Frost weathering, a process by which water causes rocks to crack and break, was not understood in ancient times, but it is accurately described in the Quran. The process occurs when water enters cracks in rocks, freezes, and expands. This expansion exerts pressure on the surrounding rock, eventually causing it to fracture. The expansion of water as it freezes is about 9%, generating significant pressure that can break rocks apart.

Water’s ability to crack rocks is explained by the phenomenon of volumetric expansion. When water freezes, it expands, and this increase in volume can generate pressures of up to 207 MPa at temperatures as low as -22°C (according to scientific studies). This pressure is more than enough to break rock. The process is especially important when rocks are saturated with water, and the water freezes quickly, unable to escape. This rapid freezing causes the ice to exert pressure on the rock, often leading to fracturing in a process called ice wedging. This type of weathering is essential in colder climates, particularly in mountainous regions, where ice forms in the cracks of rocks and breaks them apart over time.

The Quran mentions the process of water coming from cracks in rocks, which can be understood as a reference to frost weathering:

This verse mentions rocks that crack and allow water to flow out from them. While this could be interpreted metaphorically in the context of the hardness of hearts, the physical description aligns with the process of frost weathering, where water causes rocks to crack, releasing water trapped inside.

The Quran describes the cracking of rocks and the emergence of water in a way that mirrors modern scientific understanding of frost weathering. While this natural process was not known to ancient civilizations, the Quran correctly portrayed how water can break rocks, a concept that was only fully understood with scientific advancements. Whilst these verses might not necessarily reference the scientific findings mentioned here, they clearly showcase how the guidance mentioned in the Quran are very much scientifically possible.