ALMISKEENAH

 

….and lofty date palms with clustered fruit….

(50:10) 

Some people love to feast on the glitter and sparkle of the hundreds of Madani gold shops, purchasing exclusive designs as investments, or to wear on special occasions, to give as Hadiyah, to deposit in safe vaults, to impress, to decorate, to create jingle-jangle music, to admire.

I love to stroll through the date palm groves admiring the exquisite gems of this outdoor jewellery market, uniquely designed and crafted by the Master Craftsman.  An annual cyclic exhibition displaying designs that have been in existence for thousands of years, instilling a lasting pleasure as these gems stir the heart recalling so many stories from when our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam graced this Mubarak soil.

Groves dense with our “aunts” as our Noble Nabi referred to them, bestowing them such esteem,  equating them with the love and respect we would give to our aunts as they stand erect and stately, the silvery green-grey branches fanning up to the heavens as if in permanent praise and adoration of Al-Khaliq. "Honour your aunt, the date palm, for it has been created from the same earth which Adam Alaihis Sallam was created". SubhanAllah!
Groves dense with “the tree among the trees which is similar to a Muslim in goodness”.  So many analogies made between fruits and Taqwa; between our actions, whether good or bad bearing fruits on the Day of Resurrection. Will our fruits, on that Day be hanging as jewels like these majestic clusters of dates?

 

Clustered fruits dripping in abundance, fruits we are told by the Words of our Rabb  that also adorn His Gardens of Jannah! Any wonder why they never cease to bring tranquility, arresting ones attention and gaze, and calming the soul.

This is the fruit chosen by our Chosen Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam as the first substance to be placed in the mouth of our precious new born, SubhanAllah!

The story of the mother and her two daughters visiting our Lady Aishah, Ummul Mu’minoon, RadhiAllahu anha. Our Blessed Lady Aishah RadhiAllahu anha searched her humble room for something to offer her guests finding three dates which she handed the mother. Each daughter was given a date, while the mother spoke with our Lady Aishah RadhiAllahu anha holding her date in her hand. The girls being hungry finished their dates, coveting the third in their mother’s hand, which she broke in half and gave each of them a half. When our Lady Aishah RadhiAllahu anha relayed this event to Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, he said: “Indeed, the woman has entered Jannah because of the love and kindness she showed her little daughters. Allah Ta’ala will show her mercy because she showed mercy to them!” This beautiful date fruit being the means for this mothers Jannah! Any wonder they bring such solace to the eye!

 

 Daily the intense sun glistens on these splendidly strung gems that respond as a blushing cheek, gradually changing colour as they nearer ripening, sharing nutrition for the body as well as nutrition for the heart with reminders from countless traditions.    

Allah’s Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam went out during the night and when he passed by me and called to me, I went out to him. He then passed by Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu anhu, and when he called him he came out to him. He then passed by Umar RadhiAllahu anhu and when he called him he went out to him. He then set off and when he had entered a garden belonging to one of the Ansar he asked the owner of the garden to give us some ripening dates to eat. He brought a bunch and laid it down. When he and his companions had eaten he called for some cold water, after drinking which he said, "You will be questioned about this bounty on the day of resurrection." Thereupon Umar RadhiAllahu anhu seized the bunch, and when he had thrown it on the ground so that the ripening dates were scattered towards Allah’s Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. He said, "Messenger of Allah, shall we be questioned about this on the Day of Resurrection?" He replied, "Yes, but not for three things: a rag with which a man covers his private parts, or a crumb with which he allays his hunger, or a shelter into which he worms himself to escape heat and cold."

Narrated Ikrash ibn Dhu’ayb RadhiAllahu anhu, we were brought a platter with a large amount of tharid and slices of boneless meat and I plunged in my hand in all directions, but Allah’s Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam ate what was in front of him. He seized my right hand with his left and said, "Eat from one place, Ikrash RadhiAllahu anhu, for it is all one kind of food." Afterwards we were brought a plate containing various kinds of dates and I began to eat what was in front of me while the hand of Allah’s Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam went round on the plate. He then said, "Eat where you wish, Ikrash RadhiAllahu anhu, for it is not all one kind."

When the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam once visited Bilal RadhiAllahu anhu and saw he had a heap of dates, he asked him what it was, On his replying, "It is something I have stored up for tomorrow," he said, "Are you not afraid that tomorrow you may see on account of it steam in the fire of Jahannam on the Day of Resurrection? Spend it, Bilal RadhiAllahu anhu, and do not fear poverty from the Lord of the Throne."

Allah’s Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was asked about hanging fruit and said, "If a needy person takes some and does not take a supply away in his garment he is not to be blamed, but he who carries any of it away is to be fined twice the value and punished; he who steals any of it after it has been put in the place where dates are dried is to have his hand cut off if their value reaches the price of a shield."

 

Every part of this magnificent palm is utilized, even the core of the trunk. When Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam had an upset stomach the core of the trunk was given to him. Suyuti in “Medicine of the Prophet” describes how it takes time to be digested but is beneficial.

This fibrous protective insulation for the palm was used as filling in a leather cover as a pillow for our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, and the Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum! And this is the part that ladies today spin and knit into body scrub gloves, mentioned previously, as well as so many other string and rope applications, and a sieve for various culinary needs and when dry an excellent material for starting cooking fires, which many locals still rely on for their food.

SubhanAllah, so much of our Deen based on this Mubarak date palm, it being blessed with Barakah just as the true believers are blessed.

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.  May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.