Page 35 - Miracles of the Qur'an

THE MOVEMENTS
THE MOVEMENTS
OF THE CONTINENTS
OF THE CONTINENTS
The pictures to the
The Western Hemisphere
left show the
200 million 50 million years later
years ago position of the
continents in the
past. If we assume
that the movements
of the continents
will continue in the
135 million
same way, millions
years ago
of years later, they
will be in the
position shown in
the picture to the
right.

The Eastern Hemisphere 50
65 million years ago
million years later

Today

The crust and the uppermost part of the mantle, with a thickness of about 100
kms., are divided into segments called plates. There are six major plates, and
several small ones. According to the theory called plate tectonics, these plates
move about on Earth, carrying continents and ocean floor with them. Continental
motion has been measured at from 1-5 cm per year. As the plates continue to move
about, this will produce a slow change in Earth's geography. Each year, for

instance, the Atlantic Ocean becomes slightly wider. 6
There is a very important point to be stated here: God has referred to the
motion of mountains as a drifting action in the verse. Today, modern scientists
also use the term "Continental Drift" for this motion. 7
Unquestionably, it is one of the miracles of the Qur'an that this scientific
fact, which has recently been discovered by science, was announced in the
Qur'an.

The Movement of Mountains 35