The important and sacred mountains in Islam

There are various mountains in the world which are considered sacred in Islam who derive their importance and sanctity based on the incidents happened in the past. We will discuss factual incidents of these important and sacred mountains constituting to the Islamic history.

1.Mount Safa & Mount Marwa(Jabal e Safa & Jabal e Marwa)

The mount Safa & Marwa are in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia which is adjacent to the holy Kaaba. The importance of this site is based on the pivotal incident that took place when Hajra R.A ran back and forth seven times between the mountains of Safa & Marwa in search of water for Her thirsty son Prophet Ismael A.S. and saw a spring of water sprouting miraculously which is now known as Zam Zam. “The act of Hajra R. A” (runningbetween the two mountains) is called the Sa’yee and mandatorily performed during the Hajj and Umrah to commemorate and honour Hajra R. A.

Also, after conquering Mecca, Prophet Muhammed ﷺ did Tawaf, hiked to Mount Al Safa and made du’a’ while facing Kaa’ba where He declared His first Prophecy to the Makkans.

Allah says in the Quran:

إِإِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ ۖ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا ۚ وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ

Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah. So, whoever makes Hajj to the House or performs Umrah – there is no blame upon him for walking between them. And whoever volunteers good – then indeed, Allah is appreciative and Knowing.

[Surah al-Baqarah, 2:158]

2. Jabal Al-Hira / Jabal Al-Nour (Mount Hira):

Jabal Al-Hira is also called as “Mountain of the light or Hill of the illumination or Jabal Nour is in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. This holy place attracts innumerable pilgrims during Hajj. The mountain is 2100 ft / 640 m high and requires approximately two hours to ascend to the cave Al-Hira, a small cave at the top of mountain.

Prophet Muhammed ﷺ spent most of His life meditating in the cave of Al-Hira where angel Jibril A.S disclosed Him the first revelation ( The first five verse of Surah Al-Alaq) on the Monday 21st of the month of Ramadan (10th august 610 AD).

اِاِقۡرَاۡ بِاسۡمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِىۡ خَلَقَ​ۚ‏ ﴿96:1﴾ خَلَقَ الۡاِنۡسَانَ مِنۡ عَلَقٍ​ۚ‏ ﴿96:2﴾ اِقۡرَاۡ وَرَبُّكَ الۡاَكۡرَمُۙ‏ ﴿96:3﴾ الَّذِىۡ عَلَّمَ بِالۡقَلَمِۙ‏ ﴿96:4﴾ عَلَّمَ الۡاِنۡسَانَ مَا لَمۡ يَعۡلَمۡؕ‏ ﴿96:5﴾

(96:1) Recite1 in the name of your Lord2 Who created,3 (96:2) created man from a clot of congealed blood.4 (96:3) Recite: and your Lord is Most Generous, (96:4) Who taught by the pen,5 (96:5) taught man what he did not know.6

3. Jabal Thawr / (جبل ثور‎)

The mountain Thawr is significant to Islamic history which is located in Mecca Saudi Arabia. It stands at an approximate elevation of 4610 ft. and takes more than 3hours to reach the cave of Thawr (Ghar Thawr).

Cave of Thawr symbolizes faith and hope because the Prophet Muhammed ﷺ took refuge from nonbelievers of Quresh along with Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique R.A during their migration to Madinah. When Hazrat Abu Bakar Siddique R.A, a companion of Prophet (SAWS) was scared of Quresh in cave of Thawr, the following verse of Qur’an revealed:

إِإِلَّا تَنْصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ اللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا ۖ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُ بِجُنُودٍ لَمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا السُّفْلَىٰ ۗ وَكَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

If you do not aid Him [i.e., the Prophet (ﷺ)] - Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two,1 when they were in the cave and he [i.e., Muḥammad (ﷺ)] said to his companion, "Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us." And Allah sent down His tranquility upon him and supported him with soldiers [i.e., angels] you did not see and made the word2 of those who disbelieved the lowest,3 while the word of Allah4 - that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.

4. Mount Uhud/ Jabal Uhud:

Mount Uhud also known as Mount of heaven or Jabal e Jannah is situated in Madinah, Saudi Arabiawhich stands at a height of 3533 ft. The second most prominent battle of Islam “Battle of Uhud” was fought between Muslims of Madinah and Quresh’s of Mecca. In this battle many Muslims were martyred including Hazrat Hamza ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib, uncle of Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) while he himself got injured.

Sahih Muslim Book 19, Number 4414:

It has been narrated on the authority of Abd-ul-'Aziz b. Abu Hazim, who learnt from his father (Abu Hazim). The latter heard it from Sahl b. Sa'd who was asked about the injury which the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) got on the day of the Battle of Uhud. He said : The face of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was injured, his front teeth were damaged and his helmet was crushed. Fatima, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), was washing the blood (from his head), and 'Ali b. Abu Talib was pouring water on it from a shield. When Fatima saw that the bleeding had increased on account of (pouring) water (on the wound), she took a piece of mat and burnt it until it was reduced to ashes. She put the ashes on the wound and the bleeding stopped.

5. Mount Sinai / Jabal e Musa:

Mount Sinai is situated in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt at an elevation of 2,285 meters (7,497 ft). This peak is significant since Prophet Musa A.S communicated here with Almighty Allah as well as it is the same place from where Prophet Muhammed’s ﷺ horse, Boraq ascended to heaven.

Almighty Allah Says in The Holy book Qur’an: Quran, sura 19 (Maryam), ayat 51–53

وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ مُوسَىٰ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ مُخْلَصًا وَكَانَ رَسُولًا نَبِيًّا

وَنَادَيْنَاهُ مِنْ جَانِبِ الطُّورِ الْأَيْمَنِ وَقَرَّبْنَاهُ نَجِيًّا

وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ مِنْ رَحْمَتِنَا أَخَاهُ هَارُونَ نَبِيًّا

Also mention in the Book (the story of) Moses: for he was specially chosen, and he was a messenger (and) a prophet.
And we called him from the right side of Mount (Sinai), and made him draw near to Us, for mystic (converse).
And, out of Our Mercy, We gave him his brother Aaron, (also) a prophet.