And they were not commanded except to worship Allah , [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion. [Al-Quran 98:5]
Disease & Cure - IX
Purpose of Study
The oaths in Surah at-Teen, and their relation to the devolution of humans, and the Final Judgement.
Full Text
وَالتِّينِ وَالزَّيْتُونِ
وَطُورِ سِينِينَ
وَهَٰذَا الْبَلَدِ الْأَمِينِ
By the fig, and the olive,
And (the) Mount Sinai,
And this [the] city, [the] secure,
[Al-Quran 95:1-3]
Surah atTeen begins with the mention of The Fig, The Olive, Tur of Sinai, and The Secure Land. Thereafter it reminds us of how excellent was The Human's original creation, and then his Fall:
لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ فِي أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍ
ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَاهُ أَسْفَلَ سَافِلِينَ
إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ فَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ غَيْرُ مَمْنُونٍ
فَمَا يُكَذِّبُكَ بَعْدُ بِالدِّينِ
أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِأَحْكَمِ الْحَاكِمِينَ
Indeed, We created man in (the) best mould.
Then We returned him (to the) lowest (of the) low,
Except those who believe and do righteous deeds, then for them (is a) reward never ending.
Then what causes you to deny after (this) the judgment?
Is not Allah (the) Most Just (of) the Judges?
[Al-Quran 95:4-8]
The Surah concludes with the offer of a never-ending reward, and the mention of The Judgement (legal recompense) by Allah, the Most Just. So, how are the fig, the olive, Tur, and the secure land linked to this?
The Torah and The Bible mention the Fig Tree, the Olive Tree, the raising of the Tur. It also speaks of the coming of the Kingdom of God, the New Jerusalem, and the Judgement.
The Fig
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَارِي سَوْآتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
O Children of Adam! verily We have sent down unto you a garment covering your shame and as an adornment; and the garment of piety --that is the best. That is of the signs of Allah, that haply they may be admonished.
[Al-Quran 7:26, Translation: Abdul Majid Daryabadi; typo edited]
As explored in earlier posts, The Quran 20:118 declares that Adam wasn't naked in The Garden. Iblis tempted him and convinced him to eat from The Forbidden Tree. The eating of it caused Adam to lose the Libas-e-Taqwa, which I understand was the original clothing provided for him in The Garden. The Quran informs us in Q7:22 and Q20:121 that Adam and his wife began to cover themselves with the leaves of The Garden (وَرَقِ الْجَنَّةِ). The Bible, Genesis 3 7 informs us that the leaves were of The Fig Tree.
Links to some earlier posts: Evolution or Metamorphosis || Adam's Attempt to Improve upon Allah's Creation || Natural Clothing
The Olive
وَشَجَرَةً تَخْرُجُ مِن طُورِ سَيْنَاءَ تَنبُتُ بِالدُّهْنِ وَصِبْغٍ لِّلْآكِلِينَ
And a tree (that) springs forth from Mount Sinai (which) produces oil and a relish for those who eat.
[Al-Quran 23:20]
The Bible Genesis 8:11 informs us that after The Flood, the dove returned with a freshly plucked olive leaf, so Noah knew that the waters were receding, or had receded, from the surface of the earth.
The Bible and The Quran mention the olive several times. Olive trees are known not only for their olives and the oil that is pressed from it, but also for their long life: some olive trees are known to live for centuries, and a few even thousands of years.
The ayat in which The Quran describes Allah as the Nur of the skies and earth, explains it with an example which includes being lit by a flourishing olive tree ... (Q24:35)
The Quran promises the nur emission (Q57:12-13; Q66:8) from the right and in front of the successful believers, the inheritors of The Gardens. The earth contains many examples of bioluminescent creatures. Though not enough to be visible to the naked eye, a very faint bioluminescence has been detected to emit from human beings as well. On the Day of Judgement, when the successful believers' nur will be emitting from them, they will pray to Allah to perfect their light for them!
The Tur
يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتِيَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِي أُوفِ بِعَهْدِكُمْ وَإِيَّايَ فَارْهَبُونِ
Children of Israel! remember My favour wherewith favoured you, and fulfil My covenant, and shall fulfil your covenant, and Me alone shall ye dread.
[Al-Quran 2:40, Translation: Abdul Majid Daryabadi]
...
وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ الطُّورَ خُذُوا مَا آتَيْنَاكُم بِقُوَّةٍ وَاذْكُرُوا مَا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
And recall what time We took your bond, and raised over you the Tur saying: hold fast to that which We have vouchsafed unto you, and remember that which is therein, that haply ye may become God-fearing.
[Al-Quran 2:63, Translation: Abdul Majid Daryabadi]
The Tur was raised and The Torah was entrusted to the Bani Israel. Surah at-Tur begins with the mentions of The Tur, the Inscribed Book, in parchments unscrolled, and goes on to warn of the coming punishment from Allah for the deniers, and the promise of The Gardens to those who are God-fearing.
The Secure Land
وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَٰذَا بَلَدًا آمِنًا وَارْزُقْ أَهْلَهُ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ مَنْ آمَنَ مِنْهُم بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ قَالَ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَأُمَتِّعُهُ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ أَضْطَرُّهُ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ النَّارِ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ
And, lo, Abraham prayed: "O my Sustainer! Make this a land secure, and grant its people fruitful sustenance - such of them as believe in God and the Last Day." [God] answered: "And whoever shall deny the truth, him will I let enjoy himself for a short while -but in the end I shall drive him to suffering through fire: and how vile a journey's end!"
[Al-Quran 2:126, Translation: Muhammad Asad]
When Abraham was shown the location of The Kaaba, he and his son Ishmael were tasked with purifying the sanctuary for the worshippers. Abraham prayed for the security of the land (بَلَدًا). He also prayed for a Messenger to be raised from among them (Q2:129).
Prophet-Messenger Muhammad ﷺ was Abraham's descendant through his son Ishmael. Born in Makkah, he received his mission at the age of 40. As he began to preach, he met resistance and finally had to migrate to Medina. Towards the conclusion of his mission, notice of war was served to the polytheist State of Makkah by the Messenger of Allah (Q9:1-5), and the city eventually secured (Q48:27).
وَقَالُوا إِن نَّتَّبِعِ الْهُدَىٰ مَعَكَ نُتَخَطَّفْ مِنْ أَرْضِنَا أَوَلَمْ نُمَكِّن لَّهُمْ حَرَمًا آمِنًا يُجْبَىٰ إِلَيْهِ ثَمَرَاتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ رِّزْقًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And they say: If we follow the guidance with you, we shall be carried off from our country. What! have We not settled them in a safe, sacred territory to which fruits of every kind shall be drawn?-- a sustenance from Us; but most of them do not know.
[Al-Quran 28:57, Translation: Shakir]
The Judgement
Humans have gone from being excellent in form, knowledge, and comforts, to lowly creatures suffering from weakness, disease, ignorance and want.
The Fig should not only remind us of the Fall of Adam and his consequential exile from The Garden, but also Allah's promise of guidance and deliverance:
لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ فِي أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍ
ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَاهُ أَسْفَلَ سَافِلِينَ
إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ فَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ غَيْرُ مَمْنُونٍ
فَمَا يُكَذِّبُكَ بَعْدُ بِالدِّينِ
أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِأَحْكَمِ الْحَاكِمِينَ
Indeed, We created man in (the) best mould.
Then We returned him (to the) lowest (of the) low,
Except those who believe and do righteous deeds, then for them (is a) reward never ending.
Then what causes you to deny after (this) the judgment?
Is not Allah (the) Most Just (of) the Judges?
[Al-Quran 95:4-8]
Many world religions believe in the Last Day, a Day of Judgment, or the Last Judgment. According to Wikipedia:
The Last Judgment[a] or The Day of the Lord (Hebrew: יום הדין, romanized: Yom Ha Din, Arabic: یوم القيامة, romanized: Yawm al-Qiyāmah, lit. 'Day of Resurrection' or Arabic: یوم الدین, romanized: Yawm ad-Din, lit. 'Day of Judgement') is part of the eschatological world view of the Abrahamic religions and in the Frashokereti of Zoroastrianism.
Humans have gone from being excellent in form, knowledge, and comforts, to lowly creatures suffering from weakness, disease, ignorance and want.
The Fig should not only remind us of the Fall of Adam and his consequential exile from The Garden, but also Allah's promise of guidance and deliverance:
قُلْنَا اهْبِطُوا مِنْهَا جَمِيعًا فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّي هُدًى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَكَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
We said, "Go down from it all (of you), and when, comes to you from Me Guidance, then whoever follows My Guidance, [then] no fear (will be) on them and not they will grieve.
And those who disbelieve[d] and deny Our Signs, those (are the) companions (of) the Fire; they in it (will) abide forever."
The Olive should remind us of not only Allah's first punishment through The Flood, but also of deliverance of Noah and the believers, and the saving of the species, and reform of the earth. It should also be a source of hope in the rekindling and perfection of our nur on the Day of Judgement.
The Tur of Sinai should not only remind us of the olive leaf, but also of Moses and his conversations with Allah; The Ratification of The Covenant with the chosen people, and their personal and public responsibility regarding The Book that was entrusted to them; as well as of the covenant taken from Adam, from the prophets, and from the believers. It should remind us of the pledge taken from all the descendants of the sons of Adam. On the Day of Judgement, the people who are judged successful will be chosen to inherit The Gardens of Eternity.
The Secure Land should not only remind us of Allah's promise to Abraham, but also of Allah's entrusting the secure land to another set of people: also descendants of Abraham, through Ishmael, and entrusting The Quran with them.
Prophet-Messenger Muhammad ﷺ was sent to all mankind:
The Tur of Sinai should not only remind us of the olive leaf, but also of Moses and his conversations with Allah; The Ratification of The Covenant with the chosen people, and their personal and public responsibility regarding The Book that was entrusted to them; as well as of the covenant taken from Adam, from the prophets, and from the believers. It should remind us of the pledge taken from all the descendants of the sons of Adam. On the Day of Judgement, the people who are judged successful will be chosen to inherit The Gardens of Eternity.
The Secure Land should not only remind us of Allah's promise to Abraham, but also of Allah's entrusting the secure land to another set of people: also descendants of Abraham, through Ishmael, and entrusting The Quran with them.
Prophet-Messenger Muhammad ﷺ was sent to all mankind:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا كَافَّةً لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And not We have sent you except to all mankind (as) a giver of glad tidings and (as) a warner. But most [the] people (do) not know.
[Al-Quran 34:28]
As time passes, closer and closer comes the Day of Judgement. Satan's enmity has caused loss and ruin to many people since the time of Adam, yet Allah's has been extremely gracious and forgiving with the Believers, granting a lifetime of chances to any who would sincerely repent and attempt to reform morally. However, we also need Allah's protection from Satan and his troops. Surah al-Mu`minun (The Believers) offers just such a prayer:
وَقُل رَّبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ
وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَن يَحْضُرُونِ
And say, "My Lord! I seek refuge in You from (the) suggestions (of) the evil ones,
And I seek refuge in You, My Lord! Lest they be present with me."
May our resurrection and judgement be a happy one! May Allah grant us His Forgiveness and His Mercy, and may we be reformed within and without, and redressed beautifully, and granted the inheritance of The Gardens of Eternity.
Images / Slides from:
Adam Facts
The Mighty Ancients (presentation)
The Quran, the Pharaoh, Exodus and the Promised Day
The Ancient House
Signs of Allah
References
Adam Facts
The Mighty Ancients (presentation)
The Quran, the Pharaoh, Exodus and the Promised Day
The Ancient House
Signs of Allah
References
Wikipedia: Figs in the Bible
Last updated on: June 7, 2020
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