Miracle of the Crying of the Tree Trunk Regarding the Remembrance of Allah - DarusSalam
Extracted from the book "Miracles of the Messenger (S)" published by dar-us-salam.com
Miracle of the Crying of the Tree Trunk
[Below is a portion from the book "
Miracles of the Messenger (S)" regarding the remembrance of Allah. This miracle occurred when Rasulallah moved from the tree trunk to the newly made pulpit to give the Khutbah. Rasulallah used to lean against the tree trunk but when he left for the pulpit it cried out loud like a child for it would no longer be in the company of the Prophet and hear the remembrance of Allah (azzawajal). You can read the detailed story and hadith in chapter 6 page 105 in the book "
Miracles of the Messenger (S)".]
There was also another reason for the weeping of the tree trunk and this was made clear by the Prophet when he said to his Companions: "It wept because of the remembrance of Allah (Dhikr) which it used to hear."
So, the tree trunk also used to hear remembrance of Allah from the mouth of the Messenger of Allah (S) and Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High says regarding remembrance of Him:
"Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest. "
Therefore, it is not surprising that the tree trunk cried for that which brought tranquility to it. Haply, we may learn from this lifeless thing to love the remembrance of Allah and to accustom ourselves to it.
The word Dhikr means to remember something through constant verbal repetition of it.
So if a person were to constantly repeat the Names of Allah for example he would be remembering Allah; and due to the great need of man for remembrance of Allah, He has encouraged us to do it, in His Words:
"He said: 'O my Lord! Make a sign for me.' (Allah) said: 'Your sign is that you shall not speak to mankind for three days except with signals. And remember your Lord much (by praising Him again and again), and glorify (Him) in the afternoon and in the morning."
And He says:
"O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance." In remembrance of Allah there is great virtue, including:
Reminding Others to Remember Allah:
Allah, the Most Glorified, the Most High says: "Therefore remember Me (by praying, glorifying). I will remember you, and be grateful to Me (for My countless Favors on you) and never be ungrateful to Me. "
And He inspired the Prophet (S) to say:
"Shall I not inform you about the best of your deeds with Allah and the purest of them with your King and the highest of them in status for you, which are better for you than spending gold and silver in charity and better than meeting your enemy and cutting off their heads, while they also cut off yours?" They said "Certainly, oh, Messenger of Allah!" He said: "It is remembrance of Allah, the All-Mighty, the All Powerful."
And the Prophet (S) also said:
"The likeness of one who remembers Allah and one who does not remember Allah is as the likeness of the living and the dead."
It repels Satan and pleases the Most Gracious, according to the Words of the Prophet (S):
"Whenever a people sit in a meeting-place and remember Allah, they are surrounded by angels and enveloped in mercy, and tranquility descends upon them as they remember Allah; and Allah makes mention of them to those with Him."
It removes Anxiety and Sadness and enlightens the Heart and brings Peace and Tranquility to it, according to the Words of Allah, the Most High:
"Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest."
It strengthens the Heart and the Body, according to the Words of the Prophet (S) to His Daughter, Fatimah and 'Ali (R). He told them to glorify Allah (i.e., say Subhan Allah) thirty-three times, to praise and thank Allah (i.e., to say Al-Hamdu Lilldh) thirty-three times and to extol Allah (i.e., to say Allahu Akbar) thirty-four times. This was when she (i.e., Fatimah ) asked him for a servant which would help her in her work.
Remembrance of Allah also attracts Sustenance, according to the Words of Allah, the Most High:
"Ask forgiveness from your Lord, verily, He is Oft Forgiving; He will send rain to you in abundance, and give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers. "
Through remembrance of Allah, the hearts live, according to the Saying of Ibn Taimiyyah: Remembrance of Allah for the heart is like water to the fish; and what would the situation of the fish be if it left the water?
Remembrance of Allah causes the One Who remembers Him to be with Him, according to the Hadith Qudsi:
"I am with My slave whenever he remembers me and moves his lips to pronounce My Names."
And he spoke the truth who said: "The heart becomes diseased due to two things: negligence and sin; and it becomes clear due to two things: seeking forgiveness from Allah and remembrance of Allah."
By Remembrance of Allah, the Slave earns Allah's Love, according to the Words of Ibn 'Abbas (R): "When Moses t went to Mount Sinai, he said: 'Oh, my Lord! Which of Your slaves is most beloved to You?' He said: "The one who remembers me and does not forget me."
Remembrance of Allah also opens up the door to knowledge for the slave and protects the tongue from backbiting and tale-bearing.
It has also been said that it causes the slave to be conscious of Allah's Observation of him, which admits him to the door of
Ihsan, so that he worships Allah as if he could see Him. It also gives rise to
Inabah, which is to return to Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Powerful. So when a person returns frequently to Allah by remembrance of Him, it will cause him to return to Allah in all circumstances.
Remembrance of Allah is the Easiest Act of Worship: It is easy for a person in every place, in every situation and at all times to remember Allah and in spite of this, it is one of the best acts of worship for the movement of the tongue is lighter and easier than the movement of any other part of the body. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the Muslim to take care to accustom his tongue to remembrance of Allah and keep it moist thereby and he should do so in all circumstances, according to the Hadith of 'Aishah : "The Messenger of Allah (S), used to remember Allah, the Most High in all circumstances."
So, we must observe his Sunnah, for there is a supplication and a remembrance of Allah (Dhikr) legislated for every time and every action.
In the Shade of this Miracle
It might appear that the weeping of an inanimate object is something strange, but it was a subjugation from Allah in order that the tree trunk should deliver a Message not only for the Companions (R) rather, it was for all mankind, in every time and place.
It was a message delivered by the tree trunk through Allah's Ability to do all things and it announced it in a resounding manner, which echoed: "La ilaha illallah (none is worthy of worship except Allah)."
The tree trunk addressed mankind, with a message of complete faith, in that language which purifies the hearts and washes the senses and when humanity understands it, its soul which is wandering in the wilderness will return to it.
Its message will remain to soften hard hearts, to remind forgetful hearts and to awaken sleeping feelings and to give life to sensations which have died and it will remain to shout out to mankind: The dry, lifeless object cried out for the intimacy and delight which it lost, when the Prophet (S) passed by it in favor of the new pulpit.
The dry, lifeless object was distressed at being far from the Prophet (S) and alarmed at being parted from him and wished that it should continue. It was as if this dry, lifeless object was declaring to us that we should seek that delight which comes from following the guidance of Al-Mustafa e; and adhering to his Sunnah. And (that it was declaring also) that we should feel distress at being far from it, that we beware of transgress in it, that we should hold fast to it and cling to it by our molar teeth, in order that we might attain closeness to the Prophet and companionship with him, and that the Miracle should remove from us all traces of doubt which might remain present in the hearts of some, regarding the Messenger (S)