Transliteration:( Wa maa yastawil bahraani haaza 'azbun furaatun saaa'ighun sharaabuhoo wa haazaa milhun ujaaj; wa min kullin ta'kuloona lahman tariyyanw wa tastakhrijoona hilyatan talbasoonahaa wa taral fulka feehi mawaakhira litabtaghoo min fadlihee wa la'allakum tashkuroon )
"And the two seas are not alike [40]. One is palatable, sweet and pleasant [41] to drink, and the other is salty [42], to bitter. And from each you eat fresh meat and take out ornaments [43] to wear. And you see the ships therein, cleaving [44] the water so that you may seek [45] His bounty and that you be grateful."
The two seas differ in both taste and benefit. Though pearls are taken from salty water, the two are not equal in utility or sweetness.
Just as all water looks alike but differs in taste, all humans appear similar, yet some are believers and others disbelievers. If the sweet and salty seas aren't equal, how can Prophets and non-Prophets be equal? This highlights the spiritual distinction among people.
Fish is considered flesh that must be eaten fresh; it spoils if left unused. Hence, it's referred to as fresh meat in this verse.
However, fish alone is not commonly termed “meat” in legal terms. For instance, if someone vows not to eat meat, eating fish doesn’t break that vow. The Qur’an uses terms broadly—just as it calls du'a (supplication) as salaah (prayer), while in fiqh (Islamic law), salaah refers specifically to ritual prayer. This juristic distinction doesn't contradict the verse.
Corals and pearls are obtained from salty oceans, but their extraction is associated with both seas. While women wear these ornaments, they are often worn for men, thus the connection is mutual.
It should be noted: men are permitted to wear pearls, but gold and silver jewellery remains prohibited for them. For full rulings, consult Fataawa Naeemi.
Although ships are heavy and the water light, they do not sink. This is due to the power and splendour of Allah Almighty, Who allows such a delicate balance.
This includes worldly provisions like trade and business, as well as spiritual journeys like Hajj and visiting the shrines of the pious.
It shows that every favour—worldly or spiritual—is purely from the grace and bounty of Allah Almighty.
12. And the two seas (kinds of water) are not alike: this is palatable, sweet and pleasant to drink, and that is salty and bitter. And from them both you eat fresh tender meat (fish), and derive the ornaments that you wear. And you see the ships cleaving, that you may seek of His bounty, and that you may give thanks.
Allah says, pointing out His mighty power in creating different things, how He has created the two seas (kinds of water). The fresh, palatable sea (kind of water) refers to the rivers which flow among people, rivers great and small according to people’s needs in all regions and areas and lands. This water is sweet and palatable for whoever wants to drink it.
and that is salty and bitter. means, unpalatable. This is the ocean in which the big ships sail, and is salty and undrinkable. Alla0h says:
(and that is salty and bittery.) Then Allah says:
(And from them both you eat fresh tender meat,) meaning, fish.
(and derive the ornaments that you wear.) This is like the Ayah:
(Out of them both come out pearl and coral. Then which of the blessings of your Lord will you both (Jinn and men) deny) (55:22-23).
And you see the ships cleaving, means, they travel through it, plowing through the water with their beak-shaped bows. Muja0hid said, The wind drives the ships, and the wind cannot drive any ships except the big ones.
that you may seek of His bounty, means, through your journeys to engage in trade from one land to another.
and that you may give thanks. means, that you may give thanks to your Lord for subjugating this mighty creation — the sea — to you, so that you can travel through it as you wish and go wherever you want, and nothing stops you؛ His power has subjugated for you whatever is in the heavens and on earth, and all of this is by His grace and mercy.
(35:12) The two masses of water are not alike.[27] The one is sweet, sates thirst, and is pleasant to drink from, while the other is salt, bitter on the tongue. Yet from both you eat fresh meat,[28] and extract from it ornaments that you wear;[29] and you see ships cruising through it that you may seek of His Bounty and be thankful to Him.
27. That is, the body of water in the oceans, and the body of water in the rivers and springs and lakes.
28. “Fresh meat”: Meat of water animals.
29. That is pearls and corals and, in some rivers, diamonds and gold.
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