Olive Oil in the Quran and the Sunnah: Complete Guide
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 authentic Hadith directly recommending its daily consumption. 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 foundational Hadith, 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 Prophet ﷺ said: "Eat olive oil and anoint yourselves with it, for it comes from a blessed tree" — narrated through multiple companions including Abu Usaid al-Ansari (RA), Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA), and Abu Hurairah (RA), recorded in Sunan at-Tirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Majah, and Sunan ad-Darimi
- Classical scholars including Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya wrote extensively on olive oil's properties in their works on Prophetic medicine
- Modern nutritional science has extensively validated olive oil — particularly extra virgin cold-pressed oil — as one of the most beneficial dietary fats known
The Olive in the Quran: Every Reference
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)
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)
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 a tree growing from the region of Mount Sinai, that produces oil and a condiment for those who eat."
(Quran 23:20)
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 olive oil's two practical uses — as a cooking fat and as a condiment eaten directly with food — the same two uses recommended in the Prophetic Hadith. 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
"With it He causes to grow for you the crops, the olives, the date-palms, the grapes, and every kind of fruit. Verily, in this is indeed an evident proof and a manifest sign for people who give thought."
(Quran 16:11)
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 Foundational Hadith on Olive Oil
The primary narration — Abu Usaid al-Ansari (RA)
The foundational Hadith on olive oil is narrated from Abu Usaid al-Ansari (RA):
"Eat olive oil and anoint yourselves with it, for it comes from a blessed tree."
(Jami' at-Tirmidhi, Book of Food; Sunan Ibn Majah, Book of Food; Sunan ad-Darimi — narrated from Abu Usaid al-Ansari RA)
A parallel narration through Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) is also recorded in Jami' at-Tirmidhi with essentially the same wording, graded Sahih by Sheikh Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani in his verification of Sahih at-Tirmidhi.
A further narration through Abu Hurairah (RA) is preserved in Sunan Ibn Majah:
"Eat olive oil and anoint yourselves with it, for it is blessed."
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Book of Food — narrated from Abu Hurairah RA)
The teaching is therefore transmitted through three distinct companions of the Prophet ﷺ — Abu Usaid al-Ansari (RA), Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA), and Abu Hurairah (RA) — across three major Hadith collections: Jami' at-Tirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Majah, and Sunan ad-Darimi.
What the Hadith establishes
- Internal consumption: Eating olive oil — as a condiment, dressing, or directly — is Sunnah
- Topical application: Anointing the skin and hair with olive oil is Sunnah
- The reason given by the Prophet ﷺ: It comes from 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
The Prophet ﷺ and olive oil — additional authentic narration
Ibn Umar (RA) narrates that the Prophet ﷺ would anoint himself with olive oil when in the state of ihram (ritual consecration for Hajj or Umrah), using oil that was not perfumed:
"Ibn Umar said that when the Prophet ﷺ was in the sacred state he used to anoint himself with olive oil which was not perfumed."
(Jami' at-Tirmidhi — narrated from Ibn Umar RA)
This narration establishes the Prophet's ﷺ personal practice of topical olive oil use — consistent with the general recommendation to anoint with it.
Classical Scholarly Commentary on Olive Oil
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 — the narration of Aishah (RA) in Sahih al-Bukhari (5687) describes a specific preparation of crushed black seeds mixed with oil, administered nasally. Classical commentators traditionally understood the oil in this narration to mean olive oil — making the combination of olive oil and black seed one of the most authentically documented preparations in the Prophetic medicine tradition. See our black seed oil in Islam guide for full detail on that narration.
The Olive Tree of the Prophets' Lands
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
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 a single-estate family-owned grove on the plains outside Marrakech, Morocco. The trees are rain-fed — no irrigation — and the olives are harvested only when fully ready, once the rains have rehydrated the soil and completed the fruit's natural maturation on the branch. Cold-pressed within hours of harvest. Unfiltered, extra virgin, organic, halal. No additives of any kind.
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.
First harvest is expected late 2026 — a limited single-harvest batch. Register your interest to be first to hear when it's 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 did the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ say about olive oil?
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Eat olive oil and anoint yourselves with it, for it comes from a blessed tree." This is narrated through multiple companions — including Abu Usaid al-Ansari (RA), Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA), and Abu Hurairah (RA) — and recorded in Jami' at-Tirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Majah, and Sunan ad-Darimi. The narration through Umar (RA) is graded Sahih by Sheikh al-Albani.
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 authenticated Hadith.
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, organically grown, with no additives of any kind.
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.
Our cold-pressed organic olive oil from Marrakech is a single-estate, rain-fed, unfiltered extra virgin oil from a family-owned grove — cold-pressed within hours of harvest, organically grown, halal, in the same tradition of integrity that shapes everything we make. First harvest expected late 2026 — 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, Book of Food (Kitab al-At'imah) — olive oil narration through Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA), graded Sahih by Sheikh Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani in Sahih at-Tirmidhi. Compiled by Imam Muhammad ibn Isa at-Tirmidhi (d. 279 AH / 892 CE).
8. Sunan Ibn Majah, Book of Food (Kitab al-At'imah) — narration through Abu Usaid al-Ansari (RA): "Eat olive oil and anoint yourselves with it, for it comes from a blessed tree." Also Book of Food — narration through Abu Hurairah (RA): "Eat olive oil and anoint yourselves with it, for it is blessed." Compiled by Imam Ibn Majah al-Qazwini (d. 273 AH / 887 CE).
9. Sunan ad-Darimi — parallel narration through Abu Usaid al-Ansari (RA). Compiled by Imam Abdullah ibn Abd ar-Rahman ad-Darimi (d. 255 AH / 869 CE).
10. Jami' at-Tirmidhi — narration through Ibn Umar (RA) on the Prophet ﷺ anointing himself with olive oil during ihram.
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 translations follow standard scholarly renderings. Hadith translations follow authenticated Sunni sources verified through sunnah.com and IslamQA. 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. The Hadith narrations cited are from the authenticated collections of Sunni Islam.
