ভূমিকা

(Surah Ibrahim 14:24-26) According to some the good word is the formula “There is no god except Allah” (La ilaha illallah) and according to other it denotes all good words. The simile mentioned is that of the ‘good tree’ which has a good growth and a huge spread, whose roots spread in the earth and are strong and its branches reach upto the skies. By the command of Allah it bears fruits all the year round or every year or every six months.

Some have said that it is the date palm and some say that the example of those trees is given whose roots spread in the earth and whose branches reach the sky and whenever you want you can take fruits from it although apparently no such tree exists. Others say that the ‘good word’ is faith and the ‘good tree’ is also refers to faith.

Allah had given this example for people so that they can take advice and the ‘evil word’ refers to polytheism or every false belief and bad word that Allah has prohibited from. It is like that evil tree which does not grow and its fruit is also bad, its roots grow above and are not firm and strong. Some have said that it is the cactus and some say it is a thorny tree and some opine that it means a tree with a foul odour and very weak tree which does not apparently exist.