Mamlakat al-Nabat Kama Yariduha al-Quran wa Yasifuha

Author died
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Editions
Islamic University of Madinah

Mamlakat al-Nabat Kama Yariduha al-Quran wa Yasifuha (The Plant Kingdom as Presented and Described by the Quran) is a treatise by Hamed Sadeq Qunaibi that explores botanical phenomena and the lifecycle of vegetation through Quranic verses and scientific reflection .

Subject and Scope

The work investigates the descriptions of flora, agriculture, and natural processes found across various Quranic chapters, presenting the plant kingdom as observable evidence of divine design and omnipotence . Qunaibi examines the stages of plant development—from the dormant seed and initial germination to flowering, fruiting, and eventual decay—highlighting how the Quran draws human attention to vegetation both as a source of sustenance and as a subject for contemplative reflection .

Key Themes and Analysis

The treatise addresses several interrelated themes centered on Quranic descriptions of botanical and ecological phenomena:

  • The Role of Water and Soil Dynamics: The author discusses the Quranic emphasis on rain as the primary agent of life, noting its role in breaking down soil and incorporating atmospheric nitrogen dissolved by rain following lightning . He analyzes Quranic depictions of dry soil as quiescent ( خَاشِعَةً ) or barren ( هَامِدَةً ), which stirs and swells ( اهْتَزَّتْ وَرَبَتْ ) upon receiving water, describing these terms as accurate characterizations of physical and biological activity within the earth .
  • Germination and Photosynthesis: Drawing upon Surah al-An‘am (6:99), the work outlines three fundamental stages of plant formation: water as the initial agent, the production of green substance ( خَضِرًا , identified with chlorophyll), and the emergence of clustered grains and diverse fruits . Qunaibi relates this sequence to the biochemical process of photosynthesis and carbon assimilation, wherein green foliage utilizes light, water, and carbon dioxide to synthesize nutrients .
  • Pairs and Botanical Diversity: The text highlights the Quranic concept of pairing ( زَوْجَيْنِ ) in vegetation, connecting it to sexual reproduction in plants, pollination by wind and insects, and the broader universality of pairing across nature . It also reflects on the passage describing adjacent parcels of land ( قِطَعٌ مُتَجَاوِرَاتٌ ) irrigated with the same water yet yielding fruits of contrasting tastes and qualities, such as bitter colocynth and sweet watermelon .
  • Vegetal Decay and Fossil Fuels: In discussing Surah al-A‘la (87:4–5), where pasturage is turned into dark stubble ( غُثَاءً أَحْوَى ), the author presents the interpretation that this succinctly describes the prehistoric conversion of dense non-flowering vegetation and ferns into coal under intense heat and pressure .
  • Cosmic Balance: Interpreting the term مَوْزُونٍ ("measured" or "balanced") in Surah al-Hijr (15:19), the author emphasizes that all plant life is created with precise ecological equilibrium and defined proportions .

Method and Sources

Qunaibi integrates classical Quranic exegesis with modern scientific literature. For linguistic and exegetical interpretations, he cites traditional scholars including Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), Ibn Kathir, and al-Raghib al-Isfahani (Mu‘jam Mufradat Alfaz al-Quran) . Alongside classical commentaries, he incorporates observations from contemporary Islamic scientific and literary writers such as Sayyid Qutb (Fi Zilal al-Quran), Muhammad Ahmad al-Ghamrawi, Abd al-Razzaq Nawfal, and Ahmad Mahmud Sulayman .

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