An-Nahl (The Bee)

11. “Therewith He causes to grow for you herbage, and the olives, and the palm trees, and the grapes, and of all the fruits. Verily there is a sign in this for a people who reflect.”

One must note that to make something grow is the job of Allah and not farming it; and all kinds of fruits are created for man. So we must keep in mind that all products and fruits have a passing effect and they are not to be regarded as ends in themselves; they are proper signs and symbols leading towards the destination and are not to be regarded as destinations themselves.

The verse says:

“Therewith He causes to grow for you herbage, and the olives, and the palm trees, and the grapes, and of all the fruits…”

Certainly, only to see and to know does not suffice; but thinking and taking the appropriate measures are also necessary.

The verse continues saying:

“…Verily there is a sign in this for a people who reflect.”

Why Does He only Name Olives, Palm-trees and Grapes?

Perhaps it seems such that if the Qur’an stresses on fruits as olives, dates and grapes, it is because of the fact that their location in the environment of the revelation of the Holy Qur’an has been conducive to the growth of such fruits.

However, considering the fact that the Holy Qur’an has been a universal and an eternal phenomenon and given note to the depth of its interpretation, it becomes obvious that the issue goes beyond such limits.

Nutrition scientists remark that there are few fruits the excellence of which can match nutritionally these three fruits. They also claim that olive oil can produce excellent fuel for bodily activities. Its quantity of calories is enormous for which it is regarded as energizing, and those who always seek to keep healthy, must become interested in this.

Olive oil is friendly towards one’s liver; while, at the same time, it is effective in removing the ill conditions of kidneys, biliary stones, lithiasis, nephritic colic and hepatic colic, as well as removing of constipation syndromes.

With the progress of medical sciences and nutrition and food sciences, the pharmaceutical effects of dates have also been adequately proved.

There is calcium in dates which is the prime factor for the strengthening of bones, and there is also phosphorus in dates which is the principal source and element which constitutes brain and inhibits weakness of nerves and fatigue syndromes.

It also increases the power of one’s eyesight. Dates also possess potassium, the absence of which in one’s body results in stomach ulcer. It is very useful for one’s muscles, and human body tissues.

The fact that dates prevent cancer is nowadays widely circulated among nutrition scientists.

As for the grapes, according to nutrition scientists, they are so effective in numerous ways that one can regard them as a naturally established pharmacy or pharmaceutical laboratory.¹ Grapes produce twice as much heat in one’s body as meat.

Moreover, they counterattack poison and play a host of other roles as purifying ones blood, removing of rheumatism, goat, and the increase in urea in one’s blood stream. Grapes polish one’s stomach and intestines and are activating, and they remove one’s depression. They reinforce one’s nerves and strengthen man because of their various vitamins.

Therefore, the stress which the Qur’an lays on these three fruits is not groundless. Probably, some important parts of it have been unknown to the people at that time.