Chapter 95 - 29
Fig (Surah Al-Tin)
(8 verses in total; revealed in Makkah)
A short chapter drawing attention to provisions, mountains, security and human construct – a style unique of the Qur’an where natural world and human nature are mentioned in the same breath as if they are of the same construct, that nature being the same as nature of God – a wonderous unity of creations and the Creator!
Key themes in this short chapter is as follows:
· Everything in nature – whether it is fruits, mountains, human habitations are made to progress towards perfection and so is human development, though some people regress through evils and denials
· God will reward the people of faith and goodness over people to deny and do evils – a just system that should make people ponder over their existence, purpose in life and pay attention to God’s message
In the Name of God, the God of Mercy, the Endower of Mercy!
The Fig!1
The Olive!2
Mount Sinai!3
This secure city!4
We (God) have created humankind with the best of make5 (v. 1-4)
But some render themselves to the lowest of the low
Except those who believe and do good6
Never to exhaust their rewards!7
How can you then deny this faith?8
Is not God the Best of all judges? (v. 5-8)
1 Fig is mentioned only once in the Qur’an, but the Bible makes references to fig multiple times – Matt21:19 (Jesus cursing a fig tree – doubtful?), Matt 21:33 (parable of a garden), Jeremiah chapter 24 using fig as symbolism of good and bad people.
2 Olive is mentioned multiple times in the Qur’an – 6:99, 141, 16:11 as wholesome fruit along with pomegranates, and grapes and 24:35 – as source of God’s light, burned from olive oil – “God is the light of the heavens and the earth – a light of God is like a niche on a pillar in which is a lamp, enclosed in glass, glittering like a bright star (think of lighthouse) – lit from a blessed olive tree, sourced neither from East or from West, whose oil gives off light, even without the touch of a fire, light within light.”
3 Plenty of reference regarding Mt. Sinai in stories of Moses in the Qur’an and the Bible, though the word used here is “sinina” which some interprets as “beautiful” meaning beautiful mountains, the valley of which hosts fruit trees and human habitations.
4 See also Chapter 90, The City (Surah Al-Balad).
5 38:72 (God’s spirit in human beings), 67:22 (human uprightness compared to other creatures – physically and spiritually), 30:30 (the nature of God is in the nature of humans).
6 This duality of Faith and Goodness mirrors each other – a fundamental tenet of Islam that there can be no faith without goodness and true goodness cannot be established without faith.
7 24:36-38
8 23:115 – “Do you think that We created you without purpose and you will not be returned to Us?”
