وَمَا يَسْتَوِى ٱلْبَحْرَانِ هَـٰذَا عَذْبٌ فُرَاتٌ سَآئِغٌ شَرَابُهُۥ وَهَـٰذَا مِلْحٌ أُجَاجٌ ۖ وَمِن كُلٍّ تَأْكُلُونَ لَحْمًا طَرِيًّا وَتَسْتَخْرِجُونَ حِلْيَةً تَلْبَسُونَهَا ۖ وَتَرَى ٱلْفُلْكَ فِيهِ مَوَاخِرَ لِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ 12
Translations
And not alike are the two seas [i.e., bodies of water]. One is fresh and sweet, palatable for drinking, and one is salty and bitter. And from each you eat tender meat and extract ornaments which you wear, and you see the ships plowing through [them] that you might seek of His bounty; and perhaps you will be grateful.
Transliteration
Wa mā yastawi l-baḥrān hādhā ʿadhbun furātun sāʾighun sharābuhū wa hādhā milḥun ujāj. Wa min kullin taʾkulūn laḥman ṭarīyan wa tastakhrījūn ḥilyatan talbasūnahā. Wa tarā l-fulka fīhi mawākhir li-tabtaghū min faḍlih wa laʿallakum tashkurūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah contrasts the two seas—fresh and salt water—highlighting their distinct characteristics and the diverse blessings derived from each. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that despite their proximity, these waters do not mix due to divine will, symbolizing Allah's perfect creation. The ayah then enumerates specific blessings: fresh meat from both seas, pearls and jewelry extracted from the salt water, and ships navigating for commerce—all concluding with an exhortation toward gratitude.
Revelation Context
Surah Fatir (the 35th chapter) is a Meccan surah focused on Allah's creative power and signs in creation. This ayah appears in a broader context discussing the diversity of creation and Allah's sustenance for mankind. The specific mention of the two seas reflects the geographical knowledge of Arabia and serves as a tangible proof of divine wisdom accessible to the Meccan audience.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said: 'The two seas are not alike; this is sweet, palatable, easy to drink, while this is salt, bitter.' (Related to this ayah's contrast, found in tafsir works). Additionally, Surah An-Nur 24:40 and Surah Al-Furqan 25:53 provide parallel passages about the separation of the two seas.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that the observable miracles in nature—such as the boundary between fresh and salt waters—are evidence of Allah's perfect design and wisdom, calling believers to recognize divine blessings in daily life and respond with gratitude. It also reminds us that sustenance comes in diverse forms and requires both divine provision and human effort in seeking legitimate livelihood.
Related Ayahs
يُولِجُ ٱلَّيْلَ فِى ٱلنَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فِى ٱلَّيْلِ وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ يَجْرِى لِأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَهُ ٱلْمُلْكُ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ مَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِن قِطْمِيرٍ
He causes the night to enter the day, and He causes the day to enter the night and has subjected the sun and the moon - each running [its course] for a specified term. That is Allāh, your Lord; to Him belongs sovereignty. And those whom you invoke other than Him do not possess [as much as] the membrane of a date seed.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَـٰلِمُ غَيْبِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
Indeed, Allāh is Knower of the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and earth. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.
وَٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَرْسَلَ ٱلرِّيَـٰحَ فَتُثِيرُ سَحَابًا فَسُقْنَـٰهُ إِلَىٰ بَلَدٍ مَّيِّتٍ فَأَحْيَيْنَا بِهِ ٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلنُّشُورُ
And it is Allāh who sends the winds, and they stir the clouds, and We drive them to a dead land and give life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness. Thus is the resurrection.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ ۖ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلْغَرُورُ
O mankind, indeed the promise of Allāh is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allāh by the Deceiver [i.e., Satan].