The Aquatic Barrier
The Qur'anic Insight
The Aquatic Barrier
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾And it is He who has released [simultaneously] the two seas, one fresh and sweet and one salty and bitter, and He placed between them a barrier and prohibiting partition﴿
[Qur’an: 25: 53].
Allah also says
: ﴾He released the two seas, meeting [side by side]; Between them is a barrier [so] neither of them transgresses. So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? From both of them emerge pearl and coral﴿ .
[Qur’an: 55: 19-22]
The Qur'an describes the meeting point of different water bodies as a "barrier" and specifies the relationship between these water masses and the living beings within them as a barrier or prohibited partition. The aquatic barrier refers to the area at river mouths where freshwater meets seawater or where different seas meet, maintaining their unique properties. The term "hijr" refers to the place where river waters descend and are kept separate from the sea by the will of Allah, scientifically known as an estuary. "Mahjoor" denotes the restricted environment for specific aquatic organisms living in estuaries, which cannot survive in pure sea or river waters.
Marine scientists have recently discovered zigzagging movable barriers between seas, varying with temperature differences, using thermal imaging techniques via satellites. Advances in marine science have led to the discovery of these aquatic barriers, showing that each sea maintains its unique properties, supporting the specific life forms within it. Despite the presence of these barriers, adjacent seas mix slowly, allowing limited water exchange, ensuring each sea retains its characteristics.
The Qur'an, revealed over 1400 years ago, contains precise information about marine phenomena only recently discovered with advanced technology. Among these is the existence of aquatic barriers unknown to humans until recently. Notably, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) never saw or sailed on the sea in his lifetime, yet described these aquatic barriers with remarkable accuracy. This scientific knowledge in the Qur'an, detailing marine secrets beyond human comprehension at the time, signifies the Prophet's divine connection with the Almighty.
