وَجَعَلْنَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ رَوَٰسِىَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِهِمْ وَجَعَلْنَا فِيهَا فِجَاجًا سُبُلًا لَّعَلَّهُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ
13:4; 15:20; 16:16; 31:11; 77:28.
Important Words:
ان تمید بھم (lest it should quake with them). تمید is derived from ماد which 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. مادت به الارض means, the earth went round with him. The expression ان تمید بھم 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.
فجاجاً (wide pathways) is the plural of فج which is noun-infinitive from فج (fajja) which means, he opened or separated his two legs while walking. فجت الناقة means, the she-camel opened out her hinder legs for being milked. فج 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 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 truth the words ان تمید بھم (lest it should 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.
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) represent righteous ulema (learned men) and divines who receive guidance from the prophets and convey it to common men. Just as rivers and streams become dried up when it does not rain on mountains, similarly pious and righteous men disappear from the world when no fresh revelation descends from heaven for a long time. Indeed revelation is as essential for spiritual life as is water for physical life.
13:4; 15:20; 16:16; 31:11; 77:28.
The expression, an Tamida Bihim, means, lest it should quake with them; go round with them; be a source of benefit to them; Mada also meaning, he bestowed a benefit (Aqrab). 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. 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 forced a way out, thus causing violent agitations and eruptions in the form of volcanoes, which having cooled down took the shape of mountains ("Marvels & Mysteries of Science" by Allison Hox; & Enc. Brit. under "Geology"). The verse may also signify that the mountains are a great help to the earth in moving steadily on its axis. The Qur’an 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.