اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ
Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth… lit from the oil of a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west.
Surah an-Nûr (The Light), 24:35
Translation to be validatedThe olive tree holds a special place in the Islamic tradition. The Quran calls it a “blessed tree” in the Verse of Light, and swears by it at the beginning of Surah at-Tîn. In roqya, olive oil is often used as a medium: the Quran is recited over the oil, and the person then uses it according to the advice given.
In the tradition
- A medium for recitation in roqya, applied to the skin or used as food.
- A staple of Mediterranean and North African cooking.
- Traditional production: the olives are crushed with a millstone, the paste is pressed, then left to settle to separate the oil from the water (“first cold pressing”). It takes about 5 to 6 kg of olives to make one litre of oil.
What research says
- Olive oil is made up mostly of oleic acid (an omega-9), with some saturated fatty acids and small amounts of omega-6 and omega-3.
- It contains polyphenols with antioxidant properties. In the European Union, a health claim is authorised for olive oil polyphenols, which contribute to the protection of blood lipids from oxidative stress.
- The Mediterranean diet, rich in virgin olive oil, is associated in several large studies with a lower cardiovascular risk.
Precautions
- Olive oil is still a fat: it should be eaten in moderation.
- It does not treat cancer or diabetes. Never change a treatment without your doctor's advice.
This information is general. It is not medical advice. Ask your doctor or pharmacist, especially if you are taking a treatment, are pregnant or breastfeeding.