Revealed in Makkah, Surah At-Tin (The Fig) swears by the fig, the olive, Mount Sinai, and the secure city of Makkah to declare that God created human beings in the best of molds. It warns that those who turn away from faith will be reduced to the lowest of the low, while the believers who do good deeds will have an uninterrupted reward, concluding with a powerful reminder that God is the most just of judges.
Transliteration
Waaltteeni waalzzaytooni
Translation
By the fig and the olive
God swears by the fig and olive trees, symbolizing the sacred biblical lands of Syria and Palestine, the blessed homeland of Prophets Abraham, David, and Jesus.
Transliteration
Watoori seeneena
Translation
And Mount Sinai
God swears an oath by Mount Sinai, the sacred mountain where God spoke directly to Prophet Moses (Musa) and bestowed the Torah.
Transliteration
Wahatha albaladi alameeni
Translation
And this safe land
God swears by the holy sanctuary of Mecca, the secure city established by Prophet Abraham and birthplace of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Transliteration
Laqad khalaqna alinsana fee ahsani taqweemin
Translation
We created man in the best design
Affirms the exceptional design of humanity: 'We created man in the best of stature' ('Ahsani Taqwim')—endowed with upright posture, articulate speech, aesthetic intellect, and spiritual capacity.
Transliteration
Thumma radadnahu asfala safileena
Translation
Then reduced him to the lowest of the low
Warns of moral degeneration: if a person abuses their free will to abandon faith and moral virtue, God reduces them to 'the lowest of the low' ('Asfala Safilin')—becoming more destructive and degraded than wild beasts.
Transliteration
Illa allatheena amanoo waAAamiloo alssalihati falahum ajrun ghayru mamnoonin
Translation
Except those who believe and do righteous deeds; for them is a reward without end
Transliteration
Fama yukaththibuka baAAdu bialddeeni
Translation
So why do you still reject the religion
Transliteration
Alaysa Allahu biahkami alhakimeena
Translation
Is God not the Wisest of the wise