Absolute Justice, Kindness and Kinship — Page 51
— Part I 50 sent down water from the clouds, and caused to grow therein noble pairs from every species. This is the creation of Allah. Now show me what others beside Him have created. Nay, but the wrongdoers are in manifest error. (S u rah Luqm a n; Ch. 31: Vs. 11-12) The word employed here to refer to mountains is Rav a siya, meaning something which is deeply and firmly rooted. The Arabs, because of this connotation, refer to mountains by the same word. Most translations of the Holy Quran translate the expression Tam i da bikum in relation to mountains, to mean that mountains are created to save mankind from earthquakes. This translation cannot be accepted in view of the fact that the role of mountains is not to save the earth from earthquakes. On the contrary, most centres of the earthquakes are situated in mountains above the surface of the earth, or in volcanic mountains hidden deep in the oceans. It is not appropriate to translate the word of God in contradiction to His act of creation. Madd a Yamuddu, from which the word Tam i da bikum is derived, reveals another meaning indicating the setting of the table in preparation for a meal. Thus the translation should be, 'We created firmly rooted mountains so that they would work as a source for providing you with food. ' In short, God has created the mountains not because they protect mankind from earthquakes but