1400 years ago, the phenomenon of flash floods was not well-known. However, this event is described in the Quran.
Flash FloodsA flash flood occurs when sudden heavy rainfall causes a rapid surge of water in a stream or riverbed. In arid regions, where rain is scarce, flash floods can be especially dangerous. The floodwaters move quickly, carrying debris and loose objects with them.
How Flash Floods WorkIn a flash flood, water flows fast and picks up loose objects, often carrying them away. Wood, for example, floats on top of the water, while heavier debris sinks.
Quranic ReferenceThe Quran mentions this phenomenon in Surah 13:17:
He sends down rain from the sky, causing the valleys to flow, each according to its capacity. The currents then carry along rising foam, similar to the slag produced from metal that people melt in the fire for ornaments or tools. This is how Allah compares truth to falsehood. The ˹worthless˺ scum is then cast away, but what benefits people remains on the earth. This is how Allah sets forth parables.13:17
The "froth" mentioned here is the debris and foam carried by the floodwaters, and the reference to "what they burn for fire" is wood, which floats on the surface of the water. This description fits the phenomenon of a flash flood, where debris, including wood, is carried by the rushing water.
ConclusionThe Quran’s mention of water carrying froth and wood on top was a clear description of flash floods, a phenomenon not known in Arabia at the time. This insight into natural events, discovered only recently, shows the miraculous knowledge in the Quran, revealed over 1400 years ago.
