Mountains and Geological Stability

The Quran speaks of mountains as peg-like structures that provide stability to the Earth. This reflects an understanding of the role that mountains play in geology, where they contribute to the stability of the Earth’s crust and act as a barrier to the movement of tectonic plates. The reference to mountains as pegs suggests a deeper anchoring into the Earth, akin to the way roots anchor a plant.

وَأَلْقَىٰ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ رَوَٰسِىَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِكُمْ وَأَنْهَٰرًۭا وَسُبُلًۭا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

And he cast mountains on the earth, lest it shifts with you; and rivers, and roads, so that you may be guided.

The Holy Quran · An-Nahl (The Bee) · 16:15

وَجَعَلْنَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ رَوَٰسِىَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِهِمْ وَجَعَلْنَا فِيهَا فِجَاجًۭا سُبُلًۭا لَّعَلَّهُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ

And We placed on earth stabilizers, lest it sways with them, and We placed therein signposts and passages, that they may be guided.

The Holy Quran · Al-Anbiyaa (The Prophets) · 21:31

خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍۢ تَرَوْنَهَا ۖ وَأَلْقَىٰ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ رَوَٰسِىَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِكُمْ وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَآبَّةٍۢ ۚ وَأَنزَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۭ فَأَنۢبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ زَوْجٍۢ كَرِيمٍ

He created the heavens without pillars that you can see, and placed stabilizers on earth lest it shifts with you, and scattered throughout it all kinds of creatures. And from the sky We sent down water, and caused to grow therein of every noble pair.

The Holy Quran · Luqman (Luqman) · 31:10