And remember when We took your covenant – Comprehensive Interpretation

الآية رقم (93) - وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ الطُّورَ خُذُواْ مَا آتَيْنَاكُم بِقُوَّةٍ وَاسْمَعُواْ قَالُواْ سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا وَأُشْرِبُواْ فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ الْعِجْلَ بِكُفْرِهِمْ قُلْ بِئْسَمَا يَأْمُرُكُمْ بِهِ إِيمَانُكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ مُّؤْمِنِينَ

(93) - “And remember when We took your covenant and raised over you the mount, [saying], ‘Take what We have given you with determination and listen.’ They said [instead], ‘We hear and disobey.’ And their hearts absorbed [the worship of] the calf because of their disbelief. Say, ‘How wretched is that which your faith enjoins upon you, if you should be believers.’”

The raising of the mountain over the Israelites is a miracle that Allah U. gave specifically to them. They had feared the raising of the mountain above their heads more than they feared Allah Thus, they had prostrated while looking from the side for fear of the mountain. They did not fear Allah but feared the mountain. This movement is found in them till this day.

﴾خُذُوا مَا آتَيْنَاكُمْ بِقُوَّةٍ وَاسْمَعُوا﴿ “Take what We have given you with determination and listen.”: That is, you are to accept your religion with contentment and certitude and to perform your prayers with strength, vitality and strong eagerness. The Prophet r used to say to Bilal t when he wanted him to give the call to prayer:

((يَا بِلَالُ، أَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ، أَرِحْنَا بِهَا))

“Oh Bilal, give the iqamah (call) for prayer, give us comfort by it.”[1]