Glorification of the Mountains
Selections from the Book The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him …
Written by Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi...
Episode (37)
Allah Almighty says: {And We subjected the mountains to exalt [Us], along with David and [also] the birds. And We were doing [that].} [Al-Anbya: 79], and: {"O mountains, repeat [Our] praises with him, and the birds [as well]." And We made pliable for him iron,} [Saba: 10], and: {Indeed, We subjected the mountains [to praise] with him, exalting [Allah] in the [late] afternoon and [after] sunrise.} [Sad: 18]. The glorification mentioned in these verses is literal; Allah Almighty endowed them with the ability to glorify Him. Their association with the glorification with David, peace be upon him, and their subjugation for that purpose, is a manifestation of the miracle of this prophet. It was also for his comfort and assistance in glorification, such that they would echo his praise or glorify by his command (peace be upon him). Allah made them subject to his command, and the address in the verse; {O mountains} is directed to those who can perceive.
Here we quote the sayings of some scholars:
Al-Qurtubi, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “Allah mentioned the proof and miracle He granted to David, peace be upon him, which is the glorification of the mountains with him. Muqatil said: When David, peace be upon him, glorified Allah, the mountains would glorify Him with him, and he would understand the glorification of the mountains”. He then said: “And that glorification is through speech, according to the most correct opinions, and it occurred at sunrise and sunset.”
Sheikh Muhammad Amin Al-Shanqiti, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “The truth is that the glorification of the mountains and the birds in the verse: {And We subjected the mountains to exalt [Us], along with David and [also] the birds.} is a real glorification. Allah Almighty gives them perceptions through which they glorify Him; He knows it, and we do not. As He said: {And there is not a thing except that it exalts [Allah] by His praise, but you do not understand their [way of] exalting.} [Al-Isra: 44].
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him, pp. 244-246.
- The servitude of beings to the Lord of the Worlds, Al-Tuni, p. 315.
- The Compendium of the Rulings of the Qur’an, Al-Qurtubi, 15/159.
- Lights of Explanation in Clarifying the Qur’an with the Qur’an, Muhammad al-Amin al-Shanqeeti, Dar al-Fikr for Printing, Publishing and Distribution, Beirut, 1995, 4/672.
For further information and review of the sources for the article, see:
The Book of The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him on the official website of Sheikh Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi:
