Tafsir of An-Naba' 78:7

Meaning: like stakes. In this, there is also an eloquent simile. The intended meaning is: "We have anchored the earth with the mountains, just as a tent is anchored with stakes." Al-Afwah said:

A tent cannot be built unless it has poles, Nor can it stand firm if its stakes are not driven in.

In a Hadith: "Allah Almighty created the earth, and it began to sway (tremble), so He placed the mountains upon it, and it became stable. The angels asked: 'Our Lord, have You created any of Your creation stronger than the mountains?' He said: 'Yes, iron.' They asked: 'Our Lord, have You created any of Your creation stronger than iron?' He said: 'Yes, fire.' They asked: 'Our Lord, have You created any of Your creation stronger than fire?' He said: 'Yes, water.' They asked: 'Our Lord, have You created any of Your creation stronger than water?' He said: 'Yes, air.' They asked: 'Our Lord, have You created any of Your creation stronger than air?' He said: 'Yes, the son of Adam, who gives charity with his right hand and conceals it from his left.'"

The apparent meaning of this—like others—is that the creation of the mountains occurred after the creation of the earth. This is the view held by both ancient and modern philosophers, although they differ regarding the sequence of their origination. It has been narrated in a Hadith reported by Al-Hakim, who authenticated it, on the authority of Ibn Abbas, that the first mountain was Abu Qubays. Regarding the manner of their formation since they were created, there is disagreement among them. Some of what is newly formed may fade away over the passage of time, for "when the two new ones (night and day) overtake something new, they consign it to decay." Sometimes, the formation of rocky mounds is observed due to the freezing of certain waters.

A difficulty has been raised regarding the earth's need to be anchored by mountains, given that it naturally seeks the center [of the universe] due to its absolute weight. This has been answered by stating that Allah Almighty knew that it would be inhabited and that there would be upon it whatever heavy things there would be. It is known that, in such a state, the earth would have two centers: a center of volume and a center of gravity. That which must coincide with the center of the world is the center of gravity. Thus, the movement of a heavy object toward the east, for example, would cause the earth to move, due to the shift in its center of gravity and the necessity of its alignment with the center of the world; this results in the swaying (trembling). At that time, it was not such that the weights placed upon it would not cause a perceptible movement. Therefore, mountains were placed upon it, the center of gravity aligned with the center of the world, and the combination of the earth and the mountains became such that the movement of a heavy object would not cause a perceptible shift.

Others have said that the earth, due to its lightness, was moved by the waves of the ocean surrounding it, which caused the swaying. Thus, it was weighed down by the mountains—along with the vast benefits contained within the mountains, for which the earth was not solely created—so that the waves would not move it. The complete discussion on this, according to what we have previously encountered, has already passed, so remember it.

It has been narrated from some that making them as such [stakes] means making them a cause for the order of the inhabitants of the earth, due to the benefits deposited within them. Were it not for them, the earth would have swayed with them—meaning, it would not have been prepared for them to benefit from it, and the order of their habitation would have been disrupted. This is an interpretation that contradicts the apparent meaning; there is no need for it as long as there is no definitive proof of the impossibility of intending the literal meaning. Yes, it has been said that this is closer to rational argument, for regarding them as stakes in this sense is more manifest than regarding them as such in the other sense, and it is closer to being known. It may also be said that it is more consistent with the omission of repeating the [governing] verb. Those who do not subscribe to this view find the point of it in the strength of the connection and association between the earth and the mountains. So understand.