Words to Say at the Time of Plantation

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one wants to pollinate palm trees which are not good in their conception and do not accept pollens, he can take small fish, crush them between the two grinding plates and place a little of it in every sprouting element, keep the remaining in a bag and place in the center of the tree, it will be useful by the permission of ‘Allah.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘I saw your garden, have you planted anything in it yet?’ I said, ‘I wanted to take small stems from your garden and plant them.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Allow me to tell you what is better than this and quicker.’ I replied, ‘Yes please do so.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘When dates ripen and you are about to pick them as fresh dates, plant them, it (the crop) will produce just like what you planted.’ I followed the instruction and it (the crop) grew exactly like it.’”

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about cutting down a lotus tree. He (the Imam) said, ‘One of your people asked me about it and I wrote to him that abu al-Hassan (a.s.), once cut down a lotus tree and planted in its place grape-vines.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that cutting down of palm trees is detestable. He (the Imam) was asked about cutting down of trees. He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is not unlawful.’ I then asked about cutting down of lotus trees. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful. It is detestable to cut them down in the wilderness because it is very rare there, however, here it is plentiful.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must not cut down a fruit bearing tree; Allah will send on you a great suffering.’”