One Story, One Miracle
Day of Planting Trees
Mawlana Haydar Ali Madani
An interesting scene unfolded in the hallway. Suhayb and Khubayb had tied a string from one wall to another, and Grandfather had cut out small paper flags. Grandfather was now putting glue on each one and handing them to Suhayb and Khubayb, who quickly stuck them to the string. Pakistan Independence Day, 14th of August, was only a week away. Both brothers were busy decorating the house. By the time the line of flags was complete, Dad would have finished arranging his bookshelf. This meant the father and two sons could then decorate the outside of their house with lights and flags.
After spending the day putting up decorations, the family sat down to have dinner. Khubayb began saying, “Dad, all the decorations are done. All we need is a bigger Pakistan flag than last year, and the day will be amazing.”
“Our Independence Day will only be amazing if we celebrate it in a way that makes our country more beautiful and successful”, Dad replied.
“But how do we do this?”, Suhayb quizzed. Khubayb nodded his head in agreement with this question.
“It seems to me that you do not pay attention when you’re watching Madani Channel. When Independence Day arrives, you will find out”, Dad replied.
On the morning of the 14th of August, the brothers sat together, enjoying their breakfast while watching Madani Channel. The patriotic spirit was in the air as they listened to the national anthem, their hearts swelling with love for their country. However, their peaceful moment was interrupted by their father's urgent call. “Khubayb, come here with your brother!” he exclaimed. “Come with me quickly, we are late!” Father took his sons to their local masjid, where many men had gathered with their sons. The imam was saying, “Dear Islamic brothers! Trees make the environment beautiful and clean, which is why we decided to make Independence Day a day of planting trees. You have all brought plants along with you. We will be planting in the green belt areas of these streets, and in the lawns of the houses that give us permission. Remember to take care of these plants after planting them so they do not wither.”
After all the planting, they went home. Mum told them, “Food is ready. Quickly wash your hands, then come and eat.” Khubayb sat at the dining mat and said, “I had fun celebrating Independence Day, Dad.” This made his father smile.
Suhayb then turned to his grandfather and asked a beautiful question; “Did our beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم plant any trees?”
“Yes, I will tell you an amazing story of how the final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم planted trees. This was one of his miracles. So, Sayyidunā Salmān Fārsi رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ used to be the slave of a Jewish man. One of the conditions of his freedom was that he had to plant 100 date trees, and nurture them until they bear fruit.”
“That must have taken years”, Khubayb chimed in.
“Yes, it would have normally taken years. Yet, when the final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم found out, he said to Salmān Fārsi رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, ‘Tell me when all preparations are complete. I will plant the saplings myself.’ The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم came and planted all the trees, except for one which was planted by a Companion. In one year, all of those plants grew into trees and bore fruit, except for one.”
“سُـبْحٰـنَ الـلّٰــه” Suhayb exclaimed. “But what happened to that one plant?”
“When the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم found out about that one tree, he replanted it. It too started to bear fruit within a year.[1] My children, your duty is to plant trees. Our slogan is, ‘Plant seeds and grow trees.’” Both brothers happily repeated this in loud voices.
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