The story of Prophet Moses asking to see Allah is one of the notable events mentioned in Surah Al-A’raf. It illustrates the greatness of Allah and the limited ability of creation to withstand His majesty.
Allah says:
“And when Moses came at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he said, ‘My Lord, show me that I may look at You.’”
Moses, peace be upon him, asked to see his Lord, and Allah responded by explaining what could occur in the earthly realm.
What Was Allah’s Response to Moses?
Allah said:
“You will never see Me, but look at the mountain; if it remains in its place, then you will see Me.”
The mountain was made the sign through which Moses would witness what occurred when Allah manifested to it.
The verse emphasizes the extraordinary nature of the event and the inability of the mountain to withstand its effect.
What Happened to the Mountain?
Allah says:
“But when his Lord manifested Himself to the mountain, He made it crumble, and Moses fell unconscious.”
The mountain was overwhelmed by the manifestation, while Moses fell unconscious from the magnitude of what occurred.
The event demonstrates the immense greatness of Allah and the limitations of created beings.
What Does “He Made It Crumble” Mean?
The expression indicates that the mountain was crushed and altered from its original state as a result of what occurred.
Moses then fell unconscious and later regained awareness by Allah’s permission.
What Did Moses Say After He Regained Consciousness?
After recovering, Moses said:
“Glory be to You! I repent to You, and I am the first of the believers.”
He began by glorifying and exalting Allah, then expressed repentance and his complete submission to Him.
His words demonstrate humility and recognition of the greatness of Allah after witnessing the overwhelming event.
Did Prophet Moses See Allah in This World?
The verse states that Moses was told:
“You will never see Me.”
The earthly event did not result in Moses seeing Allah. Instead, the mountain was affected by the manifestation, and Moses fell unconscious.
In Sunni Islamic theology, believers affirm that Allah cannot be seen by human beings in this worldly life, while they affirm the vision of Allah by believers in the Hereafter based on the relevant revealed texts.
Lessons From the Story of Moses and the Mountain
The Greatness of Allah
The story demonstrates the overwhelming greatness of Allah and the inability of created beings to fully comprehend His majesty.
Human Weakness Before Divine Power
Despite Moses’ honored status and his being spoken to by Allah, he could not withstand the extraordinary event and fell unconscious.
The Importance of Glorifying Allah
Moses began his response with “Glory be to You,” affirming Allah’s transcendence and perfection.
Repentance and Returning to Allah
Moses said “I repent to You,” demonstrating humility and the importance of returning to Allah.
Where is the story of Moses asking to see Allah mentioned?
It is mentioned in Surah Al-A’raf, verse 143.
What did Moses say when he asked to see Allah?
He said: “My Lord, show me that I may look at You.”
What happened when Allah manifested to the mountain?
The Quran states that the mountain crumbled and Moses fell unconscious.
What did Moses say after regaining consciousness?
He said: “Glory be to You! I repent to You, and I am the first of the believers.”
Can Allah be seen in this worldly life?
The verse states that Moses was told, “You will never see Me.” Sunni scholars affirm that believers will see Allah in the Hereafter, while worldly life is not the place for that vision.
