ʿĀnah, then to Hīt, then on to Kūfah; from there it flows out into the open country of Iraq and spills into wide basins—namely, lakes—before circling back to them, and from these in turn branch several large, well-known rivers.

As for Sayhān—also called Sayhūn—its source lies in Byzantine territory. It runs from the northwest toward the southeast, west of the course of Jayhān and smaller in volume. It passes through the Armenian lands now known as the region of Sīs, which were part of the Muslim realm at the dawn of Islam. When the Fāṭimids later gained control of Egypt and took possession of Syria and its districts, they proved unable to defend that region against enemy attacks. Thus the Armenian ruler Iliqafūr overran those lands—i.e., Sīs—around the year 300 AH. To this day it remains in that condition—may God, by His might and power, restore it to us. Sayhān and Jayhān then meet at Adana, become a single river, and empty into the Mediterranean Sea between Ayas and Tarsus.

As for Jayhān—also called Jayhūn and, in common speech, Jāhān—its source is likewise in Byzantine lands. It flows through the region of Sīs from north to south and is comparable in size to the Euphrates. It joins Sayhān at Adana, the two thereby forming one river, and they pour into the sea near Ayas and Tarsus. God knows best.

Section

God, Exalted is He, says:
“Allah is He who raised the heavens without pillars that you can see; then He established Himself above the Throne. He subjected the sun and the moon—each running for an appointed term. He directs all affairs, making the signs clear, so that you may be certain of the meeting with your Lord. And it is He who spread out the earth and set upon it firm mountains and rivers; of every fruit He placed therein two kinds. He covers the day with night. Surely in that are signs for a people who reflect. And on the earth are contiguous tracts, vineyards, fields of grain, and date palms—clusters and solitary—watered by one and the same water, yet We make some of them excel others in taste. Indeed, in that are signs for a people who reason.” (Q 13:2-4)

He, Blessed and Exalted, also says:
“Is the One who created the heavens and the earth and sent down water for you from the sky—whereby We cause gardens of delightful beauty to grow, gardens whose trees you could never cause to grow—another deity with Allah? No, but they are a people who set up equals. Is the One who made the earth a stable abode, placed rivers within it, set upon it firm mountains, and made a barrier between the two seas—another deity with Allah? No, but most of them do not know.” (Q 27:60-61)

And He says:
“It is He who sends down water from the sky for you: from it you drink, and from it grow the shrubs among which you pasture your herds. With it He brings forth for you crops, olives, date palms, grapes, and every kind of fruit. Surely in that is a sign for a people who ponder. He has subjected for you the night and the day, and the sun and the moon, and the stars are subservient by His command. Surely in that are signs for a people who understand. And whatever He has created for you on earth of varying colors—surely in that is a sign for a people who take heed.” (Q 16:10-13)