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The Quran and Mountains: Difference between revisions
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→The term ‘tameeda’ does not refer to earthquakes but to shaking or disturbances
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The relevant verses are as follows: | The relevant verses are as follows: | ||
{{Quote| | {{Quote|Luqman 31:10|He has created the heavens without supports that you can see, and has cast (alqa) onto the earth firm mountains (rawasiya) lest it should shake with you (tamida bikum **) ...}} | ||
{{Quote|Al-Anibiya' 21:31|And We have set on the earth firm mountains (rawasiya), lest it should shake with them (tamida bihim**).}} | |||
{{Quote|Al-Nahl 16:15|And He has cast onto the earth firm mountains (rawasiya) lest it should shake with you… (tamida bikum**)}} | |||
The phrase "tamida bi" from mada, yamidu, is only used in the above three Qur'anic verses which are marked **. Hans Wehr's "Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic" gives the meaning of the verbal phrase "mada bi" as: to shake something violently. "Mada bi" is the very form used in these verses. | The phrase "tamida bi" from mada, yamidu, is only used in the above three Qur'anic verses which are marked **. Hans Wehr's "Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic" gives the meaning of the verbal phrase "mada bi" as: to shake something violently. "Mada bi" is the very form used in these verses. | ||
It is clear that the term ‘tameeda’ is associated with people (i.e. less it should shake with ''you''). Thus, tameeda cannot possibly refer to shaking in a geological timescale as people do not live in geological timescales. For this reason | It is clear that the term ‘tameeda’ is associated with people (i.e. less it should shake with ''you''). Thus, tameeda cannot possibly refer to shaking in a geological timescale as people do not live in geological timescales. For this reason, tameeda and zalzala are synonyms, just as the English terms ‘seismic activity’ and ‘earth tremors’ are synonyms for earthquakes. | ||
Even some | Even some Muslim commentators do not consider tameeda to mean shaking in geological timescale. | ||
{{Quote|1=[http://www.tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=21&tid=32959 In everything there is a Sign of Him, showing that He is One | {{Quote|1=[http://www.tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=21&tid=32959 In everything there is a Sign of Him, showing that He is One]<BR>Tafsir Ibn Kathir|2=(And We have placed on the earth firm mountains,) means, mountains which stabilize the earth and keep it steady and lend it weight, lest it should shake with the people, i.e., move and tremble so that they would not be able to stand firm on it -- because it is covered with water, apart from one-quarter of its surface.}} | ||
Admittedly Ibn Kathir was not a geologist, but he certainly knew Classical Arabic and his reading of the relevant verses suggests that tameeda is not associated with a geological timescale. | Admittedly Ibn Kathir was not a geologist, but he certainly knew Classical Arabic and his reading of the relevant verses suggests that tameeda is not associated with a geological timescale. | ||