| Al-Naba' (The News): (6) Have We not made the earth...

Know that when the Almighty recounted their denial of Resurrection and Gathering, He intended to establish the proof for the correctness of the Resurrection. To do this, He first presented an introduction demonstrating that He is capable of all possibilities (mumkinat) and knowledgeable of all knowables (ma'lumāt). This is because once these two principles are established, the assertion of the Resurrection's validity is established.

He established these two principles by enumerating types of His creation that exhibit perfect order and precision. These things, by virtue of their origination (creation), indicate Power (Qudra), and by virtue of their precision and perfection, they indicate Knowledge ('Ilm). Once these two principles are established, and it is established that physical bodies are equal in their capacity to accept attributes and accidents, it inevitably follows that He is capable of destroying this world—its heavens, stars, and earth—and bringing forth the world to come. This is the indication regarding the manner of the arrangement (nazm).

Know that the Almighty mentioned here several wonders of His creation. The first is His statement: {Have We not made the earth a cradle (mahād)}?

Al-Mahād is a verbal noun (masdar). Here, there are several possibilities:

1. It means the thing that is made ready (al-mamhūd), i.e., "Have We not made the earth prepared?" This is a case where the object (maf'ūl) is named by the verbal noun, like saying, "This is the Emir's striking" (meaning the striking that was done by the Emir).
2. The earth is described by this verbal noun, just as you say, "Zayd is generosity (jūd) and nobility (karam) and virtue (faḍl)," as if, due to his perfection in that quality, he became the embodiment of that quality.
3. It means "possessing a cradle/bed." It is also recited as {mahdan} (in the singular accusative form). This means the earth is for creation like a cradle is for an infant—something prepared for him upon which he sleeps.

Know that we have already discussed everything related to the truths of this verse in the exegesis of Surah Al-Baqarah, concerning the verse: {He who made the earth a carpet for you} (Al-Baqarah: 22).

! 7 < {And the mountains as pegs (awtād)} . > 7 !

The second is His statement, the Almighty: {And the mountains as pegs} < <