YAQT̤ĪN (يقطين) 🌿
Definition: YAQT̤ĪN (يقطين) refers to the gourd tree mentioned in the Qur’an, under which the Prophet Jonah, known as Yunus in Islam, found shelter after he was expelled from the belly of the great fish. The relevant scripture is found in Sūrah 37:145-146: “We cast him on a barren shore: and he was sick: and we made to grow over him a gourd tree.”
Etymology: YAQT̤ĪN (يقطين) originates from classical Arabic. The term connotes various plants with large leaves, often climbers like the pumpkin, squash, melon, or cucumber.
Background: The story of Prophet Jonah exemplifies divine mercy and the theme of repentance and renewal. After Jonah’s mission to warn the people of Nineveh, he encounters numerous challenges, including his time in the belly of a great fish. After being saved, he reaches the shore and is provided shelter by a gourd tree that miraculously grows. This plant symbolizes nourishment, protection, and God’s omnipresent care.
Cultural Differences and Similarities:
- In Hebrew tradition, the term (קִיקָיוֹן) references the plant that offered Jonah shade outside Nineveh.
- Christian interpretation in the Bible also regards the story of Jonah’s vine, celebrated for its emblem of God’s compassion.
All of these traditions underscore the universality of themes like divine mercy, repentance, and protection, cutting across different faiths and communities.
Synonyms:
- Gourd Tree
- Vine of Mercy
Antonyms:
- Barrenness
- Desert
Related Terms with Definitions:
- Yunus (يونس): The Arabic name for Prophet Jonah.
- Niniveh: The city Jonah was sent to warn.
- Repentance (Tawbah): Seeking forgiveness for one’s sins, as exemplified in Jonah’s narrative.
- Divine Mercy (Rahmah): Compassion from the Divine, often seen in acts like providing shelter or sustenance.
Exciting Facts:
- The gourd tree is unique in its rapid growth and large leaves, symbolizing immediate and ample shelter, akin to the speed of divine intervention.
- The story of Jonah is mentioned in multiple religious texts including the Bible and the Qur’an, symbolizing cross-religious commonalities in moral values and divine care.
Quotations from Notable Writers:
- “Jonah’s redemption under the shade of the gourd tree is, in essence, the sublime reconnect of the repentant with the paradise lost.” - Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali.
- “Lying under the generous spread of the gourd tree, Jonah received solace, an allegory of how divine kindness finds us even in our most forsaken moments.” - Rumi.
References and Suggested Literature:
- “The Stories of the Prophets” by Ibn Kathir
- “Classical Arabic Literature: A Library of Arabic Literature Anthology” edited by Geert Jan van Gelder
- “Jonah and the Meaning of Our Lives: A Verse-by-Verse Commentary” by Steven Bob
- “Yunus - Jonah` - A Story of Humanity” by Muhammad Abdel Haleem
Quizzes
May the story of YAQT̤ĪN inspire you to find divine refuge in times of trial, echoing the thematic essence of solace and renewal found in nature and the divine.
👩🏫 Laila bin Rashid, On a journey through the sacred botanical narratives of faith.
