May God forgive me and guide me regarding any sign that would have been misinterpreted in this study and elsewhere. May He always guide us to a better understanding of His profound scripture so we can purify ourselves and increase our knowledge.

All life on Earth is primarily and directly affected by the presence or absence of water, and how water or dry land covers the globe.

One of the most famous scientific miracles in the world of Islam is how the Quran acknowledges precisely the Land/Sea ratio on planet Earth thanks to the masterful distribution of the words “Land” and “Sea” throughout the Holy Book of Islam, confirming what modern science has estimated thanks to geographical studies and more recently via satellite imagery.

The primary purpose of this article is to provide the exact detail regarding this profound phenomenon, as it is most of the time not explained in detail wherever it is mentioned, especially on the internet, which allows misinformed or disingenuous people to deny it by presenting inaccurate data. In the process of verifying this extraordinary scientific aspect of the Quran, several substantial additional mathematical properties have been discovered, which further corroborates what was initially witnessed. By the end of this study, everyone will be able to verify the veracity of the claims and forge his or her own opinion.

The last section of this article will stress on the fact that the Quran is a prophetic book which contains the details of future events, and we will show that the Quran may hold the key regarding the future variation of sea levels over the remaining life of planet Earth. We will give our opinion regarding the potential rise of sea levels before the End of the World in the light of precise Quranic observations.

Table of contents:

1. Definition of “Hydrosphere”.

2. Repartition of water and land over the surface of the Earth.

3. Distribution of the key words “Land” (بَر = Barr) and “Sea” (بَحْر = bahr) throughout the Holy Quran.

3.1 “Land and “Sea”: Quranic facts.

3.2 A Quranic exception: When “Sea” actually means “Land”.

3.3 Land/Sea ratio based on word occurrence in the Quran.

3.4 Gematrical value calculation of the 13 occurrences of “land/dry Sea” and 32 occurrences of the word “Sea”.

3.5 Land/Sea ratio based on gematrical values of all “Land”/”Sea” occurrences in the Quran.

3.6 Land/sea ratio based on the addition of sura and verses numbers without repeating sura numbers.

4. Future sea levels prophesized by the Quran?

4.1 The symbolic dimension of 20:77.

4.2 Calculation of the future Land/Sea ratio on Earth based on these observations.

New Land/Sea ratio once “Dry Sea” returns to a normal state of “Sea”.

Conclusion.

1. Definition of “Hydrosphere”:

In Physical Geography, one of the definitions of the word “hydrosphere” is “the coverage of all the water on the surface of the Earth, including oceans, lakes, glaciers, etc…”

The word “Sea” (بَحْر = “Bahr”) in Arabic is uniquely adequate to reflect the concept of “hydrosphere” because it means “sea”, as well as “ocean”, “lake”, “river” and “stream”, whether the water is saline or not. The word “Bahr” in a broad sense therefore reflects all substantial amounts of water covering planet Earth.

2. Repartition of water and land over the surface of the Earth:

“The abundance of water on the Earth’s surface is a unique feature that distinguishes the “Blue Planet” from others in the Solar System…About 70.8% of the surface is covered by water (Source: Pidwirny, Michael, 2006: “Fundamentals of Physical Geography”, 2^nd Edition) … The remaining 29.2% not covered by water consists of mountains, deserts, plains, plateaus, and other geomorphologies.” (quoted from Wikipedia 2011).

Remark: In the Encyclopedia Britannica published in 1910-1911, we see that Geographs had already estimated the Land/Sea ratio as being 29%/71%, and more exactly 29.18%/70.82% based on the exact data provided in the Encyclopedia. We can say that the Land/Sea ratio has been correctly estimated for at least about a century.

If we average the above figures, we get a 29/71% repartition between Land and Water on Earth. Over the past 14 centuries, only minimal variations regarding that repartition have occurred due to accidental floods, human interference like the creation of artificial lakes, drying up areas by diverting streams and rivers, or minor climatic change. No major climatic change that would have substantially affected the Earth’s hydrosphere and ocean levels has occurred so far on our planet since the Quran was revealed in the early 7^th century.

3. Distribution of the key words “Land” (بَر = Barr) and “Sea” (بَحْر = bahr) throughout the Holy Quran

As usual every time an article is written on this website which involves counting words in the Quran, it is very important to emphasize that there is a specific way of counting words, as only simple singular forms (or generic forms) are taken into account (unless we specifically count plurals of course), at least at a primary level. For instance, every time a possessive pronoun is attached to a word, it is discarded from the count since it is not a simple form. This proven method of counting has already allowed to witness several scientific wonders in the Holy Book of Islam, such as the fact that the words “day” and “month” occur 365 and 12 times respectively, symbolizing a solar year or yearly cycle.

3.1 “Land and “Sea”: Quranic facts.

– The simple singular form of the word “Land” (بَر = barr) occurs exactly 12 times:

5:96 (1); 6:59 (1); 6:63 (1); 6:97 (1); 10:22 (1); 17:67 (1); 17:68 (1); 17:70 (1); 27:63 (1); 29:65 (1); 30:41 (1); 31:32 (1) = 12 times.

– The simple singular form of the word “Sea” (بَحْر = bahr) occurs exactly 33 times:

2:50 (1); 2:164 (1); 5:96 (1); 6:59 (1); 6:63 (1); 6:97 (1); 7:138 (1); 7:163 (1); 10:22 (1); 10:90 (1); 14:32 (1); 16:14 (1); 17:66 (1); 17:67 (1); 17:70 (1); 18:61 (1); 18:63 (1); 18:79 (1); 18:109 (2); 20:77 (1); 22:65 (1); 24:40 (1); 26:63 (1); 27:63 (1); 30:41 (1); 31:27 (1); 31:31 (1); 42:32 (1); 44:24 (1); 45:12 (1); 52: 6 (1); 55:24 (1) = 33 times.

Let us point out here that the word “بر” (letters “Ba” + “Ra”) has several meanings aside from “Land” (بَر), sometimes depending on how it is pronounced: It is a divine attribute (الْبَرُّ = Al Barru), which means “the charitable”; “Birrun” (بِر) has several meanings for instance “piety”, “favor”, “righteousness”, “thoughtfulness”… The Quran is so precise when it comes to encode mathematical miracles that it sometimes takes into account the precise meanings of words and even differentiates words written with the very same letters. Needless to say, we only selected the 12 words which signify “Land”, out of the 23 words written with the very same letters “Ba” and “Ra” (بر).

Unlike the word “land” (بَر), the word “Bahr” (بَحْر, letters Ba + Ha + Ra) always has a meaning consistent with the definition of the hydrosphere of the Earth throughout the Quranic text, whether it means “Sea”, “Ocean”, ”Lake”, “River”, etc…

3.2 A Quranic exception: When “Sea” actually means “Land”

Let us mention here a very specific characteristic regarding the distribution of the two words:

We are trying to determine if there is a correlation between the hydrosphere of the Earth and the distribution of the words “Land” and “Sea” in the Quran. In one instance only, the word “Sea” means exactly the opposite of a physical “Sea”:

(20:77) And verily We inspired to Moses: “Travel by night with my servants and strike for them a dry path through the sea (ٱلْبَحْرِ يَبَسًا = the sea that is dry); you shall not fear that you may be overtaken [by Pharaoh and his army] and you shall not be afraid.”

Once we take into account the actual meaning of 20:77, the “dry path through the sea” does not symbolize part of the Earth’s hydrosphere (Water coverage of the earth) since it does not account for the physical “Sea” which covers our planet. It refers on the contrary to the exact opposite and means “dry Land” temporarily not covered by the sea in the Quranic context.

Bearing in mind this crucial distinction in the Quranic text, we are therefore logically going to include the expression “the sea that is dry” in 20:77 (ٱلْبَحْرِ يَبَسًا = al bahri yabasan) in the total count for the word “Land”:

After this “transfer” between the groups “Sea” and “Land”, we are now left with 32 words “Sea” (instead of 33) where the word specifically refers to the “water coverage of the Earth”, and 12 occurrences of the word “Land” + the additional expression “the sea that is dry” (= 13 words/expressions) which specifically refer to the “land coverage of the Earth”.

3.3 Land/Sea ratio based on word occurrence in the Quran

Let us now establish the ratio between the 13 occurrences of “Land/Dry Sea” and the 32 words “Sea” to assess if we obtain any significant result:

It is obvious that the above percentages are remarkably close to the ratio calculated by scientists and can both logically be rounded to a 29/71% Land/Sea ratio on Earth. Let us bear in mind that the Quran was revealed over 14 centuries ago (in 610 C.E.) and that since the hydrosphere varies slightly over time, it may account for the small difference observed.

Remark: If we had not understood the necessity to include “the dry sea” in the count of the word “land”, the ratio between “Land” and “Sea” would have been calculated as 26.67/73.33% and the fact that the Land/Sea ratio is encoded in the Quran would have gone unnoticed.  

3.4 Gematrical value calculation of the 13 occurrences of “land/dry Sea” and 32 occurrences of the word “Sea”

Each letter in Arabic has a mathematical or “gematrical value”, which allowed Arabs to count before numbers as we know them today were created (See: “Miracle of 19” on this website for the table of gematrical values). Let us add up gematrical values of the words “Land/Dry Sea” and “Sea” in two separate groups:

– (1) 13 Occurrences of “Land/Dry Sea”:

5:96 (البَر = GV 233); 6:59 (البَر = GV 233); 6:63 (البَر = GV 233); 6:97 (البَر = GV 233); 10:22 (البَر = GV 233); 17:67 (البَر = GV 233); 17:68 (البَر = GV 233); 17:70 (البَر = GV 233); 20:77 (البَحْر يبسا = GV 314, 27:63 (البَر = GV 233); 29:65 (البَر = GV 233); 30:41 (البَر = GV 233); 31:32 (البَر = GV 233) = 13 times “Land”/“dry sea” = gematrical value (GV) 3110.

– (2) 32 Occurrences of “Sea”:

2:50 (البَحْر, GV 241); 2:164 (البَحْر, GV 241); 5:96 (البَحْر, GV 241); 6:59 (البَحْر, GV 241); 6:63 (البَحْر, GV 241); 6:97 (البَحْر, GV 241); 7:138 (البَحْر, GV 241); 7:163 (البَحْر, GV 241); 10:22 (البَحْر, GV 241); 10:90 (البَحْر, GV 241); 14:32 (البَحْر, GV 241); 16:14 (البَحْر, GV 241); 17:66 (البَحْر, GV 241); 17:67 (البَحْر, GV 241); 17:70 (البَحْر, GV 241); 18:61 (البَحْر, GV 241); 18:63 (البَحْر, GV 241); 18:79 (البَحْر, GV 241); 18:109 (البَحْر, GV 241 + البَحْر, GV 241 = GV 482); 22:65 (البَحْر, GV 241); 24:40 (بَحْر, GV 210); 26:63 (البَحْر, GV 241); 27:63 (البَحْر, GV 241); 30:41 (البَحْر, GV 241); 31:27 (البَحْر, GV 241); 31:31 (البَحْر, GV 241); 42:32 (البَحْر, GV 241); 44:24 (البَحْر, GV 241); 45:12 (البَحْر, GV 241); 52:6 (البَحْر, GV 241); 55:24 (البَحْر, GV 241) = 32 times the word “the Sea” or “Sea”= GV 7681.

Note: Without repetition of gematrical values, the addition of gematrical values of the words “Land” and “Sea” is: (البَر = the land, GV 233) + (البَحْر, the sea, GV 241) + (بَحْر, sea, GV 210) = 233 + 241 + 210 = 684 = 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 × 19 = 19 × 36. The

684 (19 × 36) is also the gematrical value of “Allah, the Most Gracious, The Most Merciful”, the three divine names and attributes of the Bismillah (1:1).

The 13 verses that contain the word “Land” contain 266 words overall (2 × 7 × 19), while the 31 verses that contain the words “the Sea” or “Sea” contain 598 words (2 × 13 × 23).

3.5 Land/Sea ratio based on gematrical values of all “Land”/”Sea” occurrences in the Quran

Gematrical values of all 13 words/expressions “Land/Dry Sea”: 3110

Gematrical values of all 32 words “Sea”: 7681

3110 (“Land/Dry Sea”) + 7681 (“Sea”) = 10791 = 100%.

Table 2: Let us recapitulate what we have observed thus far:

Note : 3110 (GV of the 13 words or expressions “land/dry sea”) + 7681 (GV of the 32 words “sea”) = 10791 = 100% = symbolic land/sea land coverage:

God’s miracles, whether the miracle of 19 and all other miracles, “scare away disingenuous people like zebras” (74:50). They are simply terrified by the truth, that is to say that God is the ultimate reality of the heavens and the earth, and that the Quran is the word of God. The land/sea ratio miracle is an extremely profound miracle, and God is sending here a warning to the human race.

It is very astonishing that 10791 (gematrical value of 13 words or expressions “dry sea/land” + 32 words “sea”) corresponds exactly to the same total as the addition of the gematrical values ​​of the 67 singular simple forms of the word “salât” in the Quran. This symbolizes in my opinion, given the fact that the land/sea ration miracle symbolizes the biosphere on earth, that salât has to be practiced wherever a human being may be on the surface of the globe, and symbolizes above all the universal character of Islam (إِسْلَٰم = submission, GV 131) which is exemplified by the salât ritual (صَّلَوٰة, ritual prayer = GV 131).

3110 (GV of the 13 words “land”) + 7681 (GV of the 32 words “sea”) + 10791 (GV of the 67 words “salat”) = 21582 = 2 × 3 × 3 × 11 × 109 = 66 (GV of “Allah”) × 327 (GV of verse 114: 6 = “From among the djinns and men” = last verse of the Quran) = 1199 (GV of 74:50, “They are scared away like zebras”) × 18.

Let us now add the prime factors:

This result is astonishing because the focal point of the salât ritual on Earth (symbolized by the addition of gematrical values ​​of the words “land” + “sea”) is precisely The Ka’bah towards which the salât is directed.

3.6 Land/sea ratio based on the addition of sura and verses numbers without repeating sura numbers.

We saw that the word “land” occurs 13 times, while the word sea occurs 32 times:

– 13 occurrences of “Sea/Dry land”:

5:96 (البَر = 233); 6:59 (البَر = 233); 6:63 (البَر = 233); 6:97 (البَر = 233); 10:22 (البَر = 233); 17:67 (البَر = 233); 17:68 (البَر = 233); 17:70 (البَر = 233); 20:77 (البَحْر يبسا = 314) , 27:63 (البَر = 233); 29:65 (البَر = 233); 30:41 (البَر = 233); 31:32 (البَر = 233) = 13 times = GV 3110.

– 32 occurrences of the word “sea”:

2:50 (البَحْر, GV 241); 2:164 (البَحْر, GV 241); 5:96 (البَحْر, GV 241); 6:59 (البَحْر, GV 241); 6:63 (البَحْر, GV 241); 6:97 (البَحْر, GV 241); 7:138 (البَحْر, GV 241); 7:163 (البَحْر, GV 241); 10:22 (البَحْر, GV 241); 10:90 (البَحْر, GV 241); 14:32 (البَحْر, GV 241); 16:14 (البَحْر, GV 241); 17:66 (البَحْر, GV 241); 17:67 (البَحْر, GV 241); 17:70 (البَحْر, GV 241); 18:61 (البَحْر, GV 241); 18:63 (البَحْر, GV 241); 18:79 (البَحْر, GV 241); 18:109 (البَحْر, GV 241 + البَحْر, GV 241 = 482); 22:65 (البَحْر, GV 241); 24:40 (بَحْر, GV 210); 26:63 (البَحْر, GV 241); 27:63 (البَحْر, GV 241); 30:41 (البَحْر, GV 241); 31:27 (البَحْر, GV 241); 31:31 (البَحْر, GV 241); 42:32 (البَحْر, GV 241); 44:24 (البَحْر, GV 241); 45:12 (البَحْر, GV 241); 52:6 (البَحْر, GV 241); 55:24 (البَحْر, GV 241) = 32 times (GV 7681).

If we add the sura and verse numbers in the above two groups without repeating sura numbers when a sura number occurs several times, we get:

– 13 words or expressions “land/dry sea”: 175 (total sura numbers) + 820 (total verse numbers) = 995:

5 + 96 + 6 + 59 + 63 + 97 + 10 + 22 + 17 + 67 + 68 + 70 + 20 + 77 + 27 + 63 + 29 + 65 + 30 + 41 + 31+ 32 = 995.

– 32 words “sea”: 493 (total sura numbers) + 1931 (total verse numbers) = 2424.

2 + 50 + 164 + 5 + 96 + 6 + 59 + 63 + 97 + 7 + 138 + 163 + 10 + 22 + 90 + 14 + 32 + 16 + 14 + 17 + 66 + 67 + 70 + 18 + 61 + 63 + 79 + 109 + 22 + 65 + 24 + 40 + 26 + 63 + 27 + 63 + 30 + 41 + 31 + 27 + 31 + 42 + 32 + 44 + 24 + 45 + 12 + 52 + 6 + 55 + 24 = 2424.

Let us now add up these two totals (sura + verse numbers without repeating sura numbers) to determine what 100% of these two Quranic systems represent:

995 (number of suras + verses of the “land” system) + 2424 (number of suras + verses of the “sea” system) = 3419 = 100%

Let us now establish the Land/Sea ratio based upon the addition of sura and verse numbers:

– Land: 995/3419 × 100 = 29.10207663059374%

– Sea: 2424/3419 × 100 = 70.89792336940626%

The land/sea ratio estimated by modern science is 29.2% (land) / 70.8% (sea). The above result is therefore extraordinarily close (less than a 0.1% difference).

If we now repeat sura numbers adding sura and verse numbers in the two groups, we get:

1041 (N˚ suras + N˚ verses in the “land” system) + 2574 (N˚ suras + N˚ verses in the “sea” system) = 3615.

1041/3615 × 100 = 28.79668049792531%.

2574/3615 × 100 = 71.20331950207469%.

If we round these numbers, we clearly remain within the proportions of 29% (land)/71% (sea).

In all above cases, the land/sea ratio can logically be rounded to 29% (land)/71% (sea), which corresponds to the average ratio observed today. Let us recall here that the land/sea ratio varies slightly over time, therefore expressing it through an average, namely 29% (land)/71% (sea), makes complete sense.

Note: Based on the number of letters of all words found in verses of the two systems “land” and “sea”, we observe the following facts:

– All verses of the “land/dry sea” System = 980 letters.

– All verses of the “sea” system = 2434 letters.

980 + 2434 = 3414 = 100%.

980 (letters found in the “land” system)/3414 × 100 = 28.70533099004101%

2434 (letters found in the “sea” system) / 3414 × 100 = 71.29466900995899%

Based on the total frequency of all letters found in verses where the words “land/dry sea” and “sea” systems, the land/sea ratio can therefore once again be rounded to 29% (land) / 71% (sea).

Note: The gematrical values ​​of words can vary from 11 to more than a thousand in the Quran. Surprisingly, there is only a difference of only about 3.8% between the gematrical value of the word “land” (202) and the word “sea” (210). However, this difference is too important to keep a 29/71% ratio between the frequency of words and gematrical values. Nevertheless, we still get a land/sea ratio of 29/71% in both cases (28.88/71.11 versus 28.82/71.17 respectively!) due to the fact that the expression “dry sea” (ٱلْبَحْرِ يَبَسًا = al bahri yabasan) is meant to be transferred in the count of the word “land” because of its meaning (dry sea = land). Even if we only removed the gematrical value of the word “dry” (يَبَسًا) in 20:77 from our count, it would still cause the average land/sea ratio to be off (28%/72% instead of the correct 29%/71%).

The minimal difference and especially the convergence observed between the ratios related to words, gematrical values, the addition of sura and verse numbers and letters of the two systems symbolize the fact that the hydrosphere varies very slightly but has remained overall stable.

From my experience, the most precise land/sea ratio is the one based on gematrical values ​​(28.8203/71.1797%) and it is possible that it corresponds to the exact ratio at the time the Quran has was revealed on the 27^th night of Ramadan in 610 CE (God knows best). The reason why we should in my view primarily focus on gematrical values ​​is the fact that the ratio between gematrical values ​​of the 365 simple forms of the word “day” (22781 = symbol of an average solar year) and the first 354 words day (22103 = symbol of an average lunar year) is miraculously close to the one estimated by modern science (22781/22103 = 1.03067 versus 1.03068).

At this stage in history, it is mathematically proven that the Quran provides scientifically close averages based for example on the frequency or gematrical values ​​of words or expressions [for instance the solar year/lunar year ratio of 1.03 in 18:25 (309 lunar years = 300 solar years → 309/300 = 1.03), the ratio between gematrical values ​​of the 365/354 words “day”, the ratio between gematrical values ​​of the words “solar year” (GV115)/lunar year (GV111) = 1.03…, the land/sea ratio of 29%/71%, the date of laylatoul Qadr in the lunar calendar coded in 54:1 through the frequency of the word moon, etc. …].

The reader can consult the articles “Miracle of 19”, “Solar year/lunar year”, “Miracle of Laylatul Qadr” and “Splitting of the moon” for more details.

The land/sea ratio miracle, because it fluctuates slightly over time and can therefore by definition only be expressed through an average, is exactly the type of sign which strengthens the faith of believers but allows those who lack sincerity to manifest their disingenuity:

وَقَالُوا۟ مَهْمَا تَأْتِنَا بِهِۦ مِنْ ءَايَةٍ لِّتَسْحَرَنَا بِهَا فَمَا نَحْنُ لَكَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ

(7:132) And they said, “No matter what kind of sign you may manifest before us to [try to] dupe us, we will not believe you.”

أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوٓا۟ أَن يَقُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ

(29:2) Do people (really) think that they will be saved (simply) because they proclaim: “We believe”, and without being tested?!

Disingenuous people typically refuse to consider the Quran and various phenomenon it describes (and which vary over time) from a historical point of view and will for example rush to declare that if the Quran were really of divine origin, the alleged relevant averages should be 100.00% identical to the ones calculated by scientists. In addition, the Quran relies on averages based on the frequency of words or gematrical values which are by definition whole numbers, unlike scientific calculations based on decimal numbers (example: Solar year/lunar year = 365.2422 / 354.367056 = 1.03067… compared to the solar year/lunar year ratio in the word “day” system explained previously which is based on gematrical values: 22781/22103 = 1.03068…).

In fact, scientists are the first to use averages to simplify and make their work more easily accessible to the general public. The Quranic approach is the same, for example through the frequency of the word “day” which occurs 365 times in order to symbolize a solar year of 365.2422 days. In truth, the Quran is a profound test intended to distinguish believers from unbelievers.

4. Future sea levels prophesized by the Quran ?

4.1 The symbolic dimension of 20:77

(20:77) And verily We inspired to Moses: “Travel by night with my servants and strike for them a dry path through the sea (ٱلْبَحْرِ يَبَسًا = al bahri yabasan); you shall not fear that you may be overtaken [by Pharaoh and his army] and you shall not be afraid.”

The reason why we were able to witness the mathematical symmetry between the ratios based on the frequency of the words “Land” and “Sea” and their respective gematrical values (28.88/71.11 versus 28.82/71.17 respectively!) is first and foremost due to the fact that we understood that the expression “Dry Sea” in 20:77 had to be logically included in the count of the word “Land” based on its meaning as demonstrated earlier. The verse refers to Moses who struck the sea with his staff to create a TEMPORARY dry path in the sea by God’s leave. In the context of the Land/Sea ratio and the hydrosphere on Earth which is subject to constant variations overtime, we cannot ignore the hidden allegory behind 20:77, that is to say that this key verse not only refers to one of the greatest miracle of all times (the parting of the red sea), but also hints in my view at hydrosphere variation at a symbolical hidden level once the dry path in the sea returns to its normal state.

Once the dry path returns to its normal state after Moses and his people cross the sea, we have to transfer the word “sea” in 20:77 back to the “sea” group to which it then belongs. All we then need to do is recalculate the “land/sea” ratio based on 12 words “land” and 33 words “sea” to determine potentially maximum levels of the hydrosphere on Earth in the future if global warming turns out to eventually melt the ice at the poles either totally or partially, which would flood sometimes very large areas adjacent to the shores that are close to current sea levels. This said, and by experience, calculations based on gematrical values are usually the most accurate as demonstrated with the solar/lunar year ratio in the 365 words day system (22781/22103 = 1.03068… versus 1.03067… as calculated by modern science). We will therefore rely on gematrical values of the “land” and “sea” systems to calculate the future potential evolution of the land/sea ratio on Earth.

4.2 Calculation of the future Land/Sea ratio on Earth based on these observations

New Land/Sea ratio once “Dry Sea” returns to a normal state of “Sea”:

Total Gematrical values for the 12 words “Land” (discarding the word “Dry Sea” in 20:77, as we symbolically assume the ocean levels are going to rise and the “Sea” will no longer be “Dry”): 

5:96 (البَر = GV 233); 6:59 (البَر = GV 233); 6:63 (البَر = GV 233); 6:97 (البَر = GV 233); 10:22 (البَر = GV 233); 17:67 (البَر = GV 233); 17:68 (البَر = GV 233); 17:70 (البَر = GV 233); 20:77 (20:77 (البَحْر يبسا = 314), 27:63 (البَر = GV 233); 29:65 (البَر = GV 233); 30:41 (البَر = GV 233); 31:32 (البَر = GV 233) = 12 times “land”.

Let us add all 12 individual gematrical values:

233 + 233 + 233 + 233 + 233 + 233 + 233 + 233 + 233 + 233 + 233 + 233 = 2796 = Gematrical values of the 12 words “land” (البَر).

– Total Gematrical values for the 33 words “Sea” (not counting anymore the word “dry” (يَبَسًا) in 20:77, as we assume the sea levels are going to rise) as written in the entire Quran:

2:50 (البَحْر, GV 241); 2:164 (البَحْر, GV 241); 5:96 (البَحْر, GV 241); 6:59 (البَحْر, GV 241); 6:63 (البَحْر, GV 241); 6:97 (البَحْر, GV 241); 7:138 (البَحْر, GV 241); 7:163 (البَحْر, GV 241); 10:22 (البَحْر, GV 241); 10:90 (البَحْر, GV 241); 14:32 (البَحْر, GV 241); 16:14 (البَحْر, GV 241); 17:66 (البَحْر, GV 241); 17:67 (البَحْر, GV 241); 17:70 (البَحْر, GV 241); 18:61 (البَحْر, GV 241); 18:63 (البَحْر, GV 241); 18:79 (البَحْر, GV 241); 18:109 (البَحْر, GV 241 + البَحْر, GV 241 = GV 482); 20:77 (البَحْر, GV 241); 22:65 (البَحْر, GV 241); 24:40 (بَحْر, GV 210); 26:63 (البَحْر, GV 241); 27:63 (البَحْر, GV 241); 30:41 (البَحْر, GV 241); 31:27 (البَحْر, GV 241); 31:31 (البَحْر, GV 241); 42:32 (البَحْر, GV 241); 44:24 (البَحْر, GV 241); 45:12 (البَحْر, GV 241); 52:6 (البَحْر, GV 241); 55:24 (البَحْر, GV 241) = 33 words “sea”.

Let us add all 33 individual gematrical values:

241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 210 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 + 241 = 7922 = 33 words “Sea” total gematrical value.

New potential Land/Sea ratio before the End of the World:

2796 + 7922 = 10718 = New Symbolical 100% Land/Sea coverage of planet Earth.

New Land Coverage: 2796/10718 × 100 = 26.09 %

New Sea Coverage: 7922/10718 × 100 = 73.91 %

Remark: If we base our calculations solely on the frequency of words in the Quran, we have the following new Land/Sea ratio:

12 + 33 = 45 = 100% = Symbolical 100% Sea/land coverage of planet Earth.

New Land Coverage: 12/45 × 100 = 26.67 %

New Sea Coverage: 33/45 × 100 = 73.33 %

In other words, the calculation based on gematrical values (26.09/73.91%), likely to be the most precise, shows that the actual amount of land available on Earth will potentially be even smaller than if we simply rely on a calculation based on the frequency of words (26.67/73.33 %).

The Earth’s surface is estimated as 510,065,621.724 km2 (http://home.online.no/~sigurdhu/WGS84_Eng.html ).

Let us calculate the projected “Land” coverage in square kilometers using precise, non-rounded data:

510,065,621.724 km2 × 26.08695652173913% = 133,060,596.97… km². 

New Water coverage in square kilometers:

510 065 621.724 km2 × 73.91304347826087% = 377,005,024.75… km².

Based on the above data, it implies that the current surface of land on earth would shrink by:

148,940,000 km² (current estimate of land coverage) – 133,060,596.97 km² = 15,879,403.03 km².

– Land coverage = 148,940,000 km². Source:

http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/8o.html, Table 8o-1.

It means that an area slightly smaller than the largest county in the world (Russia = 17,098,242 km2) would be eventually covered with water (God knows best), which is an area over 1.5 times bigger than the size of the United States (9,629,091 km2).

In other words, the land area on Earth would shrink by about 10.66%.

Needless to say, such a scenario would be catastrophic in many ways, mostly to sustain the lives of billions of humans on Earth, as massive amounts of cultivated land would be covered with water, and because most of humans currently live by the sea, which would trigger a massive exodus inland in some areas.

The Quran is a prophetic book which is designed to warn and protect people who take heed. Many scientists have already warned us of the terrible threat related to global warming and sea level rise. The sea level has been rising between 16 to 21 cm between 1900 and 2016, and it is accelerating (7.5 cm between 1993 and 2017 according to Wikipedia). We continue to pollute the Earth foolishly driven by greed instead of fulfilling our role of stewards of the Earth. What the Quran tells us in my opinion is that such a catastrophic scenario will actually happen, and of course, God knows best. All we can do is take into account to the best of our knowledge what the Quran teaches us and protect ourselves and future generations accordingly. Unlike careless human beings, Muslims need to take appropriate measures to protect the earth in the future. This is a certainly a warning to future – and God knows – maybe even present generations.

Mathematicians and computer scientists could draw very accurately what would be the new map of planet Earth based on a 10.66% shrinkage of currently available Land.

In the final analysis, God knows best, and He is the One who already knows exactly what will happen.

Conclusion:

The hydrosphere represents the surface covered with water (= water + ice) on Earth. The word “bahr” (بَحْر = sea) is remarkably ideal to symbolize the hydrosphere because it signifies “sea”, “ocean”, “lake” as well as “streams” and “rivers”.

If we study the distribution of the words “land” and “sea” in the Quran taking into account the expression “dry sea” in 20:77 which has to be counted as “land” based on meaning, we get 13 words or expressions “land/dry sea” and 32 words “sea”. 

13 words/expressions “land” + 32 words “sea” = 45 = 100%.

– “Land/dry sea”: 13/45 × 100 = 28.8888…%

– “Sea”: 32/45 × 100 = 71.1111…%

The “land/sea” ratio estimated by modern science is 29.2%/70.8%.

The hydrosphere varies slightly over time and can be best described historically through an average. We note that these ratios are very close and can logically be rounded to 29%/71%.

Let us now calculate the “land/sea” ratio based on gematrical values:

– The gematrical value of the 13 words or expressions “land/dry sea” is 3110.

– The gematrical value of the 32 words “sea” is 7681.

3110 + 7681 = 10791 = 100%.

Land: 3110/10791×100 = 28.8203…%

Sea: 7681/10791×100 = 71.1797…%

These percentages are remarkably close to the ones based on the frequency of words (28.88…%/71.11…%) thanks to the fact that “dry sea” in 20:77 is counted as “land” based on meaning. Once again, we can round these number to 29%/71% which is the average calculated by modern science.

Furthermore, the addition of gematrical value of the two groups are the following:

For people who have eyes to see, it symbolically means that number 10791 is a warning to the human race, a warning for disingenuous people who reject God’s miracles.

If we now add separately the sura and verse numbers of the two groups “land” and “sea” without repeat of sura numbers, we get:

– 13 words or expressions “land/dry sea”: 175 (sura number total) + 820 (verse number total) = 995.

– 32 words “sea”: 493 (sura number total) + 1931 (verse number total) = 2424.

– 995 + 2424 = 3419 = 100%

– Land: 995 / 3419 × 100 = 29.10207663059374%

– Sea: 2424 / 3419 × 100 = 70.89792336940626%

The ratio estimated by modern science is 29.2% (land) / 70.8% (sea). The above result reaches a level of accuracy of about 99.9%, and these numbers can obviously be rounded to 29%/71%.

If we repeat sura numbers in the addition of sura and verse numbers in the two “land” and “sea” groups, we get:

– 1041 (sura + verse numbers for the “land” group) + 2574 (sura + verse numbers for the “sea” group) = 3615 = 100%.

– Land: 1041 / 3615 × 100 = 28.79668049792531%

– Sea: 2574 / 3615 × 100 = 71.20331950207469%                          

These numbers can therefore again be rounded as 29% (land)/ 71% (sea).

Such a convergence around an average ratio of 29% (land)/ 71% (sea) regarding the frequency of words, gematrical values, and the addition of sura and verse numbers of both systems is too astonishing to be coincidental and demonstrates that we are dealing with an authentic mathematical miracle of the Quran.

In 20:77, Moses and his people crossed the red sea thanks to the dry sea path created when he parted the sea by God’s leave, which implies that the dry sea path went back to its normal state after they crossed. It is in my view possibly an allegory at a hidden level which allows to calculate the maximum level of oceans before the end of the world as a result of global warming (God knows best). Once the frozen sea or water (polar ice, snow and glaciers) goes back to its normal state (liquid state) due to global warming, we have to count the word “sea” in 20:77 (dry sea) with other words “sea”, which substantially affects the land/sea ratio. The new calculation becomes the following:

2796 (GV of the 12 words “land”) + 7922 (GV of the 33 words “sea”) = 10718 = 100%.

New “land” coverage: 2796/10718 × 100 = 26.09%

New “sea” coverage: 7922/10718 × 100 = 73.91%

Following such a scenario, the new land coverage on Earth would be reduced by 10,66% which represents about one and half times the size of the USA.

God appointed Adam and Eve as khalifes on earth (2:30), but the human race refuses to submit to the word of God and pollutes the earth instead of respecting its purity, as well as its flora and fauna (GMOs, pollution, fracking the Earth…).

The land sea ratio is not only a mathematical miracle but also possibly contains a prophetic dimension which represents a profound warning. Future generations will witness if the above projection is relevant or not, as God alone knows the future.

(41:53) We shall show them Our portents on the horizons and within themselves until it will be manifest unto them that it is the Truth. Does not your Lord suffice, that He is Witness over all things?

Article initially published in 2011 and updated in July 2020 and on 9/30/2023.