Jabal Maqlā’ mountain is situated in Tabūk Province, Saudi Arabia, above the Gulf of Aqaba in the northwest of the country, close to the border with Jordan. It is frequently connected to historical and theological significance, especially in light of some hypotheses regarding Mount Sinai’s location. Jabal Maqla means “Burnt Mountain”, which refers to the black igneous rocks that cover the normally lighter brown peak. To the north is Al-Bad’, a Saudi town.
Some scholars and explorers argue that Jabal Maqla could be the real Mount Sinai based on geographic, archaeological, and geological clues, although this is not a mainstream view. Evidence supporting this notion includes prehistoric petroglyphs, ruins, and burnt-looking rock formations close to the peak. However, there is no definitive archaeological material to substantiate this. Though its relationship to Mount Sinai is still up for debate, its possible significance has drawn interest from explorers and academics alike.
The mountain is close to Jabal al-Lawz, one of the highest in Saudi Arabia, which is a few hundred meters higher and roughly 7 kilometers to the north. There is a strange light-colored pentagon shape with sides of around 250 feet or 76 meters, located at about 3,500 feet or 1 kilometer on the north/west facing side. Jabal Maqla is a visually arresting mountain, perhaps the result of natural volcanic activity, with blackened summits that contrast with the surrounding reddish-brown landscape.
The dark-colored hornfels that dominate the summit are mostly composed of tuff breccias, fragmentary greenstones, and silicic and mafic lava flows that underwent metamorphosis. Light-colored granite has intruded into the hornfels above to form the middle and lower slopes of Jabal Maqlā. Jabal Maqla’s surrounding terrain is harsh and isolated, which contributes to its enigmatic appeal for travelers and religious history enthusiasts alike. The granite that makes up Jabal al-Lawz is the same one. Jabal Maqla is a few hundred meters lower and roughly 7 kilometers to the south.
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