وَتَرَى ٱلْجِبَالَ تَحْسَبُهَا جَامِدَةً وَهِىَ تَمُرُّ مَرَّ ٱلسَّحَابِ ۚ صُنْعَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَتْقَنَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَفْعَلُونَ 88
Translations
And you see the mountains, thinking them motionless, while they will pass as the passing of clouds. [It is] the work of Allāh, who perfected all things. Indeed, He is Aware of that which you do.
Transliteration
Wa tara al-jibala tahsabuha jamidatan wa hiya tamurru marra al-sahabi. Suna'a Allah alladhi atqana kulla shay'in. Innahu khabeerun bima taf'alun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how mountains, though they appear stationary to the human eye, are in fact moving continuously like clouds pass through the sky—a profound description of the earth's motion that scientists would later confirm. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir interpreted this as a demonstration of Allah's perfect creation and mastery over all things, emphasizing that what appears fixed to our limited perception is in constant motion by divine design. The ayah concludes by affirming that Allah is fully aware of human actions, connecting the grandeur of creation to divine omniscience and accountability.
Revelation Context
Surah An-Naml is a Meccan surah that emphasizes divine power and wisdom through signs in creation. This ayah appears in a section discussing miracles and proofs of Allah's existence and authority, inviting the polytheists of Mecca to reflect on the natural world as evidence of monotheism. The context within the surah follows the narrative of Prophet Sulayman and precedes discussion of the Day of Judgment.
Related Hadiths
Hadith in Jami' at-Tirmidhi where the Prophet (ﷺ) described the signs of the Hour and the cosmic changes, reinforcing the dynamic nature of creation. Also related to hadiths about the preservation of the sky and earth (Ayat al-Kursi commentary in various hadith collections), emphasizing Allah's sustenance of creation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that reality often transcends our immediate perception—what appears motionless may be in constant motion, inviting us to develop intellectual humility and trust in divine knowledge. Furthermore, it reminds us that Allah's awareness encompasses all movement and action, encouraging accountability in our deeds and deeper reflection on the signs of creation around us.
Related Ayahs
تَبَارَكَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ بُرُوجًا وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا سِرَٰجًا وَقَمَرًا مُّنِيرًا
Blessed is He who has placed in the sky great stars and placed therein a [burning] lamp and luminous moon.
خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ تَرَوْنَهَا ۖ وَأَلْقَىٰ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ رَوَٰسِىَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِكُمْ وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَآبَّةٍ ۚ وَأَنزَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَنۢبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ زَوْجٍ كَرِيمٍ
He created the heavens without pillars that you see and has cast into the earth firmly set mountains, lest it should shift with you, and dispersed therein from every creature. And We sent down rain from the sky and made grow therein [plants] of every noble kind.
وَٱلْأَرْضَ مَدَدْنَـٰهَا وَأَلْقَيْنَا فِيهَا رَوَٰسِىَ وَأَنۢبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ زَوْجٍۭ بَهِيجٍ
And the earth - We spread it out and cast therein firmly set mountains and made grow therein [something] of every beautiful kind,
وَأَلْقَىٰ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ رَوَٰسِىَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِكُمْ وَأَنْهَـٰرًا وَسُبُلًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
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,