وَإِلَى ٱلْجِبَالِ كَيْفَ نُصِبَتْ 19
Translations
And at the mountains - how they are erected?
Transliteration
Wa-ilá al-jibáli kayfa nusibt
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah directs the reader's attention to the mountains and how they are firmly established and raised up, serving as a sign of Allah's creative power and majesty. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as an invitation to contemplate the mountains' stability and grandeur as evidence of the Creator's wisdom, particularly in the context of the surah's theme of pondering creation and the certainty of the Day of Judgment. The mountains' firm establishment (nusib) symbolizes strength, permanence, and divine engineering that should inspire awe and recognition of Allah's might.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Ghashiyah, a Meccan surah that emphasizes signs in creation and the reality of the Hereafter. The surah begins with the Day of Judgment and then shifts to observable signs in creation—the sky, mountains, and earth—inviting reflection on Allah's power as proof of His ability to resurrect and judge. This ayah specifically calls attention to mountains as one of the most obvious and enduring signs of divine creation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'There is no good in a person who does not think deeply about matters.' (Al-Tirmidhi) Additionally, the Quran itself states in Surah 22:46: 'So have they not traveled through the earth and have hearts by which to reason, or ears by which to hear?' which shares the theme of contemplating creation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that the natural world around us—including mountains and other creation—contains profound signs of Allah's existence and power that we should pause to contemplate. By observing how firmly and majestically Allah has established the mountains, we strengthen our faith and prepare our hearts for accountability on the Day of Judgment.
Related Ayahs
وَفِى خَلْقِكُمْ وَمَا يَبُثُّ مِن دَآبَّةٍ ءَايَـٰتٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ
And in the creation of yourselves and what He disperses of moving creatures are signs for people who are certain [in faith].
وَلَقَدْ زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِمَصَـٰبِيحَ وَجَعَلْنَـٰهَا رُجُومًا لِّلشَّيَـٰطِينِ ۖ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلسَّعِيرِ
And We have certainly beautified the nearest heaven with lamps [i.e., stars] and have made [from] them what is thrown at the devils and have prepared for them the punishment of the Blaze.
وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦٓ أَن يُرْسِلَ ٱلرِّيَاحَ مُبَشِّرَٰتٍ وَلِيُذِيقَكُم مِّن رَّحْمَتِهِۦ وَلِتَجْرِىَ ٱلْفُلْكُ بِأَمْرِهِۦ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And of His signs is that He sends the winds as bringers of good tidings and to let you taste His mercy [i.e., rain] and so the ships may sail at His command and so you may seek of His bounty, and perhaps you will be grateful.
ثُمَّ شَقَقْنَا ٱلْأَرْضَ شَقًّا
Then We broke open the earth, splitting [it with sprouts],