Seventy Men at the Mountain

Mūsā chose seventy men from the elders of Banū Isrāʾīl — the most prominent among them, the leaders of the people — and he took them to the mountain, al-Ṭūr, to meet with Allah (swt). Some of the mufassirūn say they went on that mission to apologise to Allah (swt) for what Banū Isrāʾīl had done. So this was a delegation from Banū Isrāʾīl, going to apologise for what Banū Isrāʾīl had done. Wa-khtāra Mūsā qawmahū sabʿīna rajulan li-mīqātinā — and Mūsā chose out of his people seventy of the best men for Our appointed time and place of meeting.

So they went to meet with Allah (swt). As I said, some of the mufassirūn say they went to apologise for what Banū Isrāʾīl had done. When they got there, Mūsā went into a cloud. The mountain was covered in a cloud, and they stayed outside. Mūsā went into the cloud, and they saw the light in which Mūsā was standing, and Mūsā was speaking to Allah (swt). And then Mūsā came out. When Mūsā came out, these men — the best of Banū Isrāʾīl — said:

O Mūsā, we are not going to believe in Allah until we see Him with our own eyes. You came to apologise for the sin, and now you are putting these prerequisites? We are not going to believe in your message until we see Allah with our own eyes. Fa-akhadhathumu al-rajfah — so the earth shook, and they all fell dead. Allah (swt) says: but you were seized with a thunderbolt while you were looking. Allah (swt) sent upon them a ṣāʿiqah, a thunderbolt, and it killed them all. Allāhu akbar.