While some fruits are mentioned as part of Allah’s gift to us on earth, others are known as the fruit of Heaven.
While some fruits are mentioned as part of Allah’s gift to us on earth, others are known as the fruit of Heaven.
The Holy Quran will always remain our source of inspiration, knowledge, and law as we navigate our lives in becoming better Muslims. Interestingly, the Quran also provides both health benefits and knowledge on the numerous fruits and foods of this world that we can enjoy – meaning that we can look to the Holy Quran for guidance on what kinds of fruits might be best for our health.
Here are six of the fruits mentioned in the Quran, in the hopes that we will always continue to learn and gain knowledge from the Quran:
1. Dates
Known as the fruit of the desert, dates are one of the most commonly known fruits mentioned within the Holy Quran, and are a part of the sunnah as well. Mentioned more than 20 times within the Quran, here are some of the verses of the Quran which mention dates:
“And the earth He laid [out] for the creatures, Therein is fruit and palm trees having sheaths [of dates]” (55:10-11)
“And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates” (19:25)
“And We have sent down blessed rain from the sky and made grow thereby gardens and grain from the harvest, And lofty palm trees having fruit arranged in layers” (50:9-10)
The health benefits of dates are also quite numerous. In addition to being an incredible source of protein, fiber, and vitamins, dates are also great energy boosters, as they contain natural sugars like fructose and glucose. Dates also help regulate a healthy digestive system, with many studies also pointing towards the fruit helping promote a healthy nervous system and reducing the risk of stroke and heart diseases. Often considered a superfood because of its rich amounts of minerals and vitamins, dates are definitely a great fruit to implement within your diet.
2. Grapes
An ancient fruit, dating back around 8,000 years when it was first cultivated in what is now the broader region of the Middle East, grapes are both a popular and highly nutritious fruit. Here are a few times when it is mentioned within the Holy Quran:
“And We brought forth for you thereby gardens of palm trees and grapevines in which for you are abundant fruits and from which you eat” (23:19)
“And We have placed gardens of date-palms and grapes, and caused springs to gush forth therein, so that they may eat fruits thereof, while it was not made by their hands. Would they not then offer gratitude?” (36:34-35)
The benefits of eating grapes include powerful hydration, supplementing the iron and mineral content in your body, and regulating your digestive system. Grapes also help foster blood production because of its high level of iron and sugar, acting as a natural medicine for the healthy regulation of your liver and kidney – it helps the kidneys excrete waste matters such as urea. In addition, grapes are also high in copper, iron, and manganese, which all are vital in helping build up bone strength. By also increasing the levels of nitric oxide in the blood, which in turn helps prevent blood clots, grapes are also a great fruit to help reduce the chances of having a heart attack.
3. Pomegranate
A favorite fruit used in juices, syrups, and savory dishes, the pomegranate is a huge part of many Muslim cultures today. Appearing in the Quran three times, the pomegranate is often mentioned in relation to Heaven and Allah’s gift to humankind:
“And besides these two [gardens in Heaven], there are two other gardens (for the second category of the God-fearing)…So, which of the bounties of your Lord will you deny? – both (gardens are) dark green! So, which of the bounties of your Lord will you deny? In both there are two springs gushing forth profusely. So, which of the bounties of your Lord will you deny? In both there are fruits and date-palms and pomegranates” (55:62-68)
“He is the One who sent down water from the heavens. Then We brought forth with it vegetation of all kinds. Then from it We brought grains set upon one another. From the palm-trees, from their spathes, come forth the low hanging bunches. (We produce) vineyards and the olive and the pomegranate, either similar or not similar to each other. Look at its fruit when it bears fruit, and at its ripening. Surely, in all this there are signs for the people who believe” (6:99)
“He is the One who has created gardens, trellised and untrellised, and date-palms and crops with a variety of edibles, and the olive and the pomegranate, (some) similar to one another, and (some) dissimilar. Eat of its fruit when it bears fruits, and pay its due on the day of harvest, and do not be extravagant. Surely, Allah does not like the extravagant” (6:141)
Pomegranates are incredibly healthy in addition to its significance within Islam. The juice of the fruit is not only antibacterial and antiviral, but it also helps reduce dental plaque and oral diseases. Regular intake of pomegranate juice can also help maintain a good flow of blood, therefore decreasing the risk of heart problems like strokes and heart attacks. The fruit itself also helps with digestive issues, and helps maintain the potassium-sodium balance of the body – which can in turn ensure the regular function of both the nervous and muscular senses of the body.
4. Banana
The banana is also considered a fruit of paradise, and although today it is seen as a common fruit, it holds numerous health benefits that can help maintain a balanced body. It is mentioned in the Quran here:
“And the People of the right? How (lucky) are the People of the Right! (They will be) amid lote-trees with no thorns, and the trees of TalH, (banana, or a fragrant tree) having layers one upon the other, and a shade, spread all over…” (56:27-30)
The health benefits of the banana are many, including decreasing blood pressure, helping regulate weight fluctuations, and helping regulate your digestive system with its high amounts of dietary fiber. Bananas are also essential in helping maintain the body’s fluid balance and have antioxidant compounds that help regulate kidney function. In addition, cooking banana flowers are said to help provide relief from pain and heavy bleeding during a woman’s menstrual cycle.
5. Fig
Figs, often considered a delicacy, are enjoyed both fresh and dried. Because the fruit is pollinated by a tiny wasp where the flowers actually bloom inside the fruit, which produces the tiny seeds inside the fruit that gives it its distinct crunch, fig trees actually never blossom with flowers. The fig is mentioned in the Holy Quran here:
“I swear by the Fig and the Olive, and by Tūr, the mount of Sinai, and by this peaceful city, We have created man in the best composition” (95:1-4)
Figs are a great source of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which all help towards regulating a healthy digestive system and can even help in lowering cholesterol. Containing phenol, Omega-3, and Omega-6, figs can also help reduce the risk of heart disease and can even help control certain aspects of diabetes, by helping reduce the amount of insulin needed by those who are diabetic and need to take regular insulin injections.
6. Olives
Mentioned numerous times within the Quran, olives are enjoyed with all types of foods and desserts – and is most commonly grown in the region of the Middle East. Made into an oil, pickled, or garnishing, the olive is used in almost all parts of the world today. Here are some examples of where it is mentioned within the Holy Quran:
“And (We produced) a tree (of olive) that comes forth from the (mount) Tūr of Sinai, which grows with oil and with a dressing for those who eat” (23:20)
“So, the man should consider his food, how well We poured water, then how nicely We split the earth, then We grew in it grain, and grapes and greens, and olive and date-palms, and gardens, full of thick trees” (80:24-30)
“He causes the crops therewith to grow for you, and olives, and date palms, and grape vines, and all the fruits. Surely, in that, there is a sign for a people who ponder” (16:11)
The benefits of the olive are numerous – including helping prevent heart disease and lowering blood pressure because of the oleic acid within the olive. In general, because of phenolic compounds like hydroxytyrosol, olives also help increase blood flow in the body, further helping maintain a healthy heart. This same hydroxytyrosol also helps increase the levels of calcium deposition, leading to healthy bone growth as well. Olives are also said to help reduce inflammation and can help in reducing pain in the joints, muscles, and tendons of the body – making this a great option to implement within your diet for both health reasons and taste!
