The word “the land” (al-berr) is used 12 times in the Quran. On the other hand, the word “the sea” (al-bahr) is used 32 times. (The word “al-bahr” is used both for sea and other large waters like lakes and rivers.) “The land” (al-berr) is used in the Quran 12 times in the form of “al-berr” and 9 usages of those 12 is used together with the word “al-bahr.” This shows the relationship between these words in the Quran. In these 9 occurrences the word “the sea” is used only in the form of “al-bahr” and this shows that these words are related through this form. We marked with a star the verses in which the words are used together. (In addition, the word “sea” is used 8 times in plural form and once without the prefix “al”.) If we look at the ratio of the word “the land” (al-berr) to the ratio of the word “the sea” (al-bahr) we find 12/32=0.375.
The surface of the world is 510 million square kilometers. Approximately 360 million sq. kilometers are made up of waters, like seas, lakes, etc. In addition, 15 million sq. kilometers are ice-sheets; if we exclude these ice-sheets from the rest, approximately 135 million square kilometers are land.
The ratio of the words “al-bahr” (the land) and “al-berr” (the sea) in the Quran is 12/32 = 0.375. The ratio of the land and the sea in the world is 135 million sq. km / 360 million sq. km=0.375. So, there is a very interesting harmony between the usages of these words in the Quran and the existing phenomena in the world.
22- He is the One who moves you across the land and the sea.
10-Jonah, 22
The word | Number of occurrences | The Ratio |
Land | 12 | 12/32 = 0.375 |
Sea | 32 |
The Place | Surface of the Earth | The Ratio |
Land (excluding ice sheets) | 135 million square kilometers | 135/360 = 0.375 |
Sea | 360 million square kilometers |
Occurrences of the word “sea.” (Those starred are the usages of both words):
No | Verse |
1. | 2:50 |
2. | 2:164 |
3. | 5:96* |
4. | 6:59* |
5. | 6:63* |
6. | 6:97* |
7. | 7:138 |
8. | 7:163 |
9. | 10:22* |
10. | 10:90 |
11. | 14:32 |
12. | 16:14 |
13. | 17:66 |
14. | 17:67* |
15. | 17:70* |
16. | 18:61 |
17. | 18:63 |
18. | 18:79 |
19. | 18:109 |
20. | 18:109 |
21. | 20:77 |
22. | 22:65 |
23. | 26:63 |
24. | 27:63* |
25. | 30:41* |
26. | 31:27 |
27. | 31:31 |
28. | 42:32 |
29. | 44:24 |
30. | 45:12 |
31. | 52:6 |
32. | 55:24 |
Occurrences of the word “land.” (Those starred are the usages of both words):
No | Verse |
1. | 5:96* |
2. | 6:59* |
3. | 6:63* |
4. | 6:97* |
5. | 10:22* |
6. | 17:6* |
7. | 17:68 |
8. | 17:70* |
9. | 27:63* |
10. | 29:65 |
11. | 30:41* |
12. | 31:32 |