Indonesia’s volcanoes and the lessons they hold in the Quran

Recent eruptions at Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait, Mount Semeru in East Java and Mount Ili Lewotolok in East Nusa Tenggara have prompted a reflection on the place of mountains in Islamic teaching.

Ustaz Syahrullah Iskandar, a Quranic studies expert from PSQ, said the Quran mentions mountains at least 40 times across different chapters. It describes their characteristics and their role in the natural world. In his interpretation, mountains are among Allah’s special creations and a blessing that people do not always recognize.

He said mountains serve as stakes on Earth so it does not shake, making them a balancing element in the planet’s activity. The Quran, he added, presents nature as having two broad functions: a practical function and a guiding function. Mountains can support life while also offering signs of God’s greatness to those who observe and reflect on them.

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Mountains are one of Allah’s special creations.

Eruptions, however, can affect communities, especially settlements within the areas exposed to them. Syahrullah described such events as signs of Allah’s greatness and tests for human beings, while emphasizing that people must first protect themselves and remain prepared for their effects. In Islam, he said, avoiding danger is essential and takes priority over seeking benefit.

He also stressed the need for social solidarity so people affected by disasters receive the assistance they need. The article cites Surah An-Naml, verse 88, which says that mountains appear stationary but move like clouds, as part of its discussion of the meaning attributed to mountains in the Quran.

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It is also a sign of Allah’s greatness and a test for human beings.