Mountain Morals

The symbolic significance of mountains in the Quran

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Among the many beauties of the Quran are its recurring references to nature, which inspire us to contemplate our place in the scheme of the universe and find parallels among its creations.

One of these references is to mountains, a term that occurs more than 44 times in the Quran, and an image that no doubt commanded the awe and respect of the Arab community to which the revelation was addressed.

Let’s take a look at how mountains are symbolized in the Quran, using a few representative verses as examples, and learn what these references have to teach us about our lives and our place in the created world.

Humankind’s limitation before God

Many references to mountains in the Quran are made to emphasize humankind’s frailty and lack of power. This was an especially impactful rhetorical strategy to the nomadic Arabs, who spent their lives wandering the desert, needful and insecure, while the mighty mountains towered in the background.

It’s in this sense that we find verses like the following:

“And don’t walk on the earth exultantly: You’ll…