Surah At-Takwir: Verse 6 - وإذا البحار سجرت... - English

وَإِذَا الْبِحَارُ‌ سُجِّرَ‌تْ (and when the seas will be flared up...81:6). The word sujjirat is derived from tasfir and it signifies 'to set ablaze'. Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ assigns this interpretation to the word in this context. Another sense of the word is 'to fill' and a third sense of the word is 'to mix or admix'. Some commentators have interpreted it in this sense. None of these interpretations is contradictory to each other. First, the salt and sweet water are admixed and the rivers are made to flow forth into the sea; then the seas will meet together and become one and having more water; then the seas will be set on fire; and then the Sun and the Moon and the stars will be thrown into the water. Then all the water will be turned into fire which will become part of Hell. [ Mazhari ]