Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD, Chief Editor of the Muslim Times

Introduction

Qur’an 27:88 presents a striking image: “You see the mountains and think them firmly fixed, but they are floating like clouds – [such is] the handiwork of God, who perfected all things. He is fully aware of what you do.” This verse invites reflection from multiple angles – exegetical (tafsir), scientific, philosophical, and theological. In what follows, we explore classical and contemporary interpretations of this verse, drawing on renowned Quranic commentaries (al-Tabari, Ibn Kathir, al-Razi, al-Alusi, Sayyid Qutb, and others) and integrating insights from modern geology and cosmology. We will also survey related Qur’anic verses about mountains (e.g. 16:15, 21:31, 78:6–7, 79:32, 88:19) to build a thematic understanding of the Quran’s depiction of mountains, especially where scientific or symbolic implications arise. The discussion is organized into sections on Exegesis, Scientific Commentary, Philosophical Symbolism, and Theological Meaning, for a clear and scholarly treatment of this profound verse.

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