What does the Quran say about mountains?

The short answer

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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Explanation

"Have We not made the earth a resting place, and the mountains as stakes?" 1 A stake (watad) is the peg that holds a tent in place. The Quran pairs the two images: the earth is spread out for us, and the mountains help keep it steady. Al-Mukhtasar explains that Allah put the mountains on the earth "like pegs to stop it from shaking" 2.

The Quran repeats this purpose. Allah "has cast into the earth firmly set mountains, lest it shift with you, and [made] rivers and roads, that you may be guided" 3. Another verse adds that Allah made passes through them as roads 4. After spreading the earth, He brought out its water and pasture "and the mountains He set firmly, as provision for you and your grazing livestock" 5.

Mountains are also a sign to look at. The Quran asks us to consider "the mountains - how they are erected" 6.

And yet the Quran reminds us that these giants are not permanent. People ask about the mountains; "say, My Lord will blow them away with a blast", leaving the earth a level plain 7. This is also the context of 27:88, "you see the mountains, thinking them rigid, while they will pass as the passing of clouds", which is sometimes quoted as a description of drifting continents. Tafsir explains it as what people will see "on that day" of Judgment 8. Reading verses in context protects the Quran from claims it never made.

The lesson for us is humility. If the mountains, which stand so firm, will one day crumble, the only lasting security is with Allah.

The evidence

  1. 1
    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

  2. 2
    Tafsir Al-Mukhtasar fi Tafsir al-Quran · 78:7

    And did I not put mountains on it like pegs to stop it from shaking?

  3. 3
    Quran An-Nahl · 16:15

    Firm mountains cast into the earth lest it shift, 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

  4. 4
    Quran Al-Anbiyaa · 21:31

    Firm mountains lest the earth shift, with passes as 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

  5. 5
    Quran An-Naazi'aat · 79:30–33

    The earth spread out, its water and pasture, and the mountains set firmly as provision.

    وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ ذَٰلِكَ دَحَىٰهَآ ۝٣٠ أَخۡرَجَ مِنۡهَا مَآءَهَا وَمَرۡعَىٰهَا ۝٣١ وَٱلۡجِبَالَ أَرۡسَىٰهَا ۝٣٢ مَتَٰعࣰ ا لَّكُمۡ وَلِأَنۡعَٰمِكُمۡ ۝٣٣

    30 And after that He spread the earth 31 He extracted from it its water and its pasture 32 And the mountains He set firmly 33 As provision for you and your grazing livestock

  6. 6
    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

  7. 7
    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

  8. 8
    Tafsir Al-Mukhtasar fi Tafsir al-Quran · 27:88

    And you will see mountains on that day thinking them to be firm without moving, but they will in fact move like clouds move. It is the doing of Allah, for He is the one who makes them move. He is Aware of what you do. None of your actions are hidden from Him and He shall reward you for them.

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

Report an issue

Tell us what is wrong. Every report is read.

What is the problem?