The Quran and Mountains: Difference between revisions

Key Arabic terms in the discussion surrounding the proposed miracle include ''awtad,'' meaning 'pegs/bulwarks/stabilizers/projections'<ref name="Zakir Naik">Dr. Zakir Naik - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.ediscoverislam.com/Quran-Islam-and-Science/Islam-Quran-and-Science/the-holy-quran-and-modern-science|2=2011-10-02}} The Quran and Modern Science: Compatible Or Incompatible?] - Islamic Research Foundation</ref>, ''rawasiya'', meaning 'mountains', and ''tameeda'', meaning 'tumble/shake/quake/convulse/sway'<ref name="Campbell">Dr. William Campbell - [{{Reference archive|1=http://answering-islam.org./Campbell/s4c2a.html|2=2011-10-02}} The Qur'an and the Bible in the light of history and science] - PP. 170 - 182</ref>.

The word ''rawasiya'' comes from the root ''arsa'', the same root used for the Arabic 'anchor'. To 'throw out' or 'cast' 'the anchor' is ''alqa al-mirsah''. Using these terms, similar to the phrase "cast the anchor to keep the ship from moving", one can say "cast the mountains to keep the earth from shaking."<ref name="Campbell" /> Dr. [[Zakir Naik]] translates ''awtad'' as 'stakes' or 'pegs' (like those used to anchor a tent).<ref name="Zakir Naik" />

{{Quote|{{Quran|15|19}}|'''Yusuf Ali:''' And the earth We have spread out (like a carpet); set thereon mountains firm and immovable; and produced therein all kinds of things in due balance.

'''Pickthal:''' And the earth have We spread out, and placed therein firm hills, and caused each seemly thing to grow therein.

'''Shakir:''' And the earth -- We have spread it forth and made in it firm mountains and caused to grow in it of every suitable thing.  

'''Transliteration:''' ''Waal-arda madadnaha waalqayna feeha rawasiya waanbatna feeha min kulli shay-in mawzoonin''}}

'''Transliteration:''' ''Waalqa fee al-ardi rawasiya an tameeda bikum waanharan wasubulan laAAallakum tahtadoona''}}{{Quran|16|15}} uses the word ''ard'' which can be used to describe the Earth, its surface, or the ground in general. Critics argue that the ambiguity of this word is critical to the advocates' argument, as it can be and is adapted to variously refer to anything from the Earth, the crust, the lithosphere, the mantle or any combination of the above, as needed.

Critics also argue that it problematic that the Quran uses in these contexts the word ''tameeda'', which advocates of the miracles interpret as meaning 'shaking' or 'disturbance', instead of the word ''zalzala,'' which is used elsewhere in the Quran and means ‘earthquake’. The advocates of the miracle, the critics argue, cannot explain why the Quran would only metaphorically allude to earthquakes rather than naming them outright, as the Quran does elsewhere. To the critics, the usage of an altogether different word than 'earthquakes' suggests that the Quran was not alluding to earthquakes and that the advocates of the miracle have made an arbitrarily favorable interpretation in understanding the verse as they do.

{{Quote|{{Quran|21|31}}|'''Yusuf Ali:''' And We have set on the earth mountains standing firm, lest it should shake with them, and We have made therein broad highways (between mountains) for them to pass through: that they may receive Guidance.

'''Pickthal:''' And We have placed in the earth firm hills lest it quake with them, and We have placed therein ravines as roads that haply they may find their way.

'''Shakir:''' And We have made great mountains in the earth lest it might be convulsed with them, and We have made in it wide ways that they may follow a right direction.

'''Transliteration:''' ''WajaAAalna fee al-ardi rawasiya an tameeda bihim wajaAAalna feeha fijajan subulan laAAallahum yahtadoona''}}Other interpretations of {{Quran|21|31}} are as follows:{{Quote|{{Qtt|21|31}}|'''Bewley:''' We placed firmly embedded mountains on the Earth so it would not move under them...  

'''Al-Muntakhab:''' And We furnished the Earth with firm stays, mountains placed in a certain setting, fixed as with an anchor, to stabilize it lest it should sway you from side to side or in all directions..}}Another verse used to evidence the idea that mountains have roots is {{Quran|20|105}}. Although the verse makes no reference to the word 'root', a number of translators include this interpretation in their translations. Advocates use such translations, including those of Yusuf Ali and al-Muntakhab, to buttress their argument. Critics argue that such evidence is vacuous, as the word 'root' no where appears in the verse, and the advocates of the miracle are simply referencing those specific translators who both already concur with them and have taken the liberty to insert that interpretation into their respective translations.{{Quote|{{Qtt|20|105}}|'''Yusuf Ali:''' They ask thee concerning the Mountains: say, "My Lord will uproot them and scatter them as dust;  

'''Transliteration:''' ''Wayas-aloonaka AAani aljibali faqul yansifuha rabbee nasfan''}}

{{Quote|{{Quran|31|10}}|'''Yusuf Ali:''' He created the heavens without any pillars that ye can see; He set on the earth mountains standing firm, lest it should shake with you; and He scattered through it beasts of all kinds. We send down rain from the sky, and produce on the earth every kind of noble creature, in pairs.  

'''Pickthal:''' He hath created the heavens without supports that ye can see, and hath cast into the earth firm hills, so that it quake not with you; and He hath dispersed therein all kinds of beasts. And We send down water from the sky and We cause (plants) of every goodly kind to grow therein.

'''Shakir:''' He created the heavens without pillars as you see them, and put mountains upon the earth lest it might convulse with you, and He spread in it animals of every kind; and We sent down water from the cloud, then caused to grow therein (vegetation) of every noble kind.

'''Transliteration:''' ''Khalaqa alssamawati bighayri AAamadin tarawnaha waalqa fee al-ardi rawasiya an tameeda bikum wabaththa feeha min kulli dabbatin waanzalna mina alssama-i maan faanbatna feeha min kulli zawjin kareemin''}}

{{Quote|{{Quran|78|6-7}}|'''Yusuf Ali:''' Have We not made the earth as a wide expanse, And the mountains as pegs?

'''Pickthal:''' Have We not made the earth an expanse, And the high hills bulwarks?

'''Shakir:''' Have We not made the earth an even expanse? And the mountains as projections (thereon)?

'''Transliteration:''' ''Alam najAAali al-arda mihadan Waaljibala awtadan''}}

==Discussions regarding the proposed miracle==

[[File:Ch1-1-b-img2.jpg|alt=|border|thumb|425x425px|''Anatomy of the Earth'' by Cailleux (p. 220)]]

The schematic diagram taken from page 220 of ''Anatomy of the Earth'' by the French geologist Cailleux is cited by various sources advocating the reality of the proposed miracle.<ref name="A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam">[http://www.islam-guide.com/frm-ch1-1-b.htm A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam/ B) The Quran on Mountains] - Islam-Guide.com, accessed October 1, 2011</ref> The basic underground protrusion of the crust beneath the mountainous region of the Alps, for instance, appears as a sort of peg embedded in the lower layer of the Earth. This, the advocates suggest, coheres nearly with {{Quran-range|78|6|7}} which reads, “Have We not made the earth as a wide expanse, And the mountains as pegs?”

What they fail to provide is the accompanying description given directly above the schematic diagram,<ref>Click [[:File:Anatomy of the Earth- Cailleux- pp 220-221.jpg|here]] for a more complete view of the page scan.</ref> pointing out that the vertical scale has been ''greatly'' exaggerated. The following pictures from the same Islamic sites<ref name="A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam"></ref> resemble ‘very blunt’ pegs. In fact, they resemble pegs only with imagination.