CHAPTER: THE BELIEVER IS LIKENED TO THE DATE-PALM TREE
No. 6747
'Abdullah b. Umar reported that Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: There is a tree amongst trees, the leaves of which do not wither and that is like a Muslim; tell me which that (tree) can be? The people began to think of the trees of the forest. Abdullah said: I thought that it could be the date-palm tree, but I felt hesitant (to say that). They (the Companions) then said: Allaah's Messenger, (kindly) tell us which that can be? Thereupon he said: It is the date-palm tree. I made a mention of that to 'Umar, whereupon he said: Had you said that it meant the date-palin tree, this statement of yours (would have been dearer to me) than such and such things.
No. 6748
Ibn Umar reported that Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) one day said to his Companions: Tell me about a tree which has resemblance with a believer. The people began to mention (different) trees of the forest. Ibn 'Umar said: It was instilled in my mind or in my heart and it stuck therein that it implied the date- palm tree. I made up my mind to make a mention of that but could not do that because of the presence of the elderly people there. When there was a hush amongst them (after they had expressed their views), Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: It Is the date-palm tree.
No. 6749
Mujahid said: (I have had the privilege) of accompanying Ibn 'Umar up to Medina but I did not hear him narrate anything from Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) except one hadith. And he said: We were in the presence of Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) that there was brought to him the kernel of a date. The rest of the hadith is the same.
No. 6750
Mujahid reported: I heard Ibn 'Umar as saying: There was brought to Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) the kernel. The rest of the hadith is tile same.
No. 6751
Ibn Umar reported: We were'in the company of Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) that he said: Tell me of a tree which has resemblance to a Muslim and the leaves of which do not wither. Ibrahim said that perhaps Imam Muslim had stated like this: It constantly bears fruit but I have, however, seen [It does not bear fruit constantly]. Ibn Umar said: It crossed my mind that it could be the date-palm tree, but as I saw Aba Bakr and Umar observe silence, I did not deem it fit that I should speak or I should say something. 'Umar said: Had you said so, it would have been dearer to me than such and such thing.