The Crying Tree

In the Prophet's masjid in Madinah, there was a tall trunk of a palm tree standing near the front. Every Friday, when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would speak to the people and teach them, he would lean against this tree trunk. Week after week, the trunk stood faithfully in its place while the Prophet rested against it and spoke beautiful words. One day, the companions decided to build a proper wooden pulpit — called a minbar — so the Prophet could stand a little higher and everyone could see and hear him better. It was a simple platform with just a few steps. When it was ready, the Prophet (peace be upon him) began using the new minbar for his Friday talks. But then something amazing happened. The people in the masjid heard a sound — a strange, sad, crying sound. They looked around to find where it was coming from. To their great surprise, it was coming from the old palm tree trunk. It was weeping, making sounds like a camel crying, because it missed being close to the Prophet (peace be upon him). (Sahih al-Bukhari, 3584) The Prophet heard the sound too. He came down from the minbar and walked over to the trunk. He placed his blessed hand on it and embraced it gently, the way you might comfort a friend who is sad. He stayed with it until it became quiet and still again. (Sahih al-Bukhari, 3585) The companions were deeply moved by what they had witnessed. If a tree trunk could love the Prophet so much that it cried when he moved away, how much more should the people who knew him cherish his closeness and his teachings?