“Olives” in the Quran and Hadith–Medicinal and Nutritional Value
HEALTH BENEFITS OF OLIVE
Olive and its tree has been mentioned a number of times both in theQuran and hadith. Olive is considered a “blessed” fruit in Islam and besides it being a good source of nutrition, it is also used as a health food and used in “ruqyah treatment.” In his books on prophetic medicine, Ibn Al-Qayyim encouraged the use of olives and its oil.
Olive in Quran
Allah mentions olives in a number of verses in the Quran. They are as follows:
“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His Light is as (if there were) a niche and within it a lamp, the lamp is in glass, the glass as it were a brilliant star, lit from a blessed tree, an olive, neither of the east (i.e., it neither gets sun-rays only in the morning) nor of the west (i.e., nor does it get sun-rays only in the afternoon – but it is exposed to the sun all day long), whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself), though no fire touched it. Light upon Light! Allah guides to His Light whom He wills. And Allah sets forth parables for mankind, and Allah is All-Knower of everything.” [Surah al-Noor 24:35]
“And He it is who causes gardens to grow, [both] trellised and untrellised, and palm trees and crops of different [kinds of] food and olives and pomegranates, similar and dissimilar. Eat of [each of] its fruit when it yields and give its due [zakah] on the day of its harvest. And be not excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess. [Surah al-Anaam, 6:141]
“And a tree (olive) that springs forth from Mount Sinai, that grows oil, and (it is a) relish for the eaters.” [Surah al-Muminoon 23:20].
Olive in Hadith
Abu Aseed said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Eat the oil and use it on your hair and skin, for it comes from a blessed tree.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 1775; see also Saheeh al-Jaami
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