Question: The divine verse states, "He set firm mountains upon it so that your earth would not move" (Holy Quran 16:15). However, the Earth rotates on its own axis and revolves around the Sun; rotation and revolution are forms of movement. Yet, the verse mentions that mountains were established to prevent movement! This is confusing. Please provide an explanation.
- G. Muhammad Jaleel, Nagapattinam
Answer: The Tamil translation you cited for Quranic verse 16:15 is incorrect. It cannot be interpreted as "so that the earth does not move with you." The correct meaning is "so that the earth does not cause you to sway or be shaken."
The Earth we inhabit consists of various layers. These layers are not uniform in size or density; the upper layer is softer, while the lower layer is harder.
If a sphere structured this way were to spin at the Earth's rotational speed, the softer section would spin faster than the harder section. Consequently, the upper section would lose the gravitational bond with the core, causing objects on the surface to fly off.
If you place a piece of cardboard on a wooden plank and push the plank rapidly, you will observe the cardboard flying off and landing in the opposite direction. This happens because they differ in density and lack a connection between them.
However, if you were to fasten the cardboard to the plank using four nails, the cardboard would move in unison with the plank's speed and direction, no matter how fast you pushed it.
Similarly, mountains have been established—acting like nails—to bind the Earth's softer and harder layers together. This allows all the layers to rotate uniformly. Without mountains, the Earth's surface would spin erratically—moving in a direction opposite to the Earth's interior and breaking free from the grip of the core. We would all be tossed about like a ball. That is the profound scientific truth conveyed by that verse.