The Date Palm in Islamic Religion (1/3)

1. Date Palm in Qur’an

Palm tree was mentioned in Qur’an (the book of books) twenty times. On fifteen occasions it is mentioned among other plants in a God's bounty towards the human race. Qur’an statements will be mentioned according to Ali (1934) and verified with (English copy by International group for computer systems, 1995).

"It is He who sendeth down rain from the sky: with it We produce vegetation of all kinds: from some We produce green (crops), out of which We produce grain, heaped up (at harvest); Out of the date palm and its sheaths (or spathes) (come) clusters of dates hanging low and near". (Surah Al-An'am: 99)

"It is He who produceth gardens with trellises and without, and dates, and tilth with produce of all kinds and olives and pomegranates, similar (in kind) and different (in variety)." (Surah Al-An'am: 141)

"Set forth to them the parable of two men: For one of them We provided two gardens of grape vines and surrounded them with date palms; in between the two We placed corn-fields." (Surah Al-Kahf: 32)

 (Pharaoh) said: "Believe ye in him before I give you permission? Surely this must be your leader who has taught you magic! be sure I will cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will have you crucified on trunks of palm trees: So shall ye know for certain, which of us can give the more severe and the more lasting punishment." (Surah Ta-Ha: 71)

"And corn-fields and date palms with spathes near breaking (with the weight of fruit. " (Surah Ash-Shu'ara: 148)

"And tall (and stately) palm trees, with shoots of fruits stalks, piled one over another." (Surah Qaf: 10)

"Plucking out men as if they were shoots of palm trees torn up (from the ground)." (Surah Al-Qamar: 20)

"Therein is fruit and date palms, producing spathes (enclosing dates)." (Surah Ar-Rahman: 11)

"In them will be fruits, and dates and pomegranates." (Surah Ar-Rahman: 68)

"So that thou couldst see the (whole) people lying prostrate in its (path): As if they had been roots of hollow palm trees tumbled down!" (Surah Al-Haqqa: 7)

"And produce therein corn And grape and nutritious plants And olives and dates." (Surah Abasa: 27-29)

"And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree: She cried (in her anguish): Ah! would that I had died before this ! would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!" (Surah Maryam: 23)

"And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm tree it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee." (Surah Maryam: 25)

"Does any of you wish that he should have a garden with date palms and vines and streams flowing underneath, and all kinds of fruits." (Surah Al-Baqarah: 266)

"And in the earth are tracts (Diverse though) neighboring and gardens of vines and fields sown with corn, and palm trees growing out of single roots or otherwise: Watered with the same water." (Surah Ar-Ra'd: 4)

"With it He produces for you corn, olives, date palm, grapes and every kind of fruit." (Surah An-Nahl: 11)

"And from the fruit of the date palm and the vine, ye get out whole some drink, and food: be hold in this also in a sign for those who are wise." (Surah An-Nahl: 67)

''Or (until) thou have a garden of date trees and vines, and cause rivers to gush forth in their midst carrying abundant water." (Surah Bani-Isra'il: 91)

"With it We grow for you gardens of date palms and vines: In them have ye abundant fruits: And of them ye eat (and have enjoyment).” (Surah Al-Mu’minun: 19)

"And We produce therein orchards with date palms and vines and We cause springs to gush forth therein." (Surah Ya-Sin: 34)

"A good word like a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the heavens." (Surah Ibrahim: 24)

Anas said that the Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him) said about this goodly tree that: This tree is the date palm tree (El Nadawi, 1994).

(Continued)