QURAN SUMMARY: AT TEEN

NAME:  التين, At-Teen.

Name taken from Verse 1 where there is a mention of the word ”Teen”.

١  وَالتِّينِ وَالزَّيْتُونِ
1  By the fig and the olive

But It does not mean that this name is the actual topic discussed in the whole Surah. It is just a reference and mark/symbol to distinguish this Surah from others as is with most other Surahs of Quran. While there are diversified topics discussed in these Surahs.

ENGLISH NAME: The Fig.

CHAPTER NUMBER: 95

SURAH TEEN TOTAL VERSES: 8

SURAH TEEN TOTAL WORDS: 34

TOTAL UNIQUE WORDS WITHOUT REPETITION: 34

TOTAL LETTERS: 162

REVELATION PERIOD:

Meccan, Approx. 610 – 615 AD.

MAIN CHARACTERS:

God, Mankind.

SURAH TEEN MAIN TOPICS:

Man Has Capacities To Make Himself The Highest In Character Or The Lowest.

SURAH TEEN KEY VERSES:

٤  لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ فِي أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍ

4  We have certainly created man in the best of stature;

٥  ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَاهُ أَسْفَلَ سَافِلِينَ

5  Then We return him to the lowest of the low,

SUMMARY OF TOPICS

95: 1-3(Swear By The Fig, Olive, Mount Sinai And City of Mecca), 4-8(God Created Man In Best Shape, But Man Has Capacities To Make Himself The Highest In Character Or The Lowest).

SURAH TEEN BRIEF COMMENTARY & BACKGROUND

This Surah has 8 verses. It takes its name from verse 1: “وَالتِّينِ وَالزَّيْتُونِ” (By the Fig and the Olive) where the word “التين” meaning “The Fig” appears. This Surah was revealed in Mecca most probably during the early days of Muhammad’s proclamation of his Prophethood. There is a difference of opinion as some commentators of the Quran say that this Surah was revealed in Madina. However, almost all companions of prophet agreed that by “Secure City” is meant Mecca and using the pronoun “This” points that at the time of this revelation, Prophet was living in Mecca. The subject matter and length of verses also showing that it resembles with that of Meccan Surah.

This Surah begins by swearing a series of oaths: By the Fig, The Olive, Mount Sinai, and the Secure City. Just after that, it mentions that “God created Man in best of stature.” All four Oaths thus show that they are symbolizing the place of high importance in human history. Some say that Fig & Olive represent the regions surrounding Jerusalem and thus pointing towards the place where Jesus was sent as a Messenger. But in my opinion, these are two different places. Fig is pointing to Prophet Nuh who was actually the first prophet with a scripture and father of all the humans in the sense that all surviving humankind was from his progeny and secondly as per Quran his boat came to rest at mount Al Judi present-day Mount Ararat in the extreme east of Turkey. And even now if you check that where in the world most Fig is produced than Turkey is the number one in rank.

The second Oath “By Olive” not only pointing to Jesus as many commentators believe but its pointing to the vast area surrounding the Mediterranean where God sent thousands of prophet from Abraham till Jesus.

Then comes “Mount Sinai” which points to Moses, the book and the religious law given to him which remained valid before, and up to, the arrival of Muhammad, and was also a binding on Jesus as well.

Lastly, the Oath “Secure City” means Mecca, where Muhammad, the Last Prophet, was born and received his first revelation and status of prophethood. So you can see that all these four Oaths are also chronologically in order starting from Nuh, Abraham, Abrahamic prophets, Moses and Then Muhammad.

The Theme of Surah is that God created Man in the best mold, but then some use their potential and fully justify their status of being called the vicegerent of God while others after becoming a follower of Satan surpasses even devil in sin and sink to the lowest depths imaginable.

Malik and Shubah narrated that Al Bara bin Azib said, “The Messenger of God PBUH used to recite in one of his Rakahs while traveling Surah Tin and I have never heard anyone with a sweeter voice or recitation than him.