Planting Trees in Islam and Science: With a Special Focus on A Forgotten Tree Called ‘Bremji Kul’ in an article By Mr. Iqbal Ahmad
A Forgotten Tree Brejmi Kul
and Its Spiritual Links
By New Age Islam
Staff Writer
Main Points
· The value of tree planting has been demonstrated in
both Islam and science, as mentioned by Mr. Iqbal Ahmed.
· Bremji Kul, a
magnificent ancient tree of Kashmir has been mostly associated with Sufi
saints, who used to meditate under its shade.
· Herbalists say that Bremji
Kul has medical importance as well; they say that the fruit of this tree
is sweet and edible, and can be eaten raw, or cooked.
· The Prophet [peace be upon him] emphasises the
value of tree planting, declaring that it is a means of obtaining the reward of
charitable giving.
· The essay of Mr. Iqbal Ahamd is unquestionably
engaging and instructive for readers, and the author deserves praise for it.
...
It's terrible we aren't
taking the necessary steps to save the world. The government has frequently
warned that deforestation and the loss of greenery on the earth is one of the
leading causes of pollution, but it persists. Greenery is diminishing as new
cities are created. Forests are being destroyed at an alarming rate. Trees
clean the air and absorb hazardous airborne particles and gaseous pollutants,
and air pollution density can be reduced greatly if green trees are not cut
down and new trees are planted, according to science. The value of tree
planting has also been underlined in Islam, although we rarely pay heed to it.
In the Prophet's hadiths, the Prophet emphasises the importance of tree
planting.
“The Messenger of Allah
said: ‘It is a charitable offering when a Muslim plants a tree or grows crops
and the birds, humans, or cattle eat from it,” Hadrat Anas b. Malik (may
Allah be pleased with him) says. [Sahih Bukhari, Hadith
2195, 2:817; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1553, 3:1189]
According to Hazrat
Jabir b. ‘Abd Allah (may Allah be pleased with him): “Allah’s Messenger (peace
be upon him) said: ‘When a Muslim plants a tree and something is eaten of it,
then it is a charity from him; anything which is stolen from it is also charity
from him and what beasts feed on it is also a charitable donation. And the food
that the birds eat is also a charitable donation to him. As a result, any
losses will be included in charitable donations (since they help humans,
animals, and birds).”
In another tradition, the
Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “That will be the charitable donation until
the Day of Resurrection.” [Sahih Muslim, 3:1188 Hadith 1552]
The value of trees can be
seen in the fact that chopping trees is prohibited in Islam even during times
of war and conflict. Said b. al-Musayyab (may Allah be pleased with him)
recounted to Imam Bayhaqi that Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah
be pleased with him) would constantly tell the Islamic army as he deployed it
for Jihad, “Do not drown or burn date-palm trees. Do not cut down a
fruit-bearing tree. Do not demolish a church. And do not kill any children or
old people or women….” [Narrated by Al-Bayhaqi in al-Sunan Al
Kubra 9:85 Hadith 17904]
Around fourteen hundred
years ago, Islam emphasised the necessity and usefulness of tree planting, and
the importance of tree planting was later shown by scientific experiments and
observations. In other words, the value of tree planting has been demonstrated
in both Islam and science, as mentioned by Mr. Iqbal Ahmed in the following
article. However, the author devotes special emphasis to the historical and
spiritual significance of the Bremji Kul tree, demonstrating how
closely it has been linked to Sufi saints.
The author references Sufis
in this article as noting that Sufis used to practise acts of prayer and
meditation under trees like Bremji Kul, emphasising the
significance of such trees. Although the practise of putting trees on the
graves of Sufis and even in village common graveyards is centuries old, the
author has underlined its significance in the special context of Kashmir. This
essay is unquestionably engaging and instructive for readers, and the author
deserves praise for it.
By New Age Islam Staff
Writer
...
Bremji Kul: A Forgotten Tree Mostly Associated With
Sufi Saints, Who Used To Meditate Under Its Shade
By Iqbal Ahmad
"This tree does not grow so tall, and while
growing it takes an umbrella shape and gives a cool shade."Author
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Bremji Kul, a magnificent ancient tree of Kashmir
has almost been extinguished from its traditional habitats, and its traces
are rarely seen in Kashmir now. This tree has been available in few varieties,
and was mostly grown in graveyards, and also adjacent to Sufi tombs. It has a
slow, yet certain growth.
This tree does not grow so tall, and while growing
it takes an umbrella shape and gives a cool shade. Its characteristic feature
is that its wood and roots are so soft and cool that in ancient times it was
preferred to be planted in graveyards with the belief that its shade and roots
would help in providing a cool and peaceful environment to the coffins buried
in the graves.
This tree was hardly grown anywhere except adjacent
to the tombs of Sufi saints and Muslim graveyards. Why this tree was not so
commonly grown at other places.
Peerzada Mohammad Shabir, a Sufi priest, has got a
view; he says that ‘during the ancient period several kinds of trees like Bremji
and Chinar were not planted for commercial purpose, but for attaining
spiritual deeds.
Such trees were highly revered by Kashmiris
and they would hardly cut them for the purpose of firewood or any other
commercial purpose. The Sufi priest says that the Bremji tree has
been the most revered tree, this tree has been mostly associated with Sufi
saints, who used to meditate under the shade of this tree. In fact, you will
find this tree standing mostly in the old places associated with any Sufi saint
or his tomb.
Maulana Noorud Din, another Sufi scholar, says that
planting green trees in the graveyards is one of the Sunnah (traditions)
of Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon Him).
He said the Syed missionaries who arrived
here in the 14th century AD to spread the message of Islam while following the
traditions of the Prophet planted green and cool trees in their graveyards.
The tradition was later on adopted by disciples as
well, who not only meditated under the green trees but also planted these trees
in their respective graveyards.
While elaborating his point of view Maulana says
that there is a Hadith documented in Muslim scripts which states that
once Prophet Mohammad (May peace be upon Him) was travelling with his friends.
He (SAW) reached a graveyard, where he observed a man in the grave in severe
pain and distress.
The Prophet (SAW) asked for a few green branches of
palm trees that were made available to Him. Prophet planted the branches over
the grave and later in his brief address to his companions said; since the man
in this grave was in pain and distress and these green branches would provide
him certain relief.
Later on, this became the Muslim tradition, which
also reached Kashmir. However, as no palm trees were grown here as such the
Sufi missionaries’ preferred the Bremji tree which carried its
distinctive feature of being cool and soft.
In fact, few specimens of this tree are still seen
in olden Mazar's (graveyards) of the valley. The historical graveyards
of Malkha, Mazari Qalan, Mazari Salateen and
other olden graveyards of Kashmir exhibit a few rare and age-old magnificent Bremji
trees.
One of the European travellers, Sir Walter R
Lawrence in his monumental book The Valley of Kashmir has also provided a
description of this rare tree. He writes that the Bremji is usually
found in graveyards and in the vicinity of shrines, where it sometimes grows to
a magnificent tree.
Interestingly he has measured one such tree at Andrahama
Lolab, which has measured at 5ft from the ground, a circumference of 9
feet 3 inches. He also speaks of it as a soft and cool tree.
Bremji, scientifically known as ‘Celtis australis’, is
learnt to grow more common in cooler climates. Its bark is smooth and grey,
almost elephantine. The alternate leaves are narrow and sharp-toothed, rugose
above and tomentose below, 5–15 cm long and dark grey/green throughout
the year, fading to a pale yellow before falling in autumn.
The apetalous wind-pollinated flowers, the
fruit is small, dark-purple berry-like drupe, 1 cm wide, hanging in short
clusters, and is extremely popular with birds.
Scientists say that the plant prefers light
well-drained (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, including those nutritionally
poor; it can tolerate drought but not shade. They further say that the Mediterranean
climate is especially suitable for the plant.
Interestingly, the scientist’s view is no such
different from Sufi’s experiences they say it is often planted as an ornamental
as it is resistant to air pollution, and is long-living. This may be the other
reason why it has been preferred in graveyards.
Herbalists say that this tree has medical
importance as well; they say that the fruit of this tree is sweet and edible,
and can be eaten raw, or cooked.
The leaves and fruit are astringent, lenitive and
stomachic. Decoction of both leaves and fruit is used in the treatment of
amenorrhoea, heavy menstrual and inter-menstrual bleeding and colic.
The decoction can also be used as an astringent for
the mucous membranes in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery and peptic
ulcers.
Indeed, this kind of tree has been very useful in
terms of its spiritual and scientific merits, but unfortunately has almost been
forgotten; it is hardly now grown anywhere in this land of Rishis and
Sufis. The standing evidence of this tree is fast vanishing from the old and
historic graveyards.
Since the tradition of planting trees for attaining
spiritual favours has almost declined, and planting of trees has turned now
into a commercial business, so only such varieties of trees grown in different
nurseries have got commercial value.
In fact, Kashmir nurseries and plant growers have
also turned indifferent to this kind of tree. They do not prefer such plants in
their respective nurseries.
“We deal only with commercial plants and grow only
those plants which are in demand in the market,’ said the proprietor of one of
the nurseries in Kashmir.
He further said that ‘we grow different kinds of
fruit and popular plants as these are being planted in heavy numbers in
Kashmiri orchards and vacant lands’.
The plant growers and the government agencies
involved in plantation drive should not forget the traditional trees altogether
but shall also provide certain space to local plants in their farms, and
nurseries.
Though carrying such a cultural, scientific and
environmental importance this tree has altogether been neglected here. Although
thousands of plants of various kinds of trees are every year planted on the
vacant lands of the Kashmir valley, not a single plant of any traditional
tree of Kashmir is being planted anywhere, which is grave negligence on part of
agencies involved in social forestry.
...
Courtesy: Greater Kashmir
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