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wa-fī l-ʾarḍi qiṭaʿun mutajāwirātun wa-jannātun min ʾaʿnābin wa-zarʿun wa-nakhīlun ṣinwānun wa-ghayru ṣinwānin yusqā bi-māʾin wāḥidin wa-nufaḍḍilu baʿḍahā ʿalā baʿḍin fī l-ʾukuli ʾinna fī dhālika la-ʾāyātin li-qawmin yaʿqilūna
In the earth are neighbouring terrains [of diverse kinds] and vineyards, farms, and date palms growing from the same root and from diverse roots, [all] irrigated by the same water, and We give some of them an advantage over others in flavour. There are indeed signs in that for people who exercise their reason.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Ar-Ra‘d – Verse 4
4. “And in the earth there are tracts, side by side, and gardens of (different) grapes and corn-fields and palm trees, like and unlike, watered through one irrigation system, and We made some of them excel in taste than others. Verily, there are signs in this for a people who understand.”
The Arabic term /sinw an/ contrary to its appearance, which is in the form of dual (referring to two), is the plural form of /sinw/ and means ‘a branch which stems out of the principal tree’. It refers here to being similar or identical. In this noble verse, we are confronted a series of interesting geological and botanical issues which are all the signs of a predetermined system of creation. The Qur’an first mentions that there are different tracts side by side in the earth, and there are gardens and trees which have different kinds of grapes and different plantations, and palm trees as well.
The verse says:
“And in the earth there are tracts, side by side, and gardens of (different) grapes and corn-fields and palm trees…”
The amazing thing is that these trees and their various kinds take their roots from one basic stem on some occasion, and at other times they have their roots from different stems. The verse continues saying:
“…like and unlike, watered through one irrigation system…”
This sentence probably provides clues as to the issue of the potentialities of trees for grafting which is occasionally based on the grafting of several parts on the original stem, each of which develop and consequently a special kind of fruit will be delivered. What is more amazing is that they are all watered with one type of water.
“Watered through one irrigation system”.
In spite of all this, Allah has excelled some of these trees over others in their type of fruit. The verse says:
“…and We made some of them excel in taste than others…”
Does each of these clues not provide us with sufficient reasons as to the leadership which is unique in its origin and is knowledgeable in its system? It is here where, at the end of the verse, the Qur’an declares that there are signs in these matters as to the magnitude of Allah for those who contemplate. The verse says:
“…Verily, there are signs in this for a people who understand.”
Explanation
The variety of fruits as to the colour, taste and smell and their different forms all have their origin in the Divine power, and are consonant with Allah’s will. Otherwise, one kind of water could not generate more than one type of fruit.