Mount Sinai Facts for Kids

"Jabal Musa" redirects here. For other uses, see Jebel Musa (disambiguation).

For the biblical Mount Sinai, and a discussion of its possible locations, see Mount Sinai (Bible). For other uses, see Mount Sinai (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids Mount Sinai
Arabic: جَبَل مُوْسَى, romanized: Gabal Mūsā
Mount Sinai as seen from the southwest
Highest point
Elevation	2,285 m (7,497 ft)
Geography
Mount Sinai Location in Egypt

Mount Sinai, also known as Jabal Musa (Arabic: جَبَل مُوسَى, lit. 'Mountain of Moses'), is a famous mountain in Egypt. It is located on the Sinai Peninsula. This mountain is very important to three major world religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. People believe it is the place where the prophet Moses received the Ten Commandments from God.

Mount Sinai stands about 2,285 meters (7,497 feet) tall. It is close to the city of Saint Catherine. The mountain is part of a larger mountain range. It is surrounded by even taller peaks. For example, nearby Mount Catherine is Egypt's highest mountain, reaching 2,629 meters (8,625 feet).

How Mount Sinai Was Formed
Mount Sinai's Spiritual Importance
- Stories from Judaism and Christianity
- Stories from Islam
Climbing to the Summit
See also

How Mount Sinai Was Formed

Jebel Musa in the 1869 Ordnance Survey of the Peninsula of Sinai, shown north of Mount Catherine (Jebel Katarina) and south of Willow Peak (Ras es-Safsafeh)

The rocks that make up Mount Sinai were created a very long time ago. This happened during the final stages of the Arabian-Nubian Shield's development. The Arabian-Nubian Shield is a large area of ancient rocks.

Mount Sinai is special because it has a unique circular rock structure. This structure is made of a type of rock called granite. This granite pushed its way into other kinds of rocks, including volcanic rocks. These volcanic rocks came from ancient eruptions.

Mount Sinai's Spiritual Importance

Mount Sinai holds deep spiritual meaning for many people around the world. It is a sacred place for followers of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. These are often called the Abrahamic religions.

Stories from Judaism and Christianity

Just north of Mount Sinai, you will find Saint Catherine's Monastery. This ancient monastery was built in the 6th century. It is a very important historical site.

At the very top of Mount Sinai, there is a mosque. Muslims still use this mosque for prayer. There is also a Greek Orthodox chapel. This chapel was constructed in 1934. It stands on the remains of an older church from the 16th century. This chapel is not open to the public.

Inside the chapel, there is a rock. Many believe this rock is connected to the biblical Tablets of Stone. These are the tablets where the Ten Commandments were written. Also at the summit is "Moses' cave." People believe the prophet Moses waited here to receive the Ten Commandments from God.

Stories from Islam

In Islam, Mount Sinai is known as Jabal Musa. It is strongly linked to the Islamic prophet Mūsā ibn ʿImrān, who is also known as Moses. The Quran, which is the holy book of Islam, mentions Jabal Musa many times. It uses names like Ṭūr Saināʾ and Ṭūr Sīnīn. These names mean "the Mount."

The valley next to the mountain is called Wād Ṭuwā. This valley is considered a very holy place. A part of it is even called Al-Buqʿah Al-Mubārakah. This means "The blessed Place."

Saint Catherine's Monastery, looking down from Mount Sinai
The mosque at the summit
The chapel at the summit

Climbing to the Summit

There are two main paths to reach the top of Mount Sinai. Both offer amazing views.

One path is longer and less steep. It is called Siket El Bashait. This route takes about 2.5 hours to walk. You can even ride a camel for part of the way.

The other path is shorter but much steeper. It is known as Siket Sayidna Musa. This route involves climbing about 3,750 "steps of penitence." These steps are carved into the ravine behind the monastery. It's a challenging but rewarding climb.