Nature Honors the Prophet

📖Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3626
Ali ibn Abi Talib reported: I was with the Prophet ﷺ in Mecca and we went out to one of its neighborhoods. He did not face any mountain or tree but that it would say, “Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah.”

Description:
This hadith highlights the extraordinary status of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in creation. Even mountains, trees, and natural surroundings honored him by sending peace. Ali ibn Abi Talib, being a close companion, witnessed this miracle spiritually – not in ordinary human hearing, but through a divine perception granted by Allah.

How Ali ibn Abi Talib saw or perceived it:

1. Witnessing the Prophet ﷺ spiritually:
   Ali ibn Abi Talib, being a close companion and one of the most enlightened followers, could perceive the special spiritual realities surrounding the Prophet ﷺ. This means he witnessed, in a miraculous way, the creation honoring the Prophet ﷺ – not necessarily hearing literal voices, but seeing the manifestation of Allah’s miracle.
2. Seeing the blessings in nature:
   Some scholars explain that Ali saw the trees and mountains reacting in a way that reflected Allah’s mercy and respect for His Messenger ﷺ. The “speech” of peace may have been visible in the sense of light, movement, or a spiritual sign, rather than ordinary words.
3. Miraculous perception granted by Allah:
   The Prophet ﷺ had miracles beyond normal human experience. Companions like Ali could witness some of these extraordinary signs due to their closeness to him. Allah allowed Ali to perceive this honor in a way that he could understand and report it.

If we look at it from a scientific perspective, mountains or trees cannot literally “speak” like humans, but they can “express” in ways that humans can interpret:

Physical responses to stimuli

• Trees sway, grow, or release chemicals when stressed or stimulated.
• Mountains “react” to earthquakes, erosion, or temperature changes – natural processes that can be seen as activity.

Signals in nature

• Plants release pheromones or scents that affect surrounding plants or insects.
• Certain geological events, like rock cracking, can produce sounds or vibrations.

Human perception

• Humans can interpret natural patterns as “messages” – for example, the wind whistling through trees or rocks can be poetically understood as nature “speaking.”
• In ancient times, humans often interpreted natural phenomena symbolically, linking them to spiritual meanings.

Quantum or energy perspective (speculative)

• Some scientists suggest that all matter interacts through energy and vibrations. While this is not speech, but it’s a form of “communication” within the system of nature.

📖Quran 6:37
And they say, “Why has a sign not been sent down to him from his Lord?” Say, “Indeed, Allah leaves astray whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns back [to Him].

This verse does not deny the miracles of the Prophet ﷺ. Rather, it clarifies that Allah does not grant miracles merely because humans demand them. Signs occur only by Allah’s wisdom, at the time and manner He sees fit. The greeting of mountains and trees is one such subtle miracle, a sign of the Prophet’s ﷺ honor in creation, given by Allah’s will, not because anyone asked for it.

Despite the miracles shown to previous prophets, the disbelievers often demanded more signs. In Surah Ar-Ra’d (13:27), Allah mentions:

📖Quran 13:27
And those who disbelieved say, “Why has a sign not been sent down to him from his Lord?” Say, “Indeed, Allah leaves astray whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns back [to Him].”

This verse does not deny the miracles of the Prophet ﷺ. Rather, it addresses the habitual claims and constant demands of the disbelievers. Even if a sign or miracle was shown to them, they would often reject it. Allah clarifies that miracles are granted according to His wisdom, not merely to satisfy repeated demands or doubts.

Miracles aren’t like a magic trick you can pull out and have everyone verify on demand. Most miracles happened for the people of that specific time, for a reason only Allah knew. They were not meant to satisfy skeptics centuries later. The world itself – mountains, trees, even the air – obeys Allah’s command. If a mountain “speaks” or a tree “sends peace,” it’s not a storybook tale; it’s a divine sign, So if you deny these miracles just because you don’t see them today, congratulations – you’re basically denying Allah Himself. You’re acting like some picky critic at a magic show, ignoring the obvious fact that the entire universe is running under God’s order. Denying the Prophet’s miracles is just a convenient way to deny the One who created the mountains, the trees, and the very laws that make them “move” or “speak” at His command.