A small tasty note on Ayah 006.099

We bring forth the green blade from which We bring forth the thick-clustered grain; and from the date-palm, from the pollen thereof, spring pendant bunches; and (We bring forth) gardens of grapes, and the olive and the pomegranate, alike and unlike (Quran 006.099). 

During Ramadan I cannot help but wonder how flavour and scent play important roles in the lives of Arabs who have special affinity to ‘musk’, incenses, perfumes, olives, and dates. Islamic theology and the Quran rely heavily on the sense of taste in laying down the laws of permissible consumables; attractng good Muslims towards piety essential for securing eternity in the tasty Heaven; and frightening the sinners from the probable pus-drinking flashforwards from sweltering Hell. The images of Heaven in Islam are rich in tasteful descriptions:   

A similitude of the Garden which those who keep their duty (to Allah) are promised: Therein are rivers of water unpolluted, and rivers of milk whereof the flavour changeth not, and rivers of wine delicious to the drinkers, and rivers of clear- run honey (Quran 047.015).   

Elsewhere in the Quran, there is mention of other food items all of which are particularly appealing to the Arab population, e.g., clean drinkable water was always good temptation for the desert dwellers of Arabia. Surah Al-Tin begins with ‘By the fig and the olive’ (Quran 095.001) with the fig referring to Jesus and olive referring to Muhammad.  
 

Dates and figs were easily available in Arabia whereas grapes, olives, and pomegranates were highly precious imported fruits which common persons could not afford in Arabia. When the Quran was revealed foreign trade was a labourious affair and perhaps a more keen reading of the Quran reveals so beautifully how the people of Quraish were educated on the universality of Islam through the following ayah where Allah asserts that He is not only the God of Arabia (where dates grow) but is the Master of the entire universe (gardens of grapes, and the olive and the pomegranate, alike and unlike) looking after the affairs of all parts of the world: 

We bring forth the green blade from which We bring forth the thick-clustered grain; and from the date-palm, from the pollen thereof, spring pendant bunches; and (We bring forth) gardens of grapes, and the olive and the pomegranate, alike and unlike (Quran 006.099). 

SubhanAllah!