Introduction
The Quran tells us that there is a barrier between the two seas where they meet making it an inviolable partition, which prevents Fresh and Salt waters to mix. However, there are different opinions about this partition where the two different seas meet. Those who believe in the Quran are confident that this is a proof that the Quran is divine not being it a history nor a miracle, while some suggest this does not make a strong proof that the Quran is from God. Some suggest that the Quran got it wrong because salt and sweet water can mix in a glass. Some say this is evaporation that the Quran is talking about, while others suggest that salt and sweet water in nature get brackish, so they mix. Here is an attempt to confirm it based on scientific information whether the two seas mix or do not mix where they meet.
A barrier between two seas is natural occurrences backed by today’s science
Modern oceanography 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. However, when the water from one sea enters the other sea, it loses its distinctive characteristic and becomes homogenized with the other water. Thus, this barrier serves as a transitional homogenizing area for the two sea waters.
According to Maurice Bucaille (The Quran And Science), it is said that this is a phenomena observed with the waters of The Atlantic Ocean & The Mediterranean Sea, also with the waters of the Red Sea and The Indian Ocean, while studies of marine characteristics have revealed that this barrier divides the two seas so that each sea can maintain its own temperature, salinity, and density. For example, the Mediterranean Sea water is warm, saline and less dense, compared to Atlantic Ocean water. When the Mediterranean Sea water enters the Atlantic water, it moves several hundred kilometers into the Atlantic at a depth of about one kilometer with its own warm, saline and less dense characteristics, because of the barrier that distinguishes between them, although there are large waves, strong currents, and tides in these seas, they do not mix or transgress this barrier.
According to a very famous French scientist, Jacques Cousteau, who has dedicated his entire life to researching the oceans, discovered that the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean don’t mix. There are a lot of scientific sources, which claim that the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean don’t mix. Others say they mix but very slowly and some claim they mix rather fast. So the phenomenon of the Atlantic and the Pacific not mixing is unreliable. However, this natural occurrences can be supported by the scientific information as mentioned below:
- There’s the natural occurrence of a so-called Halocline, a place where salty and sweet water separate and barely mix, a clear barrier between the two is formed. The Qur‘anic verse mentions a barrier between salty and sweet water, the exact definition of a Halocline.
- There’s also the occurrence of a pycnocline, which is a transition zone between lighter (fresh) and heavier (saltier)) water. The two bodies of water don’t mix and don’t become one body of water and are separated by the pycnocline layer, which in its density is a mix between the heavier and lighter water. That could be viewed as a barrier as itself which separates the heavy (saltier) water from the light (fresh) water through a transition layer.
- The pycnocline encompasses both the halocline (salinity gradients) and the thermocline (temperature gradients) refers to the rapid change in density with depth. Because density is a function of temperature and salinity, the pycnocline is a function of the thermocline and halocline.
There is misunderstanding about a visible separation of waters referring to the Gulf of Alaska, a part of the Pacific ocean. It is not two oceans meeting but its glacial melt water meeting the off shore waters of gulf of Alaska. However, this phenomenon is due to the difference of water density, temperature and salinity of the glacial melt water and off shore waters of gulf of Alaska makes it difficult to mix.
A barrier at the meeting of two seas in the Quran
The Quran mentions that there is a barrier between the Fresh and Salt Waters when they meet, having an existence of “a forbidding partition” as a divider between fresh and salt water focusing on a theological question, is there a god with God? While there is mention of two types of Pearls, the Freshwater and Saltwater Pearls:
[25:53] And He is One who has made to flow the two seas; one is palatable and sweet, while one is salty and bitter. And He has made between of them a barrier and an inviolable partition.
[25:54] And He is One who has created a human being from the water, then He has made for him a relationship by blood and marriage. And your Lord has been Powerful.
[25:55] While they worship other than God, which does not benefit them, nor does it harm them, and the disbeliever has been a helper against his Lord.
[27:60] Is He One who has created the heavens and the earth, and has sent down water from the sky for you? Then we have made to grow gardens full of beauty with it, it has not been that you could grow their trees. Is there any god with God? Nay, they are a people to deviate (from the truth).
[27:61] Is He One who has made the earth habitat, and has made rivers in its midst, and has made mountains to it, and has made a barrier between the two seas? Is there any god with God? Nay, most of them do not know.
[27:62] Is He One who responds to the distressed one when he has called Him, and removes the evil, and makes you inheritors of the earth? Is there any god with God? Little is what you remember.
[27:63] Is He One who guides you in darknesses of the land and the sea, and Who sends the winds with good news out of His mercy? Is there any god with God? God has exalted Himself above what they associate.
[27:64] Is He One who initiates the creation, then repeats it, and Who provides for you from the heaven and the earth? Is there any god with God? Say, “Bring forth your proof, if you have been truthful.”
[35:11] And God has created you from dust, then from a tiny drop, then He has made you pairs. And no female conceives nor does she give birth except of His knowledge. No person’s life is extended, nor is it shortened from his life except as in a record. Indeed, that is easy for God.
[35:12] And the two seas are not alike: one is fresh, sweet being pleasant its drink, and (the other) one is salty, bitter. From each you can eat fresh meat, and can extract ornaments to wear them. And you see the ship sailing in it that you may seek of His bounty so that you may appreciate.
[35:13] He causes to enter the night into the day, and causes to enter the day into the night. And He has committed the sun and the moon each to run for an appointed term. That is God your Lord; to Him belongs the dominion. And those whom you call on other than Him do not possess even a covering of a date seed.
[35:14] If you call on them, they cannot hear your call. And even they had heard you, they would not have responded to you. And on day of the Resurrection, they will deny of your association. And none can inform you like of a Cognizant.
[35:15] O people, you are those in need of God, while God, He is the Rich, the Praiseworthy.
[35:16] If He wills, He can do away with you and can bring of a new creation.
[35:17] And that is not difficult for God.
[55:19] He has let to flow the two seas to meet;
[55:20] between of them there is a barrier not to violate.
[55:21] Then of which favors of your Lord will you deny?
[55:22] There comes from them the pearl and the coral.
[55:23] Then of which favors of your Lord will you deny?
Mathematical confirmation
There are 20 verses including the core and surrounding verses in the Quran across 4 surahs about a barrier between fresh and salt water addressing answer of the theological question who should we worship, and if the relevant verses and surah numbers are added, the sum is a multiple of 19 (19x43):
Note: This mathematical confirmation is an explicit proof that God has used scientific information in the Quran so that we can worship Him without associating anyone/anything with Him following the guidance being confident in what He has given us to practice our religion in a right way.
Conclusion
The Quran has confirmed a barrier between two seas, while studies of marine characteristics have revealed that these separations between neighboring seas maintained the distinctive properties of each sea with respect to density, salinity, marine life, temperature and solubility of oxygen in water. Even when the Sea water enters the ocean and moves several hundred kilometers into the ocean at a depth of about one kilometer with its own warm, saline and less dense characteristics, because of the barrier that distinguishes between them, although there are large waves, strong currents, and tides in these seas, they do not mix or transgress this barrier. Thus, the Quran is not wrong nor these natural occurrences except a strong proof that the Quran is from God, while He has given us opportunity to educate ourselves to know what is right to worship God alone being confident in His given guidance.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (06/14/2024).