وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِ ٱلْجَوَارِ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ كَٱلْأَعْلَـٰمِ 32
Translations
And of His signs are the ships in the sea, like mountains.
Transliteration
Wa min ayatihi al-jawari fi al-bahr ka-al-a'lam
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents ships sailing upon the sea as signs (ayat) of Allah's power and creative wisdom. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that ships are compared to mountains (al-a'lam) in their magnitude and visibility, demonstrating how Allah has subdued the water—which would naturally sink objects—to carry massive vessels for the benefit of humanity. The ayah emphasizes divine compassion (rahmah) in making maritime trade and travel possible, which sustains human life and commerce.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ash-Shuraa (42), a Meccan chapter that extensively catalogues signs of Allah's existence and oneness throughout creation. The surah systematically presents various natural phenomena as evidence of divine power, with this particular ayah focusing on the maritime realm as a manifestation of Allah's mastery over the natural world.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi 3895). While not directly about ships, hadiths praising those who travel for knowledge and trade reflect the Quranic appreciation of maritime journeys. Additionally, the Prophet emphasized gratitude for Allah's blessings in Surah An-Nahl 14:32-34, which similarly mentions ships as divine signs.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should reflect upon the extraordinary nature of everyday blessings like ships and sea travel, recognizing in them manifestations of Allah's wisdom and power. This ayah invites us to move beyond taking modern conveniences for granted and to cultivate gratitude (shukr) for the subtle and magnificent ways Allah has made creation serve human welfare.