si elle reste en place, alors tu Me verras. » Et lorsque son Seigneur Se manifesta sur la montagne, Il la réduisit en poussière, et Moïse tomba évanoui. Et quand il revint à lui, il dit : « Tu es Saint, je me tourne vers Toi avec repentir et je suis le premier à croire. »

German

Und als Moses zu Unserer Verabredung kam und sein Herr zu ihm redete, da sprach er: "Mein Herr, zeige (Dich) mir, auf dass ich Dich schauen mag." Er antwortete: "Nimmer siehst du Mich, doch blicke auf den Berg; wenn er unverrückt an seinem Ort bleibt, dann sollst du Mich schauen." Als sein Herr Sich auf dem Berg offenbarte, da brach Er diesen in Stücke, und Moses stürzte ohnmächtig nieder. Und als er zu sich kam, sprach er: "Heilig bist Du, ich bekehre mich zu Dir, und ich bin der erste der Gläubigen."

Chinese

[d]当穆撒照我固定的时间来到固定的地方, 他的养主同他说话时, 他说: “我的养主啊! 求你向我显示 (你的存在), 以便我看见你。” 他 (回答) 说: “你绝不能看见我[517]。但你向山那方面看, 如果它稳立在自己的位置上, 那么, 你将能看见我。” 当他 (穆撒) 的养主在山上显示了自己, 他使山破碎了,[518]穆撒失去知觉地跌倒了。当他恢复了知觉, 他说: “我的养主啊! 你是圣洁无疵的, 我归向你, 我是 (这个时代) 第一个信仰者。”

2:254; 4:165.

这节经文对最重要的宗教论题之一--------是否人可以用肉眼见到安拉--------作了解释。这节经文并不支持用肉眼可以见到安拉的这种看法 (6:104)。用肉眼非但不能见到安拉, 也不能见到天使; 我们只能看到他们所显示的形式。同样地, 只能见到安拉的一种显示形式而不能见到他自己。因此, 像穆撒那样的安拉的一个伟大的先知, 他知道安拉所有的常德, 会要做一件做不到的事情, 这是不可理解的。穆撒知道他只能看到安拉的一种显示形式, 而不是安拉的本体。但是, 在从麦德彦去埃及的旅途中, 在那 “火光” 中已见到过安拉的一种显示形式。(28:30) 那么, “我的养主啊! 求你向我显示 (你的存在), 以便我看见你。” 这句话中所包含的他请求见到安拉又意味着什么呢? 这一请求看来指的是, 在较后一些时候, 在伊斯兰教的穆圣身上要发生的安拉最完美的显示形式。穆撒得到许诺说, 从以色列人的兄弟中将出现一个先知, 安拉要那个先知讲出他的话。(«申命记» 18:18-22) 这一预言意示, 安拉将给予比过去给予穆撒的更大的显示形式。因此, 他自然极想见到那许诺的将会是怎样一种安拉光荣和伟大的显示形式。他但愿能见到安拉可能向他显示那种光荣和伟大的形式。他被告知说, 那种显示形式非他的能力可能承受, 它不能在他心上发生, 而且安拉已经选择高山作为他在物质上的显示形式。那高山剧烈地震摇, 它看来好像已经破碎, 穆撒由于震摇的冲击而跌下, 失去了知觉。这使他认识到, 他的精神还没有达到那种高超的阶段使他可以成为他请求见到的安拉显示形式的那种对象。那个唯一的特殊地位是留给比他伟大得多的人--------安拉的创造物的冠冕--------圣洁的先知, 穆罕默德。穆撒的请求也可以认为是由于以色列家族的前辈要想肉眼见到安拉的事情所引起的。(2:56) 他的这一个不寻常的感受使穆撒认识到自己的请求是不合时宜的。因此他自发地大声说道, “我归向你, 我是 (这个时代) 第一个信仰者。”这句话意味着他认识到自己没有被授予那种能力使他能够见到安拉光荣的那种完美的显示形式。而那种完美的显示形式将发生在主许的先知的心上。他第一个相信那个伟大的先知命定会达到这种伟大精神的卓越地位。穆撒对穆圣的这一信念, 在46:11节经文中也曾谈及。

那座高山并没有真正破碎。这是句譬喻的话, 用来表达地震的极大严重性(读《出埃及记》24:18)。

Italian

E quando Mosè venne al momento da Noi stabilito, e il suo Signore gli parlò, egli disse: «Signore mio, mostraTi a me, sì che io possa vederTi.» Allah rispose: «Tu non mi vedrai. Ma guarda la montagna, e se essa resterà al suo posto, allora Mi vedrai.» E quando il suo Signore si manifestò sulla montagna, Egli la fece a pezzi, e Mosè cadde, privo di sensi. E quando si riebbe, disse: «Santo sei Tu; io mi volgo a Te e sono il primo a credere.»

Spanish

Y cuando Moisés llegó al tiempo que le habíamos fijado y su Señor le habló, dijo: “Señor mío, muéstrate Tú mismo a mí para que pueda contemplarte”. Él respondió: “No me verás, pero mira hacia el monte: si permanece en su lugar, entonces Me verás”. Y cuando su Señor se manifestó en el monte, lo hizo pedazos, y Moisés cayó desvanecido. Cuando se recuperó, dijo: “Santo eres Tú, vuelvo a Ti y soy el primero de los creyentes”.

اردو تفسیرِ صغیر

اور جب موسی ہمارے مقررہ وقت کے مطابق مقررہ جگہ پر آگیا اور اس کے رب نے اس سے کلام کیا‘ تو (موسیٰ نے) کہا اے میرے رب (اپنا وجود) مجھے دکھا تا کہ میں تجھے دیکھوں‘ اس نے جواب دیا تو مجھے ہرگز نہ دیکھ سکے گا‘ مگر پہاڑ کی طرف دیکھ اگر وہ اپنی جگہ پر قائم رہا تو تُو مجھے دیکھ لے گا۔ پھر جب اس (موسیٰ) کے رب نے پہاڑ پر اپنا جلوہ دکھایا تو اسے ٹکڑے ٹکڑے کر دیا اور موسیٰ بے ہوش ہو کر گر گئے۔ پھر جب انہیں افاقہ ہوا تو انہوں نے کہا (اے رب) تو ہر عیب سے پاک ہے میں تیری طرف ہی جھکتا ہوں اور میں (اس زمانہ میں) سب ایمان لانے والوں میں سے اوّل درجہ پر ہوں۔

اردو ترجمہ مودودی

جب وہ ہمارے مقرر کیے ہوئے وقت پر پہنچا اور اس کے رب نے اس سے کلام کیا تو اس نے التجا کی کہ "اے رب، مجھے یارائے نظر دے کہ میں تجھے دیکھوں" فرمایا "تو مجھے نہیں دیکھ سکتا ہاں ذرا سامنے کے پہاڑ کی طرف دیکھ، اگر وہ اپنی جگہ قائم رہ جائے تو البتہ تو مجھے دیکھ سکے گا" چنانچہ اس کے رب نے جب پہاڑ پر تجلی کی تو اسے ریزہ ریزہ کر دیا اور موسیٰؑ غش کھا کر گر پڑا جب ہوش آیا تو بولا "پاک ہے تیری ذات، میں تیرے حضور توبہ کرتا ہوں اور سب سے پہلا ایمان لانے والا میں ہوں"

English - Sahih

And when Moses arrived at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he said, "My Lord, show me [Yourself] that I may look at You." [Allah] said, "You will not see Me, but look at the mountain; if it should remain in place, then you will see Me." But when his Lord appeared to the mountain, He rendered it level, and Moses fell unconscious. And when he awoke, he said, "Exalted are You! I have repented to You, and I am the first of the believers."

اردو ترجمہ احمد علی

اور جب موسیٰ ہمارے مقرر کردہ وقت پر آئے اور ان کے رب نے ان سے باتیں کیں تو عرض کیا کہ اے میرے رب مجھے دکھا کہ میں تجھے دیکھوں فرمایا کہ تو مجھے ہر گز نہیں دیکھ سکتا لیکن تو پہاڑ کی طرف دیکھتا رہ اگر وہ اپنی جگہ پر ٹھہرا رہا تو تو مجھے دیکھ سکے گا پھر جب اس کے رب نے پہاڑ کی طرف تجلی کی تو اس کو ریزہ ریزہ کر دیا اور موسیٰ بے ہوش ہو کر گر پڑے پھر جب ہوش میں آئے تو عرض کی کہ تیری ذات پاک ہے میں تیری جانب میں توبہ کرتا ہوں اور میں سب سے پہلا یقین لانے والا ہوں

English - Talal Itani

And when came Musa to Our appointed place and spoke to him his Lord, he said, "O my Lord! Show me (that) I may look at You." He said, "Never you (can) see Me, but look at the mountain [then] if it remains in its place then you (will) see Me." But when revealed (His) Glory his Lord to the mountain, He made it crumbled to dust and fell down Musa unconscious. And when he recovered he said, "Glory be to You! I turn (in repentance) to you, and I am (the) first (of) the believers."

Chinese Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

d

2:254; 4:165.

517

这节经文对最重要的宗教论题之一--------是否人可以用肉眼见到安拉--------作了解释。这节经文并不支持用肉眼可以见到安拉的这种看法 (6:104)。用肉眼非但不能见到安拉, 也不能见到天使; 我们只能看到他们所显示的形式。同样地, 只能见到安拉的一种显示形式而不能见到他自己。因此, 像穆撒那样的安拉的一个伟大的先知, 他知道安拉所有的常德, 会要做一件做不到的事情, 这是不可理解的。穆撒知道他只能看到安拉的一种显示形式, 而不是安拉的本体。但是, 在从麦德彦去埃及的旅途中, 在那 “火光” 中已见到过安拉的一种显示形式。(28:30) 那么, “我的养主啊! 求你向我显示 (你的存在), 以便我看见你。” 这句话中所包含的他请求见到安拉又意味着什么呢? 这一请求看来指的是, 在较后一些时候, 在伊斯兰教的穆圣身上要发生的安拉最完美的显示形式。穆撒得到许诺说, 从以色列人的兄弟中将出现一个先知, 安拉要那个先知讲出他的话。(«申命记» 18:18-22) 这一预言意示, 安拉将给予比过去给予穆撒的更大的显示形式。因此, 他自然极想见到那许诺的将会是怎样一种安拉光荣和伟大的显示形式。他但愿能见到安拉可能向他显示那种光荣和伟大的形式。他被告知说, 那种显示形式非他的能力可能承受, 它不能在他心上发生, 而且安拉已经选择高山作为他在物质上的显示形式。那高山剧烈地震摇, 它看来好像已经破碎, 穆撒由于震摇的冲击而跌下, 失去了知觉。这使他认识到, 他的精神还没有达到那种高超的阶段使他可以成为他请求见到的安拉显示形式的那种对象。那个唯一的特殊地位是留给比他伟大得多的人--------安拉的创造物的冠冕--------圣洁的先知, 穆罕默德。穆撒的请求也可以认为是由于以色列家族的前辈要想肉眼见到安拉的事情所引起的。(2:56) 他的这一个不寻常的感受使穆撒认识到自己的请求是不合时宜的。因此他自发地大声说道, “我归向你, 我是 (这个时代) 第一个信仰者。”这句话意味着他认识到自己没有被授予那种能力使他能够见到安拉光荣的那种完美的显示形式。而那种完美的显示形式将发生在主许的先知的心上。他第一个相信那个伟大的先知命定会达到这种伟大精神的卓越地位。穆撒对穆圣的这一信念, 在46:11节经文中也曾谈及。

518

那座高山并没有真正破碎。这是句譬喻的话, 用来表达地震的极大严重性(读《出埃及记》24:18)。

اردہ تفصیرِ صغیر نوٹس ^*

English - Arberry

And when Moses came to Our appointed time and his Lord spoke with him, he said, 'Oh my Lord, show me, that I may behold Thee!' Said He, 'Thou shalt not see Me; but behold the mountain -- if it stays fast in its place, then thou shalt see Me.' And when his Lord revealed Him to the mountain He made it crumble to dust; and Moses fell down swooning. So when he awoke, he said, 'Glory be to Thee! I repent to Thee; I am the first of the believers.'

English - Maududi

And when Moses came at Our appointment, and his Lord spoke to him, he said: 'O my Lord! Reveal Yourself to me, that I may look upon You!' He replied: 'Never can you see Me. However, behold this mount; if it remains firm in its place, only then you will be able to see Me.' And as soon as his Lord unveiled His glory to the mount, He crushed it into fine dust, and Moses fell down in a swoon. And when he recovered, he said: 'Glory be to You! To You I turn in repentance, and I am the foremost among those who believe.'

English - Ahmed Ali

When Moses arrived at the appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he said: "O Lord, reveal Yourself to me that I may behold You." "You cannot behold Me," He said. "But look at the mountain: If it remains firm in its place you may then behold Me." But when his Lord appeared on the mountain in His effulgence, it crumbled to a heap of dust, and Moses fell unconscious. When he came to, he said: "All glory to You. I turn to You in repentance, and I am the first to believe."

English - Yusuf Ali

When Moses came to the place appointed by Us, and his Lord addressed him, He said: "O my Lord! show (Thyself) to me, that I may look upon thee." Allah said: "By no means canst thou see Me (direct); But look upon the mount; if it abide in its place, then shalt thou see Me." When his Lord manifested His glory on the Mount, He made it as dust. And Moses fell down in a swoon. When he recovered his senses he said: "Glory be to Thee! to Thee I turn in repentance, and I am the first to believe."

English - Five Volume Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

a

2:254; 4:165.

1033

Important Words:

تجلی (manifested Himself) is derived from جلا . They say جلاالامر i.e. the affair was or became clear, manifest, displayed, uncovered or laid open. تجلی الشیء i.e. the thing became manifest or apparent. تجلی الشیء used transitively means, he looked at the thing standing upon a higher position. The Quranic expression فلماتجلی ربه للجبل means, when his Lord became manifest to the mountain, i.e. when He manifested Himself on the mountain (Lane & Aqrab).

دکا (pieces) is the noun-infinitive from دك i.e. he broke or crushed or pounded a thing. They say دك الارض i.e. he made even the elevations and depressions of the earth. دکته الحمی means, fever weakened him. دك , therefore, means, an even or level place; a land broken and made even; a crumbled mountain; a mound or hill or dust or earth such as is a sandhill. The Quranic words جعله دکا means, He made it even or level; or He made it crumbled (Lane).

Commentary:

This verse sheds light on one of the most important religious subjects—whether it is possible for one to see God with the physical eyes. The verse lends no support to the view that God is visible to the physical eyes. Let alone seeing Him, the human eye cannot even see angels. Says the Quran: If God had appointed as Messenger an angel, He would have made him appear as a man (6:10). As we cannot see angels but only a manifestation of them, similarly we can see only a manifestation of God, and not God Himself. It is, therefore, inconceivable that a great Prophet of God like Moses with all his knowledge of the attributes of God, should have desired an impossibility. Moses knew that he could see only a manifestation of God and not God Himself. But he had already seen a manifestation of God in "the fire" when travelling from Midian to Egypt (28:30). What then did Moses mean by his request to see God, contained in the words, My Lord, show Thyself to me that I may look at Thee? The request seems to refer to the Perfect manifestation of God that was not granted to Moses but was to take place at the time of the Holy Prophet of Islam who was to be a مثیل or like of Moses. Indeed, Moses had already been given the promise that there was to appear, from among the brethren of the Israelites, a Prophet in whose mouth God was to put His word (Deut. 18:18-22). The words in which the promise was given implied a greater manifestation of God than had been vouchsafed to Moses. So Moses was naturally anxious to see what sort of God’s Glory and Majesty the promised Manifestation would be. He, therefore, wished that something of that Glory and Majesty might be shown to him. But a manifestation of that Glory was beyond the capacity of Moses to bear; it could not take place in or upon his heart. He was, therefore, asked to see a manifestation of it taking place at the Mount. But this should not be understood to mean that the Mount was to serve as a receptacle for the Great Glory: for, according to the Quran (33:73), the heart of Moses was certainly more capable of enduring it than the Mount. The Mount thus served only as the site or locality where that great manifestation was to take place. But even this proved too much for the Mount which shook violently.

The effect on the Mount was similar in nature to that produced on a Companion of the Holy Prophet when the latter’s head happened to be resting on his thigh at a time when a revelation descended on the Prophet. He felt such a heavy weight on his thigh that he feared that it would be crushed under it. Moses, too, could not bear to see the manifestation of Divine Power and Majesty and fell down unconscious, in spite of the fact that he had been warned beforehand of the terrible quaking that was to overtake the Mount. Thus it was that Moses realised that he did not possess the capacity for that powerful manifestation of Divine glory which was to take place later through the Holy Prophet of Islam. This is why when he recovered his senses, Moses cried, Holy art Thou, I turn towards Thee, and I am the first to believe. These words meant that he had realized that he did not possess the capacity for that perfect manifestation of Divine glory which was to take place through the Promised Prophet and that he was the first believer in the great spiritual eminence which that Prophet was destined to attain. This belief of Moses in the Holy Prophet has also been referred to in 46:11.

The words, He broke it into pieces, should not be taken literally, for the Mount was not actually broken into pieces. The words are used figuratively to express the great severity of the earthquake.

It may be also noted here that Moses was told to look at the mountain, and he was also told that he would see God if it remained in its place. The laying down of this condition shows that Moses had not asked for an impossible thing; for the laying down of a condition for an impossible thing is evidently meaningless.

The words, look at the mountain, implied that he should look outside himself because the manifestations could not take place within him. The fact that Moses fell down in a swoon shows that he did witness some manifestation, though only partly and imperfectly. The manifestation that takes place in the heart is permanent and lasting, while that which takes place outside is only temporary and passing.

A reference to this request of Moses to see God is to be found in Exod. 33:18.

English - Short Commentary Notes ^*

Cross Refs:

b

2:254; 4:165.

1046

This verse sheds some light on one of the most important religious subjects—whether it is possible for one to see God with the physical eyes. The verse lends no support to the view that God is visible to the physical eyes (6:104). Not to say of seeing God with the physical eyes, man cannot even see angels; we can see only a manifestation of them. Similarly, only a manifestation of God can be seen and not God Himself. It is, therefore, inconceivable that a great Prophet of God like Moses, with all his knowledge of the attributes of God, should have desired an impossibility. Moses knew that he could see only a manifestation of God and not God Himself. But he had already seen a manifestation of God in "the Fire" when travelling from Midian to Egypt (28:30). What then did Moses mean by his request to see God, contained in the words, My Lord, show Thyself to me that I may look at Thee. The request seems to refer to the perfect manifestation of God which was to take place in the person of the Holy Proph

1047

The mountain was not actually broken into pieces. The words have been used figuratively to express the great severity of the earthquake. See Exod. 24: 18.

English - Pickthall

And when Moses came to Our appointed tryst and his Lord had spoken unto him, he said: My Lord! Show me (Thy Self), that I may gaze upon Thee. He said: Thou wilt not see Me, but gaze upon the mountain! If it stand still in its place, then thou wilt see Me. And when his Lord revealed (His) glory to the mountain He sent it crashing down. And Moses fell down senseless. And when he woke he said: Glory unto Thee! I turn unto Thee repentant, and I am the first of (true) believers.

English - Muhammad Ali ^ra

And when Moses came at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he said: My Lord, show me (Thyself) so that I may look at Thee. He said: Thou canst not see Me; but look at the mountain; if it remains firm in its place, then wilt thou see Me. So when his Lord manifested His glory to the mountain, He made it crumble and Moses fell down in a swoon. Then when he recovered, he said: Glory be to Thee! I turn to Thee, and I am the first of the believers.

English - Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan ^ra

When Moses arrived at the tryst at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he supplicated: Lord, show Thyself to me that I may behold Thee. He replied: Thou canst by no means behold Me, but look towards the mountain, if it remains firm in its place, then shalt thou see Me. When his Lord manifested Himself on the mountain, He broke it into bits and Moses fell into a faint. When he recovered, he exclaimed: Holy art Thou, I turn wholly towards Thee, and I am the foremost among those who believe.

Verse 144

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