"Eat olive oil and apply it (as lotion) for it comes from a blessed tree".
Moreover, the olive tree and its oil are mentioned inthe Glorious
Qur'an seven times. Allah, the Almighty swears by the figs and the
olives,
"By the fig, and the olive"
Surat At-Tin (The Fig): 1.
Allah, Glorified be He also referred to the olive tree insurat
Al-Mu'minun (the Believers):
"And a tree (olive) that springs forth from Mount Sinai, that
grows(produces) oil , and (it is a) relish for the eaters."
Surat Al-Mu'minun (The Believers): 20
The oil mentioned in the verse is olive oil. This same tree is praised
by Allah in a third verse:
"… lit from a blessed tree , an olive , neither of the east (i.e.
neither gets sun-rays only in the morning) nor of the west (i.e. nor
it gets sun-rays only in the afternoon, but it is exposed to the sun
all day long), whose oil wouldalmost glow forth (of itself), though no
fire touched it."
Surat An-Nur (The Light): 35
Explanation of the Hadith
The Olive Tree is an evergreen tree, which has ahigh tolerance of
dryness. It is a perennial plant that might live even for more than
1000 years. The cultivated olive (Olea europaea) is grown throughout
the eastern Mediterranean region and in other parts of the world that
have Mediterranean-t ype climates especially in Asia and Africa. The
olive tree has been known since the times of the most ancient
civilizations as one of the most important oil producing plants.
It has been proven lately that the amount of fatty acids in olive oil
is very lowand that it only contains unsaturated fats. That is why it
is considered very healthy, as it is free of the substances that lead
to arteriosclerosi s and even tothe occlusion of the arteries. Through
an accurate survey it has beenfound that eating olive oil regularly
helps protect the body from many diseases including the occlusion of
the coronary arteries, the increase in the ratio of harmful fats in
the blood, the increase in blood pressure, diabetes, some carcinogenic
diseases (e.g. cancer of the stomach, the colon, the breast, the
uterus and the skin), in addition to protection fromulcers of the
digestive system.
One of the main body fats is "Cholesterol", a white crystalline fat
which is present in high amounts in the brain, the spinal cord and the
liver. It is normally synthesized in the liver, theintestine and the
skin, and is important as a mediator in many vital processes. The most
important one of these processes is the synthesis of vitamin E and
many other hormones. Nevertheless, eating excessive amounts of fatty
animal meat, may lead to increasing the level of cholesterol in the
body. Part of this cholesterol will pass to the blood forming a fat
globule that may leadto the obstruction or occlusion of the blood
vessels, and may consequently lead to arteriosclerosi s.
It is well known that the oxidation of cholesterol is one of the
factors that helpaccelerate the hardening ofthe arteries and their
consequent narrowing. It has lately been discovered that olive oil
plays an important role in preventing this oxidation process from
occurring, as it contains vitamin E and other Polyphenolic Compounds,
which inhibit the auto-oxidation of the oil. It also prohibits the
oxidation of harmful cholesterol known as LDL (Low-density
lipoprotein), and purifies the body from the dangers of the Lipid
Peroxides as well as the dangers of other harmful substances.
Therefore, eating olive oil regularly helps lower the total ration of
cholesterol in the blood generally, and reduces the ratio of the
harmful types of cholesterol in particular. The low cancer rate, which
is detected in the Mediterranean region, is attributed to the fact
that the inhabitants of this region regularly have largeamounts of
olives and oliveoil (especially the raw one produced from the first
squeezing process and free from any chemical treatment).
Olive oil is a yellow liquid, rich in Oleic Acids, used in cooking and
as a salad dressing. It is also used in producing many
medicines,medical ointments, hair oilsand soaps. Moreover, because of
its ability, it produces a clear flame when ignited. Olive oil was
used in lighting lamps, especially in large mosquessuch as Aqsa
Mosque, we pray Allah, the Almighty, tohelp us set it free from the
debauchery of the Jews.
In addition to the above-mentioned healthy advantages of the olive
tree and its oil, olives constitute a relish for eaters, a nourishing
food, and an appetizer, and they could be stored through preservation
in salt, which increases their economic value.