Mountains as Stabilizers
The Quran claims that Allah placed mountains on the earth to prevent it from shaking or moving. This metaphor of mountains as "stakes" or "pegs" reflects an ancient misunderstanding of geology.
"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 16:15
"Have We not made the earth as a bed, And the mountains as stakes?" — Quran 78:6-7
The Scientific Reality
Modern geology shows this is backwards:
- Mountains are formed BY tectonic movement, not to prevent it
- Mountain ranges mark areas of ACTIVE geological activity and earthquakes
- The "root" of mountains is the result of isostatic balance, not stakes preventing movement
- Earthquakes frequently occur in mountainous regions
- The earth's crust floats on the mantle; mountains don't "peg" it down
Ancient Misunderstanding
The Quran's description matches how ancient people might have conceptualized mountains—as heavy weights holding down the earth like tent pegs. This was the common understanding in the 7th century but is scientifically incorrect.
Biblical Contrast
The Bible describes mountains as testimonies to God's creative power without making false geological claims about their function:
"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." — Psalm 90:2
Questions to Consider
- If the Quran is from an all-knowing God, why does it describe geology incorrectly?
- Why do mountains exist in the most geologically unstable regions if they're meant to prevent shaking?
- Does this reflect 7th-century understanding rather than divine knowledge?
Conclusion
The Quranic description of mountains as stakes preventing earth from shaking contradicts modern geology. Mountains are products of tectonic activity, not preventers of it. This error suggests human authorship influenced by ancient cosmology.
Related articles: The Sky as a Solid Ceiling, The Seven Heavens