An Explanation of the Parable Concerning the Tree of Faith

By Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan as-Sa’dee (d.1376H)

Allaah, the Exalted, propounds a metaphor for faith, saying:

“Do you not see how Allaah sets forth a metaphor of a good word: a good tree whose roots are firm and whose branches are in the sky? It bears fruit all the time by its Lord’s permission. Allaah sets forth metaphors for people so that hopefully they will pay heed.” [Ibrahim 14:24-25]

Allaah, Glorious and Exalted is He, has likened a good word to a good tree because just as a good tree produces beneficial and delicious fruits, so too does the good word produce righteous actions. This metaphor then corresponds with the exegesis of the majority who said, “The good word is the testification that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah.” [1] This is because this testification sprouts all inward and outward righteous actions; hence every single righteous action one could perform, which pleases Allaah, the Mighty and Magnificent, results as a fruit of this statement.

‘Ali bin Abu Talhah reports from Ibn ‘Abbaas (radee Allaahu ‘anhu) that he explained the verse thus,

“’A good word’ the testification that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah. ‘A good tree’ the believer. ‘Whose roots are firm’ the statement ‘None has the right to be worshipped save Allaah’ taking root in the heart of the believer. ‘Whose branches are in the sky’ wherewith the actions of the believer are raised to the sky.” [2]

Ar-Rabi’ bin ‘Anas said,

“’A good word’ is the metaphor for faith (Eemaan). Faith is ‘a good tree whose roots are firm’ from which the sincerity (ikhlaas) is never absent. ‘Whose branches are in the sky’ the fear of Allaah.” [3]

Allaah, Glorious is He, has likened the tree of tawheed which implants itself in the heart to a good tree whose roots are firmly established, its branches distend far into the sky and it produces fruit all the time.

When you carefully consider this metaphor you will find that it completely corresponds to the tree of tawheed implanted firmly in the heart. Its branches are the righteous actions that ascend to the sky and it continuously produces these in accordance to the degree of firmness in which the [statement of tawheed] has been lodged in the heart, the amount of love that the heart has for it, the intensity of sincerity it has for it, the level of knowledge it has of its true reality, and the extent to which it establishes its rights and duties. So when this statement takes firm root in ones heart and it in turn clothes and adorns itself with it, it will be dyed with the dye of Allaah besides which there is no better dye. [4] Then the servant will come to know the true mannerisms and traits that he should display to Allaah which would be testified to by his tongue and attested to by his limbs. He would also negate this for any besides Allaah, the Mighty and Magnificent, and his tongue would follow his heart in this negation. The limbs would willingly submit to one who testifies to His Oneness and would traverse the path to their Lord in complete submission and humility, removed from any desire that would deviate from this goal or make them desire anything else - in the same way that the servant would never desire to take another as his object of worship. There is absolutely no doubt that this statement ensuring from such a heart upon such a tongue would produce its fruits comprising righteous actions that rise up to Allaah, the Exalted.

“The good word rises to Him and all righteous actions raise it.” [Fatir 35:10]

Therefore, Allaah, Glorious is He, informed us that the righteous actions raise the good word [5] and that the good word bears the fruit of righteous action for the one who articulates it and holds to it, all the time.

The purpose of this discussion is to demonstrate that the statement of tawheed; when testified to by the servant, knowing its meaning and reality by way of negation and affirmation, adorning himself with its necessary implications, establishing these in his heart, upon his tongue and on his limbs, is implanted firmly in the heart: its branches distend to the sky and it bears fruit all the time.

Some of the Salaf said that the good tree was the date-palm tree [6] and this is proven in the authentic hadeeth of Ibn ‘Umar (radee Allaahu anhu) being reported in the Saheeh. [7] Others said that it refers to the believer himself - Muhammad bin Sa’d said; my uncle narrated to me; my father narrated to me; from Ibn ‘Abbaas (radee Allaahu ‘anhu) who said,

“’A good tree’ the believer. ‘Whose roots are firm’ in the earth ‘and whose branches reach the sky’ the believer speaks and performs actions on the earth and these reach the sky.” [8]

‘Atiyyah al-‘Awfi said,

“This is the metaphor of the believer, good words and righteous actions ensue from him all the time and the rise to Allaah.” [9]

Ar-Rabi’ bin ‘Anas said,

“This is the metaphor of the believer being put forward of his sincerity to Allaah alone and his worshipping Him alone with no partners. ‘Whose roots are firm’ the foundations of his actions are firmly established on the earth. ‘And whose branches are in the sky’ his mention in the sky.”

There is actually no contradiction between these two opinions for the intended object behind the metaphor is the believer and the date-palm tree has been compared to him and he to it. Therefore if the date-palm tree is the good tree, the believer is more deserving of having the same quality since he has been compared to it. Those of the Salaf who opined that it refers to a tree in Paradise [10] [also did not contradict the above two opinions] for the best of tree in Paradise is the date-palm tree.

This metaphor contains such inner meanings, knowledge and information as one would expect from the knowledge and wisdom of the One who articulated it, Glorious be He. A tree must have a trunk, roots, branches, leaves and fruits; and in order for the metaphor to stand so too must the tree of faith. Its roots are knowledge (‘ilm), cognizance (ma’rifah), and certainty (yaqeen). Its trunk is sincerity (ikhlaas) and its branches are righteous actions. Its fruits are all that necessarily ensues from these righteous actions compromising praiseworthy impressions and influence, commendable qualities, superb morals and manners, virtuous silence, and right guidance. So when all these qualities appear in the servant, this is a clear indication that the tree of faith has its roots implanted in the heart and its branches indeed distend to the sky. However, if the opposite happens, it is becomes known that in reality a vile tree has been implanted in the heart, uprooted on the surface of the earth having no staying-power.

A tree cannot remain alive unless it is nourished with water such as would allow it to grow. When the water is cut off, soon will the tree dry and wither away. Similarly the tree of Islam in the heart, if its owner does not persistently nourish it with beneficial knowledge, righteous actions and contemplation, soon would it dry and wither away. It is reported in the Musnad of Ahmad from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (radee Allaahu ‘anhu) that the Messenger of Allaah (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Indeed faith wears out in the heart as a garment wears out, so renew your faith.” [11]

Hence in summary, if the seed is not nurtured by the owner, very soon it will die. Moreover, we can now understand the great need that the servant has of performing the actions of worship commanded by Allaah at certain times, we can also understand the greatness of His mercy blessings and beneficence towards His servants. This is because he has appointed these actions of worship and made them to be the nourishment by which the tree of tawheed is given life.

It is part of nature that weeds grow side by side with plants, if the owner tends to his plants and weeds the garden, the plants would be free to grow strong and sprout more fruit, having better taste. If however the owner abandons the plants, it is feared that they may be overcome by the weeds and wither away, or their roots may be weakened and sprout meager fruits. Whoever does not know this fact with all its details unknowingly loses out on much profit. Hence the believer is continuously tending to these two affairs, he is nourishing the tree and weeding that which grows around it such that it may become complete and strong, Allaah’s aid is sought and upon Him trust is placed.

This explanation is but a drop in the ocean of the meaning of this great metaphor. [12]

Footnotes:

[1] i.e. Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah. Refer to at-Tabari [13/203]; al-Baghawi [4/40]; as-Suyuti, al-Durr al-Manthur [4/75].
[2] Ibn Kathir [2/530]; at-Tabari [13/203].
[3] At-Tabari [13/203-204].
[4] Allaah, the Exalted says, “the dye of Allaah - and what dye could be better than Allaah’s?” [Al-Baqarah 2:138].
[5] Az-Zamakhshari, al-Kashshaaf [2/302], said, “The good word - none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah - from Ibn ‘Abbaas (radee Allaahu ‘anhu) who said, ‘Meaning that this statement will not be accepted nor raised to the sky and recorded where the righteous actions are recorded, ‘the book of the righteous is in Illiyun’ [Surah al-Mutaffifin 83:18], unless it is accompanied by righteous actions that serve to actualize it and testify to it, hence raising it’.”
[6] At-Tabari [13/204]; al-Baghawi [4/40]; Ibn al-Jawzi, Zaad al-Masir [4/358].
[7] Al-Bukhaaree [1/130] and Muslim [4/2165] with the wording, “There is a tree which resembles the Muslim, it does not shed leaves in winter or summer and it bears fruits all the time, tell me what it is then?” Ibn ‘Umar said, “I thought of the date-palm tree but felt shy to answer when I saw that Abu Bakr and ‘Umar did not answer.” Thereupon the Messenger of Allaah (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “It is the date-palm tree.”
[8] At-Tabari [13/204].
[9] Ibid.
[10] Al-Khaazin; al-Baghawi [4/40]; Ibn Kathir [2/530].
[11] Reported by at-Tabaraani and al-Haakim and it is hasan.
[12] Ibn al-Qayyim, al-Amthaal fil-Qur’aan [pp. 228-235].

Taken from: The Tree of Faith, Pgs. 89-94, by Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan as-Sa’dee (d.1376H), Translated by Abu Rumaysah, Published by al-Hidaayah Distribution & Publishing