بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَ جَنَّـٰتٍۢ مَّعْرُوشَـٰتٍۢ وَغَيْرَ مَعْرُوشَـٰتٍۢ وَٱلنَّخْلَ وَٱلزَّرْعَ مُخْتَلِفًا أُكُلُهُۥ وَٱلزَّيْتُونَ وَٱلرُّمَّانَ مُتَشَـٰبِهًۭا وَغَيْرَ مُتَشَـٰبِهٍۢ ۚ كُلُوا۟ مِن ثَمَرِهِۦٓ إِذَآ أَثْمَرَ وَءَاتُوا۟ حَقَّهُۥ يَوْمَ حَصَادِهِۦ ۖ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ
SURAH AL-AN'AM (6:141)
"And He is the One who produces gardens trellised and un-trellised, and date palms, and crops of different flavours, and olives and pomegranates, similar yet varied. Eat from their fruit when they bear fruit, but pay their due on the day of harvest, and do not be wasteful, for indeed, He does not like the wasteful."
In the tapestry of creation, few fruits capture the wonder and symbolism as profoundly as the pomegranate (الرمان). Mentioned in the Qur’an as a fruit of paradise, the pomegranate, with its intricate seeds and vibrant colour, represents the beauty and complexity of life itself. The Qur’an brings our attention to this enchanting fruit as a symbol of bounty and divine artistry, calling on us to reflect on its significance and savour its blessings.
Each pomegranate seems to hold a world within it, each seed a reminder of faith, growth, and gratitude. Let us journey through the verses of the Qur’an and explore the wisdom and reverence held in these sacred fruits.
The Quran mentions pomegranates three times, highlighting them as divine blessings and signs of Allah’s power and creativity. These verses illustrate pomegranates as both earthly sustenance and symbols of heavenly rewards. Here’s a breakdown of each verse where pomegranates appear, along with their translations and our version of their significance.
1. Surah Al-An'am (6:99)
Arabic:
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۭ فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِۦ نَبَاتَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ فَأَخْرَجْنَا مِنْهُ خَضِرًۭا نُّخْرِجُ مِنْهُ حَبًّۭا مُّتَرَاكِبًۭا وَمِنَ ٱلنَّخْلِ مِن طَلْعِهَا قِنْوَانٌۭ دَانِيَةٌۭ وَجَنَّـٰتٍۢ مِّنْ أَعْنَابٍۢ وَٱلزَّيْتُونَ وَٱلرُّمَّانَ مُشْتَبِهًۭا وَغَيْرَ مُتَشَـٰبِهٍۢ ۗ ٱنظُرُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ ثَمَرِهِۦٓ إِذَآ أَثْمَرَ وَيَنْعِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكُمْ لَءَايَـٰتٍۢ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يُؤْمِنُونَ
SURAH AL-AN'AM (6:99)
"And He is the One who sends down rain from the sky, then with it We produce all kinds of plants, then We bring forth green stalks from which We produce thick-clustered grain. And from the date palm come clusters hanging low. And gardens of grapevines, olives, and pomegranates, similar yet varied. Look at their fruit when they bear fruit and ripen. Indeed, in these are signs for people who believe." (Surah Al-An'am, 6:99)
Significance:
In this verse, pomegranates are mentioned alongside other blessings, such as olives and dates, representing the diversity of sustenance Allah has created. The verse calls on believers to marvel at the ripening of these fruits, encouraging reflection on Allah’s creation and the signs in nature that point to His existence and majesty. Here, pomegranates signify both physical nourishment and spiritual insight, symbolizing the balance of worldly and divine sustenance.
2. Surah Al-An'am (6:141)
Arabic:
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَ جَنَّـٰتٍۢ مَّعْرُوشَـٰتٍۢ وَغَيْرَ مَعْرُوشَـٰتٍۢ وَٱلنَّخْلَ وَٱلزَّرْعَ مُخْتَلِفًا أُكُلُهُۥ وَٱلزَّيْتُونَ وَٱلرُّمَّانَ مُتَشَـٰبِهًۭا وَغَيْرَ مُتَشَـٰبِهٍۢ ۚ كُلُوا۟ مِن ثَمَرِهِۦٓ إِذَآ أَثْمَرَ وَءَاتُوا۟ حَقَّهُۥ يَوْمَ حَصَادِهِۦ ۖ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ
SURAH AL-AN'AM (6:141)
English Translation:
"And He is the One who produces gardens, both trellised and untrellised, and date palms, and crops of different flavours, and olives and pomegranates, similar yet varied. Eat from their fruit when they bear fruit, but pay their due on the day of harvest, and do not be wasteful, for indeed, He does not like the wasteful." (Surah Al-An'am, 6:141)
Significance:
This verse again highlights pomegranates as one of the blessings created by Allah. The mention of paying due on the day of harvest serves as a reminder to share these blessings with others, emphasizing the concept of charity and gratitude. Pomegranates are symbolic of abundance, encouraging believers to be mindful of Allah’s provisions and avoid excess. Through this verse, Allah teaches moderation, generosity, and responsibility for the earth’s resources. 3. Surah Ar-Rahman (55:68)
Arabic:
فِيهِمَا فَـٰكِهَةٌۭ وَنَخْلٌۭ وَرُمَّانٌۭ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ