Surah At-Tin
التين
Surah At-Tin is an 8-verse Meccan surah that swears by sacred places to affirm that human beings were created in the finest form and can fall to the lowest state unless they believe and do good.
- Meaning
- The Fig
- Surah
- 95 of 114
- Verses
- 8
- Revealed in
- Mecca
- Found in
- Juz 30
What Surah At-Tin is about
Surah At-Tin, "The Fig", opens with four oaths: by the fig and the olive, by Mount Sinai, and by this secure city (verses 1 to 3). Commentators understand the secure city as Mecca, and many see the three as linked to prophets: the fig and olive with the land of Jerusalem and Jesus (Isa), Mount Sinai with Moses (Musa), and Mecca with the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Verse 4 gives the surah's main statement: human beings were created in the best design. Verse 5 says they were then brought down to the lowest of the low, understood either as moral decline or as the frailty of old age. Verse 6 makes the exception: those who believe and do good will have a reward that never ends. The surah closes in verses 7 and 8 by asking what could still make anyone deny the Judgment, and whether Allah is not the wisest of judges.
Main themes
Oaths by blessed places
The fig, olive, Mount Sinai and Mecca bring together lands associated with revelation. The surah ties its message to the line of prophets who received it.
Verses 1–3The best form and the lowest state
Human beings are honored with the finest design, yet they can sink very low. Faith and good deeds are what keep a person from that fall.
Verses 4–6The wisest of judges
The closing question appeals to the listener's sense of fairness. If Allah is the wisest judge, a final judgment is to be expected.
Verses 7–8
Verses to know
لَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ فِيٓ أَحۡسَنِ تَقۡوِيمٖ ﴿٤﴾
We created man in the best design.
A widely quoted statement of human dignity, saying people were created in the best design.
أَلَيۡسَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَحۡكَمِ ٱلۡحَٰكِمِينَ ﴿٨﴾
Is Allah not the Wisest of the wise?
The closing question about Allah being the wisest of judges. Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi record a report that a listener should respond to it with an affirmation, though scholars have questioned that chain.
When Surah At-Tin is recited
Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim report from al-Bara ibn Azib that he heard the Prophet ﷺ recite At-Tin in the Isha prayer while traveling, and that he had never heard anyone with a more beautiful voice or recitation.
Surah At-Tin in Arabic and English
All 8 verses, with the Arabic, a transliteration to help you read it aloud, and the English translation by Talal Itani.
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
- 1
وَٱلتِّينِ وَٱلزَّيۡتُونِ
Waaltteeni waalzzaytooni
By the fig and the olive.
- 2
وَطُورِ سِينِينَ
Watoori seeneena
And Mount Sinai.
- 3
وَهَٰذَا ٱلۡبَلَدِ ٱلۡأَمِينِ
Wahatha albaladi alameeni
And this safe land.
- 4
لَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ فِيٓ أَحۡسَنِ تَقۡوِيمٖ
Laqad khalaqna alinsana fee ahsani taqweemin
We created man in the best design.
- 5
ثُمَّ رَدَدۡنَٰهُ أَسۡفَلَ سَٰفِلِينَ
Thumma radadnahu asfala safileena
Then reduced him to the lowest of the low.
- 6
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتِ فَلَهُمۡ أَجۡرٌ غَيۡرُ مَمۡنُونٖ
Illa allatheena amanoo waAAamiloo alssalihati falahum ajrun ghayru mamnoonin
Except those who believe and do righteous deeds; for them is a reward without end.
- 7
فَمَا يُكَذِّبُكَ بَعۡدُ بِٱلدِّينِ
Fama yukaththibuka baAAdu bialddeeni
So why do you still reject the religion?
- 8
أَلَيۡسَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَحۡكَمِ ٱلۡحَٰكِمِينَ
Alaysa Allahu biahkami alhakimeena
Is Allah not the Wisest of the wise?
Surah At-Tin PDF
The whole surah on printable pages: Arabic, transliteration and English side by side. Free to download, print and share.
Questions about Surah At-Tin
What do the fig and olive mean in Surah At-Tin?
Some commentators take them literally as two blessed fruits, while many understand them as pointing to the land where they grow, around Jerusalem, associated with Jesus and earlier prophets. Mount Sinai and Mecca follow in verses 2 and 3.
How many verses are in Surah At-Tin?
Surah At-Tin has 8 verses. It is the 95th surah and a Meccan surah.
What is the safe land in Surah At-Tin?
Commentators agree that the secure land in verse 3 is Mecca.