DIMENSIONS OF BAHR AND YAMM IN THE QUR'AN: SEMANTIC ANALYSIS AND SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE OF THE SEA
Keywords:
Al-Baḥr, Al-Yamm, Oceanography, Semantics of the Qur'anAbstract
The Qur'an contains various verses of kawniyyāt that describe natural phenomena, including the sea, as a sign of the greatness of Allah SWT. One of the uniqueness of the Qur'an in describing the sea lies in the use of two main words, namely al-baḥr and al-yamm, which are often translated the same as "sea", but have significant differences in meaning and context. This study aims to analyze the linguistic and oceanographic dimensions of these two words and examine their relevance to the perspective of modern marine science. This study shows that al-baḥr is generally used in the Qur'an to describe the sea as a productive, stable natural system that brings benefits to human life, such as a source of sustenance, a means of navigation, and a supporter of civilization. In contrast, the word al-yamm is used consistently in dramatic narrative contexts, especially in the story of the Prophet Moses and Pharaoh , to represent a destructive mass of water and a means of manifesting the power and justice of Allah SWT. From a modern oceanographic perspective, this distinction aligns with the scientific reality that waters have diverse physical and hydrodynamic characteristics, can support life, but also have the potential to become a dangerous force of nature under certain conditions
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