(99) “He is the One who sends down water from the sky, and through it We bring forth all kinds of vegetation. From it We bring forth green shoots, from which We produce grain clustered one above another. From the spathes of the date palms come clusters hanging low. And We bring forth gardens of grapevines, olives, and pomegranates—similar yet dissimilar. Look at their fruit when they begin to bear and as they ripen. Surely in these are signs for people who believe.”
This is one of His greatest and most magnificent blessings, without which human beings and other creatures cannot live: He sends down abundant rain from the sky when people need it, and by it Allah causes to grow everything that people and livestock eat. Creation then enjoys abundance through Allah’s bounty, delights in His provision, and rejoices in His kindness. Drought, despair, and famine depart from them; hearts rejoice and faces brighten. Through the mercy of the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful, His servants receive that by which they may enjoy themselves and thrive. This requires them to exert their utmost effort in thanking the One who has bestowed these blessings, worshiping Him, turning to Him in repentance, and loving Him.
After mentioning in general all the varieties of trees and plants that grow through water, He specifically mentions crops and date palms because of their many benefits and because they are staple foods for most people. He says: “From it We bring forth green shoots, from which We produce”—that is, from that green vegetation—“grain clustered one above another,” including wheat, barley, millet, rice, and other kinds of crops. Describing the grain as clustered indicates that its kernels are numerous and all draw nourishment from a single source, yet do not intermingle; rather, the kernels remain distinct while their bases are joined. It also indicates their abundance and plentiful yield, so that the seed stock remains available while a great deal is left for eating and storing.
“From the date palms,” Allah brings forth “from their spathes”—the sheaths that enclose the flower clusters before they emerge—“clusters hanging low”; that is, clusters that are near and easy to reach, hanging down toward anyone who wants them. Thus, their fruit is not difficult to gather even when the palms are tall, for the trunks have stout leaf bases that serve as footholds, making them easy to climb.
Through the water, He Most High also brings forth “gardens of grapevines, olives, and pomegranates.” These trees provide many benefits and are of tremendous importance. Allah therefore mentions them specifically after referring generally to all trees and plants.
His words, “similar yet dissimilar,” may refer to the pomegranate and olive: their trees and leaves resemble one another, while their fruits do not. They may also refer to all trees and fruits: some resemble one another and share certain similar qualities, whereas others bear no resemblance to any others. Yet His servants benefit from them all, enjoying their fruit, obtaining nourishment from them, and taking heed. He Most High therefore commands them to reflect upon them, saying: “Look”—with contemplation and a view to taking heed—“at their fruit,” meaning the fruit of all trees and especially date palms, “when they begin to bear.”
“And as they ripen”; that is, look at them when their fruit first emerges and again when it matures and ripens. In this are lessons and signs demonstrating Allah’s mercy, the vastness of His kindness and generosity, the perfection of His power, and His care for His servants.
Not everyone, however, takes heed and reflects, nor does everyone who reflects grasp the intended meaning. Allah therefore limits those who benefit from the signs to the believers, saying: “Surely in these are signs for people who believe.” The faith within the believers prompts them to act upon its requirements and necessary implications, including reflecting upon Allah’s signs and drawing from them the intended lessons and the truths to which they point through reason, innate nature, and revealed law.