“And We sent down water from the sky in due measure and caused it to settle in the earth; and We are surely able to take it away. Then through it We brought forth for you gardens of date palms and grapevines, in which you have abundant fruits and from which you eat; and a tree that springs from Mount Sinai, producing oil and a condiment for those who eat.”

“And We sent down water from the sky” as provision for you and your livestock, in a measure sufficient for you. He does not diminish it so that it is insufficient for the land and the trees and thus fails to serve its intended purpose; nor does He increase it beyond what can be borne, so that it destroys dwellings and plants and trees cannot survive. Rather, He sends it down when it is needed and then diverts it when its continuance would cause harm.

“And caused it to settle in the earth”—that is, He sent it down upon the earth, where it settled and remained. By the power of the One who sent it down, it brought forth every variety of vegetation. He also lodged it within the earth, stored in its reservoirs, so that it would not sink beyond reach or descend to an unfathomable depth.

“And We are surely able to take it away,” either by not sending it down at all, or by sending it down and then allowing it to sink beyond reach, or by preventing it from fulfilling its intended purpose. This is an admonition from Him to His servants that they should thank Him for His blessing and consider the harm that its absence would cause. This is like His statement: “Say, ‘Have you considered: if your water were to sink deep into the earth, who could bring you flowing water?’”

“Then through it We brought forth for you”—that is, through that water—“gardens,” meaning orchards, “of date palms and grapevines.” Allah Most High singles out these two kinds even though He causes other trees to grow through that water because of their excellence and benefits, by which they surpass other trees. He then makes a general statement: “in which you have”—that is, in those gardens—“abundant fruits and from which you eat,” including figs, citrons, pomegranates, apples, and others.

“And a tree that springs from Mount Sinai”: this is the olive tree—that is, the species as a whole. It is singled out because it grows especially in the land of al-Shām and because of its benefits, some of which He mentions in His words: “producing oil and a condiment for those who eat.” That is, it contains olive oil, a fat that is used (1) for such purposes as lighting lamps and serving as a condiment for those who eat—meaning that it is made into an accompaniment to their food—as well as for other benefits.