Muhammad's(PBUH) attitude towards plants

Muhammad's(PBUH) attitude towards plants

Muhammad's(PBUH) attitude towards plants This is an an important aspect of the Sira of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). While Islam guarantees the health of human spiritual life, following the pure teachings of Islam also maintain the physical health of human beings.

 According to the Qur'an and Hadith, Islam forbids us from using things that are harmful to human beings. What is it? And in the same way, Islam encourages us to use the things that benefit us.

The the environment has a profound effect on human health. The health of human beings is the same as the environment they live in. If there is a clean environment then human health is good. If the environment is opposite then human nature will also be unpleasant. Trees also play an important role in providing a clean and transparent environment.

Trees have a profound effect on human health, so Islam has commanded us to protect trees. In the Qur'an, where Allah has lost His bounties. 

Allah has also included trees in them. Allah says: هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً لَكُمْ مِنْهُ شَرَابٌ وَمِنْهُ شَجَرٌ فِيهِ تُسِيمُونَIt is Allah Who sends down water from the sky with which you drink, and from it grows trees in which you graze. (Your animals) (Surat an-Nahl, verse No.10)

In the same way, Allah has mentioned olive and palm trees in the Qur'an, which helps us to understand that we should protect the trees.  In the Quran, Allah has described the hypocrites as black qualities, but one of their bad qualities is that they ruin the crops.

Allah Says: وَإِذَا تَوَلَّى سَعَى فِي الْأَرْضِ لِيُفْسِدَ فِيهَا وَيُهْلِكَ الْحَرْثَ وَالنَّسْلَ وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْفَسَادَ(O Prophet,) when this hypocrite leaves you, he strives to cause mischief in the land and to destroy crops and race, and Allah does not like mischief-makers. (Surat al-Baqara, Verse No. 205)

That is why the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) instructed us to take care of plants and trees. We have described the subject of Muhammad's(PBUH) attitude towards plants below.

Indoctrination of tree planting:

Our Muhammad's(PBUH) attitude towards plants was wonderful. He has instructed the people to plant trees and if any animal or bird is eaten or stolen from the land of the planter, then he has given the glad tidings of a great reward to such a person.

 Hazrat Jabir(RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah,(PBUH) said: «مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يَغْرِسُ غَرْسًا إِلَّا كَانَ مَا أُكِلَ مِنْهُ لَهُ صَدَقَةً، وَمَا سُرِقَ مِنْهُ لَهُ صَدَقَةٌ، وَمَا أَكَلَ السَّبُعُ مِنْهُ فَهُوَ لَهُ صَدَقَةٌ، وَمَا أَكَلَتِ الطَّيْرُ فَهُوَ لَهُ صَدَقَةٌ، وَلَا يَرْزَؤُهُ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا كَانَ لَهُ صَدَقَةٌ» A Muslim who plants a tree. Whatever was eaten from it is (a charity for the owner). Also what was stolen(For the owner) is charity. What the beast eats (from this tree) is also a charity for the owner. What a bird eats (from this tree) is also a charity (for the owner). And whatever of it is reduced, it is charity. (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 1552)

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah is upon him) instructed his Companions to plant trees in particular. Hazrat Abu Hurayrah (RA) says that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: مَنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ أَرْضٌ فَلْيَزْرَعْهَا، أَوْ لِيَمْنَحْهَاأَخَاهُHe who has land should cultivate it or give it to his brother (so that he may cultivate it). (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 1544)

Strict punishment on tree trunks:

While Muhammad's(PBUH) attitude towards plants was excellent, He has also instructed us to plant trees. whoever cuts down a tree unnecessarily, you have severely punished him.

Hazrat Abdullah Habashi (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: من قطع سدرة صوب الله رأسه في النار Whoever cuts down a berry tree, Allah will throw him upside down in Hell. (Sunan Abi Dawood and its chain of transmission is correct. Hadith number: 5239)

When someone asked Imam Abu Dawud about the interpretation of this hadith, Imam Abu Dawud said: مَنْ قَطَعَ سِدْرَةً فِي فَلَاةٍ يَسْتَظِلُّ بِهَا ابْنُ السَّبِيلِ، وَالْبَهَائِمُ عَبَثًا، وَظُلْمًا بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ يَكُونُ لَهُ فِيهَا صَوَّبَ اللَّهُ رَأْسَهُ فِي النَّارِ۔ Whoever cuts the berry in the forest, from which the travelers and the animals get shade, and whoever cuts it without any right, Allah will hang him upside down in Hell.

 The point of this hadith is that in this hadith not only berry but also any tree from which people benefit is not permissible without any reason. He(PBUH) has not allowed it.

Muhammad (PBUH) love for trees and shrubs:

His life is the best example for us. He(PBUH) has taught us from His life that we should protect and love the trees. As is clear from the following incident.

Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: A woman of the Ansar said to the Messenger of Allah: I have a slave who is a carpenter. Shall I not make something on which you can sit? He(PBUH) said, "Build it if you wish." She made Him a pulpit. On Friday He(PBUH) sat on this pulpit.

Earlier, he used to give a sermon leaning against the trunk of a palm tree. (That trunk) started screaming. It was about to explode. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came down from the pulpit and hugged him. So he began to weep like a child who is silenced (by slapping) until it (the branch) calmed down.

So he said:بَکَت عَلیٰ مَا کَانَت تَسمَعُ مِنَ الذِکرِ He started crying because he did not listen to the dhikr (ie, because of the distance from hearing the dhikr). (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 2095)

This incident also shows us that Muhammad's(PBUH) attitude towards plants was excellent. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) made it clear to us that we should take care of trees and plants. And protect them. May Allah give us the Strength to Act. Ameen!