Tenets of faith in Surat At-Tin

“By the figs, by the olives, by Mount Sinai, and by this City of Security” (TMQ, The Figs:1-3)
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 Allah2 , 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 (AS); prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) informed us that Adam (AS) was created from dust. Man was honored with the truth of belief in Allah (SWT) 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 (SWT) 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 (be He Exalted) 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” (TMQ, 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 was sent.

Scientific implications in the first three ayahs of Surat At-Tin:

Allah swearing an oath by the figs

In swearing an oath by the figs, Allah (who knows best) seems to be drawing our attention to the miraculous creation of such fruit and its high nutritional value.
Parts of the fig’s creation wonders

The fig is a complex accessory fruit that is actually an inside-out flower cluster called a synconium, formed as a result of the growth of synconia in the shape of a cone. Tiny female flowers (pistil) line the inner surface of the synconia while male flowers (stamens) spread out around the outer layer which is narrow at the top. The female flowers usually mature before the male ones. Allah Has assigned the fig wasp (blastophaga) to help pollinate the fig flowers. The relationship is symbiotic; fig flowers provide a warm safe place for blastophaga larvae to stay and feed in until they become adults. As the adult wasps make their way out of the flower, their bodies come into contact with the male flowers, pollen sticks to the body of the insects that then carry the pollen to the female flowers, pollinating them and allowing fertilization to begin. Three generations of flowers are found in the fig tree. The first generation contains the male and insect-hosting flowers. The second generation of flowers are female ones pollinated by the insects coming out of the first generation flowers. These insects fertilize the flowers producing the main harvest of the fig tree. The third generation flowers contain insect-hosting flowers where the insects spend the winter.

Who else but Allah could set up such an accurate reproductive system for the fig tree? Who else but Allah could teach the fig wasp that its home is in the flower of fig tree to assist fertilization as it moves from one flower to another? The relationship between this insect and the fig flower is one of the most amazing examples of symbiosis between plants and insects.

The benefits of figs

Figs are rich in carbohydrates which form 53% of their overall mass. Monosaccharide and carbohydrate compounds make up the majority of carbohydrates present along with a small amount of proteins (approximately 3.6%) and smaller amounts of potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper, zinc, sulfur, sodium and chorine. Figs also contain many vitamins, enzymes, acids, antiseptic agents, high fiber content (18.5%) and a high percentage of water. Among the special enzymes found in the fig is an enzyme called ficin which has been found to play an important role in digestion.

Japanese scientists have discovered an aromatic aldehyde compound, benzaldehyde (C6H5CHO) in figs. This chemical compound was extracted from figs and has proved to be effective in fighting carcinogens. Carbohydrates compounds known as the soralins have also been discovered in figs; these compounds play an important role in fortifying blood against a number of disease-causing viruses and parasites, such as hepatitis C. This carbohydrate group is found in large amounts in figs; in its syrup, juices and jams.

Figs have also proved to be beneficial for breastfeeding mothers, in treating hemorrhoids, chronic constipation, gout, chest diseases, menstrual disorders, epilepsy, mouth ulcers, gingivitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, leucoderma, removing warts, healing injuries, and different kinds of ulcers. Thus, Abu Darda’ narrated that the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said, “If I were to tell you of a fruit that has been sent from paradise, it would be the fig. Fruits of paradise are without pits. Eat the fig as it is a cure for hemorrhoids and gout”.

Swearing an oath by the olives:

Olives and olive oil are mentioned in the Qur’an seven times; one of these occasions is where Allah swears by the fig and the olive at the beginning of Surat At-Tin. The olive tree is a blessed tree and so is its fruit. It is a perennial tree which can live for more than a thousand years. It is considered an important source of oil. Olive oil is one of the healthiest oils; it contains very small amounts of fatty acid and does not increase the amount of harmful fats in the blood as other kinds of oil do. This is because the fats in olive oil are all unsaturated and do not cause atherosclerosis, hypertension or any other diseases. Olive oil is a yellow transparent fluid rich with oleic acids, used in cooking or added to salads. It plays an important role in deoxidizing the cholesterol secreted by the body. This is because it contains vitamin E as well as other chemical compounds known as polyphenolic compounds which prevent the oil from autoxidizing; protecting the body from the dangers of harmful lipid peroxides.

Regular consumption of olive oil decreases the overall amount of cholesterol in the blood and its other harmful kinds in particular. More particularly, it reduces the possibility of heart diseases and cancer. Aside from its use in cooking, olive oil is an ingredient of many medicines, ointments, hair oils, soap, and it is also used in oil lamps because of the clear flames it produces.

Curing olives preserves them for use in food. The oil content of an olive is approximately 67-84% of its mass. Olive oil is made up of important chemical compounds, including glycerol compounds and fatty acids known as glycerides. Fatty acids make up a high percentage of the oil’s mass; oleic acid constitutes the largest percentage of the fatty acids in olives and olive oil, along with small amounts of palmatic acid, linolic acid, stearic acid, and mystric acid. Moreover, olives and olive oil contain a moderate amount of proteins and smaller amounts of potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper, sulfur and fibre. These elements are needed to produce about a thousand chemical compounds that are essential and useful for the wellbeing of the human body. For these reasons and for others unknown to us about olives, Omar Ibn Al-Khattab (Allah Be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said, “eat olives and use its ointment for it comes from a blessed tree”. Muadh Ibn Jabal (Allah Be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah(SAWS) said,“The best miswak3 is that of the olive tree as it is a blessed tree. It is my miswak and that used by Prophets before me”.

Allah swears by the olive and mentions it seven times in the Qur’an. Olive and olive oil are rich in fats and proteins and low in carbohydrates (sugar and starches) whereas the fig is rich in sugar and starchy compounds, and low in fats and proteins. Therefore, figs and olives fulfill the human body’s need for nutritional substances. The oath sworn on them at the beginning of the Surat is a scientific miracle revealed in the Qur’an 1400 years ago.

Swearing an oath by Mount Sinai

This is Mount Tur in Sinai, or the Mountain of Moses where the Torah was revealed to Moses. It is mentioned in 12 ayahs in the Qur’an (in Surat Al-Baqara: ayahs 63, 93, An-Nisa’: 154, Al-A’raaf: 143, 171, Maryam: 52, Ta Ha: 80, Al-Mu’minun: 20, Al-Qasas: 29, 46, At-Tur: 1 and At-Tin: 2). One Surah (chapter) even bears its name (Surat At-Tur). It is, of course, a blessed place worthy of having an oath sworn by it. Swearing by the City of Security

The City of Security is the Noble city of Makkah where the first place of worship for mankind was built. The Messenger of Allah said, “The Ka’ba was a small hill over water, then the earth formed under it”, meaning that the earth under the Ka’ba is the first piece of land to have appeared on the surface of the huge ocean that covered Earth in the beginning. Then land started to spread around this blessed place to form a continent called the “mother continent” (Pangaea). Pangaea was then divided, forming the seven continents. These continents were much closer to each other than they are now. Later, they started drifting away from each other or colliding with each other until they settled in their current locations. Scientifically, it has been proved that Makkah is and was the centre of land throughout all phases of Earth’s development. In other words, if one draws a circle with Makkah at the centre, the circle would completely surround the solid land on earth. Allah says in the Qur’an what can be translated as, “The first house (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka: full of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings” (TMQ, 96-Al-Imran).

These ayahs that compare the earth (in its smallness) with the heavens (with its large dimensions) point to the earth being the centre of the universe as does the ayah which talks about the separation and the unification of the earth and the heavens. If the earth was the centre of the universe and the Ka’ba was the centre of the land on the primary earth, then below it are six layers of earth, above it seven skies, making the Noble Ka’ba the centre of the centre of the universe. The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said, “The shrine of Makkah, is a midpoint shrine; it is centralized between seven layers of earth and seven layers of skies”.

He further emphasizes this fact by saying, ”O people of Quraysh, O people of Makkah, you all stand parallel to the centre of heaven!” Also, the Messenger of Allah once asked his honorable companions, “Do you know what the Bait al-Ma’mur is?” They replied, “Allah and His Messenger know best”. He said, “It is a house in the seventh heaven exactly above the K’aba, if it fell i, would fall right over it. Seventy thousand angels enter into it everyday; when the last of them come out they do not return there again”.

All these miracles make Makkah the place that Muslims turn to five times daily in prayers and their place of pilgrimage in which one prayer is equivalent to one thousand prayers elsewhere. It was also the hometown of many Prophets. The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said, “When their nations perished, Prophets used to migrate to Makkah, stay there with their followers, and worship Allah until they died. Noah, Hud, Salah, and Shu’aib all died in Makkah and were buried between Zamzam well and the black stone”. Prophet Isma’il (Ishmael) and his mother Hagar were both buried at Hajr Ismail, a place in Makkah. Allah also chose Makkah to be the birth place of His last Messenger. He swore by the city in Surat At-Tin and Surat Al-Balad (The City) which He named after Makkah. Allah gave Makkah the epithet of ‘the mother of all cities’ (Ummul Qura) as it was the place where land first appeared and is subsequently the mother of all the earth. Makkah is thus worthy of having an oath sworn by it and of being called the ‘City of Security’ in Surat At-Tin, and was worthy of having a Surat named after it, Al-Balad.

These scientific facts about the fig and the olive, about Makkah, the city of security and the historical and religious facts concerning the meeting between Allah and his servant, Moses, on Mount Tur, were all facts unknown to the inhabitants of the Arabian peninsula and to all mankind at the time of their revelation 1400 years ago and for many centuries after. The oath by the fig and the olive could never be one taken by man; it is the word of Allah and the proof of the Prophethood of His last Messenger, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). It proves that the Messenger of Allah received the inspiration from Gabriel and was taught by the Creator of the heavens and earth, Allah.

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By: Dr. Zaghloul Al-Najjar