What is the interpretation of the verse, "Neither of the East nor of the West..." regarding the olive tree?
The exegetes differed regarding the meaning of the description of the olive tree as "neither eastern nor western." It was said: it is a tree upon which the sun shines at its rising, setting, and meridian, and this type of olive bears the best fruit. It was also said: it is a tree in a grove that is not exposed to the sun from the east or the west. Another interpretation was: it is not from the trees of this world, but rather a similitude Allah struck for His light. And it was also said: it is from the trees of Syria (Sham) which are not described as eastern or western.
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