55. Sura ar-Rahman
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
مَرَجَ
الْبَحْرَيْنِ
يَلْتَقِيَانِ
﴿١٩﴾
55; 19. He has let free the two bodies of flowing water, meeting together:
C5185. See 25:53, and n. 3111, where it is explained how the two bodies of water, salt and sweet, meet together, yet keep separate, as if there was a barrier or partition between them.
This is also one of the favours of Allah. Sea-water is a sanitating agent, while fresh water is sweet and palatable to drink.
For the allegorical interpretation, see notes 2404 - 2405 t0 18::60; also note 5186 below.
بَيْنَهُمَا
بَرْزَخٌ لَّا
يَبْغِيَانِ
﴿٢٠﴾
55: 20. Between them is a Barrier which they do not transgress:
Asad’s Version:
55: 19, 20 He has given freedom to the two great bodies of water, so that they might meet: (yet) between them is a barrier which they may not transgress. (see 25: 53)
===================================
25. [al-Furqan, Mecca 42]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَهُوَ
الَّذِي
مَرَجَ
الْبَحْرَيْنِ...
25: 53. It is He Who has let free the two bodies of flowing water:
C3111. Maraja: literally, let free or let loose cattle for grazing.
Bahrain: two seas, or two bodies of flowing water; for bahr is applied both to the salt sea and to rivers. In the world taken as a whole, there are two bodies of water, viz.:
- the great salt Ocean, and
- the bodies of sweet water fed by rain, whether they are rivers, lakes or underground springs:
their source in rain makes them one, and their drainage, whether above-ground or underground, eventually to the Ocean, also makes them one.
They are free to mingle, and in a sense they do mingle, for there is a regular water-cycle: see n. 3106 above: and the rivers flow constantly to the sea, and tidal rivers get sea-water for several miles up their estuaries at high tide.
Yet in spite of all this, the laws of gravitation are like a barrier or partition set by Allah, by which the two bodies of water as a whole are always kept apart and distinct. In the case of rivers carrying large quantities of water to the sea, like the Mississippi or the Yangtse-Kiang, the river-water with its silt remains distinct from sea-water for a long distance out at sea. But the wonderful Sign is that the two bodies of water, though they pass through each other, remain distinct bodies, with their distinct functions.
... هَذَا عَذْبٌ فُرَاتٌ وَهَذَا مِلْحٌ أُجَاجٌ...
one palatable and sweet, and the other salt and bitter;
... وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَهُمَا بَرْزَخًا وَحِجْرًا مَّحْجُورًا ﴿٥٣﴾
yet has He made a barrier between them, a partition that is forbidden to be passed.
C3112. In Allah's overall scheme of things, bodies of salt and sweet water, which are adjoining and yet separate, have significant functions. Weaving a harmonious fabric out of these different fibres shows both Allah's power and wisdom.
Incidentally, this verse points to a fact which has only recently been discovered by science. This fact relates to the oceans of the world: they meet and yet each remains separate for Allah has placed "a barrier, a partition" between them. (Eds).
Asad’s Version:
25:53 AND HE it is who has given freedom of movement to the two great bodies of water" - the one sweet and thirst-allaying, and the other salty and bitter - and yet has wrought between them a barrier and a forbidding ban."
Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning |
|||
|
AND HE it is who has given freedom of movement to the two great bodies of water – the one sweet and thirst-allaying, and the other salty and bitter - and yet has wrought between them a barrier and a forbidding ban. |
||
|
And He it is Who hath given independence to the two seas (though they meet); one palatable, sweet, and the other saltish, bitter; and hath set a bar and a forbidding ban between them. |
||
|
And He it is Who has made two seas to flow freely, the one sweet that subdues thirst by its sweetness, and the other salt that burns by its saltness; and between the two He has made a barrier and inviolable obstruction. |
||
|
It is He Who has let free the two bodies of flowing water: One palatable and sweet, and the other salt and bitter; yet has He made a barrier between them, a partition that is forbidden to be passed. |
||
|
And it is He Who let forth the two seas—this, agreeable and water of the sweetest kind and this, salty, bitter. He made between the two that which was unapproachable, a banned barrier. |
||
|
It is He who released the two bodies of flowing water, one sweet and fresh and the other salty and bitter, and set up an insurmountable barrier between them. |
||
|
He is the One Who has cut off both seas, this one being sweet, fresh, while the other is salty, briny. He has placed an isthmus in between them plus a barrier to block them off. |
||
|
And He is it Who sent the waters of the two seas flowing together, one fresh and sweet and the other salty and bitter and between both He installed an invisible partition which serves as an impassable barrier (the fresh water floats above the salty and there are laws that govern the separation and the depth). |
||
|
And He is the One who merges the two bodies of water. This is fresh and palatable and this is salty and bitter. And He made between them a partition and an inviolable barrier. |
||
===================================
27. An-Naml (The Ants)
Mecca Period 48
أَمَّن جَعَلَ الْأَرْضَ قَرَارًا وَجَعَلَ خِلَالَهَا أَنْهَارًا وَجَعَلَ لَهَا رَوَاسِيَ وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ حَاجِزًا ۗ أَإِلَٰهٌ مَّعَ اللَّهِ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Amman jaAAala al-arda qararan wajaAAala khilalaha anharan wajaAAala laha rawasiya wajaAAala bayna albahrayni hajizan a-ilahun maAAa Allahi bal aktharuhum la yaAAlamoona |
Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning |
|||
|
Nay - who is it that has made the earth a fitting abode [for living things], and has caused running waters [to flow] in its midst, and has set upon it mountains firm, and has placed a barrier between the two great bodies of water? Could there be any divine power besides God? Nay, most of those [who think so] do not know [what they are saying]! |
||
|
Is not He (best) Who made the earth a fixed abode, and placed rivers in the folds thereof, and placed firm hills therein, and hath set a barrier between the two seas? Is there any Allah beside Allah? Nay, but most of them know not! |
||
|
Or, Who made the earth a restingplace, and made in it rivers, and raised on it mountains and placed between the two seas a barrier. Is there a god with Allah? Nay! most of them do not know! |
||
|
Or, Who has made the earth firm to live in; made rivers in its midst; set thereon mountains immovable; and made a separating bar between the two bodies of flowing water? (can there be another) god besides Allah? Nay, most of them know not. |
||
|
Who made the earth a stopping place and made rivers in the midst and made firm mountains for it and made between the two sees that which hinders? Is there a god besides God? Nay! But most of them know not! |
||
|
Who is it that made the earth a stable place to live in? Who made rivers flow through it? Who set mountains upon it and placed a barrier between the two seas? Is there another deity besides God? Indeed, most of them have no knowledge. |
||
|
Who set the earth up as a residence, laced it with rivers and planted headlands on it, and laid an isthmus between both seas? Is there any (other) deity alongside God? Rather most of them do not know. |
||
|
Who was He Who set the earth at Creation in the order of a settled habitation** where you established your abode and He permeated into it rivers and placed in it stays –mountains*- in a certain setting, fixed as with an anchor, and installed a natural barrier*** between the two waters -the fresh and the salt-! Was it another Ilah with the Almighty Allah! The truth is that most of them are ignorant of the facts. |
||
|
The One who made the Earth a habitat, and He made in it rivers and He made for it stabilizers, and He made between the two seas a barrier. Is there a god with God No. But most of them do not know. |
|
|
===================================
35. Sura Fatir
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَمَا
يَسْتَوِي
الْبَحْرَانِ...
35: 12. Nor are the two bodies of flowing water alike --
C3888. See 25:53 and notes 3111 and 3112.
The great salt Ocean with its seas and gulfs is all one: and the great masses of sweet water in rivers, lakes, ponds, and underground springs are also one: and each is connected with the other by the constant circulation going on, which sucks up vapours, carries them about in clouds or atmospheric moisture, and again brings them condensed into water or snow or hail to mingle with rivers and streams and get back into the Ocean.
... هَذَا عَذْبٌ فُرَاتٌ سَائِغٌ شَرَابُهُ...
the one palatable, sweet, and pleasant to drink,
... وَهَذَا مِلْحٌ أُجَاجٌ...
and the other, salty and bitter.
... وَمِن كُلٍّ تَأْكُلُونَ لَحْمًا طَرِيًّا ...
Yet from each (kind of water) do ye eat flesh fresh and tender,
C3889. For this whole passage see 16:14 and notes 2034 and 2035.
Both from the sea and from rivers and lakes we get fish, of which some kinds have a flesh particularly fresh and tender, and of a most delicate flavour.
... وَتَسْتَخْرِجُونَ حِلْيَةً تَلْبَسُونَهَا...
and ye extract ornaments to wear;
C3890. Such as pearls and coral from the sea, and such delicately tinted stones as the Aqiq (carnelian), the agate, the goldstone, or other varieties of quartz pebbles found in river-beds, and considered as gems. Many such are found in the Ken river in Banda District (in India).
Some river sands also yield minute quantities of gold. In large navigable rivers and big Lakes like those of North America, as well as in the sea, there are highways for shipping and commerce. (R).
... وَتَرَى الْفُلْكَ فِيهِ مَوَاخِرَ لِتَبْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِهِ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿١٢﴾
and thou seest the ships therein that plough the waves, that ye may seek (thus) of the Bounty of Allah that ye may be grateful.
Asad’s Version:
35:12
[Easy is it for Him to create likeness and variety: 10 ] thus, the two great bodies of water [on earth] 11 are not alike - the one sweet, thirst-allaying, pleasant to drink, and the other salty and bitter: and yet, from either of them do you eat fresh meat, and [from either] you take gems which you may wear; and on either thou canst see ships ploughing through the waves, so that you might [be able to] go forth in quest of some of His bounty, and thus have cause to be grateful.
