Surah At-Tin

The Fig

Introduction

Name of Chapter and Reason for its Name

This chapter is called Surah At-Tin and it is taken from the first verse where teen (fig) has been sworn upon.

Chapter Number

This Surah is the 95th chapter of the Quran.

Number of Verses

Surah At-Tin has 8 verses.

Place of Revelation

Surah At-Teen is a Makki chapter.

Summary of this Chapter

This chapter discusses Bath (evocation) and retribution, and talks about the creation of man. It also explains the types of man’s reflection in the living of his good innate nature, or falling to the lowest of the low, and the necessity of sufficient reward and punishment for these two types of attitudes. The Hereafter and rising on the Day of Judgement are also mentioned.

Content

Important Concepts in this Chapter

One of the topics that this chapter conceptualizes is the merit of obeying the Creator.

Verses 1-4

Taking oaths and emphasis on the creation of man in the best form. The reason for taking oaths on the olive and the fig is because of the wonder that these fruits have compared to other fruits. The intended meaning of verse 2, “By Mount Sinai” is a reference to the place where Allah spoke to Prophet Musa.

Verse 3, “And by this secure town” is in reference to Mecca which was a land where certain things were forbidden - both in the time of ignorance and after Islam - and so it was a safe place for the fearful. After Allah’s oaths upon the fig, the olive, and the safe Divine shelter, He swears upon the creation of man’s good nature, which means the creation of man in the best form, who stands upright, and is proportional. Anyone who is ungrateful for this great blessing, his fate will be to fall to the lowest of the low. Verse 4, “In the best of forms” means that in all aspects of creation, [man] possesses the best existence.

Verses 5-8

The fate of man; and the Lord being the fairest of all judges. Verse 8, “Is not Allah the fairest of all judges?” is a promise of chastisement for the disbelievers, and it means that the meeting out of judgement for them will be according to their capacity and their deeds.

Discussions on this Chapter

According to the Sunni Traditions

Benefits of Reciting this Surah

عن البراء بن عازب: كان النبي صلّى اللّه عليه و سلّم يقرأ في سفره في إحدى الركعتين بالتين و الزيتون فما سمعت أحدا أحسن صوتا أو قراءة منه

It has been narrated from Bara ibn Azib that: “The Prophet was reciting a two rakat prayer with [Surah al-Teen] and I had not heard a sound or recitation better [than this] from him.”

عن رسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه و سلم: «من قرأ سورة و التين أعطاه اللّه خصلتين: العافية و اليقين ما دام في دار الدنيا، و إذا مات أعطاه اللّه من الأجر بعدد من قرأ هذه السورة»

The Prophet of Allah has said: “Whoever recites Surah al-Teen, Allah will reward him with two things: good health and certainty as long as he is in this world; and when he dies Allah will reward him with a number of rewards correlating to the number of times that he recited this chapter.”

Verse 1: “By the fig and the olive…”

وَالتِّينِ وَالزَّيْتُونِ١ و روى أنه أهدى لرسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه و سلم طبق من تين فأكل منه و قال لأصحابه: «كلوا، فلو قلت إنّ فاكهة نزلت من الجنة لقلت هذه، لأنّ فاكهة الجنة بلا عجم، فكلوها. فإنها تقطع البواسير و تنفع من النقرس»

It has been narrated that the Prophet of Allah was presented with a dish of figs. He ate from them and said to his companions: “Eat, and if they ask you which fruit was sent from heaven say this one, for the fruit of heaven is without seeds, so eat these. Surely, it stops hemorrhoids and benefits those with gout.”

Verse 8: “Is not Allah the fairest of all judges?”

أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِأَحْكَمِ الْحَاكِمِينَ٨ و عن النبي صلى اللّه عليه و سلم: أنه كان إذا قرأها قال: «بلى و أنا على ذلك من الشاهدين»

It has been narrated from the Prophet that when he used to recite this he would say: “Yes, and I am from amongst the witnesses of it.”

According to the Shia Traditions

Benefits of Reciting this Surah

عَنْهُ ص قَالَ: مَنْ قَرَأَ سُورَةَ وَ التِّينِ أَعْطَاهُ‏ اللَّهُ‏ خَصْلَتَيْنِ‏ الْعَافِيَةَ وَ الْيَقِينَ‏ مَا دَامَ فِي دَارِ الدُّنْيَا فَإِذَا مَاتَ أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ بِعَدَدِ مَنْ قَرَأَ هَذِهِ السُّورَةَ صِيَامَ يَوْم‏

The Prophet has said: “A person who recites Surah al-Teen, Allah will reward him with two things: “good health and certainty as long as he is in this world; and when he dies Allah will reward him with a number of rewards correlating to the number of times that he recited this chapter.”

وَ عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ ص يَقْرَأُ فِي‏ الْمَغْرِبِ‏ وَ التِّينِ‏ وَ الزَّيْتُونِ فَمَا رَأَيْتُ إِنْسَاناً أَحْسَنَ قِرَاءَةً مِنْه‏.

Baraa ibn Azib narrates that: “I heard the Prophet reciting [Surah al-Teen] during the maghrib (evening prayers) and I did not see a person recite better than from him.”

عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: مَنْ‏ قَرَأَ وَ التِّينِ‏ فِي‏ فَرَائِضِهِ‏ وَ نَوَافِلِهِ أُعْطِيَ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ حَيْثُ يَرْضَى إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّه

It has been narrated from Abu Abdillah who said: “Whoever recites [Surah al-Teen] in his daily obligatory prayers, and his recommended prayers will be given (so much) in Paradise until he will be satisfied, if Allah wills it.”

Verses 1-3: “By the fig and the olive, by Mount Sinai, and by this secure town.”

وَالتِّينِ وَالزَّيْتُونِ١ وَطُورِ سِينِينَ٢ وَهَذَا الْبَلَدِ الْأَمِينِ٣ قَالَ عَمْرُو بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ سَمِعْتُ عُمَرَ بْن الْخَطَّابِ يَقْرَأُ بِمَكَّةَ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ وَ التِّينِ وَ الزَّيْتُونِ وَ طُورِ سَيْنَاءَ قَالَ فَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ إِنَّمَا قَرَأَهَا لِيَعْلَمَ حرمَة الْبَلَد وَ رُوِيَ ذَلِكَ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ

Umar ibn Maymun is narrated to have said: “I heard Umar ibn Khattab reciting [Surah al-Teen] in Mecca in maghrib prayers.” He continues: “I presumed that he only recited it because he knew the sanctity of the city, and this is narrated from Musa ibn Jafar.”

سألَ النَّبِيّ عَنِ الْبَلَدِ الْأَمِينِ فَقَالَ : مَكَّة

The Prophet was asked regarding the safe city and he said, “(It is) Mecca.”

Verse 8: “Is not Allah the fairest of all judges?”

أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِأَحْكَمِ الْحَاكِمِينَ٨ قَالَ قتَادَةُ وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِذَا خَتَمَ هَذِهِ السُّورَة قَالَ بَلَى وَ أَنَا عَلَى ذَلِكَ مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ

Qatadah says that: “When the Prophet of Allah finished reciting this chapter he said, ‘Yes, and I am from among the witnesses of it.’”