testify there is no God but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.’ But that is only the first action we take. It takes a lot more to be a good Muslim. What else are we required to do?”
“Praying five times a day, paying zakah, fasting during Ramadan, and performing the hajj, if we can,” Hude said.
“Those four things that we do are the branches of the tree. What connects the roots and branches?”
“The trunk,” Amani said.
“Exactly,” Grandma Hana said. “And taking the shahadah connects our faith with our actions. We need both working together to make the tree healthy.”
“What about the leaves, Grandma?” Amani asked.
“The leaves on a tree are the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace be upon him, how he taught us to act in all kinds of situations. The leaves are the things by which we recognize someone as Muslim. In the same way, we recognize a peach tree by its long slender leaves. When we say ‘as-salamu ‘alaykum’ and ‘alhamdulillah’, people know that we are Muslim.”
“Don’t forget the peaches!” Amani exclaimed.
“Not a chance,” Grandma Hana said. “What is the main purpose of a peach tree?”
“To make a peach?” Hude said, not quiet sure of his answer.
“You’re right. The roots, trunk, branches and leaves all work together to produce the fruit. In the same way, our faith and everything we do as a Muslim work together to help us to be a good person, the type of person that Allah created us to be. The fruits of Islam are such things as patience, honesty, kindness and generosity. Part of that is being nice to our neighbors, even if they are not nice to us.”
“I think I get it now, Grandma,” Amani said.
“And as you know, it’s not always easy to do what is right, just as it is not easy to produce good fruit. Growing a fruit tree requires constant care.”
“Like pruning,” Hude said.
“That’s right,” Grandma Hana agreed. “A tree needs to be pruned. Developing good character needs constant attention as well. Pruning is like cutting out bad habits or anything haram.
“There is one more part of the tree that we haven’t discussed. It’s hidden, and we can plant it.”
“The pit!” Amani blurted out.
“Right, and the pit is important because it has a seed inside it. And what protects the seed?” Grandma asked her grandson.
“The fruit,” Hude answered.
“Just as a fruit protects the seed, good character protects our hearts. What does a seed grow into, Amani?”
“A new tree.”
“In the same way, just like a seed grows into a tree, a sound heart gives new life to a person in jannah. Everything we do is to protect our hearts so we can be with Allah in jannah. But remember it is only with Allah’s mercy that anyone gets to jannah. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, told his Companions that no one’s good deeds would get them to jannah without Allah’s mercy, even his own. He then said: ‘Therefore, do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, and worship Allah in the forenoon and in the afternoon and during a part of the night, and always adopt a middle, moderate, regular course whereby you will reach your target.’
“Hude, what is ‘target’ referring to here?” Grandma Hana asked.
“Target means paradise. It means that doing good deeds and worshipping Allah will help us to reach paradise.”
“There’s a lot we can learn from a tree, Grandma,” Amani said.
“There certainly is, Amani. So, tell me. What do you both have planned for the rest of the day?”
“I’m hoping to practice with some new adjustments I made to my bow,” Hude said. “The County Fair is just over a week away.”
“Good character takes practice too,” Grandma said. “And what about you, Amani?”
“I haven’t written in my journal for days. And I want to get back to my book. Tad Walker is just about to save a totem pole from destruction.”
“The famous Tad Walker is now saving dead trees?” Hude said.
“Not just any dead tree,” Amani said. “It’s a two thousand-year-old, sacred totem pole with a secret message on it. I think it leads to a treasure, but I’m not sure.”
“Well, that’s just silly,” Hude commented.
“I don’t think so. If you can learn so much from a live tree, why can’t you learn something from a dead tree? Isn’t that right, Grandma?”
Grandma smiled. “There is much to be learned from all of Allah’s creation. In fact, everything in creation is sending us a message. Allah said: ‘We will show them Our Signs in the universe, and in their own selves, until it becomes manifest to them that this is the truth.’”
“Everything, Grandma?”
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