The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 170
CH. 21 rightly guided. 2372 AL-ANBIYA' similarly no spiritual life is possible without the water of Divine revelation. 2372. Important Words: (lest it should quake with PT. 17 agitations and eruptions in the form of volcanoes which having cooled down took the shape of mountains. ("Marvels and Mysteries of Science" by Allison Hox & Enc. Brit. under "Geology"). To this great scientific let it should ان تميد بهم which | truth the words ماد is derived from تحميد. (them means, it (a thing)was or became in a state of violent motion or commotion; it was or became violently agitated; it turned about or became contorted and convulsed; it quivered or trembled; he bestowed a benefit or favour. means, the earth went round with him. The expression means, lest it should quake with them, be convulsed with them and go round with them and move about violently (Lane & Aqrab). See also 16:16. (wide pathways) is the plural of which is noun-infinitive from (fajja) which means, he opened or separated his two legs while walking. means, the she-camel opened out her hinder legs for being milked. means, a wide and open pathway between two mountains (Aqrab). Commentary: The verse throws light on yet another scientific truth. Geology has established the fact that mountains have, to a great extent, secured the earth against earthquakes. Earth- quakes were very common before mountains were created. In the beginning the earth was very hot from inside. When as the result of the intense heat gases were formed in the bowels of the earth, they tried to force a way out, thus causing violent quake with them) refer. Spiritually speaking the heat of sin and iniquity in the world throws out lava from its volcanoes and brings about moral destruction and then God cools down this fire by the spiritual water of Divine revelation and by means of "mountains" which spiritually speaking are Prophets and Divine Reformers. Taking these words in the sense 'that it may go round with them,' the verse would signify that the mountains are a great help to the earth in moving steadily on its axis. The Quran spoke of the earth as "moving round" long before it was discovered that it was not stationary and moved on its axis and round the sun. 2084 Again mountains, rivers and natural highways are among great Divine blessings. The mountains are natural reservoirs of water and vegetable and mineral wealth; the rivers constitute natural conduits for water, and natural highways make it possible for man to have access to these vast stores of Divine blessings. Spiritually speaking, 'mountains' are the Divine Prophets who are the great reservoirs of heavenly water and divine knowledge and 'highways' (which in the earth are the channels of rivers)