Ancient gnarled olive trees with silver-green leaves in a Mediterranean grove in warm golden afternoon light

Olive Oil in the Quran and the Sunnah: Complete Guide

By Yusuf Elsayed, Founder of Sidr & Stone · Last updated 28 September 2026

Olive oil occupies a unique position in Islamic tradition — it is one of the few foods mentioned multiple times in the Holy Quran and the subject of sahih Hadith recommending that it be eaten and used to anoint the body. The olive tree (al-zaytun, Arabic: الزيتون) is mentioned seven times in the Quran across six surahs. In the celebrated Verse of Light (Surah An-Nur 24:35), its oil illuminates the most magnificent parable of divine guidance in the entire Quran — the olive tree described as shajaratun mubarakah, a blessed tree. In Surah At-Tin (95:1), Allah swears by it. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ instructed his companions to eat it and anoint themselves with it, describing it as coming from a blessed tree. This guide covers every Quranic mention of the olive, the olive oil hadith with its grading, how olive oil is used in ruqyah, the commentary of classical scholars, and what this tradition means for how we approach olive oil today.

For our single-estate cold-pressed olive oil from Marrakech, see our olive oil product page.

The Short Answer

  • The olive tree is mentioned seven times in the Quran across six surahs — more than almost any other specific plant
  • In Surah At-Tin (95:1), Allah swears by the olive — an oath classical scholars understand as a mark of divine honour
  • In Surah An-Nur (24:35) — the Verse of Light — the olive tree's oil illuminates the most celebrated parable in the Quran, described as coming from a shajaratun mubarakah (blessed tree)
  • In Surah Al-Mu'minun (23:20), the olive tree growing from the region of Mount Sinai — the land of prophets — is specifically honoured
  • The olive oil hadith: the Prophet ﷺ told his companions to eat olive oil and anoint themselves with it, "for indeed it is a blessed tree" — narrated from Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) in Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1851 and Sunan Ibn Majah 3319, and from Abu Usaid (RA) in Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1852, all three graded sahih
  • Olive oil is also used in ruqyah — the Qur'an is recited over plain olive oil, which is then rubbed on the body or taken by mouth. Contemporary scholars have treated reciting over water and oil as permissible ruqyah; the healing is from Allah alone, and it is no substitute for a doctor
  • Classical scholars including Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya wrote extensively on olive oil's properties in their works on Prophetic medicine
  • Modern nutritional research on olive oil — particularly extra virgin, cold-pressed oil — is among the most extensive for any traditional food, and sits comfortably alongside the tradition without being needed to justify it

The Olive in the Quran: Every Reference

Open paper Mushaf on a traditional carved wooden Quran stand beside a small olive branch with ripening olives in soft warm daylight

Surah At-Tin (95:1) — Allah's Oath by the Olive

The opening verse of Surah At-Tin is among the most discussed references to the olive in the Quran:

"By the fig and the olive."

(Quran 95:1, Sahih International)

In the Quran, when Allah swears an oath by something in creation, classical scholarship understands this as conferring honour and significance upon that thing. Two primary interpretations of this verse are documented in classical tafsir:

Interpretation 1 — Literal: Allah is swearing by the fig and the olive as blessed fruits and trees — a direct honouring of these specific plants and their produce.

Interpretation 2 — Geographic: The fig and olive refer to the blessed lands associated with them — fig with the region of Shaam (the Levant) and olive with Jerusalem and the surrounding sacred lands where olive trees have grown since ancient times, connecting the oath to the lands of the prophets.

The Salafi scholar Sheikh Abdul-Rahman as-Sa'di (d. 1376 AH / 1957 CE) in his tafsir Taysir al-Karim al-Rahman discusses both readings, noting that the verse honours the olive tree and its blessed produce as among the signs of Allah's provision. Ibn Kathir (d. 774 AH / 1373 CE) in his Tafsir al-Quran al-'Azim similarly presents both interpretations, noting that even on the geographic reading, the olive and its oil are implicitly honoured by the divine oath.

Either way, the olive is among the very few things in creation by which Allah takes an oath in the Quran — a significant status shared with only a handful of natural things.

Surah An-Nur (24:35) — The Verse of Light

The most magnificent Quranic reference to the olive appears in the Verse of Light — one of the most celebrated and widely discussed verses in the entire Quran:

"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."

(Quran 24:35, Sahih International)

The olive tree here is described as shajaratun mubarakah — a blessed tree — and its oil is chosen by Allah as the illuminating agent in the most exalted parable of divine guidance in the Quran. The description "neither of the east nor of the west" has been interpreted by classical scholars in two primary ways:

  • Literally: A tree growing in an open position receiving sunlight from all directions throughout the day, producing the most luminous and pure oil
  • Spiritually: The olive's blessedness transcends geographical limitation — it is a universal blessing not confined to one direction, one people, or one era

Ibn Kathir comments in his tafsir that Allah chose the olive specifically because its oil is the purest, most luminous, and most beneficial of all oils known — making it the fitting choice for the most exalted parable of divine light in the Quran.

As-Sa'di in Taysir al-Karim al-Rahman elaborates that the description mubarakah (blessed) for the olive tree is an explicit Quranic endorsement — not merely poetic flourish — of the olive tree's real blessed status as a provision from Allah. He connects this directly to the Prophetic Hadith recommending olive oil consumption, noting that the Prophet ﷺ himself grounded his recommendation in precisely this Quranic description.

Surah Al-Mu'minun (23:20) — The Olive Tree of the Prophets' Land

Surah Al-Mu'minun honours a tree growing from the region of Mount Sinai — the blessed mountain where the Prophet Musa (AS) received revelation:

"And [We brought forth] a tree issuing from Mount Sinai which produces oil and food for those who eat."

(Quran 23:20, Sahih International)

The singling out of the olive tree on the land of the prophets connects it to the broader sacred geography of Islamic tradition. The verse describes the tree's two gifts — its oil and its fruit as food — the same two uses the Prophetic Hadith recommends. It is in the commentary on this verse that the foundational Hadith recommending olive oil is typically cited by classical scholars including Ibn Kathir.

Surah An-Nahl (16:11) — Among Allah's Provisions

"He causes to grow for you thereby the crops, olives, palm trees, grapevines, and of all the fruits. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought."

(Quran 16:11, Sahih International)

Here the olive appears alongside dates, grapes, and other honoured fruits as part of Allah's provision for mankind — placed in the company of the most significant foods of the Islamic tradition.

Surah Al-An'am (6:99 and 6:141) and Surah 'Abasa (80:29)

The olive appears in three further Quranic verses as part of Allah's enumeration of His blessings and provisions:

  • Surah Al-An'am (6:99): Olives among the fruits Allah brings forth from the earth as a sign for people who believe
  • Surah Al-An'am (6:141): Gardens with olives and pomegranates among Allah's provisions — a reminder of gratitude
  • Surah 'Abasa (80:29): Olives among the food Allah provides from the earth for mankind and their cattle

Across these seven mentions, the olive tree is the most frequently named specific food plant in the Quran.

The Olive Oil Hadith: What the Prophet ﷺ Said

Golden-green extra virgin olive oil being poured from a small jug into a traditional white ceramic bowl on a wooden surface

The primary narration — Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA)

The olive oil hadith is recorded from Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) in two of the Sunan collections. In Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1851 (Book of Food, graded sahih by Darussalam) the wording is:

"Eat olive and use its oil, for indeed it is a blessed tree."

In Sunan Ibn Majah 3319 (Chapters on Food, graded sahih by Darussalam) the same teaching from Umar (RA) is rendered:

"Season (your food) with olive oil and anoint yourselves with it, for it comes from a blessed tree."

The second narration — Abu Usaid (RA)

A parallel narration from the companion Abu Usaid (RA) is recorded in Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1852, also graded sahih by Darussalam:

"Eat of its oil and use it (the olives), for indeed it is from a blessed tree."

The teaching is therefore transmitted through two companions of the Prophet ﷺ — Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) and Abu Usaid (RA) — in three sahih-graded narrations across Jami' at-Tirmidhi and Sunan Ibn Majah. The translations and gradings above are those published on sunnah.com (Darussalam edition). Other narrations of the same teaching exist in the collections with weaker chains; we do not rely on them here.

What the Hadith establishes

  • Internal consumption: Eating olive oil — as a condiment, dressing, or directly — is Sunnah — Umar (RA)'s narration in Ibn Majah adds the everyday detail of seasoning food with it
  • Topical application: Anointing the skin and hair with olive oil is Sunnah — both narrations pair eating with anointing
  • The reason given by the Prophet ﷺ: It is a blessed tree — grounding the recommendation explicitly in the same Quranic description from Surah An-Nur 24:35
  • The Quran-Sunnah connection: The Prophet ﷺ in this Hadith uses the Quran's own description of the olive as his stated reason — a direct and notable alignment between revealed text and Prophetic practice

Olive Oil in Ruqyah: How the Practice Works

Olive oil ruqyah — reciting the Qur'an over olive oil and then applying it to the body or eating it — is a widespread practice in Muslim households and among ruqyah practitioners. This section describes the practice as it is practised and attributes it to its sources. It is not a recommendation of any practitioner or product, and it is not medical advice: anyone who is unwell should see a qualified clinician, whatever else they choose to do.

What ruqyah is

Ruqyah is the recitation of the Qur'an and the Prophet's ﷺ supplications over a person, seeking Allah's protection and healing. The Qur'an describes itself as healing: "And We send down of the Qur'an that which is healing and mercy for the believers" (Surah Al-Isra 17:82, Sahih International). Ruqyah with the Qur'an is established in the Sunnah. In Sahih Muslim 2200, 'Awf ibn Malik al-Ashja'i (RA) reports the Prophet ﷺ saying of the incantations people had used before Islam: "There is no harm in the invocation as long as there is no polytheism in it." In Sahih al-Bukhari 5017, Aisha (RA) describes the Prophet's ﷺ own nightly practice: cupping his hands, blowing into them after reciting Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas, then wiping over his body. And in Sahih al-Bukhari 5736, Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (RA) narrates a companion reciting Surah Al-Fatihah over a man who had been stung — a ruqyah the Prophet ﷺ approved.

How olive oil is used in ruqyah, as practised

As ruqyah practitioners describe it, the practice is simple. The person makes wudu, then recites over a bottle of plain olive oil — usually Surah Al-Fatihah, Ayat al-Kursi (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:255), Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas, sometimes with further verses — blowing lightly over the oil as they recite, in the manner of the hadith of Aisha (RA) above. The oil is then rubbed on the body — commonly the head, the chest and any place of pain — or a small amount is taken by mouth. Some people recite over the oil themselves; others ask someone known for piety and sound recitation to do it. The oil is ordinary olive oil. Nothing is added to it, and nothing about it changes except that the Qur'an has been recited over it.

What the scholars say

Reciting the Qur'an over water and then drinking or washing with it is a practice contemporary scholars have affirmed as permissible ruqyah, and reciting over oil for anointing or eating is treated in the same way. The Islamweb Fatwa Centre (fatwa 269215, 2014) states that reciting into oil for consumption or anointing is permitted, citing Sheikh Ibn Jibreen — that reciting into water "and similar substances", then drinking or washing with it, is established from the early Muslims — and Sheikh Ibn Baz's endorsement of reciting over water on the basis of a narration in Sunan Abi Dawud. Islam Question & Answer (fatwa 282867) records Sheikh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (Fatawa Nur 'ala al-Darb, 3/353–354) and Sheikh Ibn Jibreen permitting the use of olive oil over which the Qur'an has been recited, on the reasoning that the oil is a created thing carrying only the trace of the recitation, not the Qur'an itself. The same Islamweb fatwa cites Ibn al-Qayyim, in Madarij al-Salikin, describing his own habit of reciting Surah Al-Fatihah over Zamzam water and drinking it when unwell. The conditions attached are consistent across these sources: the recitation must be from the Qur'an or the authentic Sunnah, it must contain nothing of shirk, and it is a means only — the outcome belongs to Allah.

What olive oil in ruqyah is not

Three honest limits, drawn from the same sources. First, the oil is not the healer. The Qur'an gives the words to Ibrahim (AS): "And when I am ill, it is He who cures me" (Surah Ash-Shu'ara 26:80, Sahih International). Second, ruqyah is not a substitute for medicine. The Prophet ﷺ said: "There is no disease that Allah has created, except that He also has created its treatment" (Sahih al-Bukhari 5678, narrated by Abu Hurairah RA) — and the scholars who permit reciting over oil send the details of physical treatment to physicians. Sheikh Ibn Baz, asked how treatment with olive oil is done, answered that olive oil is blessed and treating with it is among the causes of healing, "but the details of that are with the doctors who use it" (Nur 'ala al-Darb, fatwa 15576, binbaz.org.sa). Anyone with a medical condition should see a qualified clinician. Third, Sidr & Stone makes no claim here. We sell a food olive oil; we do not sell "ruqyah oil", and we make no claim that olive oil — recited over or otherwise — cures sihr, the evil eye, jinn-related harm, or any physical or mental illness. Practitioners use olive oil in ruqyah for complaints they consider spiritual in origin; we describe the practice as it exists and leave those claims to the people who make them. If you wish to use olive oil for ruqyah, any pure olive oil is suitable, and the recitation is yours to make.

Classical Scholarly Commentary on Olive Oil

Two closed classical leather-bound Islamic scholarly manuscripts beside a small olive branch on a wooden desk in warm directional light

Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya (d. 751 AH / 1350 CE)

Ibn Qayyim devoted significant discussion to olive oil in the section on Prophetic medicine in Zad al-Ma'ad ("Provisions for the Hereafter"), drawing on both the Quranic and Hadithic foundations alongside the classical medical tradition. He described olive oil as:

  • Nourishing when consumed, particularly from ripe olives
  • Beneficial for the skin and scalp when applied topically
  • Strengthening for the body's constitution generally
  • A food broadly consistent with its Quranic description as blessed — its benefits spanning internal nutrition and external application

Ibn Kathir (d. 774 AH / 1373 CE)

In his Tafsir al-Quran al-'Azim, Ibn Kathir — commenting on Surah An-Nur 24:35 — explains that Allah's choice of olive oil to illuminate the Verse of Light parable reflects the oil's unique luminosity, purity, and quality above all other oils known. He also cites the foundational Hadith recommending olive oil consumption in his commentary on Surah Al-Mu'minun 23:20, establishing the direct Quran-Sunnah connection in both tafsir passages.

Sheikh Abdul-Rahman as-Sa'di (d. 1376 AH / 1957 CE)

As-Sa'di in Taysir al-Karim al-Rahman comments on Surah An-Nur 24:35 that the Quranic description of the olive as mubarakah (blessed) is a genuine divine endorsement. He notes that this is reinforced by the Prophetic Hadith, where the Prophet ﷺ himself cites "it comes from a blessed tree" as his stated reason for recommending the oil — making the Quranic and Hadithic evidence mutually confirming and inseparable.

Olive Oil and the Prophetic Foods Tradition

Within Tibb an-Nabawi (Prophetic Medicine), olive oil holds a distinguished place alongside honey, black seed, dates, and talbinah as foods explicitly honoured in Quran and Hadith.

What distinguishes olive oil is the directness of its Quranic endorsement — described as mubarakah (blessed) in the text of the Quran itself, not merely recommended in Hadith. Of the major Prophetic foods, only honey receives a comparable Quranic endorsement (Surah An-Nahl 16:69 — described as containing healing for people).

The combination of olive oil and black seed also has Hadithic grounding — Sahih al-Bukhari 5687 records Ibn Abi 'Atiq advising that five or seven black seeds be crushed, mixed with oil and dropped into the nostrils, on the strength of Aisha (RA)'s report of the Prophet's ﷺ words about the black seed. The narration specifies oil without naming its kind. See our black seed oil in Islam guide for full detail on that narration.

The Olive Tree of the Prophets' Lands

Silver-green olive trees on a hillside grove with the soft outline of distant mountains visible in the hazy background in morning light

One strand of classical scholarship connects olive oil's sacred status to its geographical association with the lands where the prophets lived and walked. The olive tree growing from the region of Mount Sinai (Surah Al-Mu'minun 23:20) — where Musa (AS) received revelation — the blessed lands of Shaam (the Levant) where many prophets walked, and the broader Mediterranean basin where prophetic history unfolded, are all olive-growing regions that have been continuously cultivated for thousands of years.

This connection — between the olive tree and the lands and times of prophecy — gives olive oil a dimension beyond nutrition. It connects the person using it to a long chain of prophets and the blessed lands they inhabited. For Muslims who value this dimension of traditional food culture, olive oil carries weight that goes beyond its chemical composition.

Moroccan olive oil, including from the Atlas foothills and the plains of Marrakech, belongs to this broader Maghrebi tradition — a region part of the Islamic world where olive cultivation has continued for over two thousand years, within the same Mediterranean civilisational tradition in which olive oil appears throughout Islamic sacred history.

Modern Scientific Research on Olive Oil

The Quranic and Hadithic tradition on olive oil is now one of the most extensively validated by modern nutritional science of any traditional food recommendation:

  • Cardiovascular health: The PREDIMED trial (7,447 participants) documented that a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil was associated with significantly reduced cardiovascular events compared to a low-fat control diet
  • Anti-inflammatory: Oleocanthal in extra virgin olive oil has documented ibuprofen-like anti-inflammatory action — established by Beauchamp et al. (2005) in Nature
  • Antioxidant protection: High polyphenol content in fresh cold-pressed EVOO — one of the richest dietary antioxidant sources, with activity dependent on polyphenol levels at time of pressing
  • Metabolic benefits: Oleic acid (the primary fatty acid, typically 55-83% of EVOO) consistently associated with improved lipid profiles and insulin sensitivity in clinical studies
  • Cognitive protection: Observational evidence from the PREDIMED-Plus cohort for reduced cognitive decline associated with higher olive oil intake
  • Skin and topical: Moisturising, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of topical olive oil application documented in dermatological research

The scientific findings don't validate the Quran — the Quran is its own authority, established through revelation. But the alignment between the Quranic description of olive oil as blessed and nourishing, the Prophet's ﷺ specific recommendation to eat it and anoint with it, and the most extensive body of modern nutritional science on any traditional food, is notable and reassuring for those who value both Sunnah and scientific evidence.

Our Approach to Olive Oil at Sidr & Stone

Freshly harvested mixed green and black olives in a wooden harvest crate with a few olive leaves scattered among them

When we chose olive oil as our second product, the Quranic and Sunnah tradition was a primary consideration — alongside quality, origin, and sourcing integrity.

Our cold-pressed organic olive oil from Marrakech comes from our own single-estate grove on the plains outside Marrakech, Morocco. The trees are rain-fed — no irrigation — and the olives are picked when they are ready. Cold-pressed within hours of harvest. Unfiltered, extra virgin, halal, with no additives of any kind. It is organically grown — no synthetic pesticides, herbicides or fertilisers — on a farm we own near Marrakech and control from tree to bottle; we are not yet organic-certified, and certification is actively in progress, so we say "organic" with that disclosure attached.

Morocco sits within the broader Mediterranean-Islamic tradition in which olive cultivation has been continuous for millennia — part of the same world in which olive oil appears in Quran, Hadith, and classical Islamic medicine. Our Marrakech grove is one small part of that long tradition, producing a golden-green oil with a gentle peppery finish, notes of fresh grass and almond, and the balanced character that comes from well-hydrated, tree-ripened olives pressed within hours of harvest.

It is a small, single-harvest batch, on pre-order and shipping late 2026. Register your interest to be first to hear when it is ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many times is olive oil mentioned in the Quran?

The olive tree (al-zaytun) is mentioned seven times across six surahs in the Quran: Surah At-Tin (95:1), Surah An-Nur (24:35), Surah Al-Mu'minun (23:20), Surah An-Nahl (16:11), Surah Al-An'am (6:99 and 6:141), and Surah 'Abasa (80:29). This makes it the most frequently mentioned specific food plant in the Quran.

What does the Quran say about the olive tree?

The Quran calls it a shajaratun mubarakah — a blessed tree — in Surah An-Nur (24:35), uses it in the most celebrated parable of divine guidance, and Allah swears by it in Surah At-Tin (95:1). It is also mentioned as growing from the region of Mount Sinai in Surah Al-Mu'minun (23:20), and appears repeatedly among Allah's provisions for mankind.

What is the olive oil hadith, and is it authentic?

The olive oil hadith is the Prophet's ﷺ instruction to eat olive oil and anoint with it because it is from a blessed tree. It is recorded from Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) in Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1851 ("Eat olive and use its oil, for indeed it is a blessed tree") and Sunan Ibn Majah 3319, and from Abu Usaid (RA) in Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1852 — all three graded sahih in the Darussalam edition published on sunnah.com.

Is taking olive oil daily following the Sunnah?

The Prophet ﷺ recommended both consuming olive oil and anointing with it. Taking olive oil daily — as a condiment, dressing, or direct supplement — is consistent with this Prophetic guidance. Both internal and topical use are explicitly mentioned in the sahih narrations.

What does "neither of the east nor of the west" mean in Surah An-Nur 24:35?

Classical scholars have offered two interpretations. The literal reading: a tree growing in an open position receiving sunlight from all directions, producing the most luminous and pure oil. The spiritual reading: the olive's blessedness transcends geographical limitation — not confined to one direction, one people, or one era. Both interpretations are present in the classical tafsir literature.

Why did Allah swear by the olive in Surah At-Tin?

When Allah swears by something in creation, classical scholarship understands this as conferring honour upon it. The olive in Surah At-Tin (95:1) is variously understood as honouring the olive tree and its blessed produce, or as a reference to the sacred lands of the prophets where olive trees are native. Ibn Kathir and as-Sa'di both present these interpretations. Either way, the olive is among only a handful of created things honoured by divine oath in the Quran.

Did classical Islamic scholars write about olive oil?

Yes — Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya (d. 751 AH / 1350 CE) devoted significant discussion to olive oil in the Prophetic medicine section of Zad al-Ma'ad, addressing internal nutritional benefits and topical applications. Ibn Kathir connects the Quranic references directly to the Prophetic Hadith recommending olive oil consumption in his tafsir commentary on both Surah An-Nur 24:35 and Surah Al-Mu'minun 23:20.

Is Moroccan olive oil halal?

Pure extra virgin olive oil is inherently halal — a natural plant-based product with no animal products, alcohol, or prohibited substances. Our Sidr & Stone Marrakech olive oil is additionally halal certified and organically grown (organic certification is in progress, not yet held), with no additives of any kind.

Can olive oil be used in ruqyah?

Yes, as practised: the Qur'an — usually Al-Fatihah, Ayat al-Kursi, Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas — is recited over plain olive oil, which is then rubbed on the body or taken by mouth. Contemporary scholars have treated reciting over water as permissible ruqyah (Sheikh Ibn Baz, among others) and reciting over oil in the same way (Sheikh Ibn 'Uthaymeen and Sheikh Ibn Jibreen, as cited in the fatwas referenced above). Healing is from Allah alone, and ruqyah is not a substitute for seeing a doctor. Sidr & Stone makes no claim that olive oil cures any spiritual or physical condition.

Is olive oil a medicine?

No. Olive oil is a food, not a medicine. It has a long traditional history — including being honoured in the Prophetic Sunnah — and a substantial body of modern research, particularly around polyphenols, cardiovascular health, and the Mediterranean diet pattern. It can be a worthwhile part of a healthy routine, but it does not cure diseases and is not a substitute for medical care. Be cautious of any olive oil marketed with specific disease-cure claims.

Final Thoughts

Olive oil's place in Islamic tradition is unique among foods — explicitly called blessed in the text of the Quran, chosen to illuminate the most exalted parable of divine guidance in the entire Quran, singled out in connection with the land of the prophets at Mount Sinai, and directly recommended by the Prophet ﷺ for both eating and anointing. The Hadith grounds its recommendation explicitly in the Quranic description — the Prophet ﷺ himself citing "it comes from a blessed tree" as his reason, creating one of the most direct Quran-Sunnah alignments for any food in the Islamic tradition.

For Muslim households following the Sunnah, taking olive oil daily is a practice rooted in fourteen centuries of Islamic tradition, consistent with both the foundational Hadith and the broader framework of Tibb an-Nabawi. Alongside honey and black seed, olive oil forms part of a triumvirate of Quranically and Hadithically honoured natural foods that have shaped Muslim daily life across fourteen centuries and all the civilisations where Islam took root.

Modern nutritional science has arrived independently at conclusions consistent with this tradition — the PREDIMED trial, the oleocanthal research, and the extensive polyphenol literature all document what Muslims have known and practised since the time of the Prophet ﷺ.

Sidr & Stone 500ml olive oil bottle beside a small olive branch with ripe olives and a folded piece of natural linen on a wooden surface

Our cold-pressed organic olive oil from Marrakech is a single-estate, rain-fed, unfiltered extra virgin oil from our own grove — cold-pressed within hours of harvest, organically grown (certification in progress, not yet held), halal, in the same tradition of integrity that shapes everything we make. It is a limited single-harvest batch, on pre-order and shipping late 2026.

Pre-Order Sidr & Stone Organic Marrakech Olive Oil — Limited Single-Harvest Batch →

References — Primary Quranic Sources
1. Qur'an, Surah At-Tin (Chapter 95), verse 1 — Allah's oath by the olive.
2. Qur'an, Surah An-Nur (Chapter 24), verse 35 — the Verse of Light; the blessed olive tree.
3. Qur'an, Surah Al-Mu'minun (Chapter 23), verse 20 — the olive tree growing from the region of Mount Sinai.
4. Qur'an, Surah An-Nahl (Chapter 16), verse 11 — olives among Allah's provisions.
5. Qur'an, Surah Al-An'am (Chapter 6), verses 99 and 141 — olives among fruits.
6. Qur'an, Surah 'Abasa (Chapter 80), verse 29 — olives among food provisions.

References — Primary Hadith Sources
7. Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1851, Book of Food (Kitab al-At'imah) — olive oil narration from Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA); graded sahih (Darussalam), sunnah.com/tirmidhi:1851. Compiled by Imam Muhammad ibn Isa at-Tirmidhi (d. 279 AH / 892 CE).
8. Sunan Ibn Majah 3319, Chapters on Food — olive oil narration from Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA); graded sahih (Darussalam), sunnah.com/ibnmajah:3319. Compiled by Imam Ibn Majah al-Qazwini (d. 273 AH / 887 CE).
9. Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1852, Book of Food — olive oil narration from Abu Usaid (RA); graded sahih (Darussalam), sunnah.com/tirmidhi:1852.
10. Sahih al-Bukhari 5687, Book of Medicine — the black seed narration (Aisha RA) with Ibn Abi 'Atiq's preparation in oil; sunnah.com/bukhari:5687.

References — Ruqyah
10a. Qur'an, Surah Al-Isra (Chapter 17), verse 82, and Surah Ash-Shu'ara (Chapter 26), verse 80 — Sahih International.
10b. Sahih Muslim 2200 — 'Awf ibn Malik al-Ashja'i (RA) on ruqyah without shirk; sunnah.com/muslim:2200.
10c. Sahih al-Bukhari 5017 — Aisha (RA) on the Prophet ﷺ reciting the Mu'awwidhat, blowing into his hands and wiping over his body; sunnah.com/bukhari:5017.
10d. Sahih al-Bukhari 5736 — Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (RA) on ruqyah with Surah Al-Fatihah; sunnah.com/bukhari:5736.
10e. Sahih al-Bukhari 5678 — Abu Hurairah (RA): every disease has its treatment; sunnah.com/bukhari:5678.
10f. Islamweb Fatwa Centre, fatwa 269215 (29 September 2014) — permissibility of reciting into oil and water for drinking, anointing and pouring over the sick; cites Sheikh Ibn Jibreen, Sheikh Ibn Baz and Ibn al-Qayyim (Madarij al-Salikin).
10g. Islam Question & Answer, fatwa 282867 — Sheikh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (Fatawa Nur 'ala al-Darb 3/353–354) and Sheikh Ibn Jibreen on oil over which the Qur'an has been recited.
10h. Sheikh Abdul-Aziz ibn Baz, Nur 'ala al-Darb, fatwa 15576 (binbaz.org.sa) — on treatment with olive oil.

References — Classical Tafsir and Scholarly Commentary
11. Ibn Kathir, Imad ad-Din Isma'il (d. 774 AH / 1373 CE). Tafsir al-Quran al-'Azim. Commentary on Surah An-Nur (24:35), Surah At-Tin (95:1), and Surah Al-Mu'minun (23:20).
12. As-Sa'di, Sheikh Abdul-Rahman ibn Nasir (d. 1376 AH / 1957 CE). Taysir al-Karim al-Rahman fi Tafsir Kalam al-Mannan. Commentary on Surah An-Nur (24:35) and Surah At-Tin (95:1).
13. Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya (d. 751 AH / 1350 CE). Zad al-Ma'ad fi Hady Khayr al-'Ibad, Volume 4, Section on Prophetic Medicine.

References — Modern Scientific
14. Estruch R, Ros E, Salas-Salvadó J, et al. (2013, updated 2018). Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease with a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts. New England Journal of Medicine, 368, 1279-1290. (PREDIMED trial).
15. Beauchamp GK, Keast RS, Morel D, et al. (2005). Phytochemistry: Ibuprofen-like activity in extra-virgin olive oil. Nature, 437, 45-46.
16. Covas MI. (2007). Olive oil and the cardiovascular system. Pharmacological Research, 55(3), 175-186.
17. Gorzynik-Debicka M, Przychodzen P, Cappello F, et al. (2018). Potential health benefits of olive oil and plant polyphenols. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 19(3), 686.

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes about olive oil's place in Islamic tradition and the scientific evidence for its health properties. Quranic quotations are from the Sahih International translation. Hadith translations and gradings are those published on sunnah.com (Darussalam edition); only narrations graded sahih are relied upon. Ruqyah is described as it is practised and attributed to its sources; Sidr & Stone makes no claim that olive oil, recited over or otherwise, cures any spiritual or physical condition. Olive oil is a food, not a substitute for medical care. Modern scientific research described reflects peer-reviewed findings and should not be interpreted as treatment recommendations for specific conditions. For any health concern, consult a qualified medical professional.

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