Quran An-Naba · 78:6–7
The earth a resting place and the mountains as stakes.
أَلَمۡ نَجۡعَلِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ مِهَٰدࣰ ا ٦ وَٱلۡجِبَالَ أَوۡتَادࣰ ا ٧
6 Have We not made the earth a resting place 7 And the mountains as stakes
Mountains
Pegs that stabilise the earth.
Questions
- Does the Quran say mountains move like clouds? Surah an-Naml 27:88 says: "you see the mountains, thinking them rigid, while they will pass as the passing of clouds." The classical commentators, reading it with the verse before it, explained it as describing the Day of Judgment, when mountains are uprooted and blown away. Some modern writers apply it to the present motion of the earth, but that is not the mainstream reading.
- Do mountains glorify Allah and have feelings? Yes, in a way Allah knows. The Quran says the mountains glorified Allah with Dawud (AS) and refused to carry the Trust out of fear. The Prophet ﷺ said of Uhud, "This is a mountain that loves us and is loved by us." We affirm this as revealed, even though we do not understand how it happens.
- What does the Quran say about mountains? The Quran calls mountains "stakes" (awtad) and "firmly set" (rawasi), placed by Allah on the earth "lest it shift with you". They are among His signs, provide roads and water, and point to His power, and on the Last Day even they will be blown away and the earth left a level plain.
Evidence library
The Quran calls mountains stakes, firmly set lest the earth shift with people. They are signs to look at and creations that glorify Allah, yet on the Last Day they will be blown away like wool.
-
- Quran An-Nahl · 16:15
Firm mountains cast into the earth lest it shift with you, with rivers and roads.
وَأَلۡقَىٰ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ رَوَٰسِيَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِكُمۡ وَأَنۡهَٰرࣰ ا وَسُبُلࣰ ا لَّعَلَّكُمۡ تَهۡتَدُونَ ١٥
And He has cast into the earth firmly set mountains, lest it shift with you, and [made] rivers and roads, that you may be guided
- Quran Al-Anbiyaa · 21:31
Firm mountains lest the earth shift, with passes made into roads.
وَجَعَلۡنَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ رَوَٰسِيَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِهِمۡ وَجَعَلۡنَا فِيهَا فِجَاجࣰ ا سُبُلࣰ ا لَّعَلَّهُمۡ يَهۡتَدُونَ ٣١
And We placed within the earth firmly set mountains, lest it should shift with them, and We made therein [mountain] passes [as] roads that they might be guided
- Quran Luqman · 31:10
Firmly set mountains cast into the earth lest it shift with you.
خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ بِغَيۡرِ عَمَدࣲ تَرَوۡنَهَاۖ وَأَلۡقَىٰ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ رَوَٰسِيَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِكُمۡ وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَآبَّةࣲۚ وَأَنزَلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءࣰ فَأَنۢبَتۡنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ زَوۡجࣲ كَرِيمٍ ١٠
He created the heavens without pillars that you see and has cast into the earth firmly set mountains, lest it should shift with you, and dispersed therein from every creature. And We sent down rain from the sky and made grow therein [plants] of every noble kind
- Quran Fussilat · 41:10
Allah placed firm mountains on the earth and blessed it with its provisions.
وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَٰسِيَ مِن فَوۡقِهَا وَبَٰرَكَ فِيهَا وَقَدَّرَ فِيهَآ أَقۡوَٰتَهَا فِيٓ أَرۡبَعَةِ أَيَّامࣲ سَوَآءࣰ لِّلسَّآئِلِينَ ١٠
And He placed on the earth firmly set mountains over its surface, and He blessed it and determined therein its [creatures'] sustenance in four days without distinction - for [the information] of those who ask
- Quran An-Naazi'aat · 79:32–33
The mountains set firmly, among the provisions made for people and their livestock.
وَٱلۡجِبَالَ أَرۡسَىٰهَا ٣٢ مَتَٰعࣰ ا لَّكُمۡ وَلِأَنۡعَٰمِكُمۡ ٣٣
32 And the mountains He set firmly 33 As provision for you and your grazing livestock
- Quran Al-Mursalaat · 77:27
Lofty, firm mountains and sweet water to drink.
وَجَعَلۡنَا فِيهَا رَوَٰسِيَ شَٰمِخَٰتࣲ وَأَسۡقَيۡنَٰكُم مَّآءࣰ فُرَاتࣰ ا ٢٧
And We placed therein lofty, firmly set mountains and have given you to drink sweet water
- Quran Al-Ghaashiya · 88:19
Look at the mountains, how they are erected.
وَإِلَى ٱلۡجِبَالِ كَيۡفَ نُصِبَتۡ ١٩
And at the mountains - how they are erected
- Quran Faatir · 35:27
In the mountains are tracts of white, red and deep black.
أَلَمۡ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءࣰ فَأَخۡرَجۡنَا بِهِۦ ثَمَرَٰتࣲ مُّخۡتَلِفًا أَلۡوَٰنُهَاۚ وَمِنَ ٱلۡجِبَالِ جُدَدُۢ بِيضࣱ وَحُمۡرࣱ مُّخۡتَلِفٌ أَلۡوَٰنُهَا وَغَرَابِيبُ سُودࣱ ٢٧
Do you not see that Allah sends down rain from the sky, and We produce thereby fruits of varying colors? And in the mountains are tracts, white and red of varying shades and [some] extremely black
- Quran Al-Israa · 17:37
Do not walk arrogantly; you will never reach the mountains in height.
وَلَا تَمۡشِ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَرَحًاۖ إِنَّكَ لَن تَخۡرِقَ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَلَن تَبۡلُغَ ٱلۡجِبَالَ طُولࣰ ا ٣٧
And do not walk upon the earth exultantly. Indeed, you will never tear the earth [apart], and you will never reach the mountains in height
- Quran Al-Hashr · 59:21
A mountain would humble itself and split apart from fear of Allah if the Quran came upon it.
لَوۡ أَنزَلۡنَا هَٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ عَلَىٰ جَبَلࣲ لَّرَأَيۡتَهُۥ خَٰشِعࣰ ا مُّتَصَدِّعࣰ ا مِّنۡ خَشۡيَةِ ٱللَّهِۚ وَتِلۡكَ ٱلۡأَمۡثَٰلُ نَضۡرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ٢١
If We had sent down this Qur'an upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and coming apart from fear of Allah. And these examples We present to the people that perhaps they will give thought
- Quran Al-Ahzaab · 33:72
The heavens, earth and mountains declined the Trust and feared it.
إِنَّا عَرَضۡنَا ٱلۡأَمَانَةَ عَلَى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱلۡجِبَالِ فَأَبَيۡنَ أَن يَحۡمِلۡنَهَا وَأَشۡفَقۡنَ مِنۡهَا وَحَمَلَهَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ ظَلُومࣰ ا جَهُولࣰ ا ٧٢
Indeed, we offered the Trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, and they declined to bear it and feared it; but man [undertook to] bear it. Indeed, he was unjust and ignorant
- Quran Al-A'raaf · 7:143
When Allah manifested Himself to the mountain it was levelled.
وَلَمَّا جَآءَ مُوسَىٰ لِمِيقَٰتِنَا وَكَلَّمَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥ قَالَ رَبِّ أَرِنِيٓ أَنظُرۡ إِلَيۡكَۚ قَالَ لَن تَرَىٰنِي وَلَٰكِنِ ٱنظُرۡ إِلَى ٱلۡجَبَلِ فَإِنِ ٱسۡتَقَرَّ مَكَانَهُۥ فَسَوۡفَ تَرَىٰنِيۚ فَلَمَّا تَجَلَّىٰ رَبُّهُۥ لِلۡجَبَلِ جَعَلَهُۥ دَكࣰّ ا وَخَرَّ مُوسَىٰ صَعِقࣰ اۚ فَلَمَّآ أَفَاقَ قَالَ سُبۡحَٰنَكَ تُبۡتُ إِلَيۡكَ وَأَنَا۠ أَوَّلُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ١٤٣
And when Moses arrived at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he said, "My Lord, show me [Yourself] that I may look at You." [Allah] said, "You will not see Me, but look at the mountain; if it should remain in place, then you will see Me." But when his Lord appeared to the mountain, He rendered it level, and Moses fell unconscious. And when he awoke, he said, "Exalted are You! I have repented to You, and I am the first of the believers
- Quran Saba · 34:10
The mountains were told to repeat Allah's praises with Dawud (AS).
۞وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَا دَاوُۥدَ مِنَّا فَضۡلࣰ اۖ يَٰجِبَالُ أَوِّبِي مَعَهُۥ وَٱلطَّيۡرَۖ وَأَلَنَّا لَهُ ٱلۡحَدِيدَ ١٠
And We certainly gave David from Us bounty. [We said], "O mountains, repeat [Our] praises with him, and the birds [as well]." And We made pliable for him iron
- Quran Saad · 38:18–19
The mountains glorified Allah with Dawud (AS) in the afternoon and after sunrise.
إِنَّا سَخَّرۡنَا ٱلۡجِبَالَ مَعَهُۥ يُسَبِّحۡنَ بِٱلۡعَشِيِّ وَٱلۡإِشۡرَاقِ ١٨ وَٱلطَّيۡرَ مَحۡشُورَةࣰۖ كُلࣱّ لَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابࣱ ١٩
18 Indeed, We subjected the mountains [to praise] with him, exalting [Allah] in the [late] afternoon and [after] sunrise 19 And the birds were assembled, all with him repeating [praises]
- Quran Al-Baqara · 2:74
Some stones burst with rivers, split open with water, or fall down from fear of Allah.
ثُمَّ قَسَتۡ قُلُوبُكُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ ذَٰلِكَ فَهِيَ كَٱلۡحِجَارَةِ أَوۡ أَشَدُّ قَسۡوَةࣰۚ وَإِنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡحِجَارَةِ لَمَا يَتَفَجَّرُ مِنۡهُ ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُۚ وَإِنَّ مِنۡهَا لَمَا يَشَّقَّقُ فَيَخۡرُجُ مِنۡهُ ٱلۡمَآءُۚ وَإِنَّ مِنۡهَا لَمَا يَهۡبِطُ مِنۡ خَشۡيَةِ ٱللَّهِۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعۡمَلُونَ ٧٤
Then your hearts became hardened after that, being like stones or even harder. For indeed, there are stones from which rivers burst forth, and there are some of them that split open and water comes out, and there are some of them that fall down for fear of Allah. And Allah is not unaware of what you do
- Quran Maryam · 19:90–91
The mountains almost collapse at the claim that the Most Merciful has a son.
تَكَادُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتُ يَتَفَطَّرۡنَ مِنۡهُ وَتَنشَقُّ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَتَخِرُّ ٱلۡجِبَالُ هَدًّا ٩٠ أَن دَعَوۡاْ لِلرَّحۡمَٰنِ وَلَدࣰ ا ٩١
90 The heavens almost rupture therefrom and the earth splits open and the mountains collapse in devastation 91 That they attribute to the Most Merciful a son
- Quran An-Naml · 27:88
You think the mountains rigid, but they will pass as clouds pass.
وَتَرَى ٱلۡجِبَالَ تَحۡسَبُهَا جَامِدَةࣰ وَهِيَ تَمُرُّ مَرَّ ٱلسَّحَابِۚ صُنۡعَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَتۡقَنَ كُلَّ شَيۡءٍۚ إِنَّهُۥ خَبِيرُۢ بِمَا تَفۡعَلُونَ ٨٨
And you see the mountains, thinking them rigid, while they will pass as the passing of clouds. [It is] the work of Allah, who perfected all things. Indeed, He is Acquainted with that which you do
- Quran Taa-Haa · 20:105–107
Allah will blow the mountains away and leave the earth a level plain.
وَيَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلۡجِبَالِ فَقُلۡ يَنسِفُهَا رَبِّي نَسۡفࣰ ا ١٠٥ فَيَذَرُهَا قَاعࣰ ا صَفۡصَفࣰ ا ١٠٦ لَّا تَرَىٰ فِيهَا عِوَجࣰ ا وَلَآ أَمۡتࣰ ا ١٠٧
105 And they ask you about the mountains, so say, "My Lord will blow them away with a blast 106 And He will leave the earth a level plain 107 You will not see therein a depression or an elevation
- Quran Al-Qaari'a · 101:5
The mountains will be like fluffed-up wool.
وَتَكُونُ ٱلۡجِبَالُ كَٱلۡعِهۡنِ ٱلۡمَنفُوشِ ٥
And the mountains will be like wool, fluffed up
- Quran Al-Waaqia · 56:4–6
The mountains will crumble and become scattered dust.
إِذَا رُجَّتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ رَجࣰّ ا ٤ وَبُسَّتِ ٱلۡجِبَالُ بَسࣰّ ا ٥ فَكَانَتۡ هَبَآءࣰ مُّنۢبَثࣰّ ا ٦
4 When the earth is shaken with convulsion 5 And the mountains are broken down, crumbling 6 And become dust dispersing
- Quran Al-Kahf · 18:47
The Day the mountains are removed and the earth appears bare.
وَيَوۡمَ نُسَيِّرُ ٱلۡجِبَالَ وَتَرَى ٱلۡأَرۡضَ بَارِزَةࣰ وَحَشَرۡنَٰهُمۡ فَلَمۡ نُغَادِرۡ مِنۡهُمۡ أَحَدࣰ ا ٤٧
And [warn of] the Day when We will remove the mountains and you will see the earth prominent, and We will gather them and not leave behind from them anyone
- Quran Al-Muzzammil · 73:14
The earth and mountains convulse and the mountains become a pouring heap of sand.
يَوۡمَ تَرۡجُفُ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَٱلۡجِبَالُ وَكَانَتِ ٱلۡجِبَالُ كَثِيبࣰ ا مَّهِيلًا ١٤
On the Day the earth and the mountains will convulse and the mountains will become a heap of sand pouring down
- Quran Al-Haaqqa · 69:14
The earth and the mountains are lifted and levelled with one blow.
وَحُمِلَتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَٱلۡجِبَالُ فَدُكَّتَا دَكَّةࣰ وَٰحِدَةࣰ ١٤
And the earth and the mountains are lifted and leveled with one blow
- Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 4083Sahih Bukhari
Uhud is a mountain that loves us and is loved by us.
Narrated Anas:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "This is a mountain that loves us and is loved by us
العربية
حَدَّثَنِي نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ قُرَّةَ بْنِ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، سَمِعْتُ أَنَسًا ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " هَذَا جَبَلٌ يُحِبُّنَا وَنُحِبُّهُ ".
- Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 3675Sahih Bukhari
Uhud shook with the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions and he told it to be firm.
Narrated Anas bin Malik:The Prophet (ﷺ) once climbed the mountain of Uhud with Abu Bakr, `Umar and `Uthman. The mountain shook with them. The Prophet (ﷺ) said (to the mountain), "Be firm, O Uhud! For on you there are no more than a Prophet, a Siddiq and two martyrs
العربية
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، أَنَّ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ حَدَّثَهُمْ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَعِدَ أُحُدًا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَعُثْمَانُ فَرَجَفَ بِهِمْ فَقَالَ " اثْبُتْ أُحُدُ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ نَبِيٌّ وَصِدِّيقٌ وَشَهِيدَانِ ".
- Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 3231Sahih Bukhari
The Angel of the Mountains offered to bring two mountains down on those who rejected him; the Prophet ﷺ chose mercy.
Narrated `Aisha:That she asked the Prophet (ﷺ) , 'Have you encountered a day harder than the day of the battle) of Uhud?" The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "Your tribes have troubled me a lot, and the worse trouble was the trouble on the day of 'Aqaba when I presented myself to Ibn `Abd-Yalail bin `Abd-Kulal and he did not respond to my demand. So I departed, overwhelmed with excessive sorrow, and proceeded on, and could not relax till I found myself at Qarnath-Tha-alib where I lifted my head towards the sky to see a cloud shading me unexpectedly. I looked up and saw Gabriel in it. He called me saying, 'Allah has heard your people's saying to you, and what they have replied back to you, Allah has sent the Angel of the Mountains to you so that you may order him to do whatever you wish to these people.' The Angel of the Mountains called and greeted me, and then said, "O Muhammad! Order what you wish. If you like, I will let Al-Akh-Shabain (i.e. two mountains) fall on them." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "No but I hope that Allah will let them beget children who will worship Allah Alone, and will worship None besides Him
العربية
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عُرْوَةُ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَدَّثَتْهُ أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم هَلْ أَتَى عَلَيْكَ يَوْمٌ كَانَ أَشَدَّ مِنْ يَوْمِ أُحُدٍ قَالَ " لَقَدْ لَقِيتُ مِنْ قَوْمِكِ مَا لَقِيتُ، وَكَانَ أَشَدُّ مَا لَقِيتُ مِنْهُمْ يَوْمَ الْعَقَبَةِ، إِذْ عَرَضْتُ نَفْسِي عَلَى ابْنِ عَبْدِ يَالِيلَ بْنِ عَبْدِ كُلاَلٍ، فَلَمْ يُجِبْنِي إِلَى مَا أَرَدْتُ، فَانْطَلَقْتُ وَأَنَا مَهْمُومٌ عَلَى وَجْهِي، فَلَمْ أَسْتَفِقْ إِلاَّ وَأَنَا بِقَرْنِ الثَّعَالِبِ، فَرَفَعْتُ رَأْسِي، فَإِذَا أَنَا بِسَحَابَةٍ قَدْ أَظَلَّتْنِي، فَنَظَرْتُ فَإِذَا فِيهَا جِبْرِيلُ فَنَادَانِي فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ سَمِعَ قَوْلَ قَوْمِكَ لَكَ وَمَا رَدُّوا عَلَيْكَ، وَقَدْ بَعَثَ إِلَيْكَ مَلَكَ الْجِبَالِ لِتَأْمُرَهُ بِمَا شِئْتَ فِيهِمْ، فَنَادَانِي مَلَكُ الْجِبَالِ، فَسَلَّمَ عَلَىَّ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ، فَقَالَ ذَلِكَ فِيمَا شِئْتَ، إِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْ أُطْبِقَ عَلَيْهِمِ الأَخْشَبَيْنِ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَلْ أَرْجُو أَنْ يُخْرِجَ اللَّهُ مِنْ أَصْلاَبِهِمْ مَنْ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ وَحْدَهُ لاَ يُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا ".