سُوْرَةُ اِبْرَاهِيْمَ
Surah Ibrahim (14) — Ayah 24
أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا كَلِمَةً طَيِّبَةً كَشَجَرَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصْلُهَا ثَابِتٌ وَفَرْعُهَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ﴿24﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
See you not how Allâh sets forth a parable? A goodly word as a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the sky (i.e. very high).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَلَمْ
alam
Do not
تَرَ
tara
you see
كَيْفَ
kayfa
how
ضَرَبَ
ḍaraba
Allah sets forth
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah sets forth
مَثَلًۭا
mathalan
the example
كَلِمَةًۭ
kalimatan
a word
طَيِّبَةًۭ
ṭayyibatan
good
كَشَجَرَةٍۢ
kashajaratin
(is) like a tree
طَيِّبَةٍ
ṭayyibatin
good
أَصْلُهَا
aṣluhā
its root
ثَابِتٌۭ
thābitun
(is) firm
وَفَرْعُهَا
wafarʿuhā
and its branches
فِى
fī
(are) in
ٱلسَّمَآءِ
l-samāi
the sky
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
24. Do you not see how Allah sets forth a parable of a good word [30] (of monotheism)? It is like a good tree [31], whose root is firmly fixed and its branches reach to the sky.
[30] The literal meaning of Kalimah Tayyibah is "pure word," and by this is meant the Kalimah of Tawheed, that is, ﴿لاَ اِلٰهَ الآَ اللّٰهُ﴾. This is the very Kalimah that, when it takes the form of belief and action, becomes the foundation of all goodness and also cuts off the root of every kind of evil. This is why every prophet began his call with this Kalimah.
[31]
The Example of Kalimah Tayyibah is Like a Pure Tree:
By "pure tree" is meant the date palm tree, and the example of the pure tree is presented for the believer in whose heart the Kalimah Tayyibah or Kalimah Tawheed has become deeply rooted. As is made clear by the following hadith: Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar ؓ says that once we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He ﷺ asked the companions, "Tell me, which tree is it whose leaves do not fall? The example of a Muslim is like that tree, and this does not happen, and that does not happen, neither does its fruit end, nor does its seed perish, nor does its benefit go to waste, and it gives fruit at all times?" At that time, it occurred to me that it was the date palm tree, but when I saw that elders like Abu Bakr ؓ and Umar ؓ were sitting silently, I did not consider it appropriate to answer the Prophet ﷺ. Then he ﷺ himself said that it was the date palm tree. When we got up from that gathering, I said to my father, "Dear father! By Allah, it came to my mind that it was the date palm tree." He said, "Then why did you not say so?" I said, "You all remained silent, so I did not consider it appropriate to speak up." My father said, "If you had said it, I would have been happier than receiving so much wealth." [بخاري۔ كتاب التفسير]
And Allah Almighty has described four qualities of the pure tree:
(1) It is pure and clean. Its excellence may be in terms of its appearance, or in terms of its fruit and flowers, or in terms of its fruit being delicious, sweet, and fragrant.
(2) Its roots are firmly and deeply embedded in the earth, and are so strong that they can bear the weight of its tall tree.
(3) Its branches have reached the skies, that is, they have gone to great heights, so the fruit obtained from it will be free from the germs of air pollution and filth, etc.
(4) It is not like ordinary trees, but gives full fruit in every season, and these qualities are found in the date palm tree and its fruit. That is why this tree is called Shajarah Tayyibah in the hadith, and it is possible that in Allah's knowledge there may be a tree that gives fruit at all times, as is implied by the words of the verse. Also, Allah has likened the Shajarah Tayyibah to the Kalimah Tayyibah, and this quality is found in the Kalimah Tayyibah to the highest degree. It is evergreen and always brings forth its righteous leaves and fruit.
[30] The literal meaning of Kalimah Tayyibah is "pure word," and by this is meant the Kalimah of Tawheed, that is, ﴿لاَ اِلٰهَ الآَ اللّٰهُ﴾. This is the very Kalimah that, when it takes the form of belief and action, becomes the foundation of all goodness and also cuts off the root of every kind of evil. This is why every prophet began his call with this Kalimah.
[31]
The Example of Kalimah Tayyibah is Like a Pure Tree:
By "pure tree" is meant the date palm tree, and the example of the pure tree is presented for the believer in whose heart the Kalimah Tayyibah or Kalimah Tawheed has become deeply rooted. As is made clear by the following hadith: Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar ؓ says that once we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He ﷺ asked the companions, "Tell me, which tree is it whose leaves do not fall? The example of a Muslim is like that tree, and this does not happen, and that does not happen, neither does its fruit end, nor does its seed perish, nor does its benefit go to waste, and it gives fruit at all times?" At that time, it occurred to me that it was the date palm tree, but when I saw that elders like Abu Bakr ؓ and Umar ؓ were sitting silently, I did not consider it appropriate to answer the Prophet ﷺ. Then he ﷺ himself said that it was the date palm tree. When we got up from that gathering, I said to my father, "Dear father! By Allah, it came to my mind that it was the date palm tree." He said, "Then why did you not say so?" I said, "You all remained silent, so I did not consider it appropriate to speak up." My father said, "If you had said it, I would have been happier than receiving so much wealth." [بخاري۔ كتاب التفسير]
And Allah Almighty has described four qualities of the pure tree:
(1) It is pure and clean. Its excellence may be in terms of its appearance, or in terms of its fruit and flowers, or in terms of its fruit being delicious, sweet, and fragrant.
(2) Its roots are firmly and deeply embedded in the earth, and are so strong that they can bear the weight of its tall tree.
(3) Its branches have reached the skies, that is, they have gone to great heights, so the fruit obtained from it will be free from the germs of air pollution and filth, etc.
(4) It is not like ordinary trees, but gives full fruit in every season, and these qualities are found in the date palm tree and its fruit. That is why this tree is called Shajarah Tayyibah in the hadith, and it is possible that in Allah's knowledge there may be a tree that gives fruit at all times, as is implied by the words of the verse. Also, Allah has likened the Shajarah Tayyibah to the Kalimah Tayyibah, and this quality is found in the Kalimah Tayyibah to the highest degree. It is evergreen and always brings forth its righteous leaves and fruit.
