Miracles in Olive Oil

Olive oil is a major component of the diet of the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. For the people living in this region, olive oil is the main source of fat in their cuisine. In the past few years the oil has also become more popular among consumers in Northern Europe, the US and Canada, in particular, although these new consumers are not always familiar with the properties and characteristics of this natural product. Growing enthusiasm for the Mediterranean diet and for olive oil is due largely to studies indicating that this diet plays a positive role in the prevention of certain diseases, especially coronary heart disease. Chemical and analytical work to elucidate the structure and to quantify minor constituents of olive oil is now progressing rapidly.
Culinary uses and consumption
In the last five years, the world’s olive oil production peaked at 2.5 million tons. The top producers are Spain, Italy, Greece, Tunisia, Turkey, Syria, Morocco, Algeria, Portugal, and Jordan. Argentina, Croatia, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, and, to a lesser extent, Cyprus, Mexico, and the United States, produce less. Global consumption averaged 2.37 million tonnes between 1996 and 2000. (International Olive Oil Council 2001). The EU accounts for 71% of this consumption, with the US accounting for 6%, Syria accounting for 4%, Turkey accounting for 3%, Algeria accounting for 2%, Tunisia accounting for 2%, Morocco accounting for 2%, and others accounting for 9%. The primary producing countries, Spain, Italy, and Greece, have the highest overall and per capita annual consumption.
A remarkable stability in Virgin Olive Oil is possible to preserve for 18 months or more. A broad range of flavor notes and color hues as well as various characteristics are associated with rancor development resistance due to the variances in the olive cultivars which extract the oil. These features give chances with little or no processing for a number of cooking applications. Olive oil adds flavor which are displayed all over the food. A nice olive oil mixes with the green vegetables well. Traditional cuisines include vegetables from the season, different greens, pets and grains. Olive oils of herbal flavor are generally preferred in vegetarian meals. For salads a strong hint of apple is appropriate, while a peppery flavor is preferable for grilled meats. For individuals that have appreciated sensory features such as mouth feel, fragrance, taste and aftertaste, and developed their own unique preferences, other foods such as pie, mayonnaise and fried eggs require distinct flavors.
وَالتِّيْنِ وَالزَّيْتُوْنِۙ
وَطُوْرِ سِيْنِيْنَۙ
وَهٰذَا الْبَلَدِ الْاَمِيْنِۙ
لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْاِنْسَانَ فِىْۤ اَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيْمٍ
“By the fig and the olive and [by] Mount Sinai, And [by] this city of security [Makkah]. Verily, We have certainly created man in the best of stature.” ( Surah Tin:1-4).
Olives are a gift to mankind from the sky (Jannah). Olives are believed to be extremely important in Islam as well, apart from the date fruit. A number of occasions both in the Quran and in the Hadith, the olive and it’s tree were referenced. Olive is regarded in Islam as a “blessed” fruit, but as a good food source, is also utilized as a food for health and is utilized for “ruqyah.”
Olives in Holy Quran
Olives have been mentioned seven times in the Qur’an. This indicates the worth it holds. One of the mentions was in the following ayat:
وَهُوَ الَّذِىْۤ اَنْشَاَ جَنّٰتٍ مَّعْرُوْشٰتٍ وَّغَيْرَ مَعْرُوْشٰتٍ وَّالنَّخْلَ وَالزَّرْعَ مُخْتَلِفًا اُكُلُهٗ وَالزَّيْتُوْنَ وَالرُّمَّانَ مُتَشَابِهًا وَّغَيْرَ مُتَشَابِهٍ ‌ؕ كُلُوْا مِنْ ثَمَرِهٖۤ اِذَاۤ اَثْمَرَ وَاٰتُوْا حَقَّهٗ يَوْمَ حَصَادِهٖ‌ ‌ۖ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوْا‌ ؕ اِنَّهٗ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِيْنَ
“And He it is who causes gardens to grow, [both] trellised and untrellised, and palm trees and crops of different [kinds of] food and olives and pomegranates, similar and dissimilar. Eat of [each of] its fruit when it yields and give its due [zakah] on the day of its harvest. And be not excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess.” [ Surah Anaam:141]
Another verse highlights the luminescent property of olive oil, powerfully illustrated in the Noble Qur’an:
اَللّٰهُ نُوْرُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ ‌ؕ مَثَلُ نُوْرِهٖ كَمِشْكٰوةٍ فِيْهَا مِصْبَاحٌ‌ ؕ الْمِصْبَاحُ فِىْ زُجَاجَةٍ‌ ؕ اَلزُّجَاجَةُ كَاَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّىٌّ يُّوْقَدُ مِنْ شَجَرَةٍ مُّبٰـرَكَةٍ زَيْتُوْنَةٍ لَّا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَّلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍ ۙ يَّـكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِىْٓءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ‌ ؕ نُوْرٌ عَلٰى نُوْرٍ‌ ؕ يَهْدِى اللّٰهُ لِنُوْرِهٖ مَنْ يَّشَآءُ‌ ؕ وَ يَضْرِبُ اللّٰهُ الْاَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ‌ؕ وَاللّٰهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيْمٌ ۙ
“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp, the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly [white] star lit from [the oil of] a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides to His light whom He wills. And Allah presents examples for the people, and Allah is Knowing of all things.” (Surah Nur: 35).
The olive tree, one of the blessings of the plant kingdom, not only has nutritional, medicinal and cosmetic value; it also fulfils a religious function as a sign (ayah) of Allah(SWT).
يُنْۢبِتُ لَـكُمْ بِهِ الزَّرْعَ وَالزَّيْتُوْنَ وَالنَّخِيْلَ وَالْاَعْنَابَ وَمِنْ كُلِّ الثَّمَرٰتِ‌ؕ اِنَّ فِىْ ذٰ لِكَ لَاٰيَةً لِّـقَوْمٍ يَّتَفَكَّرُوْنَ
“He causes to grow for you thereby the crops, olives, palm trees, grapevines, and from all the fruits. Indeed, in that is a sign for people who give thought.” ( Surah Nahl:11).
Olives in Hadith
There is great significance of olives and its oil in Hadith. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said:
“Eat olive oil and use it on your hair and skin, for it comes from a blessed tree.” (al-Tirmidhi, 1775)
Health benefits of olives have been propounded in Prophetic medicine. The Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) is reported to have said:
“Take oil of olive and massage with it – it is a blessed tree.” (Darimi, 69:103).
Olives in Researches
Like the date, the olive is of considerable importance in historical and contemporary society. In the Mediterranean civilization “for a number of thousand years it has serviced everything from money to medicines” (Zwingle, 1999)
The Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oil, has been acclaimed since the 1950s. While cholesterol (Assmanm and Wahrburg) has always been supported as helpful, it is now increasingly associated with blood pressure lowering. Olive products have a really amazing medicinal and cosmetic application. The oil is exceptionally nutritious and it is advised “to increase the fat balance in the blood” by dieticians (Adams 2001) as well as in cholesterol reduction.
وَشَجَرَةً تَخْرُجُ مِنْ طُوْرِ سَيْنَآءَ تَنْۢبُتُ بِالدُّهْنِ وَصِبْغٍ لِّلْاٰكِلِيْنَ
“And [We brought forth] a tree issuing from Mount Sinai which produces oil and food for those who eat.” (Surah Muminoon:20)