Imran. They descended upon him, unlike any of those who had passed before him: their colours were like flames of fire, while the rest of their form was like white snow. Their voices were raised in declarations of Allah’s holiness and transcendence, unlike the voices of any who had passed before them. Moses’ knees knocked together, his heart trembled, and his weeping grew intense. The chief and best of the angels said to him, “Son of Imran, bear patiently what you have asked for. What you have seen is but little compared with what remains.”
Then Allah Most High commanded the angels of the fifth heaven: “Descend and pass before Moses.” They descended upon him in seven colours, and Moses was unable to follow them with his gaze. He had never seen anything like them, nor heard anything like their voices. His heart was filled with fear, his sorrow intensified, and his weeping increased. The chief and best of the angels said to him, “Son of Imran, remain where you are until you see some of what you will not be able to bear.”
Then Allah commanded the angels of the sixth heaven: “Descend upon My servant who has asked to see Me.” They descended upon him, each angel holding a fire as tall as a lofty palm tree, more radiant than the sun. Their garments were like flames of fire. Whenever they declared Allah’s transcendence and holiness, the angels of the heavens who had preceded them responded, all proclaiming in powerful voices: “Most Glorified, Most Holy, Lord of Might, ever-living and never dying.” Each angel had four faces upon his head. When Moses saw them, he raised his voice, declaring Allah’s transcendence along with them [when they did so] (1), while weeping and saying, “My Lord, remember me and do not forget Your servant. I do not know whether I shall escape from what I am in or not. If I leave, I shall be burned; and if I remain, I shall die.”
The chief and leader of the angels said to him, “Son of Imran, your fear is about to become overwhelming and your heart is about to be torn from you. So bear patiently what you have asked for.”
Then Allah Most High commanded that His Throne be borne by the angels of the seventh heaven. When the light of the Throne appeared, the mountain split apart because of the majesty of the Lord, may He be glorified and exalted. All the angels of the heavens raised their voices together, proclaiming in mighty voices: “Glory be to the Most Holy, the Lord of Might, ever-living and never dying.” The mountain shook violently, every tree upon it was crushed, and the weak servant Moses fell unconscious upon his face, his spirit having left him.
Then, in His mercy, Allah sent the spirit, which enveloped him. He turned the stone upon which Moses had been lying over him, making it like a dome so that Moses would not be burned. The spirit then raised him upright, rigid as a coat of mail. Moses stood, declaring Allah’s transcendence and saying, “I believe in You, my Lord, and affirm that no one sees You and remains alive. Whoever looks upon Your angels has his heart torn from him; so how tremendous You are, and how tremendous are Your angels! You are the Lord of all lords, the God of all gods, and the King of all kings. Nothing is equal to You, and nothing can withstand You. My Lord, I repent to You. All praise belongs to You; You have no partner. How tremendous and majestic You are, Lord of all worlds!”
This is the meaning of His saying, exalted is He: “And when his Lord manifested Himself to the mountain, He leveled it to dust.” Ibn Abbas said: ⦗137⦘ The light of his Lord appeared to the mountain—the mountain of Zubayr. Al-Dahhak said: Allah disclosed from the light of the veils something like the nostril of a bull. Abdullah ibn Salam and Ka'b al-Ahbar said: Nothing