Pyramids & Obelisks

 

Abstract 

The Quran on prominent symbols of ancient architecture 

Full Text 

كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ وَعَادٌ وَفِرْعَوْنُ ذُو الْأَوْتَادِ

Denied before them (the) people (of) Nuh and Aad and Firaun, (the) owner (of) the stakes. 

[Al-Quran 38:12]

أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ
إِرَمَ ذَاتِ الْعِمَادِ
الَّتِي لَمْ يُخْلَقْ مِثْلُهَا فِي الْبِلَادِ
وَثَمُودَ الَّذِينَ جَابُوا الصَّخْرَ بِالْوَادِ
وَفِرْعَوْنَ ذِي الْأَوْتَادِ

Did not you see how dealt your Lord with Aad,
Iram, possessors (of), lofty pillars,
Which not had been created like them in the cities,
And Thamud, who carved out the rocks in the valley,
And Firaun, owner of stakes? 

[Al-Quran 89:6-10]

The Quran draws our attention to certain aspects of the ancient civilisations. As with the natural history of the world, in the scripture there are parallels also with the archaeological history of the world, however with some key differences. Pyramids and obelisks are prominent symbols of ancient architecture, and examples of excellence in design and construction. 


Obelisks
According to Q89:6-8, the lofty pillars (الْعِمَادِ) were unique to the Aad (عَادٍ) civilisation, such that no other country boasted of such tall pillars. Archeologists associate the origin of obelisks with Ancient Egypt. However, it is quite possible that obelisks were also built by a civilisation much more ancient to them, and the Pharaohs simply came to inherit the symbolism from their ancients. Perhaps, it is those ancients that the Pharaoh was asking Moses about:

قَالَ فَمَا بَالُ الْقُرُونِ الْأُولَىٰ

قَالَ عِلْمُهَا عِندَ رَبِّي فِي كِتَابٍ لَّا يَضِلُّ رَبِّي وَلَا يَنسَى

He said, "Then what (is the) case (of) the generations (of) the former."
He said, "Its knowledge (is) with my Lord, in a Record. Not errs my Lord and not forgets."

[Al-Quran 20:51- 52]

Presently, Rome is the obelisk capital of the world, many of which were transported and re-erected there, including eight from Ancient Egypt. 

Obelisk Lateran: tallest obelisk in Rome, and the largest standing ancient Egyptian obelisk in the world

Attribution: 

CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=180955 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_obelisks_in_Rome#/media/File:Obelisk-Lateran.jpg 

In Surah ashShu`ara`, their Messenger Hud is quoted asking the Aad:

أَتَبْنُونَ بِكُلِّ رِيعٍ آيَةً تَعْبَثُونَ

Do you construct on every elevation a sign, amusing yourselves,

[Al-Quran 26:128]

However, according to Surah alAhqaf, it seems that everything except their homes were destroyed:

تُدَمِّرُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ بِأَمْرِ رَبِّهَا فَأَصْبَحُوا لَا يُرَىٰ إِلَّا مَسَاكِنُهُمْ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْقَوْمَ الْمُجْرِمِينَ

Destroying every thing by (the) command (of) its Lord. Then they became (such), not is seen except their dwellings. Thus We recompense the people [the] criminals.

[Al-Quran 46:25]  

Stoning of the Devil Ritual during Hajj 

Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) was taught the rituals, and commanded to announce the Hajj. 

Muslim pilgrims from all over the world assemble once, during the last month of every lunar year, to perform the annual Hajj. They perform many rituals during the days of Hajj. On the Day of Eid, and the next two days, they are required to stone the pillars. 

Originally, these were three tall obelisks, of various sizes, and now they have been enclosed in three walls:

Wikipedia: Stoning of the Devil from 1942

Attribution: By أمانة العاصمة المقدسة - http://img101.imageshack.us/i/85629339bq9.jpg/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7508699
 

2016 photo of the walled pillars 

Attribution: https://www.islamiclandmarks.com/makkah-hajj-places/jamarat

https://www.islamiclandmarks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/The-3-Jamarat.jpg

Pyramids
According to Q38:12 and Q89:10, Pharaoh is owner of the الْأَوْتَادِ. The same word is used to describe mountains: 

وَالْجِبَالَ أَوْتَادًا

And the mountains (as) pegs, 

[Al-Quran 78:7]

Gizah Pyramids
Attribution:
By Ricardo Liberato (All Gizah Pyramids) [CC BY-SA 2.0  (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/All_Gizah_Pyramids.jpg

Though pyramids have been found all over the world, and more continue to be discovered, the most famous pyramids are those of Ancient Egypt. The pyramids of Egypt are more mountain-like than the Mesopotamian ziggurats or the Nubian pyramids. 

Excerpt from The Mighty Ancients (presentation)

Allah has sent us all in this world to try us, and has deferred judgment till The Day of Judgment. However, some nations in the past were duly warned, and then punished. Surah alFajr, after mentioning the mighty Aad, Thamud and Firaun, explains the sins which warranted their punishment in this world: 

الَّذِينَ طَغَوْا فِي الْبِلَادِ
فَأَكْثَرُوا فِيهَا الْفَسَادَ
فَصَبَّ عَلَيْهِمْ رَبُّكَ سَوْطَ عَذَابٍ
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَبِالْمِرْصَادِ

Who transgressed in the lands,
And (made) much therein corruption.
So poured on them your Lord scourge (of) punishment.
Indeed, your Lord (is) surely Ever Watchful.

[Al-Quran 89:11-14]

Technology brings with it progress and temptations. As our world is rapidly embracing the benefits of modern technology, it is also being challenged by advances which place great power for corruption in our hands. It is a test! We have been warned of the promised Hour as the extent of time fixed for us.



Further Reading Links 

Egypt plans to have the world’s tallest structure at a height of 1000 m 

Last updated on: May 26, 2026