Dear Islamic brothers! The topic of our Bayan today is ‘The virtues and benefits of planting trees,’ in which we will hear about the virtues of planting trees and its cautions, the scientific benefits of planting trees, societal and economical benefits of planting trees, good intentions which can be made when planting trees, and similarly, what can those who cannot plant trees do instead? Let us first listen to something amazing regarding why the people of Persia had long lives.

Why did the people of Persia have long lives?

Sayyiduna Salman Farsi رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ belonged to Persia. Those who lived in Persia had long lifespans; mentioning the reason behind this, the Quranic commentators رَحِمَهُمَ الـلّٰـه state: ‘The kings of Persia had great interest in digging canals and planting trees, and it was due to this that they had long lives too. A Prophet عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام asked Allah Almighty as to why the people of Persia had long lives, thus, Allah Almighty sent revelation to him, saying: ‘These people populate my city, which is why they live in the world for a long time.’ Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah
رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ also began working in the fields towards the end of his life.’ (Tafseer Kabeer, part 12, Surah Hood, under the verse 61, vol. 6, p. 367)

Dear Islamic brothers! From the aforementioned narration, we learn that the Noble Sahabah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم were also involved in planting trees. If we also plant trees with the intention of following the practice of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and the Noble Sahabah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم, اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه we will receive reward. There is also mention of reward for planting trees in many hadith. Let us listen to some Hadith in regards to this.

Saying of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم:

The Muslim who plants a tree or cultivates a crop, for every bird and human that eats from it, it will count as Sadaqah for him. (Muslim, Raqm 1553, p. 840)