This surah begins with an oath which has been explained in several different ways by Quran scholars. The explanation most favoured by the author is that each item in the oath represents a different time-period in the history of humankind and the major prophets of those items:
(1) The fig stands for the period of the first humans and the Prophet Adam (PBUH), because it is said that he and his wife covered themselves with fig leaves in the Garden of Paradise.
(2) The olive stands for the period after the Flood and the Prophet Nuh (PBUH) because it is said taht he sent a dove out of the ark to find dry land and it came back with an olive leaf.
(3) Mount Sinai stands for the Prophet Musa (PBUH) and the beginning of the Jewish law, because this is the mountain where he received his revelation. Mount Sinai is the mount on which Torah was given to Musa a.s.
(4) 'This city of safety' refers to Makkah and the blessed Prophet Muhammad s.a.w (PBUH), whose period of prophethood shall last until the Last Day.
Allah then goes on to say that He created humans in the best of forms, and then reduced him to the lowest of the low-except those who believe and do good. What does this mean? The human being is the height of creation in that God blew something of His own breath and spirit into the humble form of clay from which Adam (PBUH) was made.Allah honoured Adam (PBUH) and his children above other creatures, giving humans the possibility of reaching a height even above the angels, through obedience. On the other hand, people who ignore their higher nature can come down to a level of behaviour much worse than the most savage animals. Even lions and other beasts of prey only kill because of hunger, as needed; people are capable of inflicting the most terrible torture and inhumane treatment on each other because of political ideas or religious intolerance or ethnic hatred. Everyday there are people who think up new weapons to cause more pain or destruction, who find new ways of causing suffering to others. Is this not truly the lowest of the low?
The surah ends by asking what could make people deny the final Judgement? After all, many of the worst criminals are never caught or punished during their lives on earth, and many people who do their best throughout their lives are never rewarded. We expect earthly judges to punish those murderers, drug-dealers, thieves, and other criminals who harm innocent people; shall not Allah s.w.t hand out exact justice to His creatures in the end?
- Surah Makki(8 verses)
- When we recite this verse in Arabic, we should answer 'Bala, wa ana 'ala dhalika minash-shahidin ( Yes, and I am one of those who bear witness to it) - Hadith from the collections of Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and others.)
TRANSLATION:
Surah at-Tin (95: The Fig)
In the name of Allah, the Kindest and Most Merciful One..
1. By the fig and the olive,
2. and Mount Sinai,
3. and this city of safety,
4. Surely We made man in the best of forms,
5. then We bring him down (to be) the lowest of the low,
6. Except for those who believe and do good deeds: they shall have a never-ending reward.
7. What then, after this, can make you lie about the Judgement?
8. Is Allah not the wisest of Judges?
References:
i) http://quran.com/95
ii) http://www.quranexplorer.com/quran/ , go to Surah at-Tin
iii) Commentaries at http://lightofquran.wordpress.com/tafsir/surah-at-tin/
iv) The Meanings of the Noble Quran with explanatory notes(pg 1178) by Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani (Maktaba Ma'ariful Quran - Quranic Studies Publishers, Karachi, Pakistan)
Video recitation by Mishary Rashed al Efasy at --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZbDQ9na6Zc
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