Tafsir of Ibraheem 14:24

"Have you not considered" (Alam tara): It is read with the ra quiescent (sukūn), similar to the reading of "man yattaqi." There is weakness in this.

"God set forth a parable" (Daraba Allāhu mathalan): He relied upon a parable and established it.

"A good word" (Kalimatan tayyibatan): It is in the accusative case (nasb) due to an implied verb; that is, He made a good word "like a good tree." This is an explanation of His saying, "God set forth a parable," similar to your saying, "The Prince honored Zayd," meaning he clothed him in a robe or mounted him on a horse. It is also permissible for "parable" (mathalan) and "word" (kalimatan) to be in the accusative because of the verb "set forth" (daraba), meaning: He set a good word as a parable. Then He said, "like a good tree," as the predicate of an omitted subject, meaning: "It is like a good tree."

"Its root is firm" (Asluhā thābit): Meaning, it is struck deep into the earth with its roots.

"And its branch" (Wa far‘uhā): Its top and its head.

"In the sky" (Fī al-samā’): It is permissible that it means "its branches" (furū‘uhā), using the singular to represent the genus. Anas ibn Mālik read it as: "Like a good tree, its root is firm."

If you ask: What is the difference between the two readings? I say: The reading of the majority is stronger in meaning. In the reading of Anas, the attribute is applied to the tree. If you say, "I passed by a man whose father is standing," it is stronger in meaning than saying, "I passed by a man standing, his father," because the one being informed about is the father, not the man.

The Good Word: It is the word of monotheism (tawhīd). It is also said: Every good word, such as glorification (tasbīh), praise (tahmīd), seeking forgiveness (istighfār), repentance, and supplication. According to Ibn ‘Abbās: It is the testimony that there is no god but God.

The Tree: It is every fruitful tree with good fruit, such as the date palm, the fig tree, the grape vine, the pomegranate, and others.

It is narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said one day: "God has set the parable of the believer as a tree; tell me what it is." The people thought of the trees of the desert. I was a boy, and it occurred to my heart that it was the date palm, but I was in awe of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) to say it, as I was the youngest of the people. It is narrated: "The presence of ‘Umar prevented me, and I was shy." ‘Umar said to me: "My son, had you said it, it would have been dearer to me than red camels." Then the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said: "Behold, it is the date palm."

According to Ibn ‘Abbās (may God be pleased with them both): It is a tree in Paradise.

"In the sky" (Fī al-samā’): Its meaning is in the direction of height and ascent. He does not mean the canopy. It is like your saying about a mountain: "It is tall in the sky," meaning its height and loftiness.

"It gives its fruit every time" (Tu’tī ukulahā kulla hīn): It gives its fruit at every time God has appointed for its fruiting.

"By the permission of its Lord" (Bi-idhni rabbihā): By the facilitation and creation of its Creator.

"That they may remember" (La‘allahum yatadhakkarūn): Because in setting forth parables, there is an increase in understanding, reminding, and illustrating meanings.

"And the parable of a bad word is like a bad tree, uprooted from above the earth, having no stability."