Many years passed before those flood-like rains settled down...

Many years passed before those flood-like rains settled down in pitfalls of the earth, and parts of dry lands emerged gradually. This is the same thing which is referred to in Islamic literature as /dahw-ul-’ard/ (expansion of the earth).

And since the creation of mountains, with all the various advantages which carried with them, is considered as one of the signs of monotheism, the Qur’an refers to them, by adding: “…and We have cast therein firm mountains…” The Arabic term /’ilqa’/ means ‘throwing or casting’. However, we know that mountains are the same ups and downs of the earth which have emerged because of the gradual freezing of the cruse of the earth or owing to the eruption of the volcanoes.

It is possible that the term /’ilqa’/ has been applied to mean as to bring into existence in this context. In our daily life, we also say that we have, for instance, developed plans for such a land and have planned several rooms in it, in which case it means that we have built those rooms.

Anyway, in addition to the fact that such mountains are inter-connected with one another from the foundations and are protecting the earth against the pressures from within which cause earthquakes, and in addition to their function of obstructing the power of the storms and breaking them, thus controlling the blowing of winds and breezes in a very exact manner, they also constitute a good place for reservoirs of water, whether be it in the form of snow or of springs.

The emphasis has especially been laid on the Qur’anic word /rawasi/, the plural of /rasiyah/ which means: ‘constant, and stationary or sustaining’, which is a delicate reference to what we discussed above, indicating that not only they are all constant themselves but also they serve as a pillar for the constancy of the crust of the earth and human life.

Then, alluding to the most important factor in human life, as well as all living creatures, that is, the plants, the holy verse continues saying: “…and We have grown in it of every thing in due balance.” What a beautiful and yet explicit interpretation it is to the Arabic term /mauzūn/ which is principally derived from the word /wazn/ (weight) which refers to the recognition of the quantity of everything.