The Prime Minister ascends to the top of Harun's Hill
The Prime Minister climbs to the top of the Mount of Aaron and listens to the religious and archaeological perspective on the Mount of Transfiguration and the surrounding area
Madbouly: Directives from the President of the Republic to maximize and develop this pure and sacred spot and to establish the infrastructure and projects that enable its importance to be highlighted.
All heavenly books agree that it is the only point where God revealed His noble face on this earth
As part of his visit to the city of St. Catherine, today, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, visited Haroun’s vision overlooking Wadi Al-Raha and facing the Mount of Transfiguration, adjacent to Mount Moses, which is 2,242 meters above sea level.
As soon as he ascended the point of “Aaron’s Temple” or “Aaron’s Witness,” the Prime Minister spoke, offering congratulations to the Egyptian people on the occasion of the advent of the holy month of Ramadan. He also congratulated the Coptic sons of Egypt on the occasion of the beginning of “the Great Lent.”
Dr. Mustafa Madbouly said: On this day, one day before the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, we chose to visit one of the purest and most sacred places on earth in the three heavenly religions, which is the “Tur Sinai” region, which witnessed the manifestation of God on this earth to our Master Moses, and it is the story. The most famous one found in all the heavenly books, as all religions agree that it is the only point where God revealed His noble face on this earth.
Madbouly pointed out that the President of the Republic directed, from the first moment, to glorify and develop this pure and sacred spot, and to establish the infrastructure and projects that would enable the importance of this spot to be highlighted to the whole world, reiterating that this region would be a gift to the entire world.
He said: We are not speaking here only to Egypt or the Arab region, but we are sending a message to the entire world, and that we are fully developing this spot, so that it will be a destination and a shrine, in a distinctive way, for any visitor coming from anywhere in the world.
He added: Today we decided to begin the visit by standing on this hill because it has a famous and very important religious meaning and symbol, and it is the hill of our master Aaron, the brother of the Prophet “Moses.”
The Prime Minister expressed his keenness to hear the point of view of Egyptian scholars from the Ministry of Antiquities, to explain the archaeological, heritage and historical aspect, and he also expressed his happiness at the presence of Dr. Zahi Hawass, the former Minister of Antiquities, and one of the most prominent archaeologists in the world, as well as Islamic and Christian clerics to explain what was mentioned. Regarding the importance of this point in the Holy Scriptures.
The Prime Minister listened to an explanation from Dr. Gamal Mustafa, Deputy Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, about the historical and heritage importance of the city of St. Catherine, as well as the importance of “Harun’s Temple” or “See the Vision of Harun,” which is registered on the list of Islamic monuments in Egypt.
He added that from nearly 4,000 years ago until 2002, Egypt, through its successive governments, preserved this place as a human heritage belonging to the world, adding that in 2002, the St. Catherine area was registered on the World Cultural Heritage List, and one of the criteria according to which the site was registered was the sixth special criterion. Property associated with significant historical events, persons, beliefs, or philosophy, provided that it is directly or tangibly associated with living events, traditions, beliefs, or artistic or literary works of outstanding global importance, or property associated with the understanding of historical figures, events, religions, or persons of exceptional significance. It is the event of the greatest manifestation and the reception of the tablets and the monologue, and the registration file included Mount Moses, the bush tree, and the ancient monastery, indicating that there is a scientific committee affiliated with the international organization that carefully reviews the registration files and is based on documented historical facts that include the documentation of the greatest manifestation and its exceptional global value as a sacred city for it. Exceptional universal value.
Mustafa said that “Aarun’s Temple” overlooks Wadi al-Raha, where the Children of Israel stayed on their journey out of Egypt, stressing that the Supreme Council of Antiquities has proven with documented scientific evidence the issue of the Jews’ exodus from Egypt, noting that there is a specific map according to the sources that were relied upon. It is referred to in this project, and it includes evidence from the heavenly books, especially the Old Testament.
He explained that the Supreme Council of Antiquities also relied in this issue on the results of scientific excavation missions working in Sinai, which amounted to about 11 Egyptian missions, in addition to 3 missions from friendly countries (French, German, and Canadian), as part of the efforts of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in scientific research. And exploration, in cooperation with other scientific bodies, represented by the Ministry of Environment, which has a very strong law to protect natural reserves in the place, and the Ministry of Local Development, as well as universities, with regard to geology and anthropology, as it was proven that the exodus of the Jews from Egypt was from the sea of the Gulf of Suez, confirming that There is a geological study at one of the Egyptian universities in cooperation with the Supreme Council of Antiquities, proving the truth about the “rift” that occurred in the Gulf of Suez. The study will end at the end of the year and all its results will be announced.
The Deputy Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities continued: We have a lot of evidence that we preserve, in this regard, pointing out that the eyes of Moses, and there is conclusive evidence as well, since according to religious narratives, which the clerics will discuss later during the visit, there are 12 eyes. We had discovered 8 of them until the year before last, and during the past and current year the other four eyes were discovered.
He continued: The third piece of evidence is the bush tree, which is present in the monastery, and it is the only tree that does not grow out of place. Much research has been conducted on it and seedlings were taken from it in order to plant them in other places, but that was impossible, and beyond it is Mount Moses, stressing that our Master Moses, peace be upon him, was born in Egypt, lived in Egypt, died and was buried in Egypt, and his entire journey was inside Egypt.
He added: When he arrived here, he found a burning bush tree, so he went to explore it and find something useful to him, or to find fires for warmth, and when he arrived there, the prophecy was here; At this moment, the king descended upon our master Moses and assigned him to go to Pharaoh, and he began from that assignment as a prophet. Where he returned to Egypt and stayed with his family there and saw persecution, then he offered to Pharaoh to stop worshiping idols, but Pharaoh became more tyrannical, so Moses was forced to take his people and leave.
He added: During his departure, our Master Moses avoided the northern road - where the soldiers are located and there are 11 castles discovered on the northern military road, and between every castle and castle there is a security and military observer - but rather moved with his people towards the coast, so that his people could find water and food.
He continued: After moving from the coast until he reached the valley, in which we currently stand, Moses rested his people in that valley, so it was called Wadi al-Rahah. Then he ascended to the mountain, but his ascent to the mountain was not from this place, but from the part where the monastery is located. Moses climbed to the top of the mountain and received the law, and the mountain of Moses was called the mountain of the law, and that law was represented in two tablets containing the Ten Commandments for the Children of Israel. Moses received it while he was fasting, and God spoke to him, so he broke his fast, to avoid the smell of the mouth during fasting, but God imposed on him 10 more days. He remained for 40 days on the surface of the mountain, and during the 40 days his people in the valley here left the religion and returned to worshiping idols again, and he emphasized that what concerns us in the event is that they settled here for 40 days and then moved.
He pointed out that when Moses spoke to his Lord, the second time, he aspired to see God, according to human nature, and God said to him: I will appear to this mountain, and if I appear to it and stand still, you will see me, and accordingly, the mountain was crushed, and Moses collapsed in shock.
He added: These are Quranic stories that are found in the books of the Bible and were later repeated among the people.
He also touched on the role of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in proving the path of the Holy Family in Egypt, which witnessed great controversy around the world, saying: Praise be to God, we succeeded in the Supreme Council of Antiquities to make a map of the path that was approved by the Egyptian Church and the Vatican.
He also referred to what the Supreme Council of Antiquities did in documenting the arrival of the Al-Bayt family to Egypt from the Arabian Peninsula. Egypt welcomed them and hosted them alive, then honored them upon their death, erecting shrines for them in Old Cairo.
Meanwhile, Bishop Bavli spoke about the birth of Emil, Bishop of the Year of Youth, pointing out that based on ancient books, the Old Testament is considered highly documented, because it lists details from 1500 years BC. He added that there are written manuscripts according to archaeologists that talk about this place. Some He believed that the Gulf of Aqaba was the one from which the exit took place, as they spoke of evidence of the presence of some Pharaonic chariots in the Gulf of Aqaba, to prove that the passage took place in the Gulf of Aqaba, and this assumption is incorrect, because the Gulf of Aqaba was where some ships carrying weapons passed.
Bishop Bavli listed several important matters, namely: what place did the children of Israel cross, what is the name of the sea that the children of Israel crossed, and where is Mount Moses, where he explained that when the children of Israel went out by command of God, and this is written in the book “Exodus” in the year 1500 BC, God did not leave them in the direction of Palestine, towards the north, even though it was close, and reaching it was easier, so that they would not return to Egypt if they found war in the new place. But God took them on another path, so they did not leave from the north side, but rather from the Red Sea side, and these places Currently it is around the Gulf of Suez.
Regarding the name of the sea that the children of Israel crossed, he said: This great miracle took place and had eyewitnesses, as ancient books recorded the presence of about men walking in addition to women and children, which confirms that they were present in a large place, and therefore this number could not be accommodated otherwise. The place where we are currently located, and most likely they stayed in this place for about a year.
He added: “It was said to our master Moses: Raise your staff, extend your hand over the sea, and split it, so the children of Israel will enter the middle of the sea on dry land. It was mentioned in the Bible that the Red Sea is a modern name, and the old name was the “Soph” Sea, which is an Egyptian Coptic word. Its ancient meaning is reeds, and this proves the place of crossing. When the Nile overflowed, it would reach the sea, and the reeds would grow. The name of the Sea “Soph” was mentioned 24 times in the Old Testament, and this is evidence of the place of crossing, and that the crossing took place from the Gulf of Suez, because the water is fresh. When it reaches the sea, reeds grow, and there is an impossibility to cross from another area such as Nuweiba, because there is a geological reason, and the mountain in this place is called “Mount Sinai,” and it was mentioned 17 times in the writings of Moses, and this mountain is Mount Moses or the Mount of Transfiguration. It is The biggest proof is that when God spoke, he was on this mountain.
At the beginning of his speech, Dr. Nazir Muhammad Ayyad, Secretary General of the Islamic Research Academy, extended his sincere thanks to the Prime Minister for this generous invitation to Al-Azhar’s participation in this important message that gives a clear vision of the value and status of this place, pointing out that what the representative of the church and the representative of The Supreme Council of Antiquities is consistent with what is stated in Islamic law, which is not strange, as a large part of what relates to our master Moses was mentioned in the Qur’an, to the point that it was said, the Qur’an was almost entirely for Moses.
He added that the hadith from this point was important for several reasons, the first of which is its symbolism, because it relates to the story of God’s Prophet Aaron, as this place is seen as the place where Moses blamed his brother Aaron, upon his return from meeting his Lord and taking the Tablets, and the Holy Qur’an stipulates this. The incident, and all of this confirms the symbolism of the place, and the appendices to this place confirm with some clarity and clarity that this is the place mentioned in the Qur’an and confirmed by the texts of the Torah and the Gospel as well.
He pointed out that the second reason is the mountain. When we search in the Holy Qur’an, we find that the word mountain was not mentioned in definition except when God spoke about this mountain, and the Qur’an confirms that this place is what is mentioned in the religious texts, as “the mountain” or “the mountain,” as The third reason is that when we review the story of Moses’ exodus, all rational and realistic evidence confirms that if a person commits an action and wants to be saved from his action, he must search for a safe path that guarantees his safe arrival, and our Master Moses, when the man ordered him to secretly leave Medina. He went out until he reached Midian, then returned from Midian to Egypt.
He stressed that we are facing a truth, beyond the slightest doubt, and that those studies that try to find a place for themselves in trying to shake what is established out of a desire for fame or dissemination and spread, the definitive religious text comes when the religious texts are combined in the major heavenly messages and then agree with the scientific vision to deny them. Therefore, as they say, scientific evidence and transmission evidence came together.
Meanwhile, Dr. Zahi Hawass said that the ancient Egyptians paid great attention to Sinai due to its great value, and he expressed his happiness at what he is currently witnessing of the reconstruction of Sinai through national projects that are in harmony with the environment and the Sinai heritage, explaining the importance of Sinai’s reconstruction, stressing that the importance The history of Egypt and Sinai prompts some to claim that they are contributors to its ancient history and that they are the origin of ancient Egyptian civilization, which is not the truth. Likewise, some claim that Pharaoh Moses is not Egyptian, which is refuted by the facts of what was stated in the “Mereneptah” painting preserved in the Egyptian Museum, in which the ancient Egyptian poet is glorified in "Merenptah" describing his achievements, and that the Hebrews were present in Egypt and left it before the era of "Merenptah", and there is no scientific confirmation of the personality of Pharaoh Moses, as all archaeological and scientific studies indicate that the Hebrews were residing in the Delta region, and when they left they went to Sinai. Adding that archaeologically, “Moses” is a name of Egyptian origin, and that the Hebrews lived in Egypt, and when they left, they headed to Sinai.
The Prime Minister listened to an explanation from Dr. Mary Misak, Professor of Art and Antiquities in Egypt in the Byzantine Era at Helwan University, where she focused on the unique spiritual value that characterizes the Holy Valley, and confirmed beyond any doubt that the Prophet Moses was born in Egypt and raised there until his death. He was sent as a prophet to the children of Israel, and he died and was buried there. Egypt also received the Holy Family, which took shelter in Egypt after it hid in Sinai, and it was a reason for the spread of Christianity after that, and the establishment of monasticism in Egypt, and the monks moved to the holy places to seek blessings. Among these places is the Holy Valley in Sinai, especially around a tree. The Bush and Mount Moses until Empress Helena visited the Holy Valley and founded a small church for monks in the fourth century, where regular monasticism appeared. Emperor Justinian also built a monastery in the Holy Valley in the sixth century AD, adjacent to the Holy Bush tree and Mount Moses.
In conclusion, the Prime Minister stressed that this project, the implementation of which was directed by the President of the Republic, is a complete development of the “St. Catherine” area, as it is one of the purest places on earth. Madbouly referred in particular to “Peace Square”, and next to it is the old city that witnesses... Development work is currently underway, and next to it is “the monastery”.
Madbouly said: The environmental and heritage dimensions were taken into account from the beginning in implementing the development work, as this area is registered with UNESCO and is a natural reserve.
He added: The nature of the buildings is characterized by simplicity, in line with the nature of the place, and the colors that were used are the same as the colors of the mountains, and the same types of crops were also used, and the focus is on planting olive trees, as this region is famous for this agriculture.
He continued: We will notice that the project was designed and constructed in a very ingenious way, so that it is integrated, cohesive, and harmonious with the original environment of the place.
