Introduction:

Figs have been honored by God, since they were sworn by in the beginning of Surat "Ateen". This status earns them a place among the Godly foods.

In the Quran:

"By the Fig and the Olive, and the Mount of Sinai..." [surah at-Teen; 95: 1-2]  

In the Sunnah:  

The figs did not grew in Medina or the Arab peninsula, that’s why there is no mention of it in the Sunnah, except for a weak hadith which we are not going to include here. The fact that it was sworn by in the Quran makes this fruit of great importance.

In modern Science:

Fresh figs are seasonal, but dried figs are available throughout the year. You can get the same health benefits from eating dried figs if the fresh ones are out of season.

Dried Figs:

 Water (%) ........................................ 23
Calories ............................................ 274
Protein (%) ...................................... 4.3
Fat (%) ............................................. 1.3
Carbohydrates (%) ........................ 69
Crude Fiber (%) .............................. 5.8 (high for fruit)% of US RDA*

Vitamin A ......................................... 1.6
Thiamin, B1 ...................................... 7.1
Riboflavin, B2 .................................. 6.2
Niacin ................................................ 3.9
Vitamic C .......................................... 0
Calcium ............................................. 15.8
Phosphorus ..................................... 9.6
Iron ................................................... 30
Sodium ............................................. 0.8
Potassium ........................................ 14 

Health Benefits:

Figs are a good source of potassium, a mineral that helps control blood pressure and reduce hypertension. The National Institute of health promotes the dietary approach towards fighting Hypertension (DASH) by lowering the sodium intake and encouraging the consumption of nuts, whole grains, fish, poultry, and foods that are rich in potassium such as figs and dates.

 The leaves of the olive tree or the blessed tree, as mentioned in the Quran, are used to lower high blood pressure. The Fig tree leaves are also as beneficial, as they have proven to reduce the amount of insulin needed by persons with diabetes who require insulin injections.It’s very hard to find recipes that make use of fig leaves, the Greeks used to wrap seafood in them, the same way grape leaves are used to make Dullmas. Some modern seafood recipes use fig leaves with Salmon and other fish to add flavor to it.Another way to benefit from fig leaves is to make tea out of them. 

Figs are rich in Calcium which is essential for bone health and bone growth in children.

 Dried figs are rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids, which may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

So many benefits abound for this fruit which God swore by in the Quran. It’s not exotic, or prohibitively expensive, and can be eaten out of season in its dried form. It just makes it an attractive fruit to serve in our tables, and even use it as a snack for adults and children. 

Resources:

1-     http://www.wikipedia.org/

2-     http://www.healthvitaminsguide.com/, September,2008

3-     http://www.thefoodpaper.com/,September,2008

4-     “Prophetic medicine”, Ibn Qayem Al-jawezia