Tafsir & Commentary
The Criterion (الفرقان) · Meccan
۞ وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى مَرَجَ ٱلْبَحْرَيْنِ هَـٰذَا عَذْبٌ فُرَاتٌ وَهَـٰذَا مِلْحٌ أُجَاجٌ وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَهُمَا بَرْزَخًا وَحِجْرًا مَّحْجُورًا53
25:53
Translation — Sahih International
And it is He who has released [simultaneously] the two seas [i.e., bodies of water], one fresh and sweet and one salty and bitter, and He placed between them a barrier and prohibiting partition.
Transliteration
Wa huwa alladhi maraja al-bahrayni hadha adhbun furātun wa hādha milḥun ujājun wa ja'ala baynahumā barzakhun wa hijrun mahjūrā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah's power in creating two bodies of water with opposite properties—fresh and sweet versus salt and bitter—yet keeping them separate despite their proximity. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir interpret the 'barrier' (barzakh) both literally as the natural geological/chemical boundaries between waters (such as between the Mediterranean and Atlantic at the Strait of Gibraltar, or between fresh and salt water in estuaries) and metaphorically as a sign of Allah's divine wisdom and control over creation. The phrase 'hijran mahjūrā' (forbidden barrier) emphasizes the miraculous nature of this separation, defying natural expectation that two adjacent liquids would mix.
Revelation Context (Asbab al-Nuzul)
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Furqan, a Meccan chapter that focuses on Allah's signs (ayat) in creation as evidence of His oneness and power. It is thematically connected to other ayat in the Quran that highlight divine signs in nature (such as 25:48-50 regarding rain), serving to convince the Meccan polytheists of Allah's supreme authority and the necessity of monotheistic belief.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly comments on this specific ayah, Sahih Muslim records hadiths about the Prophet's (ﷺ) emphasis on contemplating Allah's signs in creation. Additionally, various hadiths encourage reflection on water as a gift from Allah, supporting the thematic emphasis on divine providence in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lessons
This ayah invites believers to observe the natural world as evidence of Allah's meticulous design and infinite power, encouraging both scientific curiosity and spiritual reflection—reminding us that contemplating creation deepens our faith and gratitude toward the Creator.