سُوْرَةُ النَّحْلِ
Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 14
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى سَخَّرَ ٱلْبَحْرَ لِتَأْكُلُوا۟ مِنْهُ لَحْمًا طَرِيًّا وَتَسْتَخْرِجُوا۟ مِنْهُ حِلْيَةً تَلْبَسُونَهَا وَتَرَى ٱلْفُلْكَ مَوَاخِرَ فِيهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿14﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And He it is Who has subjected the sea (to you), that you eat thereof fresh tender meat (i.e. fish), and that you bring forth out of it ornaments to wear. And you see the ships ploughing through it, that you may seek (thus) of His Bounty (by transporting the goods from place to place) and that you may be grateful.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
And He
ٱلَّذِى
alladhī
(is) the One Who
سَخَّرَ
sakhara
subjected
ٱلْبَحْرَ
l-baḥra
the sea
لِتَأْكُلُوا۟
litakulū
for you to eat
مِنْهُ
min'hu
from it
لَحْمًۭا
laḥman
meat
طَرِيًّۭا
ṭariyyan
fresh
وَتَسْتَخْرِجُوا۟
watastakhrijū
and that you bring forth
مِنْهُ
min'hu
from it
حِلْيَةًۭ
ḥil'yatan
ornaments
تَلْبَسُونَهَا
talbasūnahā
(that) you wear them
وَتَرَى
watarā
And you see
ٱلْفُلْكَ
l-ful'ka
the ships
مَوَاخِرَ
mawākhira
ploughing
فِيهِ
fīhi
through it
وَلِتَبْتَغُوا۟
walitabtaghū
and that you may seek
مِن
min
of
فَضْلِهِۦ
faḍlihi
His Bounty
وَلَعَلَّكُمْ
walaʿallakum
and that you may
تَشْكُرُونَ
tashkurūna
(be) grateful
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
14. He is the One who has made the sea subservient to you so that you may eat from it fresh meat and extract from it ornaments which you wear. And you see the ships plowing through it, so that you may seek His bounty and so that you may give thanks.
[14]
The Benefits of the Seas:
Then He subjected the surging sea and its tumultuous waves to specific laws, so much so that man became capable of utilizing the water of the sea both within and above it. Otherwise, in comparison to such a vast and formidable sea, what significance did helpless man have? Now, he hunts sea creatures to fulfill his dietary needs. It is astonishing that while the water of the sea is extremely salty and bitter, the flesh of its creatures, especially fish, is exceedingly delicious. There is not the slightest trace of saltiness in it. Then, from it, he extracts shells, mother-of-pearl, coral, and many other things to make his ornaments and decorative items. Then, by means of boats and ships, he rides upon the surface of the sea, traveling from one shore to another and from one country to another, and in this way, by transporting the goods of one country to another, he gains commercial benefits. If water were not bound by its specific natural laws, or were it not to remain so, man could never have derived such benefits from it. This is a special favor of Allah that He has established specific laws for all things, which they are bound to follow. In this way, man becomes capable of benefiting from them.
[14]
The Benefits of the Seas:
Then He subjected the surging sea and its tumultuous waves to specific laws, so much so that man became capable of utilizing the water of the sea both within and above it. Otherwise, in comparison to such a vast and formidable sea, what significance did helpless man have? Now, he hunts sea creatures to fulfill his dietary needs. It is astonishing that while the water of the sea is extremely salty and bitter, the flesh of its creatures, especially fish, is exceedingly delicious. There is not the slightest trace of saltiness in it. Then, from it, he extracts shells, mother-of-pearl, coral, and many other things to make his ornaments and decorative items. Then, by means of boats and ships, he rides upon the surface of the sea, traveling from one shore to another and from one country to another, and in this way, by transporting the goods of one country to another, he gains commercial benefits. If water were not bound by its specific natural laws, or were it not to remain so, man could never have derived such benefits from it. This is a special favor of Allah that He has established specific laws for all things, which they are bound to follow. In this way, man becomes capable of benefiting from them.
