بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
The mountains are truly magnificent. No one doubts that.
One of the most amazing things about mountains is that they come in so many different colours. This fact is mentioned in the Quran in the following ayah (verse):
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّـهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ ثَمَرَاتٍ مُّخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَانُهَا ۚ وَمِنَ الْجِبَالِ جُدَدٌ بِيضٌ وَحُمْرٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهَا وَغَرَابِيبُ سُودٌ
See you not that Allah sends down water (rain) from the sky, and We produce therewith fruits of varying colours, and among the mountains are streaks white and red, of varying colours and (others) very black. [Surah Faatir (35) : 27]
Ibn Kathir (rahimahullah) states in his explanation of this ayah (verse):
﴿وَمِنَ الْجِبَالِ جُدَدٌ بِيضٌ وَحُمْرٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَنُهَا﴾
“(and among the mountains are Judad, white and red, of varying colors) means, He created the mountains like this, with different colors, as we also see that there are indeed white and red mountains, and in some of them there are streaks which are also of varying colors. Ibn Abbas said Al-Judad means pathways. This was also the view of Abu Malik, Al-Hasan, Qatadah and As-Suddi. And there are some mountains which are very black. Ikrimah said, “Al-Gharabib means mountains which are high and black. This was also the view of Abu Malik, Ata Al-Khurasani and Qatadah. Ibn Jarir said, “When the Arabs describe something as being very black, they say Ghirbib.”
I discussed this ayah and the one after it in my post “A Rainbow of Colours“. I also showed various pictures of colourful mountains.
However, in this post, I’m going to share photos and videos of mountains taken by me in the UAE and also in Oman (Musandam and Madha, not the mainland) so that you can ponder over how mountains in the same geographical region can be so diverse and multi-coloured.
Remember pondering over the universal signs – which includes the mountains – is an act of worship.
إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَالْفُلْكِ الَّتِي تَجْرِي فِي الْبَحْرِ بِمَا يَنفَعُ النَّاسَ وَمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مِن مَّاءٍ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَابَّةٍ وَتَصْرِيفِ الرِّيَاحِ وَالسَّحَابِ الْمُسَخَّرِ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, and the ships which sail through the sea with that which is of use to mankind, and the water (rain) which Allah sends down from the sky and makes the earth alive therewith after its death, and the moving (living) creatures of all kinds that He has scattered therein, and in the veering of winds and clouds which are held between the sky and the earth, are indeed Ayat (proofs, evidences, signs, etc.) for people of understanding. [Surah Al-Baqarah (2) : 164]
إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ
الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَٰذَا بَاطِلًا سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding. Those who remember Allah (always, and in prayers) standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): “Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose, glory to You! (Exalted be You above all that they associate with You as partners). Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire. [Surah Aal-Imran (3) : 190 – 191]
أَفَلَا يَنظُرُونَ إِلَى الْإِبِلِ كَيْفَ خُلِقَتْ
وَإِلَى السَّمَاءِ كَيْفَ رُفِعَتْ
وَإِلَى الْجِبَالِ كَيْفَ نُصِبَتْ
وَإِلَى الْأَرْضِ كَيْفَ سُطِحَتْ
Do they not look at the camels, how they are created? And at the heaven, how it is raised? And at the mountains, how they are rooted and fixed firm? And at the earth, how it is spread out? [Surah Al-Ghaashiyah (88) : 17 – 20]
Shaikh Abdur Razzaq Al-Abaad in his book, “Causes Behind the Increase and Decrease of Iman (Faith)” listed “Reflecting over the Universal Signs of Allah” as one of the ways to increase in iman. He states:
“For certain, contemplating over these signs, studying the diverse and amazing creations of Allah such as the sky, the earth, the sun, the moon, planets and stars, night and day, mountains and trees, rivers and oceans and the many other creations of Allah that cannot be enumerated, is without doubt one of the greatest causes for iman and the most beneficial reasons behind its fortification.”
A while later, he goes on to say:
“Next, consider how Allah has perfected the sides of the earth with mountains that are unshakeable, towering, stern and solid. Consider how He has erected them so perfectly. How he elevated them and made them the most solid parts of the earth, so that they would not dwindle away with the stretch of years and continual succession of rain and wind. Rather, He perfected its creation, fortified its foundation and deposited within them such benefits, metals, minerals and springs, of which He desired.”
So, let’s look at some mountains. Notice how their colours and shades vary – even if they are close together. Also, notice how so many of them have different coloured streaks that run through them, subhan Allah.
Magnificent, aren’t they? However, please remember that the main reason for pondering over these universal signs like the mountains is to realise the greatness of Allah, not the greatness of the mountains.
Here are some closeups of the mountain rock:
Subhan Allah, there are so many shades.
Here are some videos of mountainous areas (this is what you get when I am in the passenger seat):
I find the mountains to be so calming and iman-boosting. I would advise anyone who struggles to increase in ibaadah (worship) to at least ponder over the universal signs of Allah as this as an easy act of worship that anyone can do.
And here’s one final video to remind us of what will happen to these magnificent mountains:
As mighty as these mountains are, they are weak in front of the One who created them. Let’s try to remember that.