It is a 2,285-metre (7,497 ft), moderately high
mountain near the city of
Saint Catherine in the region known today as the
Sinai Peninsula. It is surrounded on all sides by higher peaks in the mountain range of which it is a part. For example, it lies next to
Mount Catherine which, at 2,629 m or 8,625 ft, is the highest peak in
Egypt.[1]
Geology
Mount Sinai's rocks were formed during the late stage of the evolution of the
Arabian-Nubian Shield. Mount Sinai displays a
ring complex[2] that consists of alkaline
granites intruded into diverse rock types, including
volcanics. The granites range in composition from
syenogranite to alkali
feldspar granite. The volcanic rocks are alkaline to peralkaline, and they are represented by subaerial flows and eruptions and
subvolcanicporphyry. Generally, the nature of the exposed rocks in Mount Sinai indicates that they were formed at different depths from one another.[citation needed]
Immediately north of the mountain is the 6th-century
Saint Catherine's Monastery. The summit has a
mosque that is still used by
Muslims, and a
Greek Orthodox chapel, constructed in 1934 on the ruins of a 16th-century church, that is not open to the public. The chapel encloses the rock which is considered to be the source for the biblical
Tablets of Stone.[3] At the summit also is "Moses' cave", where Moses was said to have waited to receive the
Ten Commandments.
Islam
The Jabal Musa is associated with the Islamic prophet
Musa (Moses).[4] In particular, numerous references to Jabal Musa exist in the
Quran,[5][6] where it is called Ṭūr Saināʾ,[7]Ṭūr Sīnīn,[8] and aṭ-Ṭūr[9][10] and al-Jabal (both meaning "the Mount").[11] As for the adjacent Wād Ṭuwā (
Valley of Tuwa), it is considered as being muqaddas[12][13] (
sacred),[14][15] and a part of it is called Al-Buqʿah Al-Mubārakah ("The Blessed Place").[10] It is the place where Musa spoke to his Lord.[clarification needed]
There are two principal routes to the summit. The longer and shallower route, Siket El Bashait, takes about 2.5 hours on foot, though
camels can be used. The steeper, more direct route (Siket Sayidna Musa) is up the 3,750 "steps of penitence" in the ravine behind the monastery.[16]