Surah AT-TIN

Background

Surah At-Tin, the Fig, is the 95th chapter of the Holy Quran which appears in the 30th Juz. It is a Meccan surah, revealed before Prophet PBUH’s migration. This surah emphasizes that Allah SWT honors humans but many of them debase themselves by denying the meeting with Him in the Hereafter. It consists of 8 verses. 

Summary of the Surah

Verse 1-3:

Allah SWT swears by 4 important objects:

Fig and olive - These refer to Jerusalem, where fig and olives popularly come from, and where Isa AS was a prophet. (Some sources also say that Tin is a place where Nuh AS’s arc landed.)

Mount Sinai - This refers to Musa AS, to whom Allah SWT spoke to on this mountain.

Secure city of Mecca - This refers to where Prophet Mohammed PBUH started his mission. This city was declared holy by Ibrahim AS.

Allah SWT uses these highly important oaths to put emphasis on the following verses.

Verse 4-8:

Humans have been created in the best of forms. Allah SWT blessed us to be the most noble creation with intellect and conscience. Despite this, many people will be reduced to the lowest of the low in Hell. Except those who believe and do good, they will have a never ending reward. Allah SWT questions the humans at the bottom, about their rejection of the day of judgement. The Surah concludes with the question, is Allah SWT not the most just judge and most wise?

Important lesson

A combination of Imaan and good deeds is required to be one of the righteous. Having just one of the two is not enough.