Botany and Surat At-Tin (1/3)

“By the figs, by the olives, by Mount Sinai, and by this City of Security” (Surat  At-Tin, (The Figs): 1-3)[1].

These ayahs are the opening ayahs of Surat at-Tin (The Figs), a Makkan Surah and one of the shortest in the Noble Qur’an; it has only eight ayahs after the Basmallah (In the name of Allah[2] [2], the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful).

The theme of the Surah deals with two main issues. Firstly, that Allah has honored man; he has created him in the best of forms and with an instinct to act righteously. He has honored him with his lineage, which goes back to Adam (Peace be upon him); Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) informed us that Adam (Peace be upon him) was created from dust. Man was honored with the truth of belief in Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) as his Lord, in Islam as His religion, and in the Prophethood and the divine message as being the method of spreading knowledge of Him. This religion (Islam) brought with it clear answers to the questions that confuse people throughout their lives, irrespective of their status or position. Some of these answers concern beliefs, worship, manners and behavior, constituting the core of religion. Man cannot establish any true rules for himself concerning these issues, since they either concern transcendental matters such as faith and divine orders related to worship or because they are rules concerning his behavior, such as ethical matters. Man has never been able to establish rules for his conduct based on his own ideas and abilities, all of which makes religion a necessary part of man’s life on Earth.

Tenets of faith in Surat At-Tin:

1. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) has created man in the best form. The disbelievers, polytheists and sinners will be the lowest of the low in this life and the hereafter. As they grow old, Allah will make them weaker and inflict them with disease. In the hereafter, they will then be sent to the lowest place in hellfire. However, those who believe and do good deeds will be honored by Allah; in this life, they will be honored with His blessings, care, generosity and mercy. In the hereafter, Allah will make them enter Paradise and give them their due reward.

2. The only religion acceptable to Allah is Islam. It is the religion Allah revealed gradually to his apostles and sealed with the Prophet Muhammad, preserving it in the language of its revelation (Arabic).

3. True faith is exemplified by good deeds.

4. He who denies the truth of Islam is exempt from Allah’s mercy and is doomed to live in misery in this life and the hereafter no matter how rich, noble and famous he may be.

5. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) is the Wisest of judges.

Signs of creation in Surat At-Tin:

1. Allah swore by both the figs and the olives owing to them being complete foods of high nutritional value for human beings. He also mentioned the sanctity of their native lands.

2. Allah swore by the Noble Mountain, Tur, in Sinai where He spoke to His Messenger and servant, Moses.

3. Allah swore by the City of Security, Makkah, in which the first sanctuary for mankind was built. Modern science has proved that Makkah is the most unique place on earth.

4. Allah refers to man as having been created in the best of statures.

5. Allah warns people that they could be reduced to be the lowest of the low in this life and the hereafter. Allah makes man the most honorable of all creation when he is a good believer and the most hateful when he is bad or a disbeliever. Behavioral science recognizes such depravation in many people nowadays.

Each of the issues mentioned above require separate research. I shall limit my essay to a discussion of the first three ayahs of this Surah. Before I begin, let us have a quick look at some scholar’s interpretations of these three ayahs.

Interpretation of these ayahs by some scholars:

Concerning the interpretation of the following ayahs, “By the fig and the olive, And the Mount of Sinai, And this City of security” (Surat At-Tin, (The Figs): 1-3).

• Al-Tabari (May Allah have mercy on him) says: What is meant by “the figs” is the fruit that people eat and “the olives” is that which is pressed for oil. Allah swore by both of them.

There is a difference of opinion concerning the ayah, “And the Mount of Sinai”. Mount Sinai is a well-known mountain; it is said to be the mountain upon which Moses conversed with Allah and built his mosque. “And this City of Security” refers to the Noble city of Makkah which is safe from attack or invasion.

• Ibn-Kathir says: Scholars have differed in their interpretation of these ayahs. Some of them said that in saying “by the figs”; Allah is referring to Damascus and its mountain. Al-Qurtubi said: It refers to the mosque of the sleepers in the cave. It has been narrated that Ibn-Abbas said: It refers to Noah’s mosque on Mount Judei. Mujahid said, concerning the figs: The oath refers to the fruit you eat. As for the olives, Qatada said the oath refers to Jerusalem.

• Mujahid and Ikrima said: Allah means the olives that are pressed for oil, by “Mount Sinai” Allah means the mountain upon which Moses conversed with Him, while “the City of Security” is Makkah. Ibn-Abbas, Mujahid and some scholars said that Allah had sent three of his most important Messengers to each of these three places and it was to them (Moses, Jesus and Muhammad) that Allah revealed the major scriptures. The first place is the land of figs and olives, which is Jerusalem, where Jesus was sent. The second is Mount Sinai where Moses talked to Allah. The third is the “City of Security” which is the Noble city of Makkah where Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was sent.

 (Continued)