Mountain Nebo and The Story of Prophet Musa as

Our first agenda today, after breakfast off course, was Mount Nebo – a place claimed to be the last destination of Prophet Musa alaihi salam (as) before he died.
The hotel’s restaurant was still in the midst of renovation, thus they served us breakfast – 2 pieces of ‘aishy’ Arabic bread with 2 pieces of packed butter and a glass of tea for each one of us, at the lobby. We are supposed to depart for Mount Nebo at 07:00 hours but due to miscommunication, the minivan arrived at 09:20 hours. This was a test by itself. Well, 10% of life is made up of what happens to you and the other 90% is decided by how we react to it. We have no control over 10% of what happens to us. We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The driver arrived late, which throws our whole schedule off. The other 90% is different is determined by us. Yes, we cannot control a red light, but we can control our reaction.
The two hours gap was a blessing in disguise and filled up appropriately. Ayman continued his super nap on the hotel lobby’s sofa. Nana, Asri and ‘Afi ventured the Jordanian Shawirma (sliced grilled chicken or beef wrapped with thin round bread) and Kebab along the Quraish Road; Afiq continued his sketching while looking after our luggage, and I just optimized the time with observing the characters and colors of the Jordanian around the street nearby. Despite the disappointment, it was on the other hand, interesting.

Around 09:30 hours we departed for Mount Nebo with Harir, the 7 seaters coaster driver. Married with 4 kids, Harir of Palestine origin speak good English, friendly and has vast knowledge about Jordan.
To Mount Nebo we have to go pass through Madaba, 30 km from Amman. Madaba has about 60,000 inhabitants, is the 5th populous town in Jordan. There were nothing much to see at Madaba, except the old Greek Orthodox Church, after a round at the small municipal, we went straight to Mount Nebo.
Stands at 817 meters above the sea level and 9 kilometers from Madaba, Mount Nebo now is declared as one of the holy lands for Christian. Locally known as Siyagha, the ruins were visited by the French Duc de Luynes. Interest in the site increased still further after the discovery of Egeria’s (an intrepid lady who claimed had visited the site in 384 AD) journal in 1886. In 1932, the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land purchased the site of Mount Nebo and started their archaeological investigation then.
As for me, through my own reading and information gathering, there is some logical sense that this spot of Jordan was the place of Prophet Musa as and the children of Israel after the strenuous journey towards new life ended before he died.
The fact of the matter, Allah swt has asked Prophet Musa as to emigrate or travel from the dictatorship and merciless Fir’aun or Pharoah of Egypt.
Allah swt says in Chapter 20, At Tha Ha, Verse 77; “And indeed We revealed to Musa: Travel by night with ‘Ibadi (My slaves) and strike a dry path for them in the sea, fearing neither to be overtaken (by Fir’aun) nor being afraid (of drowning in the sea).”
Chapter 5, Al Maidah – The Table Spread with food, Verses 21 – 26, proofed that, after they had successfully crossed the sea, subsequently after Musa as with his followers (the Israelites) left the Mount Thur after meeting Allah swt, they headed to Palestine and reached a place before Palestine:
21 “O my people! Enter the holy land (Palestine) which Allah has assigned to you and turn not back (in flight); for then you will be returned as losers.”
22 They said: “O Musa! In (this holy land) are a people of great strength, and we shall never enter it until they leave it; when they leave, then we will enter.”
23 Two men of those who feared (Allah) on whom Allah had bestowed His Grace (they were Yusha and Kalab) said: ”Assault them through the gate; for when you are in, victory will be yours; and put your trust in Allah if you are believers indeed.”
24 They said: “O Musa! We shall never enter it as long as they are there. So go you and your Lord and fight you two, we are sitting right here.”
25 He (Musa as) said: “O my Lord! I have power only over myself and my brother, so separate us from the people who are the Fasiqun (rebellious and disobedient to Allah)!”
26 Allah swt said: “Therefore it (this holy land) is forbidden to them for forty years; in distraction they will wander through the land. So be not sorrowful over the people who are the Fasiqun.”
2 or 3 kilometers down on the west side of Mount Nebo, there is a place called Wadi Uyun Musa, claimed to be a place where Prophet Musa as had struck the rock for water. Unfortunately, we did not visit the place but only able to see it from far.

In Chapter 2, Al Baqarah – the Cow, Verses 60 – 61, Allah says;
60 “And (remember) when Musa asked for water for his people, We said: ‘strike the stone with your stick,” then gushed forth therefrom twelve springs. Each (group of) people knew its own place for water.’ Eat and drink of that which Allah has provided and do not act corruptly, making mischief on the earth.”
61 “And (remember) when you said, “O Musa! We cannot endure one kind of food. So invoke your Lord for us to bring forth for us of what the earth grows, its herbs, its cucumbers, its Fum (wheat or garlic), its lentils and its onions.” He said, “Would you exchange that which is better for that which is lower? Go you down to any town and you shall find what you want!” And they were covered with humiliation and misery, and they drew on themselves the Wrath of Allah. That was because they used to disbelieve the Ayah of Allah and killed the Prophets wrongfully. That was because they disobeyed and used to transgress the bounds (in their disobedience to Allah, i.e. commit crimes and sins).”

And in Chapter 20 At Tha Ha, Verse 80, Allah swt says;
“O Children of Israel! We delivered you from your enemy, and We made a covenant with you on the right side of the Mount, and We sent down to you Al-Manna and quail,”

On a clear day, one would be able to see the magnificent panoramic view of Dead Sea, Jordan Valley, Bethlehem, Palestine, and as far as Nablus – 66 km away from this place. However, on that day, despite the foggy view, the atmosphere and scenery was awesome. Honestly, what bothered me or rather made me sad, until today there was no concerted efforts by wise Muslim scholars or other Muslim Graduates from any well-known Islamic Universities to do research studies about not only this story, but also other stories of the great Prophets. For instance, the story of Prophet Yusuf a.s. was clearly mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, but until today less effort being done to find out where was his place, his grave, the palace that he stayed, etc. I hope my statement was wrong though and not shame to mention here that, most of the research works of all the stories stipulated in the Holy Qur’an were done by the non-Muslims.

Anyway, honestly, what bothered me or rather made me sad, until today there was no concerted efforts by wise Muslim scholars or other Muslim Graduates from any well-known Islamic Universities to do research studies about not only this story, but also other stories of the great Prophets. For instance, the story of Prophet Yusuf a.s. was clearly mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, but until today less effort being done to find out where was his place, his grave, the palace that he stayed, etc. I hope my statement was wrong though and not shame to mention here that, most of the research works of all the stories stipulated in the Holy Qur’an were done by the non-Muslims.

The above and below photos shows the spot at the Mount Nebo claimed by the Christian and Jewish, where Prophet Musa a.s. viewed the 'promised land' before he died. The burial place is unknown.

Below is the photo of a plague showing the direction and distance of nearby places, like the Dead Sea, the Jordan Valley, Nablus, the Lake Tiberias, Palestine, etc.

The admission ticket fee was 1 JD for adult and children below 12 years old is free. We met groups of Indonesians, Japanese, Italian, British and other nationalities. The facilities were pleasant and the staff hospitality was commendable. We left the place with great hope and wish that Allah swt will show us His Guide to show us the truth. Next in the queue was the well-known Dead Sea. It was indeed a worthy one-hour visit.