The Quran On Oceans And Seas
Modern Science has discovered that in the places where two different seas meet, there is a barrier between them. This barrier divides the two seas so that each sea has its own temperature, salinity and density.” (1)
Here we see the divider between the He has let free the two seas meeting
together: Between them is a barrier which they do not transgress. (Qur’aan 55:19-20).
Traditionally, there
have been two major interpretations of this verse. The Qur’aan goes
on to state that there is barrier between them, means that this
barrier will simply prevent the seas from encroaching upon each other
or flooding over each other. Proponents of the second opinion ask how can
there be a barrier between the seas so that they do not encroach upon
each other, while the verse indicates that the seas meet together?
They concluded that the seas do not meet and sought another meaning
for the term "maraja". But now modern science provides us with enough
information to settle this issue. The seas do meet together, as we
have seen, for example, in the picture of the Mediterranean and Atlantic
Ocean. Even though there is a slanted water barrier between them,
we now know that through this barrier the water from each sea passes
to the other. But when we the water from one sea enters the other
sea, it looses its distinctive characteristics and becomes homogenized
with the other water. In a way, this barrier serves as a transitional
homogenizing area for the two waters. This is an excellent example
of Islamic modern scientific research. Modern techniques can thus
be used to prove the inimitability of the Qur’aan.
Modern Science has discovered
that in estuaries, where fresh (sweet) and salt water meet,
the situation is somewhat different from what is found in places where
two seas meet. It has been discovered that what distinguishes fresh
water from salt water in estuaries is a ”pycnocline zone with
a marked density.
(2) discontinuity seperating the two layers.”
This partition (zone of seperation) has a different salinity
from the fresh water and from the salt water (3)
“He is the one who
has let free the two bodies of flowing water, one palatable
and sweet, and the other salty and bitter. And He has made between them a barrier and a FORBIDDING PARTITION.” QURAN (25:53)
“ Or is like the darkness in a deep
sea. It is covered by waves, above which are waves, above which
are clouds. Darkness, one above another. If a man stretches
out his hand, he cannot see it...” QURAN (24:40)
The darkness in
deep seas and oceans is found around a depth of 200 metres and below.
At this depth, there is almost no light. Below a dept
of 1000 metres there is no light at all. (4)
“ Or is like
the darkness in a deep sea. It is covered by waves, above which
are waves, above which are clouds. Darkness, one above another.
If a man stretches out his hand, he cannot see it...”
QURAN (24:40) Scientists have
only recently discovered that there are internal waves which
“occur on density interfaces between layers of different densities.
(5) The internal waves cover
the deep waters of seas and oceans because the deep waters have
a higher density than the waters above them. Internal waves
act like surface waves. They can also break just like surface waves.
Internal waves cannot be seen by the human eye, but they can
be detected by studying temperature or salinity changes at a
given location. (6)
(1) Principles of Oceanography,
Davis, Page:92-93
(2) Oceanography, Gross, Page:242
(3) Oceanography, Gross, Page:244
(4) Oceans, Elder and Pernetta, Page:92-93
(5) Oceanography, Gross, Page:205
(6) Oceanography, Gross, Page:205
Mediterranean
and the Atlantic ocean. In the middle of this photo we see a
colored triangle, this is the base of the rock of Gibraltar. We can
observe a colored partition between the two bodies of water, although
the naked human eye cannot perceive it in nature. This has become
possible by means of satellite photography and remote-sensing techniques. These are partitions that can
only be seen and perceived by scientific research and modern technology.Allah
has informed us in the Qur’aan that:
Invitation to Islam
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