In Surah An-Nahl (The Bees), Allah evokes the diversity of the fruits of the earth, citing in particular the vine and the pomegranate:
"He it is Who sends down rain from the sky; from it you drink and from it grows vegetation on which you send your cattle to pasture. With it He causes to grow for you the crops, the olives, the date palms, the grapes, and every kind of fruit. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought." (An-Nahl 16:10-11)
The pomegranate is also cited in Surah Ar-Rahman (The Most Merciful): "In both of them are fruit and palm trees and pomegranates." (Ar-Rahman 55:68).
The choice of these two fruits is not insignificant. Modern science has revealed that the vine (Vitis vinifera) and the pomegranate (Punica granatum) are among the fruits richest in bioactive compounds beneficial to human health.
The pomegranate: a concentrate of antioxidants
The pomegranate is today recognized as one of the fruits richest in polyphenols, compounds with powerful antioxidant properties. Scientific studies have shown that the pomegranate contains ellagitannins, flavonoids and anthocyanins that help reduce inflammation, improve endothelial function and modulate blood lipids.
Research published in scientific journals has demonstrated that pomegranate extracts possess remarkable antioxidant activity, superior to that of many other fruits, thanks to their richness in polyphenols and fiber.
The vine: a source of resveratrol
The vine produces the grape, a fruit whose seeds and skin contain resveratrol, a polyphenol that has been the subject of numerous studies for its potential effects on cardiovascular health, glucose regulation and cellular longevity.
Resveratrol, present in grapes and red wine, has shown in several studies beneficial effects on people with type 2 diabetes, with improvements in serum lipid (cholesterol) and glucose levels.
A sign for those who reflect
The Quran invites believers to meditate on creation: the diversity of fruits, their complex chemical composition and their benefits for man constitute so many signs of the wisdom of the Creator. Modern science, by revealing the nutritional richness of these fruits, only confirms what the sacred text evoked more than fourteen centuries ago.