100 Proofs That Islam Is True (Part 21): Mountains, the Pegs of the Earth
Mufti Faijullah Aman
Introduction
In Part 20 we saw that water is the basic component of life. Today we will look at the largest and most stable visible features of the earth: mountains. As in the previous parts, our principle remains the same: we will not stretch any verse to fit science, and we will not make exaggerated claims in the name of science.
Mountains Are Pegs
Allah says: "Have We not made the earth a resting place? And the mountains as pegs (awtad)?" (Surah an-Naba 78:6-7)
In Arabic, "watad" (plural awtad) is the stake or peg used to fasten a tent to the ground. The Arabs lived in tents, so the image of this word was very familiar to them. What is the feature of a tent peg? A small part of it is seen above the ground, while the larger part is buried deep in the earth. And its job is to keep the tent stable.
In another verse, Allah says: "And the mountains, He anchored them firmly (arsaha)." (Surah an-Nazi'at 79:32) The word "arsa" comes from "mursat," meaning an anchor, which keeps a ship steady.
Mountains in Human Eyes
The people of the seventh century, and even people for a thousand years after them, saw mountains as huge heaps of rock rising above the ground. They had no way to see what lies beneath a mountain. No one had any idea that a mountain spreads a "root" deep into the earth.
What Science Discovered
In the mid-nineteenth century, British scientists surveying the Himalayan region of India noticed something strange. The pull that such huge mountains should have exerted was measured as less than expected. To explain this, in 1855 the British astronomer George Airy proposed that beneath a mountain, deep in the earth, there is a huge "root" of lighter rock that has pushed down into the heavier layer below.
Later research established this idea. Today geologists know that beneath the world's great mountain ranges, the earth's crust is much thicker than normal, and this root of the mountain reaches several times deeper than its visible height. For example, beneath the Himalayas the crust is about 70 kilometers thick, while ordinary continental crust is about 30 to 40 kilometers. Scientists often compare this to an iceberg, a small part of which is seen above the water, while the huge part remains below.
Now think: to describe this shape of a mountain, with a small part above and a large part deep in the earth, what word could be more fitting than a tent peg?
A Sign of Balance
Allah also says: "He has placed firm mountains in the earth, so that it does not sway with you (an tamida bikum)." (Surah an-Nahl 16:15)
Here it is important to be honest about one thing. Many speeches claim that "science has proven that mountains stop earthquakes." This claim is not scientific. In fact, the world's great mountain ranges are often located in earthquake-prone areas. So we are not making such a claim.
The word "maid" in the verse means to sway, to tilt, to lose balance. In geology there is an established concept called "isostasy," or the balance of the earth's crust. Its main idea is that the earth's crust floats in a kind of balance on the dense, semi-plastic layer beneath it, and the roots of mountains are part of maintaining this balance. The higher the mountain, the deeper its root, just like a pair of scales. Whether the verse points to this balance, the reader may judge for himself. But this much is certain: the Qur'an's description does not conflict with any established fact of geology.
Mountains and Fresh Water
Another verse of the Qur'an shows a beneficial side of mountains: "And We placed in it lofty, firm mountains, and gave you sweet fresh water to drink." (Surah al-Mursalat 77:27)
Here mountains and fresh water come together, side by side in one sentence. Today we know that mountains force moist air to rise, so the air cools and brings rain. Snow and glaciers on mountain peaks melt and flow down as rivers. The sources of many of the world's great rivers are in the mountains, and a vast number of people in the world receive their drinking water from mountains. For example, the major rivers of Bangladesh, the Padma, the Jamuna, and the Meghna, draw much of their water from the Himalayas.
Why Is This a Proof?
In describing mountains, the Qur'an chose a word that was simple and familiar to the tent-dwelling Arabs of the seventh century, yet also matches remarkably with the discoveries of nineteenth-century geology. The Qur'an could have called mountains "heaps" or "high mounds," the way people saw them. But it chose "pegs" and "anchors," two words whose main feature is being fixed deep in the ground.
Only the One who created the mountains knows how much of them lies hidden beneath the earth. A human being can only describe what he sees with his eyes.
Conclusion
Allah says: "Do they not look... at the mountains, how they have been set firmly?" (Surah al-Ghashiyah 88:17-19) When we look at a mountain, we see its height and beauty. But the Qur'an takes our gaze into its depths, where the perfect plan of the Creator lies hidden. Just as a mountain stands firm, rooted deep in the earth, faith too, when rooted deep in the heart, keeps a person steadfast.
Previous part (Part 20): All Life From Water
https://dawah24.com/bn/news/islam-stj-hbar-100-prman-prb-20-pani-theke-skl-pran
In the next part: The Invisible Barrier Between Two Seas. In sha Allah.
