20 Preface وَشَجَرَةً تَخرُجُ مِن طورِ سَيناءَ تَنبُتُ بِالدُّهنِ وَصِبغٍ لِلآكِلينَYusuf AliAlso a tree springing out of Mount Sinai,1 which produces oil, and relish for those who use it for food.For Arabia the best olives grow round about Mount Sinai. The fig, the olive, Mount Sinai, and the sacred city of Mecca are mentioned together in association in 95:1-3, where we shall consider the mystic meaning. Olive oil is an ingredient in medicinal ointments and in ointments used for religious ceremonies such as the consecration of kings. It has thus a symbolic meaning. If used for food, the olive has a delicious flavour. Cf. also 24:35, where the olive is called a Blessed Tree, and n. 3000.