Benefits of Olives

“... a blessed tree, the olive, which is neither eastern, nor western. It’s oil emits light even though the fire has never touched it - it is light upon light” Surat An-Noor (24:35)

The olive is a fruit that is special because it is mentioned in the Quran (Islam’s holy book).

Unlike a fig, you cannot easily eat an olive picked from the tree. The taste of a raw olive is exceedingly bitter and near impossible to consume. But more than any other fruit, the olive has an importance in Islamic tradition where its cultivation began in the Middle East. Word of its value spread throughout the Mediterranean during the time of Ancient Greece later reaching Europe by way of the Romans.

The olive can be found in most households throughout the Islamic world, from Morocco to Indonesia. They can be cured with salt and herbs and are served on breakfast and dinner tables throughout the Middle East, Mediterranean and Southern Europe .

Olive oil is the greatest treasure of all; it is the first item in the pot when cooking and once completed; it is drizzled upon the finished meal. This delicate and flavorful oil is often infused with exotic spices like rosemary, basil, and zaatar (thyme and sesame seeds) for cooking or bread-dipping.

So important is the olive to life, that when a tree dies, the wood is utilized to make decorative bowls, utensils, furniture and tool handles.

The olive is a staple of life - used for food, cooking and healing the body that we should all use regularly.  

Not only are olives halal, which means “permissible and clean” for Muslims to eat, they are also highly recommended by the Prophet Muhammad for their health benefits. “Eat the oil and use it on your hair and skin, for it comes from a blessed tree,” the Prophet Muhammad was quoted as saying. (May please and blessings be upon him)

The health value of the oil from this “blessed” and halal fruit are immeasurable. It is said that olives can prevent and cure 70 ailments. Here is a short list of ailments for which olive oil is traditionally used in the history of the Islamic world:

• Reducing heart disease risk

• Reducing incidents of depression

• Reducing breast cancer risk

• Helping to maintain healthy cholesterol levels

• Reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease or other neurodegenerative dementias

• Increasing efficiency of liver function

• Reducing muscle atrophy, strengthen muscles

• An anti-aging supplement

• Purifying the blood

• Tuberculosis

• Alleviates eczema

• Respiratory diseases