35. Sura Fatir

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَمَا يَسْتَوِي الْبَحْرَانِ...

35: 12. Nor are the two bodies of flowing water alike --

C3888. See 25:53 and notes 3111 and 3112.

The great salt Ocean with its seas and gulfs is all one: and the great masses of sweet water in rivers, lakes, ponds, and underground springs are also one: and each is connected with the other by the constant circulation going on, which sucks up vapours, carries them about in clouds or atmospheric moisture, and again brings them condensed into water or snow or hail to mingle with rivers and streams and get back into the Ocean.

... هَذَا عَذْبٌ فُرَاتٌ سَائِغٌ شَرَابُهُ...

the one palatable, sweet, and pleasant to drink,

... وَهَذَا مِلْحٌ أُجَاجٌ...

and the other, salty and bitter.

... وَمِن كُلٍّ تَأْكُلُونَ لَحْمًا طَرِيًّا ...

Yet from each (kind of water) do ye eat flesh fresh and tender,

C3889. For this whole passage see 16:14 and notes 2034 and 2035.

Both from the sea and from rivers and lakes we get fish, of which some kinds have a flesh particularly fresh and tender, and of a most delicate flavour.

... وَتَسْتَخْرِجُونَ حِلْيَةً تَلْبَسُونَهَا...

and ye extract ornaments to wear;

C3890. Such as pearls and coral from the sea, and such delicately tinted stones as the Aqiq (carnelian), the agate, the goldstone, or other varieties of quartz pebbles found in river-beds, and considered as gems. Many such are found in the Ken river in Banda District (in India).

Some river sands also yield minute quantities of gold. In large navigable rivers and big Lakes like those of North America, as well as in the sea, there are highways for shipping and commerce. (R).

... وَتَرَى الْفُلْكَ فِيهِ مَوَاخِرَ لِتَبْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِهِ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿١٢﴾

and thou seest the ships therein that plough the waves, that ye may seek (thus) of the Bounty of Allah that ye may be grateful.

Asad’s Version:

35:12

[Easy is it for Him to create likeness and variety: 10 ] thus, the two great bodies of water [on earth] 11 are not alike - the one sweet, thirst-allaying, pleasant to drink, and the other salty and bitter: and yet, from either of them do you eat fresh meat, and [from either] you take gems which you may wear; and on either thou canst see ships ploughing through the waves, so that you might [be able to] go forth in quest of some of His bounty, and thus have cause to be grateful.