The Importance of Trees in Islam

Islam has placed a great deal of significance on the conservation of the environment. Believers are obligated to protect animal and plant life, and to preserve the environment by not cutting trees, not polluting water, not contaminating the atmosphere and much more. There are several beautiful verses in the Book of Allah ﷻ that contain descriptions of the lush, green gardens and trees and imply their significance in this world as well as the hereafter. Similarly, the words of our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ have established the importance of planting and taking care of trees. While we are certainly aware of the physical benefits of having trees around us, trees have spiritual importance too. A few of them are listed below.

An Ongoing Act of Charity – Trees in Islam

Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said,

“There is none amongst the Muslims who plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, but is regarded as a charitable gift for him.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari, 2320]

Planting trees is regarded as Sadaqatul Jaariya (ongoing charity). The one who plants trees will be rewarded for it as long as any living being benefits from it.

A Spiritual Connection

The Prophet ﷺ used to stand by a tree or a date-palm on Friday. Then, an Ansari woman or man said, “O Allah’s Messenger ﷺ! Shall we make a pulpit for you?” He replied, “If you wish.” So they made a pulpit for him, and when it was Friday, he proceeded towards the pulpit (for delivering the sermon). The date-palm cried like a child! The Prophet ﷺ descended (the pulpit) and embraced it while it continued moaning like a child being quietened. The Prophet ﷺ said, “It was crying for (missing) what it used to hear of religious knowledge given near to it.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari, 3584]

The above hadith reflects the deep spiritual connection the Prophet ﷺ shared with trees. Each living being worships our Creator ﷻ; hence, it is important that we treat them with respect and not harm them in any way.

A Metaphor

Trees were described as being a metaphor for believing Muslims by the Prophet ﷺ, as narrated by Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him),

“I was with the Prophet ﷺ while he was eating fresh dates. He said, ‘From the trees, there is a tree which resembles a faithful believer.’ I wanted to say that it was the date-palm, but I was the youngest among them (so I kept quiet). He ﷺ added, ‘It is the date palm.’”

[Sahih al-Bukhari 2209]

The teachings of Islam are imbibed with a lot of values, and there is no other proof that we need to understand that all things in the universe were created to serve our Lord ﷻ, who is the Sustainer of all Living things.

The Trees of the Afterlife

There are a lot of references from the Qur’an and Sunnah that signify the presence of trees in the Hereafter. A few examples include,

“When there covered the Lote Tree (Sidratal-Muntaha) that which covered [it]. The sight [of the Prophet] did not swerve, nor did it transgress [its limit]. He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.”

[An-Najm: 16-18]

This verse talks about the night of ascension, and in it is mentioned the Lote tree or Sidrat al-Muntaha, by which the Prophet ﷺ saw Jibreel (peace be upon him) when he ﷺ was taken to the heavens.

“Indeed, the tree of Zaqqum. Is food for the sinful.”

[Ad-Dukhan: 43-44]

It is mentioned in many verses of the Qur’an that Zaqqum is the cursed tree of Hellfire and the sinful will be made to eat from it. Allah ﷻ knows the best.

The Trees of Qur’an

The Olives (Az-Zaitoon):

After date-palms, olive trees are one of the most frequently mentioned trees in the Qur’an.

“And [We brought forth] a tree [Olives] issuing from Mount Sinai which produces oil and food for those who eat.”

[Al-Mu’minoon: 20]

It is Sunnah to eat from olive trees, and it also benefits the hair and skin.

The Gourd (Al-Yaqteen):

“And We caused to grow over him a gourd vine.”

[Al-Saaffaat: 146]

The gourd resembles a pumpkin and the described benefits are plenty. It grows quickly, provides shade, has large, smooth leaves, keeps flies away and its fruit provides good nourishment. It can be eaten raw or cooked, and its skin may be eaten too.

Fruits:

Other trees, such as those of the fig, pomegranate and grape, have also been mentioned in the Qur’an in the following verses (and more) respectively.

“By the fig and the olive”

[At-Tin: 1]

“In them will be fruits, and dates and pomegranates”

[Ar-Rahman: 68]

“He causes to grow for you thereby the crops, olives, palm trees, grapevines, and of all the fruits. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought.”

[An-Nahl: 11]

It is clear that it is an obligation upon every believer to take care of his environment by supporting and practising afforestation. And it can start small by beginning at home. The aforementioned reasons are more than enough to realize why it is important to safeguard and grow more trees, especially keeping in mind the need to pay due respect to the Qur’an and Sunnah.

Written by: Taz Iris
Edited by: The Editorial Team
© The Islamic Reflections Blog

References:

https://islamqa.info/en/answers/1920/trees-mentioned-in-the-quraan-and-sunnah

http://www.khaleafa.com/khaleafacom/value-of-trees-in-islam

https://sunnah.com/

 

Almighty Allah has revealed many verses about trees in the Holy Quran. Prophet for the world Muhammad Rasulullah (PBUH) planted and tended trees with his own hands. The importance of plantation in Islam is immense. Planting trees is considered worship. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) encouraged people to plant trees many times, in many ways.

It is said in the 18th verse of Surah Hajj of the Holy Qur’an that the tree prostrates to Allah. Reciting his Tasbeeh. It is declared in the Holy Quran- “Have you not seen all that is in the heavens and the earth, the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the plants and the animals, and many people worshiping Allah”.

From this verse, it can be understood that the trees also prostrate to Allah. And Allah has not created anything out of necessity. Everything goes according to his word. Plants are no exception. Besides, in Surah Nahl verses 10-11, Allah says – ‘It is He who sends down water from the sky. There is drink in it for you, and plants growing from it, so that you may graze on it. He grows for you with its grain, olives, date palms, grapes and fruits of various kinds. Surely there are signs in it for the thinking community.’

Verse No. 71-73 of Surah Waqiah is also very important. There is a great saying of Allah- ’Do you notice the fire you light? Do you create trees to produce fire or me? I have made it a sign and a necessary garment for deserters.’

In this verse, the burning of the fire, which is essential to man, is expressed by plants. Plants provide us with food, clothing, shelter, and medicine. If it is said, we are not using wood-bamboo but bricks for building houses. The answer can be said – most of the bricks are burnt from the wood of trees or plants of billions of years ago which are called natural coal. And the food of animals comes from trees. Even though it comes from animals, that animal also spends its life on trees. So, there is no opportunity to say anything unnecessary about the tree.

Officially, tree fairs, agricultural fairs, and plantation programs are held every year. Again, numerous institutions, organizations, and organizations encourage everyone by distributing and planting trees which deserves thanks. So, let’s take the initiative in planting trees today without leaving the abandoned places of various institutions in the yard, behind the house, on the side of the road, or in the alley of the land, and encourage others to take the initiative.

Our beloved Prophet (PBUH) has also told us about planting trees and their benefits through his hadiths. So, its necessity and importance are immense for us. Sahih Bukhari Sharif-2320; In Muslim Sharif- 4055 hadith, Prophet Karim said- If a Muslim plants a tree or sows a crop in a field. And if an insect or human being or quadruped eats from it, then it will be counted as charity for him.

This hadith clearly shows how fortunate the planter is. In another hadith, it is said – ‘If any of your crops are destroyed by a storm, then Allah will write a reward for that too. (Haythami 4/68)

Also, in Hadith-Al Mukhtarah-7/264-262, the Prophet (PBUH) also said to explain the importance of planting trees, ‘If one of you hears that the Last Day has begun, and one of you has a tree sapling in his hand, then, if possible, he/she should not plant the sapling. Don’t get up’. Through this hadith, the horror of the Last Day and the issue of salvation has basically come up. Planting a tree can be the source of salvation!

‘Subhanallah’, Allah plants a tree in Paradise

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: “For the person who recites ‘Subhanallah’, Allah plants a tree in Paradise.”
On hearing this a man from Quraish: an Arab people of which Muhammad was a member and which from the 5th century was distinguished by a religious preeminence associated with its hereditary provision of the pre-Islamic custodians of the Kaaba at Mecca The Quraysh was an Arab tribal confederation that historically inhabited and controlled the city of Mecca and its Ka'aba. In the late 6th-century stood up and said, “If it is this way, then there must be many trees for us in the Paradise?” The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) replied,

“Yes, but you must beware that you don’t set fire from here to burn them all down.”(Iddatud-Dai page 235)
The Prophet (PBUH) warned against cutting down trees for no reason. In Hadith No. 524 of Abu Dawood Sharif, the beloved Rasul SAW. He said, “Whoever cuts a tree unnecessarily, Allah will throw his head into the fire.”

So, we have to be careful about cutting trees unnecessarily. Many times, we get the news of cutting down hundreds of trees in the dark of night due to hostilities in various media. It is grossly unfair. This news saddens us too. Because I think cutting trees unnecessarily means killing life. Again, the Prophet (PBUH) also spoke of cutting down trees that are troublesome to people. He gave glad tidings to the remover of the troublesome tree. It is mentioned in Sahih Muslim Sharif-5837 Hadith, Rasul SAW. Said, “I saw a man in Paradise walking under the shade of a tree, which he cut down from the crossroads, which used to trouble people.” So come on! Plantation season is on, ‘plant trees – save the environment’. I get rewarded on the path of the afterlife by planting trees. It is also used as Sadaqah Jariyah. What is Sadaqah Jariyah? Sadaqah Jariyah is an ongoing charity. It is one of the most rewarding deeds we can do in our lives, since we can gain reward for it while we are alive and after we have passed. Why is Sadaqah Jariyah important in Islam? Sadaqah Jariyah is a gift that not only benefits others in this life but also benefits us and our loved ones in the next.

But yes, we have to plan and plant trees. All kinds of maintenance including setting the place, digging holes, fencing, fertilizing should be done.