Tafsir of Al-Mu'minoon 23:19

"Then We brought forth for you thereby..."

He singled out these three types [palms, vines, and olives] because they are the most noble of trees, the most excellent, and the most comprehensive in their benefits.

He described the palm and the vine as having fruits that combine two qualities: they are fruits to be enjoyed, and food to be eaten both fresh and dried—fresh dates and grapes, and dried dates and raisins. As for the olive, its oil is suitable for both lighting lamps and for seasoning food.

It is possible that His saying, "and from them you eat," is like the saying: "So-and-so eats from a craft he practices, from an estate he cultivates, or from trade he profits from." They mean that it is his sustenance and the source from which he obtains his livelihood. It is as if He said: "These gardens are the sources of your provisions and your livelihoods; from them you obtain your sustenance and live."

"And a tree..." is a conjunction linked to "gardens" (jannat). It has also been read in the nominative case (marfu') as an independent subject (ibtida'), meaning: "And among what was brought forth for you is a tree..."

"Mount Sinai" (Tur Sina'): It is either that the word Tur (Mount) is genitive to a place named Sina' or Sinin, or it is a name for the mountain composed of a genitive construction, like Imru' al-Qays or Ba'labakk.

Whoever pronounces the sin of Sina' with a kasra (i.e., Sina') treats it as diptote (ghayr munsarif) due to being a proper noun and foreign, or feminine, because it is a place. The fa'la' pattern does not have an alif for feminine gender, like 'alba' (nape) or hirba' (chameleon). Whoever pronounces it with a fatha (i.e., Sina') treats it as diptote because the alif is for feminine gender, like sahra' (desert).

It is said: It is a mountain in Palestine. It is also said: It is between Egypt and Ayla. From it, Moses (peace be upon him) was called. Al-A'mash read it as Sina (shortened).

"With oil" (bi-l-duhn): This is in the position of a circumstantial qualifier (hal), meaning: "It grows, and within it is the oil."

It has been read as tunbitu (it grows), regarding which there are two views:

1. That anbata (to cause to grow) carries the meaning of nabata (to grow). Zuhayr recited: "I saw those in need around their houses, dwelling there until the herbs grew (anbata)."
2. That its object is omitted, meaning: "It grows its olives, and in it is the oil."

It has been read as tunbatu (passive: it is made to grow).

Ibn Mas'ud read: "It brings forth oil and a seasoning for the eaters." Others read: "It brings forth with oil." In the codex of Ubayy: "It bears oil." Some say: "It grows with oils."

Al-A'mash read: sibgh (seasoning). It has also been read as sibagh. Similar to this are dabgh and dibagh (tanning). Sibgh is the dipping of food for the purpose of seasoning.

It is said: It is the first tree that grew after the Flood. Allah the Almighty described it as blessed in His saying: "Lit from a blessed tree" (An-Nur: 35).

"And indeed, for you in the livestock is a lesson. We give you to drink from that which is in their bellies, and for you in them are many benefits, and from them you eat. And upon them and upon the ships you are carried."