If the mountain will not come to Mohammed, then Mohammed must go to the mountain

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Meaning · English

Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.

Where it’s used: Used Widespread English
Sources & notes

Listed on Wikipedia “List of proverbial phrases” (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); definition pending editorial review.

Common questions

What does “If the mountain will not come to Mohammed, then Mohammed must go to the mountain” mean?

Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.

Is “If the mountain will not come to Mohammed, then Mohammed must go to the mountain” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.