Two Trees Walked Together
Two trees moved together by Allah’s permission, concealed the Prophet ﷺ, and returned to their places.
By Kazi Nasrat Ali 6 min read December 20171. A journey through a spacious valley
Jabir reported that he traveled with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ until they stopped in a broad valley. The Prophet ﷺ went to relieve himself, but there was nothing nearby that could conceal him except two trees standing at the edge of the valley.
2. The trees move by Allah’s permission
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ took a branch of the first tree and said: Follow me, by Allah’s permission. It came with him like a guided camel. He said the same to the second tree, and it followed. He then commanded them to come together and conceal him, and they joined. Later, Jabir saw that the trees had separated and each stood again in its original place.
فَإِذَا شَجَرَتَانِ بِشَاطِئِ الْوَادِي فَانْطَلَقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى إِحْدَاهُمَا فَأَخَذَ بِغُصْنٍ مِنْ أَغْصَانِهَا فَقَالَ انْقَادِي عَلَىَّ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ. فَانْقَادَتْ مَعَهُ كَالْبَعِيرِ الْمَخْشُوشِ الَّذِي يُصَانِعُ قَائِدَهُ حَتَّى أَتَى الشَّجَرَةَ الأُخْرَى فَأَخَذَ بِغُصْنٍ مِنْ أَغْصَانِهَا فَقَالَ انْقَادِي عَلَىَّ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ. فَانْقَادَتْ مَعَهُ كَذَلِكَ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ بِالْمَنْصَفِ مِمَّا بَيْنَهُمَا لأَمَ بَيْنَهُمَا فَقَالَ الْتَئِمَا عَلَىَّ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ. فَالْتَأَمَتَا.
Sahih Muslim 3012 (also numbered 7518), Book of Asceticism and Softening of Hearts3. A witnessed sign
The narration repeatedly states that the trees moved by Allah’s permission. The sign honored and protected His Messenger ﷺ while teaching that all creation remains subject to Allah’s command.
There is no might nor power except with Allah.