What does « Bitter / Hot » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Bitter / Hot (أج) in the Quran, with 3 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

أج

Bitter / Hot

Root: ء - ج

Creed (aqida) 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Bitter / Hot

Allah says: 'This is fresh and sweet, and this is salty and bitter (ujâj)' (Al-Furqân: 53).

Ujâj: very salty and hot, from 'ajîj an-nâr' (the crackling of fire).

Ya'jûj and Ma'jûj derive from this, compared to blazing fire and turbulent waters due to their great agitation.

Bitter / Hot in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 3 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Furqan 1

Fatir 1

Al-Waqi'a 1

Surah Al-Furqan : 53 Meccan

﴿۞ وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى مَرَجَ ٱلْبَحْرَيْنِ هَـٰذَا عَذْبٌۭ فُرَاتٌۭ وَهَـٰذَا مِلْحٌ أُجَاجٌۭ وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَهُمَا بَرْزَخًۭا وَحِجْرًۭا مَّحْجُورًۭا﴾

And it is He who has released [simultaneously] the two seas, one fresh and sweet and one salty and bitter, and He placed between them a barrier and prohibiting partition.

Surah Fatir : 12 Meccan

﴿وَمَا يَسْتَوِى ٱلْبَحْرَانِ هَـٰذَا عَذْبٌۭ فُرَاتٌۭ سَآئِغٌۭ شَرَابُهُۥ وَهَـٰذَا مِلْحٌ أُجَاجٌۭ ۖ وَمِن كُلٍّۢ تَأْكُلُونَ لَحْمًۭا طَرِيًّۭا وَتَسْتَخْرِجُونَ حِلْيَةًۭ تَلْبَسُونَهَا ۖ وَتَرَى ٱلْفُلْكَ فِيهِ مَوَاخِرَ لِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ﴾

And not alike are the two bodies of water. One is fresh and sweet, palatable for drinking, and one is salty and bitter. And from each you eat tender meat and extract ornaments which you wear, and you see the ships plowing through [them] that you might seek of His bounty; and perhaps you will be grateful.

Surah Al-Waqi'a : 70 Meccan

﴿لَوْ نَشَآءُ جَعَلْنَـٰهُ أُجَاجًۭا فَلَوْلَا تَشْكُرُونَ﴾

If We willed, We could make it bitter, so why are you not grateful?