Names of Mountains in the Quran
In the Quran, Allah – the Exalted – mentions mountains as a testament to the greatness of the Creator. When a person traverses the earth, reflecting and pondering, they observe various types of mountains, each differing in color, size, and characteristics. Allah states in Surah Fatir: (Have you not seen that Allah sends down water from the sky, and produces with it fruits of varying colors? And from the mountains are جُدَدٌ white and red, of various shades, and pitch-black).
Allah frequently highlights entities that share a common origin and material, such as fruits, which all originate from water yet vary widely in attributes and forms. Similarly, mountains share a singular origin but exhibit vast differences. They may be white, yellow, or red, and others may be intensely black. This variety serves as rational evidence of Allah’s omnipotence. Notably, Allah – Glorified be He – mentions certain mountains by name in the Quran.
Mount Judi
Allah references this mountain in Surah Hud while recounting the story of Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) and his salvation along with the believers aboard the Ark, as the disbelievers drowned. The Quran states: (And it was said, O earth, swallow your water, and O heaven, withhold [your rain]. And the water subsided, and the matter was concluded, and the Ark came to rest on Mount Judi. And it was said, Away with the wrongdoing people). Mujahid remarked, “It is a mountain in Al-Jazirah, and on that day the mountains stood tall due to the flood, while Mount Judi humbled itself before Allah, thus escaping submersion, and the Ark of Noah (peace be upon him) landed upon it.”
Mount Safa and Marwah
Mount Safa and Marwah are mentioned in the story of Lady Hagar, who migrated to Mecca during a time of drought with no water or crops. Near the Kaaba, she ran between Safa and Marwah in search of water for her young son Ismail (peace be upon him). Thirst overwhelmed them, but she remained firm in her belief that Allah would not forsake them, finding solace in God’s decree.
In her desperate quest for water, Allah caused the Zamzam spring to flow at her feet. To this day, Zamzam, the stone of Ismail, and the two mountains serve as eternal rites, reminding Muslims of the significance of relying on Allah and being content with His decrees. Allah states in Surah Al-Baqarah: (Indeed, Safa and Marwah are among the rites of Allah. So whoever performs Hajj or Umrah, there is no harm in him if he walks between them. And whoever volunteers goodness, then indeed, Allah is Appreciative and Knowing).
Mount Tur
In Surah Al-Qasas, it is stated: (And you were not on the western side when We called out to Musa, but [We sent you as] a mercy from your Lord to warn a people to whom no Warner had come before you, that perhaps they might be reminded). This verse serves as a reminder to the polytheists of the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) knowledge of unseen matters, knowledge he could not have possessed without divine revelation. The noble Prophet was not present alongside Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) when Allah granted him revelation, which was a mercy for the worlds until the Day of Resurrection.
Mount Arafah
Allah says: (There is no blame upon you for seeking bounty from your Lord. But when you depart from Arafat, remember Allah at Al-Mash’ar Al-Haram, and remember Him as He has guided you, for indeed, before that, you were among the astray). It has been suggested that “seeking bounty from Allah” refers to pursuing sustenance through trade. This verse was revealed concerning a people who believed that trade was impermissible during ihram and sought righteousness in their actions.