Sura-45 [Al-Jathiyah Mecca 65]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:

اللَّهُ الَّذِي سخَّرَ لَكُمُ الْبَحْرَ لِتَجْرِيَ الْفُلْكُ فِيهِ بِأَمْرِهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِهِ...

45:12. It is Allah Who has subjected the sea to you, that ships may sail through it by His command, that ye may seek of His Bounty,

C4746. Cf. 16:14 and notes thereon, especially n. 2037.

The one encircling ocean of our globe is one of the most significant facts in our physical geography. Its salt water is an agent of global sanitation. The salubrious effects of sea-air, with its ozone, are well known to everyone who has recouped his health by its means. Thanks to ships, the sea unites rather than divides: communications are, and have always been, more active between sea-coast towns than further inland. They thus further human intercourse, and help us to seek the "Bounty of Allah", not only in a commercial but in an intellectual and spiritual sense.

...وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿١٢﴾

and that ye may be grateful.

All this is through "Allah's command" i.e., by His beneficent ordering of the universe, and we should be grateful.

وَسَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا مِّنْهُ...

45:13. And He has subjected to you, as from Him, all that is in the heavens and on earth:

C4747. Cf. 31:20, and n. 3605.

The sea was only one example of Allah's cherishing care in making all things in nature available for the use of man, through the genius and faculties which He has given to man. Man should never forget that it is all "as from Him", i.e., from Allah, For is not man Allah's vicegerent on earth (2:30)

...إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لَّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ﴿١٣﴾

behold, in that are Signs indeed for those who reflect.

Asad’s Version:

45:12 IT IS GOD who has made the sea subservient [to His laws, so that it be of use] to you 10 - so that ships might sail through it at His behest, and that you might seek to obtain [what you need] of His bounty, and that you might have cause to be grateful.

45:13 And He has made subservient to you, [as a gift] from Himself, all that is in the heavens and on earth: 11 in this, behold, there are messages indeed for people who think!