وَزَيْتُونًا وَنَخْلًا 29
Translations
And olive and palm trees
Transliteration
Wa zaytūnan wa nakhlan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is part of Allah's enumeration of His blessings upon humanity, specifically mentioning olives and palm trees as signs of His mercy and provision. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that these plants were among the most valuable and versatile provisions in Arabian life, providing sustenance, oil for lighting and consumption, and materials for construction, thus exemplifying Allah's wisdom in creation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah 'Abasa, a Meccan surah that emphasizes Allah's signs (ayat) in creation and the ingratitude of humankind. The passage (80:24-32) comprehensively lists various crops and sustenance as evidence of divine provision and power, aimed at awakening the Meccan disbelievers to reflect upon the obvious signs of their Creator.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of your oils is olive oil' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, the Prophet encouraged planting and cultivation, saying 'Whoever plants a tree, Allah will record for him the reward' (Sahih Muslim), relating to the broader theme of appreciating Allah's botanical blessings.
Themes
Key Lesson
Reflecting on the abundant blessings Allah has provided—both common and extraordinary—should inspire believers to cultivate gratitude, recognize divine wisdom in creation, and use these provisions responsibly as a trust (amanah) from the Almighty.
Related Ayahs
ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ مَهْدًا وَسَلَكَ لَكُمْ فِيهَا سُبُلًا وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِۦٓ أَزْوَٰجًا مِّن نَّبَاتٍ شَتَّىٰ
[It is He] who has made for you the earth as a bed [spread out] and inserted therein for you roadways and sent down from the sky, rain and produced thereby categories of various plants.
فَأَجَآءَهَا ٱلْمَخَاضُ إِلَىٰ جِذْعِ ٱلنَّخْلَةِ قَالَتْ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى مِتُّ قَبْلَ هَـٰذَا وَكُنتُ نَسْيًا مَّنسِيًّا
And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, "Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten."
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُرْسِلُ ٱلرِّيَـٰحَ بُشْرًۢا بَيْنَ يَدَىْ رَحْمَتِهِۦ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَقَلَّتْ سَحَابًا ثِقَالًا سُقْنَـٰهُ لِبَلَدٍ مَّيِّتٍ فَأَنزَلْنَا بِهِ ٱلْمَآءَ فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِۦ مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نُخْرِجُ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
And it is He who sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy [i.e., rainfall] until, when they have carried heavy rainclouds, We drive them to a dead land and We send down rain therein and bring forth thereby [some] of all the fruits. Thus will We bring forth the dead; perhaps you may be reminded.
يُنۢبِتُ لَكُم بِهِ ٱلزَّرْعَ وَٱلزَّيْتُونَ وَٱلنَّخِيلَ وَٱلْأَعْنَـٰبَ وَمِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
He causes to grow for you thereby the crops, olives, palm trees, grapevines, and of all the fruits. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought.