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{{QualityScore|Lead=1|Structure=2|Content=4|Language=2|References=3}} | |||
This article analyzes the apologetic claim that the [[Qur'an]] is validated by the geological [[Islam and Science|science]] concerning mountains. | This article analyzes the apologetic claim that the [[Qur'an]] is validated by the geological [[Islam and Science|science]] concerning mountains. | ||
==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
Many | Many articles have been written in response to the claim that the Qur'an is validated by the geological science concerning mountains. This article adds to these by addressing several newer points that have been adopted to justify the original claim or to evade contrary scientific evidence. | ||
Due to what some refer to as the ‘richness of the [[Arabic]] language,’ [[apologists]] such as [[I. A. Ibrahim]] have been able to use the vague interpretations of several Qur'anic verses in their attempt to prove the scientific validity of the Qur'an. In this, they are backed by a Muslim geologist specializing in biostratification, Professor Zaghloul Raghib El Naggar, and a western surgeon, [[Dr.]] Maurice Bucaille. | Due to what some refer to as the ‘richness of the [[Arabic]] language,’ [[apologists]] such as [[I. A. Ibrahim]] have been able to use the vague interpretations of several Qur'anic verses in their attempt to prove the scientific validity of the Qur'an. In this, they are backed by a Muslim geologist specializing in biostratification, Professor Zaghloul Raghib El Naggar, and a western surgeon, [[Dr.]] Maurice Bucaille. | ||
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===Apologists' Debating Technique=== | ===Apologists' Debating Technique=== | ||
There are two elements to this claim that the Qur'an had foreshadowed the scientific knowledge concerning mountains: | |||
#Mountains are pegs. | |||
#Mountains stabilize the crust or the earth. | |||
Some of the tactics that are used to argue their case are as follows: | |||
#If a word has multiple meanings or translations, they will choose the one that suits them best at the time, ignoring all the rest as if they never existed. | #If a word has multiple meanings or translations, they will choose the one that suits them best at the time, ignoring all the rest as if they never existed. | ||
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Does the claim that mountains prevent earthquakes stand up to scientific evidence? Clearly it does not. In fact, the largest earthquakes, particularly the largest 2, ever recorded are associated with mountainous regions.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://asc-india.org/lib/world10.htm|2=2011-10-02}} 10 Largest Quakes - Worldwide] - Amateur Seismic Centre</ref> | Does the claim that mountains prevent earthquakes stand up to scientific evidence? Clearly it does not. In fact, the largest earthquakes, particularly the largest 2, ever recorded are associated with mountainous regions.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://asc-india.org/lib/world10.htm|2=2011-10-02}} 10 Largest Quakes - Worldwide] - Amateur Seismic Centre</ref> | ||
No. 1: The great Chilean earthquake occurring 140 kms SSW of Concepción (Biobio), Chile, registered 9.5Mw – the largest earthquake ever recorded. The Andes mountain range did nothing to prevent or stabilize this earthquake. | |||
No. 2: The Prince William Sound earthquake occurring 33.2 kms SE of Mt. Goode (Alaska), U.S.A., registered 9.2Mw - the second biggest earthquake recorded in the 20<sup>th</sup> century. Mt Goode did not stabilize this earthquake. | |||
No. 6: The Ecuador earthquake occurring 138 kms W of Tortuga (Esmeraldas Province), Ecuador, registered 8.8Mw. The nearby Andes mountain range did not prevent or stabilize this earthquake. | |||
No. 8: The Arunachal Pradesh occurring 20.7 kilometers NW of Tajobum (Arunachal Pradesh), India registering 8.6Mw. This is in the Assam hills and caused landslides in the mountains. | |||
Let’s examine the case of the largest earthquake ever recorded; the Chilean earthquake of 1960: | |||
{{Quote|[{{Reference archive|1=http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/events/1960_05_22_articles.php|2=2011-10-02}} Historic Earthquakes]<BR>U.S. Geological Survey, March 29, 2010|Chile<BR>1960 May 22 19:11:14 UTC <BR>Magnitude 9.5 <BR>The Largest Earthquake in the World <BR><BR>More than 2,000 killed, 3,000 injured, 2,000,000 homeless, and $550 million damage in southern Chile; tsunami caused 61 deaths, $75 million damage in Hawaii; 138 deaths and $50 million damage in Japan; 32 dead and missing in the Philippines; and $500,000 damage to the west coast of the United States.}} | {{Quote|[{{Reference archive|1=http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/events/1960_05_22_articles.php|2=2011-10-02}} Historic Earthquakes]<BR>U.S. Geological Survey, March 29, 2010|Chile<BR>1960 May 22 19:11:14 UTC <BR>Magnitude 9.5 <BR>The Largest Earthquake in the World <BR><BR>More than 2,000 killed, 3,000 injured, 2,000,000 homeless, and $550 million damage in southern Chile; tsunami caused 61 deaths, $75 million damage in Hawaii; 138 deaths and $50 million damage in Japan; 32 dead and missing in the Philippines; and $500,000 damage to the west coast of the United States.}} | ||
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===The word, ‘stabilize’ does not mean ‘prevent earthquakes’=== | ===The word, ‘stabilize’ does not mean ‘prevent earthquakes’=== | ||
Apologists claim that the stabilization is over a geological timescale because of the term ‘tameeda’ as opposed to ‘zalzala’. | |||
====Analysis==== | ====Analysis==== | ||
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For the same reason as the previous section, the term ‘stabilize’ must mean ‘prevent earthquakes’ as tameeda cannot be associated with geological timescales. | For the same reason as the previous section, the term ‘stabilize’ must mean ‘prevent earthquakes’ as tameeda cannot be associated with geological timescales. | ||
== | Apologists who make this claim also fail to notice that mountains, whether individually or as a mountain range, do not last very long in geological timescales. Wind, water and ice erode them away, or even tectonic movements can destroy them. Now it is worth pondering what kind of stability the relatively short-lived mountains can provide to the 4.5 billion years old earth, if there is anything miraculous that the Qur'an says about mountains. | ||
===Mountains Stabilize the Earth's Rotation About its Axis=== | |||
The mass of the Earth is 5.97*10<sup>24</sup> kilograms. The mass of mountains is of a much lower order. Hence they have an infinitesimally small effect on the earth's moment of inertia. In fact, the earth's rotational speed and axial tilt are affected more by the distance of the moon from earth and the [[w:Post-glacial rebound|post-glacial rebound]] since the ice ages. | |||
===Mountains Absorb Some Waves During Earthquakes=== | |||
{{Quote|{{cite web|url=http://bssa.geoscienceworld.org/content/97/6/2066.abstract |title=Effects of Large-Scale Surface Topography on Ground Motions, as Demonstrated by a Study of the San Gabriel Mountains, Los Angeles, California |publisher= |author= |date= |archiveurl= |deadurl=no}}|We investigate the effects of large-scale surface topography on ground motions generated by nearby faulting. We show a specific example studying the effect of the San Gabriel Mountains, which are bounded by the Mojave segment of the San Andreas fault on the north and by the Los Angeles Basin on the south. By simulating a Mw 7.5 earthquake on the Mojave segment of the San Andreas fault, we show that the San Gabriel Mountains act as a natural seismic insulator for metropolitan Los Angeles. The topography of the mountains scatters the surface waves generated by the rupture on the San Andreas fault, leading to less-efficient excitation of basin-edge generated waves and natural resonances within the Los Angeles Basin. The effect of the mountains reduces the peak amplitude of ground velocity for some regions in the basin by as much as 50% in the frequency band up to 0.5 Hz. These results suggest that, depending on the relative location of faulting and the nearby large-scale topography, the topography can shield some areas from ground shaking.}} | |||
Studies like this one are sometimes quoted by apologists to prove their point. It is clear however, that earthquakes are not prevented. Only the waves are somewhat affected by the presence of mountains as the above simulation suggests. If there were an earthquake larger than Mw 7.5 or if a human settlement were situated between its epicenter and a mountain range, there would be widespread destruction anyway. | |||
==Conclusion== | |||
The claim that mountains are pegs is untrue as not all mountains have "peg-like" roots. And even the ones that can be claimed to have these peg-like roots, resemble pegs only with a lot of imagination. The claim that mountains stabilize the crust or the earth is (at best) unproven. There is no scientific evidence for this assertion, therefore the Qur'an cannot be validated by scientific evidence that does not exist. | |||
The mere fact of isostacy is ''not'' proof that mountains stabilize the crust or the earth. The mere fact that collision-type mountains are formed at the edges of tectonic plates is ''not'' proof that mountains stabilize the plates. The mere fact that mountains have deep roots is ''not'' proof that mountains stabilize anything. | |||
Lastly, is the Qur'an really the first scripture to make the assertion that Mountains stabilize the earth? Well, some Christians | Lastly, is the Qur'an really the first scripture to make the assertion that Mountains stabilize the earth? Well, some Christians do not think so,<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.bibleandscience.com/bible/books/genesis/genesis1_pillarsearth.htm|2=2011-10-02}} Pillars of the Earth] - Institute for Biblical & Scientific Studies, April 30, 2008</ref> and the Bible predates the Qur'an by at least 400 years. | ||
{{Core Science}} | {{Core Science}} | ||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
*[[Qur'an Predicted Land Decreasing]] | * [[Scientific Miracles in the Quran]] | ||
*[[Quran Predicted Land Decreasing|Qur'an Predicted Land Decreasing]] | |||
{{Hub4|I. A. Ibrahim|I. A. Ibrahim}} | {{Hub4|I. A. Ibrahim|I. A. Ibrahim}} | ||
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[[Category:Qur'an]] | [[Category:Qur'an]] | ||
[[Category:Hector]] | [[Category:Hector]] | ||
{{page_title|The Qur'an and Mountains}} | |||
[[ru:Корни гор]] | |||