BİRİNCİ FEN · ÜÇÜNCÜ BÂB · BEŞİNCİ FASIL · İkinci Madde
Second Article
It describes the transformation of the element of water, its name and properties changing, from seawater to vapor, cloud, snow, rain, spring water, stream, and river; how it enables plants to flourish, and brings life to animals and humans; how all minerals and essences originate; and again (after passing through all these stages), returning as seawater to its original state.
O esteemed one! It is known that astronomers and philosophers unanimously say: The element of water which surrounds the earth’s element, and which in reality encompasses everything, is a vast ocean (Bahr-i muhît). This encompassing sea, while being a single sea, has been divided into different seas relative to the various regions of the earth; it has taken names according to regions (such as the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean), and has been divided into four parts in relation to the four corners of the world: The Eastern Ocean (muhît-i şarkî), the Western Ocean (muhît-i garbî), the Southern Ocean (muhît-i cenûbî), and the Northern Ocean (muhît-i shimalî).
Each of these is named in relation to the countries and lands bordering its shores. For example, the Southern Ocean (muhît-i cenûbî) is called the China Sea (Bahr-i muhît-i Çîn), the Indian Ocean (Bahr-i muhît-i Hind), the Persian Ocean (Bahr-i muhît-i Fars), the Oman Sea (Bahr-i muhît-i Umman), the Arabian Ocean (Bahr-i muhît-i Arab), the Abyssinian Ocean (Bahr-i muhît-i Habeş), and the Sudan Ocean (Bahr-i muhît-i Sûdan).
The element of water is counted as the fifth layer relative to the layer of fire. Because the fine particles of seawater rise into the air with the heat of the sun’s rays, the dense particles of water mixed with fire, air, and earth are found to have a salty taste. As explained above, these sea waters mix with the air through the warmth of the sun, becoming vapor, clouds, snow, and rain, descending to the earth, gradually mixing with water sources and rivers. From them, minerals, stones, plants, and trees successively benefit, and all living creatures (animals) and humans regain life. After giving life to all beings, the excess water rejoins great rivers and is poured into the seas a second time. “It is of Him that created all things from water,” [534] we glorify. He is free from every imperfection. [535]
When seawater is once again close to the air, it gains sweetness and gentleness, becoming sweet and pleasant water. Thus, in this manner, seawater constantly turns and revolves like a revolving wheel. Just as water is carried by rivers to compensate for the amount of water evaporated from the seas, so that the seas do not diminish through evaporation, nor does an excess occur due to the addition of rivers. When seawater is salty and dense, it finds sweetness and gentleness by being adjacent to the air. However, when it mixes with earth heated by the sun’s heat, it acquires various colors and tastes, assuming different qualities and becoming salty and caustic.
As for Zamzam water, it is a cure for all diseases. The benefits of sweet water (mâ-i azb) are numerous, but none surpasses its quenching of thirst. Just as the element of water does not have a color of its own, like the other three elements, it transforms into whatever it mixes with and takes on its nature. For example, if water mixes with vinegar, it becomes vinegar; and if it mixes with honey, it becomes honey. Thus, absolute water (mâ-i mutlak) accepts all colors and tastes, purifies all impurities and oils, and flows away.
The Greek philosophers call the Encompassing [74/a] Sea the Ocean (Bahr-i Muhît). That ocean which encompasses the majority of the earth’s spherical form, enveloping it as egg white surrounds its yolk, and from which portions of the earth's sphere have escaped to appear. The water is above its sphere, and the visible parts are one-fourth of the world inhabited. The places seen on the surface of the water are the New World (known by that name) America, and thousands of islands settled, famous with various names and signs. In the varied recessed regions of the world’s quarter inhabited, there remain small inland seas like pools from that Encompassing Sea. The largest of these small inland seas is the Caspian Sea, which is not adjacent to the Encompassing Sea. The Caspian Sea runs south to north; it is long rather than round. It is not spherical. To its north are the cities of Khazar, Ulu Nogay and Turkistan. To its east are the cities of Khwarazm, Tabaristan and Jurjan. To its south are the Cam Mountains and Geylan. And to its west are Shirvan, Dagestan and Alans.
The Caspian Sea has many islands within it, but none is inhabited, because their access is very difficult and their waves are destructive. The Caspian Sea is very shallow; its deepest part does not reach even a hundred cubits. There is no tide here. Its total circumference has been measured as approximately three thousand miles. Its length is roughly one hundred fifty miles. And its width from east to west has been proven by experience to be six hundred miles.
Kulzüm [536] is the name of a city located on the seashore, and that sea is named in relation to it. Because that sea is adjacent to the Encompassing Sea (Bahr-i muhît), the tides here resemble those of the Encompassing Sea. Pharaoh drowned there along with his army. It stretches like a long mountain range between the Red Sea and Yemen.
The length and width of the Red Sea have been measured to be as much as the Caspian Sea. Most of its islands have been developed and opened for settlement, because their access is easy and their destructive dangers are very slight, by experience.
The Black Sea (Bahr-i esved); it comes through a strait located four or five hours from Istanbul and pours out before that blessed city (Belde-i Tayyibe) into the place where two seas join. From there, it joins the Mediterranean Sea (Rum Denizi). The Mediterranean Sea then passes through the Strait of Sebte mentioned above and reaches the Western Ocean. To the east side of the Black Sea strait, on a high mountain overlooking a long grave, they say is the tomb of Prophet Yusha.
The Black Sea is longer and deeper than the Caspian Sea, extending from east to west. In its north are the cities of Ak Kirman, Kefe, Azak, and Abaza. To the east are the fortresses of Kash and Georgia with Rize. [74/b] To the south are the province of Trabzon, Giresun, Sinop, and Ereğli. To the west are Istanbul, Karahrman, and the Danube River. There are no islands in the middle of this sea. Its very deep places exceed three hundred fathoms. It is easy to travel for ships going from east to west; however, it is dangerous for ships coming from the west to the east. The circumference of this sea is approximately five thousand miles. Its length is roughly one thousand five hundred miles. Its width, from south to north, from Sinop to Kefe, is about seven hundred miles. Its length, from east to west, is forty-five days’ journey.
"The Most High God, who created the seas with His wisdom, is free from all imperfections." [539]