Let’s Get Better Knowledge About Values of Surah At-Tin

We only live once, and surely we are supposed to follow the good way and fill our lives with goodness. It is because Allah creates us with intention; worshipping Him, being a caliphate on the earth, and collecting good deeds in the sake of the life after this world. All those things have explained by Allah in His Holy Qur’an, along with the proper ways of achieving those goals.

That’s why it is recommended, even obligatory, for us to read and learn it. We will be regret if we own it just as an ‘identity’ that we are Muslims without having insight what it is about. It is like walking in the darkness, we do not know how to go and where we will go.

Thus, when we have problems, basically we do not have to look for the solution out there, since it lies in Al-Qur’an and we can get benefits of read Al-Qur’an every day for life. There are also reasons why Quran has all life answer.

Every surah in Al-Qur’an has its own specialty and gives us a lot of learning. One of them that will be specifically discussed here is Surah At-Tin, 95^th surah of Al-Qur’an. This surah was descended to the Prophet Muhammad in Mecca. Tin is the name of a fruit, in English it is called as fig.

In the beginning of this surah, Allah swears by the fig, olive, Mount Sinai, and the secure city of Mecca. While in the next five ayahs, Allah tells about the topic of the beautiful human creation and their stages towards perfection, their decline, and Allah’s characteristic as the best Judge. Generally, there are 3 values of Surah At-Tin which are extremely important to understand.

• Being Grateful as Allah’s Best Creation

From all of Allah’s creation, we are the one given mind and conscience. These two things help us to think, feel, and then decide what we are going to choose. In Surah At-Tin verse 4, Allah says that he has created human in the best of stature.

لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ فِىٓ أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍ

“We have certainly created man in the best of stature.”

All the gifts Allah has given to us, such as organs of the body, mind, and emotion are the means of doing the best in this life. Of course the best here does not only refer to material aspects or anything related to it, but also our efforts in implementing Islamic values.

Probably we have never noticed such easement since we think it is too simple, yet it is a great thing we have to be grateful. Our gratitude won’t be in vain. Indeed, we can gain benefits of being grateful in Islam.

Supposing we lose one of them, our mind for example, it will significantly influence our lives and future. And we will just realize that it is something necessary after we do not possess it anymore.

• Every Choice Has Consequences

It is mentioned in Surah At-Tin verse 5 and 6 that Allah sends human to the lowest place, except for those who believe and do good deeds. They will have a never-ending reward.

ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَٰهُ أَسْفَلَ سَٰفِلِينَ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ فَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ غَيْرُ مَمْنُونٍ

“Then We reduced him to the lowest of the low. Except for those who believe and do righteous deeds, for they will have a never-ending reward.”

The lowest place in this context refers to hellfire. For humans who consider this life as a place for just having fun without thinking about the Hereafter, they will be placed in the hellfire.

Whereas for those who believe in Allah and His Messenger, they will be placed in the heaven as a never-ending reward, including those who do practices entering heaven without hisab. Everything has its consequences.

This world is the place for us to choose the choice, and the most consequences will be reaped one day in the eternal world. Thinking before action, that is one of the keys. For when the Day of Judgment has come, there is nothing we can do.

• Allah is The Best Judge

Everything we do will be recompensed by Allah perfectly. Nothing is left no matter how small it is. It can happen because of Allah’s omnipotence as the best Judge. As Allah has said in Surah Az-Zalzalah verse 7 and 8,

فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُۥ

وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُۥ

“So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.”

We may experience unfair things in this life according to our own perspective. For example, our friends can be successful by adopting bad ways. On the other hand, we often face failure even though we pray every day and try hard. Don’t ever think that it is unfair.

Perhaps we haven’t applied good ways how to become successful in life in Islam. However, the most important thing is stay in the right way in any condition, for Allah knows best and either goodness or badness will be back to us.

أَلَيْسَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَحْكَمِ ٱلْحَٰكِمِينَ

“Is not Allah the best of the Judges?” (At-Tin: 8)

Hopefully the values of Surah At-Tin above will give us a whole understanding that this life is too short to do something useless. In addition, it can be a reminder for us to learn Al-Qur’an more, the precious wealth which Muslims have. We can get highly rich lessons there.