Page 218 - For Men of Understanding

into the mantle. (Carolyn Sheets, Robert Gardner, and Samuel F. Howe,
General Science, (Newton, MA: Allyn and Bacon Inc., 1985), p. 305)
Professor Siaveda, a world-renowned underwater geologist, made the fol-
lowing comment in reference to the way that mountains have root-like stalks
attaching them to the surface:
The fundamental difference between continental mountains and the oceanic
mountains lies in its material... But the common denominator on both moun-
tains are that they have roots to support the mountains. In the case of conti-
nental mountains, light-low density material from the mountain is extended
down into the earth as a root. In the case of oceanic mountains, there is also
light material supporting the mountain as a root... Therefore, the function of
the roots are to support the mountains according to the law of Archimedes.
(www.beconvinced.com/science/QURANMOUNTAIN.htm)
Furthermore, a book titled Earth, by Dr. Frank Press, former president of the
U.S. National Academy of Sciences, which is still used as a text book in a great
many universities, states that mountains are like stakes, and are buried deep
under the surface of the Earth. (Frank Press, and Raymond Siever, Earth, 3rd ed.
San Francisco: W. H. Freeman & Company, 1982)
In other verses, this role of the mountains is pointed out by a comparison
with "pegs":
Haven't We made the Earth as a bed and the mountains its pegs? (Surat
an-Naba': 6-7)
In another verse it is revealed that Allah "made the mountains firm." (Surat
an-Nazi'at: 32) The word "arsaahaa" in this verse means "was made rooted, was
fixed, was nailed to the earth." Similarly, mountains extend to the surface layer
joining lines on and below the surface, and nail these together. By fixing the
Earth's crust they prevent any sliding over the magma layer or amongst the lay-
ers themselves. In short, mountains can be compared to nails holding strips of
wood together. The fixing effect of mountains is known as isostasy in scientific
literature. Isostasy is the state of equilibrium between the upward force created
by the mantle layer and the downward force created by the Earth's crust. As
mountains lose mass due to erosion, soil loss or melting of glaciers, they can gain
mass from the formation of glaciers, volcanic explosions or soil formation.
Therefore, as mountains grow lighter they are pressed upwards by the raising
force implemented by the liquids. Alternatively, as they grow heavier they are

pressed into the mantle by the force of gravity. Equilibrium between these two
forces is established by isostasy. This balancing property of mountains is
described in these terms in a scientific source:
G.B Airy in 1855 suggested that the crust of the earth could be likened to rafts

216 For Men of Understanding