التين
Surah At-Tin
The Fig · Surah 95 · Meccan · 8 verses
1وَٱلتِّينِ وَٱلزَّيۡتُونِ ١By the fig and the olive.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, many commentators see tin and zaytun here as names of places, so translating them simply as “fig” and “olive” may not be quite right. They point to the blessed lands where prophets lived.2وَطُورِ سِينِينَ ٢By Mount Sinai.InsightElmalılı says this is the mountain where Moses was honoured with Allah speaking to him, known as Tur Sina.3وَهَٰذَا ٱلۡبَلَدِ ٱلۡأَمِينِ ٣And by this land made safe.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the commentators agree this is Mecca: the city where the Prophet was born and raised, where he was sent as a prophet, and which was made safe for people.4لَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ فِيٓ أَحۡسَنِ تَقۡوِيمࣲ ٤Surely We created man of the best stature.InsightElmalılı explains “taqwim” as straightening what is crooked and setting something in its proper balance and order. Man was created in the finest balance, both in body and in spirit.5ثُمَّ رَدَدۡنَٰهُ أَسۡفَلَ سَٰفِلِينَ ٥Then we reduced him to the lowest of the low.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, one with no share of the finest form could not be called human. Yet a person can lose this beauty and fall to the lowest level, and this comes through his own choice.6إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتِ فَلَهُمۡ أَجۡرٌ غَيۡرُ مَمۡنُونࣲ ٦Save those who believe and do good works, and theirs is a reward unfailing.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, even if such people lose their outward beauty and bodily strength, they do not fall to that low level; instead they gain a finer and lasting beauty.7فَمَا يُكَذِّبُكَ بَعۡدُ بِٱلدِّينِ ٧So who henceforth will give the lie to thee about the judgment.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, man’s creation in the finest form, his possible fall, and the unending reward of faith and good deeds are proofs seen and understood by reason. Before them there is no reason left to deny the Day of Judgement.8أَلَيۡسَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَحۡكَمِ ٱلۡحَٰكِمِينَ ٨Is not Allah the most conclusive of all judges.InsightElmalılı reasons: even earthly judges punish wrongdoers and reward good. Could Allah, above all judges, fail to carry out His justice?