Surah Ibrahim — Verse 25

Word Meanings:

• Tu'tee ukulaha – It yields its fruit; "ukul" refers to what is harvested or eaten from the tree.
• Kulla heen – At every time or season; "heen" in Arabic means a period of time, whether long or short.
• Bi-idhni Rabbiha – By the permission of its Lord, meaning by His will and decree.

Tafsir (Interpretation):

This blessed tree—described in the previous verse as having a firm root and branches reaching high—continually produces its fruit at every appointed time by the command of its Lord. It is not limited to one season but gives generously throughout the year. This is the parable Allah strikes for the word of faith: just as the tree has a deep, unshakable root and lofty branches, so too does true faith have a firm foundation in the believer's heart—grounded in knowledge and conviction—and its branches are the righteous deeds and noble character that rise upward to Allah. And just as the tree bears fruit at all times, the believer's good actions ascend to Allah at every moment, bringing reward and blessing in this life and the next.

Allah then concludes by saying that He strikes such parables for people so that they may reflect and take heed. Parables make abstract meanings tangible and bring wisdom closer to the mind. Through this imagery, Allah opens the doors of understanding for those who ponder, guiding them to see the reality of faith and its fruits in their daily lives.

Da'wah Reflection:

Dear reader, see how your faith is like that blessed tree! If you nurture its roots with sincerity and knowledge, and raise its branches with good deeds and beautiful character, it will bear fruit in every season of your life—in ease and hardship, in youth and old age. Your every act of kindness, every word of truth, every moment of patience becomes a fruit that Allah accepts and rewards. So hold fast to this tree of faith, water it with the Qur'an and remembrance, and you will never cease to harvest its sweetness, by the permission of your Lord. Let these parables awaken your heart, for Allah has placed them as lights on your path to guide you back to Him.