A tree in Jannah

A tree in Jennah

[As told by Muhammad Shareef]


Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) was one of those who found an opportunity and won that which is greater than the heavens and the earth. An adult companion of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cultivated his garden next to the property of an orphan. The orphan claimed that a specific palm tree was on his property and thus belonged to him. The companion rejected the claim, so the orphan boy went to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) to complain. With his justness, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) measured the two gardens and found that the palm tree did indeed belong to the companion. The orphan erupted crying. Seeing this, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked the companion, “Would you give him the palm tree and to you is a palm tree in Jannah?” However, the companion in his disbelief that an orphan would complain to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), missed the opportunity and went away angry.

But someone else saw the opportunity – Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him). He went to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and asked, “Ya RasulAllah, if I buy the tree from him and give it to the orphan shall I have that tree in Jannah?”

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, “Yes.”

Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) chased after the companion and asked, “Would you sell that tree to me for my entire garden?”

The companion answered, “Take it, for there is no good in a tree that I was complained to the Prophet about.”

Immediately, Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) went home and found his wife and children playing in the garden. “Leave the garden!” shouted Abu Darda. “We’ve sold it to Allah! We’ve sold it to Allah!” Some of his children had dates in their hand and he snatched the dates from them and threw them back into the garden. “We’ve sold it to Allah!”

When Abu Darda was later martyred in the battle of Uhud, RasulAllah (peace and blessings be upon him) stood over his slain body and remarked, “How many shady palm trees does Abu Darda now have in Paradise?”

What did Abu Darda lose? Dates? Bushes? Dirt? What did he gain? He gained a Jannah whose expanse is the heavens and the earth. Abu Darda did not miss his opportunity, and I pray to Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala that we do not miss our opportunity....