First example: Ibn Maja, Darimi, and Bayhaqi (through 'Ali and Anas ibn Malik), and Bazzar and Imam Bayhaqi (from 'Umar) report: "Three Companions narrated that God's Messenger was disturbed by the unbelievers' denial. He prayed: 'O Lord, show me a sign so that I will no longer heed anyone who contradicts me.' Anas relates that Gabriel also was present, and that upon his instruction God's Messenger called to a tree located at one side of the valley in which they were located. It left its place and drew near to him. He told it to go back, and so it returned and settled down in its place."[1]

Second example: Qadi 'Iyad, scholar of the Muslim West (North Africa and al-Andalus), relates in his al-Shifa' al-Sharif from 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar through a sound chain of the most eminent narrators: "A Bedouin approached God's Messenger during an expedition. The Messenger asked: 'Where are you going?' He replied: 'To my Family.' The Messenger asked: 'Don't you desire something better?' When the Bedouin asked what that might be, God's Messenger replied: 'To bear witness that there is no god but God, alone with no partner, and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.' The Bedouin asked: 'Can you prove this?' God's Messenger replied: 'That tree at the side of the valley will bear witness.'"

Ibn 'Umar relates the rest of the event: "That tree swayed, uprooted itself, left the soil, and drew near to God's Messenger. He asked it three times to testify, and each time it testified to his truthfulness. Then he ordered the tree to go back and settle down in its place, and it did so."[2]

Ibn Sahib al-Aslami relates that Burayda said: "Once a Bedouin asked for a miracle while we were with God's Messenger on an expedition. The Messenger pointed to a tree and told him: 'Tell that tree that God's Messenger summons it.' The tree swayed, freed itself, and drew near to the Messenger, saying: 'Peace be upon you, O Messenger of God!' The Bedouin said: 'Now tell it to return to its place.' When God's Messenger ordered it to do so, the tree went back. When the Bedouin said: 'Let me prostrate myself before you,' the Messenger answered: 'No one is allowed to do that.' The Bedouin said: 'Then I will kiss your hand,' and he allowed him to do so."[3]

Third example: Authentic books of Tradition, including Muslim's Sahih, quote Jabir as relating: "We accompanied God's Messenger on an expedition. He searched for a place to relieve himself. When he saw that there was no screened place, he went to two trees and pulled one of them by a branch next to the other one. The tree was like an obedient camel being pulled by its reins. He addressed them: 'Join together over me, by God's leave.' The trees did so and formed a screen. After relieving himself, he ordered them to go back to their places."[4] In another version, Jabir relates it with a very slight, insignificant difference.[5]

Fourth example: Usama ibn Zayd, a brave commander and servant of God's Messenger, reports: "We accompanied God's Messenger on an expedition. Unable to find a screened place to relieve himself, he asked me: 'Do you see any trees or rocks?' When I said that I did, he told me: 'Go and say to the trees that God's Messenger orders them to join together so that he may relieve himself, and then tell the rocks to do the same.' I went and told them to do this, and I swear by God the trees joined together and the rocks formed a wall. After relieving himself, God's Messenger told me: 'Tell them to separate.' I swear by the Majestic One, in Whose hand is my soul, that the trees and rocks separated and went back to their places."[6] These two incidents also were reported by Ya'la ibn Murra, Ghaylan ibn Salama al-Thaqafi, and Ibn Mas'ud in connection with the Battle of Hunayn.

Fifth example: Imam Ibn Fawrak, known as the second Shafi'i on account of his excellence in jurisprudence and perfect character, reports: "God's Messenger sometimes felt sleepy while traveling on horseback. One night during the Battle of Ta'if, a lotus tree appeared in front of him. To make way for him and avoid harming his horse, the tree split in half and God's Messenger passed through it while riding his horse. That tree has remained so up to our time."[7]

Sixth example: Ya'la reports: "During an expedition a talha or samura tree came and walked around God's Messenger, as if circumambulating, and then went back to its place. God's Messenger said: 'It asked for God's permission to salute me.'"[8]

Seventh example: Traditionists quote Ibn Mas'ud as saying: "When the jinn of Nusaybin came to Batn al-Nakhl to be converted to Islam by God's Messenger, a tree informed him of their coming." Imam Mujahid relates from Ibn Mas'ud that when the jinn asked for a proof of his Prophethood, a tree came to the Messenger and then returned to its place on his order. This miracle was enough to convert them.[9]

Those who have heard of 1,000 similar miracles and still do not believe are even further astray than devils. Jinn describe such people as the foolish ones among us [who used to] utter extravagant lies against God (72:4).

Eighth example: Tirmidhi reports from Ibn 'Abbas: "God's Messenger asked a Bedouin: 'If that tree branch comes to me when I call it, will you bear witness that I am the Messenger?' He replied that he would, and so the Messenger called to it. The branch broke off and jumped over near to him. It then jumped back to its place when the Messenger commanded it to do so."[10]

Many similar examples are reported through various narrations. Seven or eight ropes form a strong cable when they come together. In the same way, when these tree-related miracles reported by the most renowned Companions are taken together, they must have the certainty of tawatur in meaning or even in actual wording. In fact, they gain the degree of explicit tawatur through the Companions passing them down to the following generation. In particular, such authentic books of Tradition as Bukhari's Sahih, Muslim's Sahih, Ibn Hibban's Sahih, and Tirmidhi's Sunan note and record the chain of transmitters (leading back to the Prophet's time) so soundly and convincingly that reading an account in Bukhari's Sahih, for instance, is equivalent to hearing it from the Companions.

When trees recognize God Almighty's Messenger, confirm his Messengership, call upon and salute him, and obey his orders, how can those unbelievers who call themselves human beings be considered anything but worthless pieces of wood and worthy of hellfire?

[1] Shifa', 1:302; related by Bayhaqi, Ibn Maja, Darimi, Bazzar, and Ibn Hanbal.

[2] Shifa', 1:298; related by Tirmidhi, Ibn Hibban, Bayhaqi, and Hakim.

[3] Shifa', 1:299; Bazzar, Musnad, 3:49.

[4] Muslim, no. 3006-12; Bayhaqi, 6:8.

[5] Shifa', 1:299.

[6] Ibid., 1:300, related by Bayhaqi, Ibn Hanbal, and Abu Ya'la.

[7] Ibid., 1:301.

[8] Shifa', 1:301; Hakim, 2:617; Ibn Hanbal, 4:170; Bayhaqi, 6:23.

[9] Bukhari, 5:58; also related by Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, and Ibn Hanbal.

[10] Tirmidhi, no. 3632; Hakim, 2:620; Bayhaqi, 6:15.