The Miracle of Date Seed

Allah the Almighty says in the Qur’an:

ذَٰلِكُمُ اللَّـهُ رَ‌بُّكُمْ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ مَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِن قِطْمِيرٍ _ 35:13 ‌

That is Allah, your Lord; to Him belongs sovereignty. And those whom you invoke other than Him do not possess [as much as] the membrane of a date seed _ 35:13

قُلْ مَتَاعُ الدُّنْيَا قَلِيلٌ وَالْآخِرَ‌ةُ خَيْرٌ‌ لِّمَنِ اتَّقَىٰ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا _ 4:77

Say, The enjoyment of this world is little, and the Hereafter is better for he who fears Allah. And injustice will not be done to you, [even] as much as a thread [inside a date seed] _ 4:77

وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِنَ الصَّالِحَاتِ مِن ذَكَرٍ‌ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ نَقِيرً‌ا _4:124

And whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer – those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged, [even as much as] the speck on a date seed. _ 4:124

In the above verses we find that Allah has given us examples in one the smallest and insignificant things of his creation which are parts of a date seed. Yet from this seed Allah gives us three examples which when we reflect upon give the verses greater meaning.

These three examples and descriptions have been used to show clearly the powerlessness of humankind and the rightfulness of Allah’s justice.

Firstly: The membrane of a date seed – القطمير
It has been mentioned in the Qur’an only once, and it is the thin film that covers the date seed.

Secondly: The thread [inside a date seed] – الفتيل
Mentioned in the Qur’an 3 times, and it is the thin thread which can be found in the small split in the date seed.

Reflect upon the following verse:

يَوْمَ نَدْعُو كُلَّ أُنَاسٍ بِإِمَامِهِمْ ۖ فَمَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ يَقْرَ‌ءُونَ كِتَابَهُمْ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا _17:71

The Day We will call forth every people with their record [of deeds]. Then whoever is given his record in his right hand – those will read their records, and injustice will not be done to them, [even] as much as a thread [inside the date seed]. _ 17:71

Thirdly: The speck on a date seed – النقير
Mentioned in the Qur’an twice in chapter 4 (Surat An-Nisaa’). One which is mentioned in the verses above, the second in which Allah says:

أَمْ لَهُمْ نَصِيبٌ مِّنَ الْمُلْكِ فَإِذًا لَّا يُؤْتُونَ النَّاسَ نَقِيرً‌ا _ 4:53
Have they a share in the kingdom? (If they had,) they would never have given an iota to the people. _ 4:53

Very insignificant to the extent of it being described as an iota, yet when we reflect on the verse, it clearly shows us that all Power and Just belongs to Allah Alone and Only.

Brothers and sisters, when we read the Qur’an, there are things if we just seek out the meaning of them or reflect deeper into them we will find that Allah reveals to us his words in the best examples and ways ever. Hope this may be an invitation to us to make us reflect more while reciting the Qur’an and seek out its meanings.