Petroleum

Petroleum, also known as crude oil and oil, is a naturally occurring, yellowish-black liquid found in geological formations beneath the Earth's surface. It is commonly refined into various types of fuels.

The name petroleum covers both naturally occurring unprocessed crude oil and petroleum products that are made up of refined crude oil. A fossil fuel, petroleum is formed when large quantities of dead organisms, mostly zooplankton and algae, are buried underneath sedimentary rock and subjected to both intense heat and pressure.

Petroleum exploitation has significant negative environmental and social consequences.

Etymology

Incorrectly defined root nūn wāw qāf ((ن و ق)), according to corpus.quran.com, occurs in the Quran 7 times. The correct root is nūn fā tā (ن ف ت).

The first mention of the word «naphtha» (lat. naphtha) refers to the 1st century AD, was mentioned by Pliny the Elder. It was used by alchemists to refer to various liquids with a low boiling point.

There is a hypothesis that the word is connected with the name of the Indo-Iranian god Apām Napāt, which occurs in Vedic and in Avestic; the name means "grandson of (the) waters", and the Vedas describe him as emerging from water golden and shining "with bright rays", perhaps inspired by a burning seepage of natural gas.

Napāt ("grandson", "progeny") is cognate with Latin nepos and English nephew. In the Rig Veda, he is described as the creator of all things.

In The Quran

(54:27) Indeed, We are sending the petroleum (Arab. النَّافَتِ, l-nāfati) as a test for them. So observe them and be patient.

(7:77) They depleted the petroleum (Arab. النَّافَتُ, l-nāfatu) and defied their Lord's command, and they said, "O Saleh, bring us what you promised us if you are of the messengers!"

(7:73) To Thamud, We sent their brother Saleh, he said, "O my people, serve Allah, not for you who (would become) a god other than Him. Proof has come to you from your Lord. This petroleum (Arab. نَافَتُ, nāfatu) of Allah is a idea for you. So leave it to be in Allah's land. And do not harm her, else a painful retribution will take you."

(11:64) "O my people! This petroleum (Arab. نَافَتُ, nāfatu) of Allah is a idea for you. So leave it to be in Allah's land. And do not harm her, or else a close retribution will take you."