By: Moulana Aneesur Rahman Nadvi

There is a mention of seven oceans along with the mention of seven continents in the hadith. Thus according to hadiths, there exist seven oceans along with seven continents on the surface of planet earth. Some of the hadiths narrated in this regard are as follows:

أخرج ابو الشيخ عن وهب قال إنها سبعة أبحر وسبع أرضين۔

Abu Al-Sheikh narrated from Wahab bin Manbah that he said: Indeed (on earth) there are seven oceans and seven lands (continents).(1)

قال وهب بن منبة: على وجه الأرض سبعة أبحر والأرضون سبع۔ بين کل أرضين بحر۔

Wahab bin Manbah says: “There are seven oceans and seven continents on the surface of earth. There is an ocean between every two continents.”(2)

The above hadiths assert a number of important geographical facts which are related to geographical findings and discoveries of modern times. The first of these is that hadiths clearly state that there are seven continents as well as seven oceans on Earth. Secondly, regarding the shape and location of these seven continents and the seven oceans, it has been stated that there exist one ocean between each of these two continental lands, or in other words, the ocean divides continental parts of planet earth giving them the shape of seven continents. A Qur’anic verse also indicates towards the existence of seven oceans on earth, which is as follows:

وَلَوْ أَنَّ مَا فِيْ الأَرْضِ مِنْ شَجَرَةٍ أَقْلاَمٌ وَالْبَحْرُ يَمُدُّہُ مِنْ بَعْدِہِ سَبْعَةُ أَبْحُرٍ مَا نَفِدَتْ کَلِمَاتُ اللّہِ۔

And if there are as many pens as there are trees on the earth and the seven oceans together help the ocean, then the words of Allah will not be exhausted. (Qur’an: 31: 27)

In this verse, the reference is made towards the trees of the earth that if all the trees of the earth are made pens, and with regard to the oceans, it has been stated that if the seven oceans of the earth are made ink and the words of Allah are recorded, both pen and ink will get exhausted, but the words of Allah will never. Therefore, this verse points out at the existence of seven oceans on earth.

The Ocean of Planet Earth
Now we will shed some light on the oceans of the earth which will make it easier to understand the above mentioned statements of Qur’an and Hadith. The oceans cover about 71% of the Earth’s surface, while the remaining 29% is occupied by the exposed land. One of the major differences between the continental and oceanic part of the planet earth is that the continental part of the planet is divided into seven different parts of diverse volumes and shapes, which are called the seven continents. On the other hand, the oceanic portion lacks such physical boundaries, instead it constitute one single body. Therefore, in this case, the question arises that when the oceans are one body and one entity on earth, then on what basis it could be divided and in how many portions?

It is true that basically all the oceans on Earth are intertwined and interlocked. That is, as each of the seven continents has its own independent existence, the oceans do not have their own independent existence, and all of the oceans constitute one single body. Nevertheless, numerous geographical and oceanographic factors affect the oceans dividing vast ocean of Earth into a number of distinct oceans, both physically and chemically. These factors include the situation of the continents, location of the oceans in the northern or southern hemisphere, the ocean current, the specific physical and chemical properties of the oceans, and the impact of meteorological factors on them. For example, the existence of continents in the middle of the ocean divides this huge ocean into separate ocean basins. Similarly, the presence of a large ocean in the different hemispheres of earth is also an important factor that divides the oceans into different parts because the physical and chemical properties and the ocean currents of the southern hemisphere are completely different from that of northern hemisphere (See Figure 1: Ocean currents.) On the basis of all these factors, the ocean of planet earth, despite being one body, are divided into several distinct oceans.

Number of Oceans
As far as the determination of the number of oceans on earth is concerned, there had been a constant debate going on among the oceanographers and new oceanographic research had been presented in this regard. According to some, the total number of oceans was three, which includes the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. For some it was four (the fourth being Arctic Ocean) and for some it was five (the fifth being Southern or Antarctic Ocean). In 1954, the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) recognized only four oceans (Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and Arctic). Later, the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean were divided into two more oceans (North Atlantic and South Atlantic, similarly North Pacific and South Pacific oceans), and were demarcated on the equator. Thus the number of oceans became six.

There was still a difference of opinion regarding the Southern/ Antarctic Ocean, whether it is a separate ocean or the southern part of the three oceans – Indian Ocean, the South Pacific Ocean and the South Atlantic Ocean? However, further investigations into meteorology, oceanography, and geology also provided substantial evidences that prove it to be an independent and a separate ocean. Subsequently, it was recognized as a separate ocean:

“Reference is often made to the Antarctic, or Southern Ocean, which encircles the Antarctic continent and consists of the southernmost sectors of the three principle oceans. In spite of the lack of definite geographic boundaries, the meteorological and oceanographic conditions in the high southern latitudes combine to produce a well-defined circumpolar current called the West Wind Drift. This current distinguishes the Antarctic Ocean as a physical entity, but the ocean’s geographic borders are less easily defined.”(4)

Finally, after much debate, the IHO recognized the Arctic or Southern Ocean as the seventh ocean, putting an end to this long debate, and it was demarcated in the southern hemisphere covering entire oceanic area below 60 degrees, and was named the Arctic or Southern Ocean. Thus the number of the seven oceans was completed, and an important scientific marvel of the Qur’an and Hadith was corroborated in this regard.

Here is a statement from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of USA in response to a query regarding the number of oceans on earth:

“Although seamen of long ago are popularly known to have stated “I have sailed the seven seas,” there really wasn’t a good definition of those seas. However, today, the seven seas are the North Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Pacific, South Pacific, Indian, Antarctic, and Arctic Oceans.”(5)

NOAA, in its acknowledgment of the seven oceans, has also hinted that the concept of the seven oceans was mythical is not correct. Rather, the idea of the existence of ‘seven oceans’ on earth is purely Islamic. See the next discussion for this.

Mention of Seven Seas in Ancient Religious and Fictional Literature
It should also be borne in mind that the seven seas have also been mentioned in ancient religious literature and fiction. However, since there is a significant difference between the concept of the seven seas mentioned in this ancient literature and the concept of the seven oceans mentioned in the Qur’an and Hadith, it is necessary to shed some light on it so that the misunderstanding in this regard can be removed.

As far as religious literature is concerned, the Jewish Talmud also mentions seven seas. But the seven seas of Talmud are completely different from the seven oceans mentioned in the Qur’an and Hadith. Regarding the seven seas mentioned in the Jewish Talmud, it is said that these seven seas surround Israel. The Babylonian Talmud also gives the names of these seven seas, all of which are found in and around present-day Israel. These are as follow: Sea of Tiberias (The Sea of Galilee), Sea of Sodom (The Dead Sea), Sea of Helath (The Red Sea), Sea of Hiltha (Birkat Ram), Sea of Sibkay (Lake Hula), Sea of Aspamia, and the Great Sea (The Mediterranean Sea).(6)

Similarly, the seven seas are mentioned in the literature of ancient Iran, India, China, Rome and other nations. According to Iranians (Persians), the Seven Seas were the streams forming the Oxus River (Amu Darya). The Hindus also have the concept of seven seas which they used to mean seven rivers of Punjab. To Romans the seven seas were a collection of seven lakes of salt water in Venice (Italy).(7)

Since the concept of seven seas is found in almost all ancient religions and civilizations, the phrase “seven seas” later came to be used as a proverb. Therefore, in different periods, different nations and cultures began to apply the phrase ‘seven seas’ to the newly discovered seas and oceans according to their knowledge. Hence, the Muslims in their time also tried to apply the seven seas to the known seas of that time. For example, the famous historian and geographer Yaqubi (d. 897) in one of his books applied the term ‘seven seas’ to the following seven seas: Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Strait of Malacca, Singapore Strait, Gulf of Thailand and South China Sea, while some other Muslim Sailors have also included the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Red Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Adriatic Sea in their list of seven seas.

After the discovery of the Americas by Columbus, the “seven seas” were reckoned by some as Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. During the British colonial period, the seven seas were the Banda Sea, the Celebes Sea, the Flores Sea, the Java Sea, the South China Sea, the Sulu Sea, and the Timor Sea, and if someone had sailed these Seven Seas it meant he had sailed to, and returned from, the other side of the world. (8)

It is evident from this overview of the concept of seven seas in the ancient religious text and fiction that their concept is completely different from the concept of seven oceans mentioned in Qur’an and Hadith. The concept of the seven seas found in Jewish, Iranian, Indian and Roman sources is a local and regional phenomenon corresponding to the religion and culture in question. Therefore, the ‘seven seas’ of these religions and cultures were found in the areas in which the adherents of these religions and cultures live. Therefore the seven seas of the Jews are found in Israel, the seven seas of the Iranians are found in Iran, the seven seas of the Romans are found in Rome and the seven seas of Indian are found in Punjab (India).

On the contrary, the seven oceans mentioned in the Qur’an and the hadith points towards the whole earth. Especially in the hadiths, it has been clearly stated that the seven seas are spread all over the surface of the earth. In the hadiths, the interpretation of continents also states that the continents are spread over the earth in the form of large islands, they are surrounded by oceans in all directions and each of the two continents is separated by an ocean. Its details have been given in the previous pages. Therefore, after this explanation, there is no room left for any doubt that the concept of ‘seven oceans’ mentioned in Islamic sources is a universal concept while the notion of ‘seven seas’ found in other religions and cultures is regional and local. In fact, there is a hint in this that Islam is a universal religion. Therefore, it has a universal message addressed to all humanity, while other religions and cultures bore regional and provisional messages.

Scientific Marvel of hadiths
The above comparative study of various Qur’anic verses and hadiths in the field of geography and geology has demonstrated that there exist a complete harmony and corroboration between them and modern scientific researches and discoveries. These hadiths are proving the geographical facts which belong to the twentieth century while some of them even are of very recent past. Therefore, all these facts point to the validity and authenticity of divine revelation and make us believe that knowledge is not the only one which is obtained through senses, but there exist another source of knowledge which is the revelation brought by the prophets. Therefore, modern science itself is corroborating this source of knowledge through its invaluable researches and discoveries.

The second point is that it confirms the principle that divine revelation has two parts: one is the Qur’an and the other is the hadith of the Prophet (PBUH). That is, the sciences of Hadith are as vast and comprehensive as the sciences of the Holy Qur’an itself. Therefore, these two components are indivisible and inseparable. They are both helpful and complementary to each other. For this reason, the Prophet (PBUH) described the hadith as equivalent to the Holy Qur’an:

ألا إنى أوتيت الکتاب ومثله معه۔

“Listen! I have been given the book (Qur’an) and its equivalent (Hadith).”

Thirdly, the existence of seven oceans is mentioned in the Qur’an only as a hint and gesture, whereas in the hadiths this statement has been stated explicitly. These statements of Quran and hadith with regard to the existence of seven oceans on earth are an example of the difference between the reasoning of the Qur’an and the hadith in describing the natural facts and phenomena. The fact is that in the Qur’an, universal facts and phenomena are described in allusions and hints, while in the hadiths they are mentioned in a clear, unequivocal and unambiguous manner. This confirms the principle that the hadiths are the interpretation of the Holy Qur’an. Therefore, if there is any ambiguity or vagueness in any statement of the Qur’an, then the hadiths remove it; explain its brevity; and remove its complexity.

The fourth and the last point in this regard which needs to be given equal importance and value is that most of the hadiths discussed in this article are maqtoo hadiths (those hadiths which are related to a Companions) and maqoof hadiths (those hadiths which are related to a companion’s companions). That is, all the hadiths discussed above are the sayings of the Companions and Companion’s Companion, not the sayings of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). Therefore, in principle, the source of the sayings of the Companions and the Companion’s Companion is the Prophet (PBUH) and the source of the knowledge of the Prophet is divine revelation. In this way, science is providing proofs and evidences today on the validity and authenticity of the hadith, the principles of hadith, the narrators of hadith and the collection of hadith.

References:
1- Al Hai’ah Al Saniya, Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti, p. 74.
2- Tafsir al-Qurtubi: 11/169-170.
3- It is an intergovernmental organization which was established in the year 1921. Its decision is considered final with regard to the demarcation of oceans, seas and rivers).
4 – Grolier Encyclopaedia of Knowledge, Vol. 14, p. 34.
5 – www.noaa.gov (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Department of Commerce): FAQ
6 – “Babylonian Talmud: Bava Batra 74”. Ret. 7 June 2018.
7 -https: //www.straightdope
.com/21342525 / what-are-the-seven-seas
8- Summary from Wikipedia: Seven seas.
9- Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Abu Dawud on the authority of Al-Muqaddam ibn Mu’adikrab with reference to Kinz al-Ummal, Alauddin Hindi, 1/174, Muassatur Risala, Beirut, 1989.