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قQuranicpediaEncyclopedia of the Glorious Qur’an

Mountains in the Quran الجبال

In review — pending scholar verification

The Quran describes mountains as "pegs" stabilising the earth — a metaphor with notable scientific resonance.

Overview

Mountains (الجِبَال, al-jibal) appear throughout the Quran as signs of Allah's creative wisdom. They are described as awtad — pegs or stakes — driven into the earth to give it stability.

Etymology

جَبَل (jabal) is the standard term for a mountain. أَوتَاد (awtad) literally means tent-pegs — a striking image for a desert audience who knew that a tent stands only because its pegs hold it down.

Quranic references

Surah An-Naba 78:6-7 — "Have We not made the earth a resting place? And the mountains as stakes?"

أَلَمْ نَجْعَلِ الْأَرْضَ مِهَادًا ۝ وَالْجِبَالَ أَوْتَادًا

Surah An-Nazi'at 79:32 — "And the mountains He set firmly."

Surah Al-Anbiya 21:31 — "And We placed within the earth firmly set mountains, lest it should shift with them."

Surah An-Nahl 16:15 — "And He has cast into the earth firmly set mountains, lest it shift with you."

Surah Al-Hashr 59:21 — "If We had sent down this Quran upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and coming apart from fear of Allah." Mountains, despite their solidity, are humbled before the ayat.

Hadith and tradition

Anas ibn Malik reported that the Prophet ﷺ said of Mount Uhud: "This is a mountain that loves us and we love it." — Sahih al-Bukhari 4083; Sahih Muslim 1393

The Quran also recalls Musa at the mountain (Surah Al-A'raf 7:143), where the mountain was levelled when Allah manifested His glory. The Ark of Nuh came to rest upon Mount Judi (Surah Hud 11:44).

Significance

Classical mufassirun read mountains as a recurring proof of design: their roots extend deep below the surface, anchoring crustal plates much as the Quran's image of pegs suggests. al-Tabari notes that without the mountains the earth would sway and tremble. On the Hour, however, this stability ends: "And the mountains will be like wool, fluffed up" (Surah Al-Qari'ah 101:5), a sign of the Day of Judgement.

See also

References

  1. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir al-Quran al-Azim, on Surah An-Naba 78:6-7.
  2. al-Tabari, Jami al-Bayan, on Surah Al-Anbiya 21:31.
  3. al-Qurtubi, al-Jami li-Ahkam al-Quran, on Surah An-Nahl 16:15.
  4. Ibn al-Qayyim, Miftah Dar as-Sa'ada, on the signs of Allah in creation.