Page 254 - General Knowledge from the Qur'an

252 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE FROM THE QUR'AN

trees and crops of diverse kinds, and olives and pomegranates, both
similar and dissimilar. Eat of their fruits when they bear fruit and pay
their due on the day of their harvest, and do not be profligate. He does
not love the profligate. (Surat al-An'am, 141)
And by it He makes crops grow for you and olives and dates and
grapes and fruit of every kind. There is certainly a Sign in that for peo-
ple who reflect. (Surat an-Nahl, 11)
Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The metaphor of His
Light is that of a niche in which is a lamp, the lamp inside a glass, the
glass like a brilliant star, lit from a blessed tree, an olive, neither of the
east nor of the west, its oil all but giving off light even if no fire touches
it. Light upon Light. Allah guides to His Light whoever He wills and
Allah makes metaphors for mankind and Allah has knowledge of all
things. (Surat an-Nur, 35)
Plants Used in Metaphors in the Qur'an
The metaphor of those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allah is
that of a grain which produces seven ears; in every ear there are a hun-
dred grains. Allah gives such multiplied increase to whoever He wills.
Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing. (Surat al-Baqara, 261)
Good land yields up its plants by its Lord's permission, but that
which is bad only yields up scantily. In this way We vary the Signs for
people who are thankful. (Surat al-A'raf, 58)

Those Having Healing Properties
Shake the trunk of the palm towards you and fresh, ripe dates will
drop down onto you. Eat and drink and delight your eyes... (Surah
Maryam, 25-26)

PLANTS IN PARADISE
We place in it gardens of dates and grapes, and cause springs to gush
out in it, (Surah Ya Sin, 34)
And soaring date-palms with layered spathes, (Surah Qaf, 10)
In it are fruits and date-palms with covered spathes, (Surat ar-Rah-
man, 11)