The Qur'an draws attention to aN important geological function of mountains:
We placed firmly embedded mountains on the earth, so it would not move under them… (Surat al-Anbiya', 31)
We learn that mountains have the function of preventing shocks in the Earth.
This was brought to light only recently as a result of the findings of modern geology.
According to this, mountains emerge as a result of the movements and collisions of massive plates forming the Earth's crust. When two plates collide, the stronger one slides under the other, the one on the top bends and forms heights and mountains. The layer beneath goes under the ground and makes a deep extension downward. Thus mountains have a portion stretching downwards, as large as their visible parts on the Earth.
In a verse, this role of the mountains is pointed out by a comparison with "pegs":
Have We not made the earth as a bed and the mountains its pegs? (Surat an-Naba', 6-7)
Mountains, in other words, clench the plates in the Earth's crust together by extending above and beneath the Earth's surface. In this way, they fix the Earth's crust, and prevent it from drifting. We may liken mountains to nails that keep pieces of wood together.
This vital role of mountains, that was discovered by modern geology and seismic research, was revealed in the Qur'an centuries ago.
It’s A Miracle!
