Faatir • EN-TAFSIR-IBN-ABBAS
﴿ وَمَا يَسْتَوِى ٱلْبَحْرَانِ هَٰذَا عَذْبٌۭ فُرَاتٌۭ سَآئِغٌۭ شَرَابُهُۥ وَهَٰذَا مِلْحٌ أُجَاجٌۭ ۖ وَمِن كُلٍّۢ تَأْكُلُونَ لَحْمًۭا طَرِيًّۭا وَتَسْتَخْرِجُونَ حِلْيَةًۭ تَلْبَسُونَهَا ۖ وَتَرَى ٱلْفُلْكَ فِيهِ مَوَاخِرَ لِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴾
“[Easy is it for Him to create likeness and variety:] thus, the two great bodies of water [on earth] 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.”
(And the two seas) the sweet and salty (are not alike: this, fresh, sweet, food to drink, this (other) bitter, salt. And from them both) the sweet and salty seas (ye eat fresh meat) fresh fish (and derive) especially from the salty sea (the ornament) gems and pearls (that ye wear. And thou seest the ship cleaving them) i.e. the seas (with its prow) coming and going driven by the same wind (that ye may seek of His bounty) of His provision, (and that haply ye may give thanks) so that you may give thanks for His bounty.