سُوْرَةُ الْحِجْرِ
Surah Al-Hijr (15) — Ayah 19
وَٱلْأَرْضَ مَدَدْنَـٰهَا وَأَلْقَيْنَا فِيهَا رَوَٰسِىَ وَأَنۢبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ مَّوْزُونٍ ﴿19﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And the earth We have spread out, and have placed therein firm mountains, and caused to grow therein all kinds of things in due proportion.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَٱلْأَرْضَ
wal-arḍa
And the earth
مَدَدْنَـٰهَا
madadnāhā
We have spread it
وَأَلْقَيْنَا
wa-alqaynā
and [We] cast
فِيهَا
fīhā
therein
رَوَٰسِىَ
rawāsiya
firm mountains
وَأَنۢبَتْنَا
wa-anbatnā
and [We] caused to grow
فِيهَا
fīhā
therein
مِن
min
of
كُلِّ
kulli
every
شَىْءٍۢ
shayin
thing
مَّوْزُونٍۢ
mawzūnin
well-balanced
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah19) ➊ {وَ الْاَرْضَ مَدَدْنٰهَا:} Now the earth and the things created upon it are being mentioned as evidence for monotheism. {’’مَدَدْنٰهَا ‘‘ ’’مَدَّ يَمُدُّ ‘‘} (n) means to stretch, to spread out. When we observe the vastness and expanse of the earth, it is such that there is no difficulty in walking, living, farming, building houses or roads upon it, but the eyes cannot see its end, no matter how far one travels. This expanse and extension is proof that Allah Almighty has made the earth round; otherwise, if it were square or of any other shape, this expanse would end at some point. Now, even pictures of the round earth have come, and this reality has also been proven by experience. Despite this, its curvature is so strange that it is neither visible nor does it affect the principle that "water keeps its surface level." Yet, hundreds of years ago, only He who created and spread it could have described this reality.
➋ {وَ اَلْقَيْنَا فِيْهَا رَوَاسِيَ: ’’ رَوَاسِيَ ‘‘ ’’ رَاسِيَةٌ ‘‘} is the plural of {’’ رَسَا يَرْسُوْ ‘‘} (n), which is an active participle meaning something heavy that is embedded. What is meant are mountains, most of which are inside the earth and the rest outside. From this, another reality is also proven: that the earth has been made to move, and for this reason, heavy mountains have been embedded in it to maintain balance during the earth's rotation, so that despite its high speed, no shaking or trembling occurs—just as pieces of iron, etc., are attached at various places on a vehicle's wheels as needed to maintain their balance. This indication is also present in another verse: «{وَ تَرَى الْجِبَالَ تَحْسَبُهَا جَامِدَةً وَّ هِيَ تَمُرُّ مَرَّ السَّحَابِ }» [ النمل : ۸۸] "And you will see the mountains, you think them solid, but they will be moving like the movement of clouds."
➋ {وَ اَنْۢبَتْنَا فِيْهَا مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مَّوْزُوْنٍ:’’ فِيْهَا ‘‘} That is, everything was grown and produced on the earth as much as was needed; nothing was created without need, nor was anything allowed to exceed a certain limit. In {’’ فِيْهَا ‘‘}, the pronoun can also refer to the mountains, meaning that within the mountains, everything—such as minerals, etc.—was created in full measure. (Shawkani)
➋ {وَ اَلْقَيْنَا فِيْهَا رَوَاسِيَ: ’’ رَوَاسِيَ ‘‘ ’’ رَاسِيَةٌ ‘‘} is the plural of {’’ رَسَا يَرْسُوْ ‘‘} (n), which is an active participle meaning something heavy that is embedded. What is meant are mountains, most of which are inside the earth and the rest outside. From this, another reality is also proven: that the earth has been made to move, and for this reason, heavy mountains have been embedded in it to maintain balance during the earth's rotation, so that despite its high speed, no shaking or trembling occurs—just as pieces of iron, etc., are attached at various places on a vehicle's wheels as needed to maintain their balance. This indication is also present in another verse: «{وَ تَرَى الْجِبَالَ تَحْسَبُهَا جَامِدَةً وَّ هِيَ تَمُرُّ مَرَّ السَّحَابِ }» [ النمل : ۸۸] "And you will see the mountains, you think them solid, but they will be moving like the movement of clouds."
➋ {وَ اَنْۢبَتْنَا فِيْهَا مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مَّوْزُوْنٍ:’’ فِيْهَا ‘‘} That is, everything was grown and produced on the earth as much as was needed; nothing was created without need, nor was anything allowed to exceed a certain limit. In {’’ فِيْهَا ‘‘}, the pronoun can also refer to the mountains, meaning that within the mountains, everything—such as minerals, etc.—was created in full measure. (Shawkani)
