THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND RELIGIOUS IMPORTANCE OF FRUITS IN ISLAM: A STUDY OF QURANIC TEACHINGS AND ISLAMIC JURISPUDENCE

Fruits in the lives of humans and animals occupy an unquestionable strategic position in the teachings of Islam as they remain a source of nourishment and nutritional value, economic buoyancy, a systemic mechanism for repairs of body damaged tissues, duration for environmental landscaping, forms of beautification and thankful makers for those who use them. The existence of fruits such as figs, dates, pomegranates, grapes etc. has therefore examines and establishes their socio-economic and religious importance of fruits from the perspective of Islam using a qualitative doctrinal research methodology as the study relies strongly on the primary sources of Islam, and classical Islamic literature and other related contemporary works. The research reveals fruits serve multiple purposes and advantages for humans in particular; religious verbal usages for Satanic’s bittering sorrows and means for humans to ailments, resources and rehabilitation for his society; and as economic cultivation for security purpose. Some fruits/flowers are of importance as well, in paradise. The research reveals the problems farmers are not receiving enough care and are under attacked by humans. The paper concludes after discussions that Islam encourages and promotes cultivation, distribution, consumption of fruits are paramount to humans and their environment as they contribute to economic development. The paper recommends that Islamic schools and institutions should continually promote awareness of Qur'anic and Hadith teachings on fruits, agriculture/production and environmental conservation.