Prepared by Professor Dr. Ali Mishaal Abed

In the name of Allah, the Merciful the most gracious

When the earth is shaken by its (final) earthquake (1) And when the earth throws out its burdens (2) man will say: "What is the matter with it? (3) That Day it will declare its information (about all that happened over it of good or evil).  (4) Because your Lord has inspired it (5) That Day mankind will proceed in scattered groups so that they may be shown their deeds (6So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it(7) And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it. (8).                                                                               

Surat Al-Zalzalah drew attention to two important scientific observations, namely earthquakes, and volcanoes, through the first two verses that definitively preceded science until the middle of the twentieth century. First, let's learn about earthquakes and volcanoes from a scientific point of view.

Earthquakes occur as a result of the release of energy stored in the Earth's crust at areas of weakness within its layers. This energy leads to a fracture (a crack) that releases seismic waves through the rocks and in all directions, leading to a sudden vibration of the Earth's surface as a result of collision and sliding between the rock blocks. Earthquakes occur frequently in the Earth's crust, where there are geological faults in which rocks move relative to another group of rocks. These areas in the Earth's crust are abundant at the boundaries separating tectonic plates. As well as the occurrence of high waves under the sea surface (tsunami), in addition to their destructive effects on buildings, transportation, and facilities, and geological fault zones exist on the borders separating the tectonic plates that make up the Earth’s crust.

Figure (1)    The beginning of the volcanic eruption (Deckeret al. 2019)

Earthquakes and volcanoes are two natural phenomena associated with natural disasters. Due to the resulting destruction of civilian facilities and the fear and panic it causes to people. Surat Al-Zalzalah began with this phenomenon, highlighting two important scientific observations through the first two verses. Regarding the first signal, in recent years, seismic monitoring networks have spread in all parts of the world, and through reading several seismic observatories, which may be thousands of miles apart from each other, the focus and intensity of the earthquake are determined with great accuracy, as well as monitoring the volcanic eruption in a certain region of the globe. Many seismologists work to collect extensive data from seismic stations spread throughout the world. By processing and studying this data, seismic foci are identified on special maps. It has been shown that these hotspots are concentrated in specific regions of the world on belts that extend between continents and are called seismic belts. Volcanoes are also found in specific areas of the Earth and in the form of belts, which are called belts of fire.                       

Scientists used very advanced equipment to collect this data with modern software to analyze and process this data, which confirms the existence of a close relationship beyond any doubt between earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. These capabilities did not exist in the time of our Master Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace), as the scientific miracle of the Qur’an preceded scholars by hundreds of years.

The question is: If this Qur’an was not a revelation from the Great Creator, the Wise, Glory be to Him, who revealed to Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace) that these two phenomena are interconnected to depict through them a picture of the events of the Day of Resurrection? More importantly, it did not link earthquakes, for example, with lightning, hurricanes, or He associates lightning and thunder with volcanoes. How was it possible for Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace), without any measurements, communications, or monitoring, and before many regions of the world were discovered, to link the two phenomena with this conclusive, clear, and simplified connection (Hashad, 1996)? (It is nothing but a revelation revealed) (An-Najm/4)

Figure 2: The most important earthquake and volcanic areas in the world

This scientific reference and its clear scientific miracle of the Holy Qur’an that was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (May God’s prayers and peace be upon him) It increases every believer’s faith and belief. As for the second scientific reference, which was mentioned in the second verse of Surat Al-Zalzalah (And when the earth throws out its burdens ) (Al-Zalzalah / 2), it indicates that the components of the Earth in its interior are heavier than its components at its surface. Where it was possible to determine the density of these components... The average density of the Earth is about 5.52 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm). The density of the Earth varies across its different layers, with the core being the densest and the crust the least dense. The average density of the Earth takes into account the density of all its layers, weighted Depending on its size, the density of the Earth's inner core, which consists mostly of iron, is about 13 g/cm³. The outer core is also composed mostly of iron but with some nickel and other elements, and its density is estimated at 10 g/cc. The density of the mantle, which consists mostly of silicate rocks, is about 4.5 g/cm³.     

Finally, the density of the Earth's crust, which is mostly composed of less dense rocks such as granite and basalt, is about 2.7 g/cc.                            

Earth's density has been determined through various methods, including seismology, gravity measurements, and modeling based on Earth's mass and volume. The current estimate of average land density is based on a combination of these methods. 

 Through the clear difference in the density of Earth's rocks, which increases in density with increasing depth. In other words, the deepest rock is the one with the highest specific gravity, that is, the heaviest, and this is what the verse indicates. When a great earthquake occurs, the earth will emerge with its weight from what is in its depths. How could Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace) know about this gradation in density values? I believe in God as Lord, Muhammad as Prophet, and Islam as religion.

References                                                                                                    

 Al-Ijaz Magazine / Issue 2 of 1996: Ahmed Hassanein Hashad

Barbara B. Decker, Robert W. Decker (1-11-2019),
"www.britannica.com"? www.britannica.com , Retrieved 9-12 2019. Edited

Bruce A. Bolt, "Earthquake"? www.britannica.com, Retrieved

4-7-2020. Edited.