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| footer = Some candidates for the ''gharqad'' tree.
| footer = Some candidates for the ''gharqad'' tree.
}}
}}
The '''gharqad''' ({{lang-ar|غرقد}}) tree is mentioned in several [[hadiths]] that describe [[Islamic eschatology]]. It is considered likely that the gharqad tree is genus ''[[Nitraria]]''<ref>[http://www.flowersinisrael.com/Nitrariaretusa_page.htm "''Nitraria retusa, Nitraria tridentata,'' Salt tree, Hebrew: ימלוח פגום, Arabic: دقرغ/قدرغ"]. ''Flowers in Israel''.</ref> or genus ''[[Lycium]]''.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=Oman Medical Journal |date=July 2016 |volume=31 |issue=4 |pages=245–252 |doi=10.5001/omj.2016.49 |first1=Madhu C. |last1=Divakar |first2=Amani |last2=Al-Siyabi |first3=Shirley S. |last3=Varghese |first4=Mohammed |last4=Al Rubaie |title=The Practice of Ethnomedicine in the Northern and Southern Provinces of Oman|pmid=27403235 |pmc=4927734 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Denis |last=Ojalvo |website=Şalom |url=https://www.salom.com.tr/salomTurkey/haber/108332/the-jewish-tree-gharqad |title=The Jewish Tree 'Gharqad' |date=15 September 2015}}</ref>
The '''gharqad''' ({{lang-ar|غرقد}}) tree is mentioned in several [[hadiths]] that describe [[Islamic eschatology]]. It is considered likely that the gharqad tree is genus ''[[Nitraria]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flowersinisrael.com/Nitrariaretusa_page.htm |title="''Nitraria retusa, Nitraria tridentata,'' Salt tree, Hebrew: ימלוח פגום, Arabic: دقرغ/قدرغ" |website=Flowers in Israel}}</ref> or genus ''[[Lycium]]''.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=Oman Medical Journal |date=July 2016 |volume=31 |issue=4 |pages=245–252 |doi=10.5001/omj.2016.49 |first1=Madhu C. |last1=Divakar |first2=Amani |last2=Al-Siyabi |first3=Shirley S. |last3=Varghese |first4=Mohammed |last4=Al Rubaie |title=The Practice of Ethnomedicine in the Northern and Southern Provinces of Oman|pmid=27403235 |pmc=4927734 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Denis |last=Ojalvo |website=Şalom |url=https://www.salom.com.tr/salomTurkey/haber/108332/the-jewish-tree-gharqad |title=The Jewish Tree 'Gharqad' |date=15 September 2015}}</ref>


An excerpt from a hadith attributed to [[Abu Hurayra|Abu Huraira]] (one of [[Companions of the Prophet|Muhammad's companions]]) is famously quoted in the [[1988_Hamas_charter#Summary_of_the_1988_charter|1988 founding charter of Hamas, Article 17]], stating that every stone and tree—except for the gharqad tree—will speak aloud to reveal if a Jew is taking cover, so that the Muslim army can find and kill the Jew.<ref name="sunnah.com" />
An excerpt from a hadith attributed to [[Abu Hurayra|Abu Huraira]] (one of [[Companions of the Prophet|Muhammad's companions]]) is famously quoted in the [[1988_Hamas_charter#Summary_of_the_1988_charter|1988 founding charter of Hamas, Article 17]], stating that every stone and tree—except for the gharqad tree—will speak aloud to reveal if a Jew is taking cover, so that the Muslim army can find and kill the Jew.<ref name="sunnah.com" />


Members of the Nitraria or Lycium genuses do not have any significance in [[Judaism]].
Members of the ''Nitraria'' and ''Lycium'' genuses do not have any significance in [[Judaism]].


== In Sunni Islam ==
== In Sunni Islam ==
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* ''Sahih Muslim'' {{hadith-usc|usc=no|Muslim|41|6983}}
* ''Sahih Muslim'' {{hadith-usc|usc=no|Muslim|41|6983}}


There is a similar version allegedly narrated by [[Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman]] (one of the [[Sahabah]], a companion of the Prophet) mentioned in ''Aqeedah of Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jamaa'ah'' Hadith 21: "In this way, God will cause the Jews to be annihilated and Muslims shall be the victors. They (the Muslims) will break the Cross, slaughter the swine and abolish [[Jizya]]".
There is a similar version allegedly narrated by [[Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman]] (one of the [[Sahabah]], a companion of the Prophet) mentioned in ''Aqeedah of Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah'' Hadith 21: "They (the Muslims) will break the Cross, slaughter the swine and abolish [[Jizya]]".<ref>{{cite web |title=Major Signs Before the Day of Judgement |url=https://www.islaamnet.com/majorsigns.html#6 |website=www.islaamnet.com |access-date=17 June 2024}}</ref>


=== Interpretation ===
=== Interpretation ===
Within Sunni Islam, these narrations are understood as part of Sunni eschatology's description of a [[Al-Malhama Al-Kubra|great war]] at the [[Eschatology|end times]] against the forces of [[Dajjal]] which should occur after the [[Jesus in Islam#Second coming|second coming Jesus according to Islam]]. Then, according to this [[eschatology]], Jesus will lead an army of [[Muslims]], some of whom are righteous [[Christians]] and righteous Jews converting to Islam in the eve of the battle, to fight the army of Dajjal consisted of Jews believing Dajjal is a god, and if a Jew of Dajjal's army hides behind a stone or a tree, this stone or tree will miraculously talk to Muslims to expose him unless it is a Gharqad tree, because it is "their tree".<ref name="yaqeen_1">{{cite web |url=https://yaqeeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/FINAL-The-Myth-of-An-Antisemitic-Genocide-In-Muslim-Scripture-1.pdf |publisher=Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research |title=The Myth of An Antisemitic Genocide In Muslim Scripture |first1=Omar |last1=Suleiman |first2=Nazir |last2=Khan |first3=Justin |last3=Parrot |year=2017}}</ref><ref name="quran.com_1">{{cite web |url=https://quran.com/en/an-nisa/155/tafsirs |website=Quran.com |title=Tafsir Ibn-Kathir or Surah An-Nisa}}</ref>
Within Sunni Islam, these narrations are understood as part of Sunni eschatology's description of a [[Al-Malhama Al-Kubra|great war]] at the [[Eschatology|end times]] against the forces of [[Dajjal]] which should occur after the [[Jesus in Islam#Second coming|second coming Jesus according to Islam]]. Then, according to this [[eschatology]], Jesus will lead an army of [[Muslims]], some of whom are righteous [[Christians]] and righteous Jews converting to Islam in the eve of the battle, to fight the army of Dajjal consisting of Jews believing Dajjal is a god, and if a Jew of Dajjal's army hides behind a stone or a tree, this stone or tree will miraculously talk to Muslims to expose the Jew unless it is a Gharqad tree, because it is "their (the Jews') tree".<ref name="yaqeen_1">{{cite web |url=https://yaqeeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/FINAL-The-Myth-of-An-Antisemitic-Genocide-In-Muslim-Scripture-1.pdf |publisher=Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research |title=The Myth of An Antisemitic Genocide In Muslim Scripture |first1=Omar |last1=Suleiman |first2=Nazir |last2=Khan |first3=Justin |last3=Parrot |year=2017}}</ref><ref name="quran.com_1">{{cite web |url=https://quran.com/en/an-nisa/155/tafsirs |website=Quran.com |title=Tafsir Ibn-Kathir or Surah An-Nisa}}</ref>


Sunni moderate writers debate the subject in eschatological terms, emphasizing that this should happen only in [[Eschatology|the end times]] after the second coming of Jesus in accordance with Sunni thought and should not damage current [[Islamic–Jewish relations]].<ref name="islamqa_1">{{cite web |url=https://islamqa.info/en/answers/223275/in-the-battle-between-the-jews-and-the-muslims-at-the-end-of-time-the-aggressors-will-be-the-jews |title=In the battle between the Jews and the Muslims at the end of time, the aggressors will be the Jews |website=Islam Question & Answer |editor-first=Muhammad |editor-last=Al-Munajjid |editor-link=Muhammad Al-Munajjid}}</ref><ref name="abuaminaelias_1">{{cite web |url=https://www.abuaminaelias.com/hadith-of-gharqad-tree/ |title=Hadith of Gharqad Tree: A good deed to kill Jews in Islam? |first=Abu Amina |last=Elias |date=February 27, 2013}}</ref>
Sunni moderate writers debate the subject in eschatological terms, emphasizing that this should happen only in the end times after the second coming of Jesus in accordance with Sunni thought and should not damage current [[Islamic–Jewish relations]].<ref name="islamqa_1">{{cite web |url=https://islamqa.info/en/answers/223275/in-the-battle-between-the-jews-and-the-muslims-at-the-end-of-time-the-aggressors-will-be-the-jews |title=In the battle between the Jews and the Muslims at the end of time, the aggressors will be the Jews |website=Islam Question & Answer |editor-first=Muhammad |editor-last=Al-Munajjid |editor-link=Muhammad Al-Munajjid}}</ref><ref name="abuaminaelias_1">{{cite web |url=https://www.abuaminaelias.com/hadith-of-gharqad-tree/ |title=Hadith of Gharqad Tree: A good deed to kill Jews in Islam? |first=Abu Amina |last=Elias |date=February 27, 2013}}</ref>


According to one Sunni interpretation, Dajjal's army will not consist only of evil Jews, but also of evil Christians and evil Muslims believing Dajjal is a god, fighting as soldiers and not as [[civilians]].<ref name="yaqeen_1"></ref> This specific interpretation was criticized for not referring to Jews alone, while the author noted that "No one disputes that this relates to future events and not to our time".<ref name="Sayffadin_1">{{cite book |first=Abu Talut Haytham |last=Al Sayfaddin |url=https://archive.org/details/AReplyToTheMythOfAnAntisemeticGenocideInMuslimScripture_201811/A%20Reply%20to%20The%20Myth%20of%20an%20Antisemetic%20Genocide%20in%20Muslim%20Scripture/mode/2up |title=A Reply To The Myth of an Antisemetic Genocide In Muslim Scripture |date=2018-11-02 |pages=14, 49}}</ref>
According to one Sunni interpretation, Dajjal's army will not consist only of evil Jews, but also of evil Christians and evil Muslims believing Dajjal is a god, fighting as soldiers and not as [[civilians]].<ref name="yaqeen_1"></ref> This specific interpretation was criticized for not referring to Jews alone, while the author noted that "No one disputes that this relates to future events and not to our time".<ref name="Sayffadin_1">{{cite book |first=Abu Talut Haytham |last=Al Sayfaddin |url=https://archive.org/details/AReplyToTheMythOfAnAntisemeticGenocideInMuslimScripture_201811/A%20Reply%20to%20The%20Myth%20of%20an%20Antisemetic%20Genocide%20in%20Muslim%20Scripture/mode/2up |title=A Reply To The Myth of an Antisemetic Genocide In Muslim Scripture |date=2018-11-02 |pages=14, 49}}</ref>
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== Other Islamic sects ==
== Other Islamic sects ==
Not all Muslims accept all hadiths as reliable and may conclude somewhat different [[eschatology]]; most [[Shia]] Muslims reject Sunni hadiths as unreliable and have their own hadiths such as [[The Four Books]]. While according to Karimov, [[Zaydism|Zaydi Shia]] may hold Sunni hadiths with high esteem,<ref>{{cite journal |last=Karimov |first=N. R. |year=2019 |title=Some brief information on al-Sihah al-Sitta |journal=Theoretical & Applied Science |volume=5 |issue=5 |pages=611–620 |doi=10.15863/TAS.2019.05.73.96 |s2cid=195456153 |doi-access=free }}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=April 2023}} Zaydis have their own primary hadith traditions.<ref>{{cite web |website=TwelverShia.net |url=http://www.twelvershia.net/2019/03/07/the-zaidi-dilemma-shia-hadith-sources/ |title=The Zaidi Dilemma: Shia Hadith Sources |date=March 7, 2019}}</ref> While some [[Ibadi]] Muslims do not consider Sunni hadith as reliable and rely on [[Tartib al-Musnad]], Hoffman noted that contemporary Ibadis often approve of the standard Sunni collections.<ref>{{Cite book |first=Valerie Jon |last=Hoffman |title=The Essentials of Ibadi Islam |location=[[Syracuse, New York]] |publisher=[[Syracuse University Press]] |year=2012 |isbn=9780815650843 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JNxvMRJM3EAC |pages=3–4}}</ref>
Not all Muslims accept all hadiths as reliable and may conclude somewhat different [[eschatology]]; most [[Shia]] Muslims reject Sunni hadiths as unreliable and have their own hadiths such as [[The Four Books]]. While according to Karimov, [[Zaydism|Zaydi Shia]] may hold Sunni hadiths with high esteem,<ref>{{cite journal |last=Karimov |first=N. R. |year=2019 |title=Some brief information on al-Sihah al-Sitta |journal=Theoretical & Applied Science |volume=5 |issue=5 |pages=611–620 |doi=10.15863/TAS.2019.05.73.96 |s2cid=195456153 |doi-access=free }}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=April 2023}} Zaydis have their own primary hadith traditions.<ref>{{cite web |website=TwelverShia.net |url=http://www.twelvershia.net/2019/03/07/the-zaidi-dilemma-shia-hadith-sources/ |title=The Zaidi Dilemma: Shia Hadith Sources |date=March 7, 2019}}</ref> While some [[Ibadi]] Muslims do not consider Sunni hadiths as reliable and rely on [[Tartib al-Musnad]], Hoffman noted that contemporary Ibadis often approve of the standard Sunni collections.<ref>{{Cite book |first=Valerie Jon |last=Hoffman |title=The Essentials of Ibadi Islam |location=[[Syracuse, New York]] |publisher=[[Syracuse University Press]] |year=2012 |isbn=9780815650843 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JNxvMRJM3EAC |pages=3–4}}</ref>


[[Mohammed Dajani Daoudi|Dajani Daoudi]] concluded that by comprehensive review of the Quran, no such hadith would exist since it openly contradicts Islamic faith and that Muslims believe a hadith is the word of [[Human|man]] while the Quran is the word of [[God]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/significance-dialogue |work=Fikra Forum |publisher=Washington Institute for Near East Policy |title=On the Significance of Dialogue |first=Mohammed |last=Dajani |date=May 13, 2016}}</ref> Daoudi added that "this hadith" (that which he quoted) was collected 150 years after the [[death of Muhammad]], that the authenticity of such a hadith is disputed, and that this particular hadith has become controversial [[Antisemitism in Islam#Hadith|for promoting anti-Jewish sentiments among Muslims]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/dealing-hate-sermons |work=Fikra Forum |publisher=Washington Institute for Near East Policy |title=Dealing with Hate Sermons |first=Mohammed |last=Dajani |date=September 5, 2017}}</ref>
[[Mohammed Dajani Daoudi|Dajani Daoudi]] concluded that by comprehensive review of the Quran, no such hadith would exist since it openly contradicts Islamic faith and that Muslims believe a hadith is the word of [[Human|man]] while the Quran is the word of [[God]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/significance-dialogue |work=Fikra Forum |publisher=Washington Institute for Near East Policy |title=On the Significance of Dialogue |first=Mohammed |last=Dajani |date=May 13, 2016}}</ref> Daoudi added that "this hadith" (that which he quoted) was collected 150 years after the [[death of Muhammad]], that the authenticity of such a hadith is disputed, and that this particular hadith has become controversial for [[Antisemitism in Islam#Hadith|promoting anti-Jewish sentiments among Muslims]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/dealing-hate-sermons |work=Fikra Forum |publisher=Washington Institute for Near East Policy |title=Dealing with Hate Sermons |first=Mohammed |last=Dajani |date=September 5, 2017}}</ref>


== Critical assessment ==
== Critical assessment ==
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=== Possible use in anti-semitic incitement ===
=== Possible use in anti-semitic incitement ===
The Gharqad narrations are often quoted alongside [[faulty generalization|faulty generalizations]] to cause [[incitement]] against [[Jews]]<ref name="Lasson">{{cite journal |url=https://scholarworks.law.ubalt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1384&context=all_fac |publisher=University of Baltimore Law |title=Incitement in the Mosques: Testing the Limits of Free Speech and Religious Liberty |journal=Whittier Law Review |volume=27 |issue=3 |year=2005 |first=Kenneth |last=Lasson}}</ref> such as that all Jews anywhere, anytime are "killers of prophets", "greedy", "arrogant" or "enemies of god" and alike ("Enemies of humanity before they are enemies of Muslims"<ref name="Lasson"></ref>), without considering that people of [[Jewish ancestry]] have [[free will]] to choose a [[religion]] or [[irreligion]], may not practice Judaism (rather, another religion or no religion, without self definition as "enemies" of anything), or without an accuser's attempt to understand various different and conflicting Israelite or Jewish perspectives ([[Pharisees]], [[Sadducees]], [[Rabbinic Judaism|Rabbanites]], [[Karaite Judaism|Karaites]], [[Reform Judaism|Reforms]] and others) on religious issues, or without considering peaceful interpretations of scripture or [[Toleration|tolerance]], as common in cases of incitement<ref name="Lasson"></ref> caused by extremist radicals, most often fueled by political conflicts.<ref name="Lasson"></ref><ref name="newsweek_1">{{cite news |first=Michael Edison |last=Hayden |work=Newsweek |url=https://www.newsweek.com/imams-called-death-jews-trump-jerusalem-announcement-776941 |title=Three U.S. Imams have Called for Death of Jews Since Trump's Jerusalem Announcement |date=1 October 2018 |access-date=25 November 2023}}</ref>
The Gharqad narrations are often quoted alongside [[faulty generalization|faulty generalizations]] to cause [[incitement]] against [[Jews]]<ref name="Lasson">{{cite journal |url=https://scholarworks.law.ubalt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1384&context=all_fac |publisher=University of Baltimore Law |title=Incitement in the Mosques: Testing the Limits of Free Speech and Religious Liberty |journal=Whittier Law Review |volume=27 |issue=3 |year=2005 |first=Kenneth |last=Lasson}}</ref> such as that all Jews anywhere, anytime are "killers of prophets", "greedy", "arrogant" or "enemies of god" and also "enemies of humanity before they are enemies of Muslims"<ref name="Lasson"></ref>), without considering that people of [[Jewish ancestry]] have [[free will]] to choose a [[religion]] or [[irreligion]], may not practice Judaism (rather, another religion or no religion, without self definition as "enemies" of anything), or without an accuser's attempt to understand various different and conflicting Israelite or Jewish perspectives ([[Pharisees]], [[Sadducees]], [[Rabbinic Judaism|Rabbinic Jews]], [[Karaite Judaism|Karaites]], [[Reform Judaism|Reform Jews]] and others) on religious issues, or without considering peaceful interpretations of scripture or [[Toleration|tolerance]], as common in cases of incitement<ref name="Lasson"></ref> caused by extremist radicals, most often fueled by political conflicts.<ref name="Lasson"></ref><ref name="newsweek_1">{{cite news |first=Michael Edison |last=Hayden |work=Newsweek |url=https://www.newsweek.com/imams-called-death-jews-trump-jerusalem-announcement-776941 |title=Three U.S. Imams have Called for Death of Jews Since Trump's Jerusalem Announcement |date=1 October 2018 |access-date=25 November 2023}}</ref>


=== Conspiracy ===
=== Conspiracy ===
In the modern era, particularly in the context of the [[Arab–Israeli conflict]], a number of Muslim scholars have [[Antisemitism in Islam#Gharqad tree hadith|subscribed to a hoax]] asserting that millions of these gharqad trees are being planted throughout [[Israel]] in preparation for the prophesied arrival of the Dajjal and the apocalyptic Jewish–Muslim war.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
In the modern era, particularly in the context of the [[Arab–Israeli conflict]], a number of Muslim scholars have [[Antisemitism in Islam#Gharqad tree hadith|subscribed to a hoax]] asserting that millions of gharqad trees are being planted throughout [[Israel]] in preparation for the prophesied arrival of the Dajjal and the apocalyptic Jewish–Muslim war.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />


==== Belief that Israelis are planting gharqad trees ====
==== Belief that Israelis are planting gharqad trees ====
Some [[Islamism|Sunni Islamists]] who strongly advocate for the [[Calls for the destruction of Israel|destruction of Israel]] have sprung a myth asserting that [[Israeli Jews]] are planting millions of gharqad trees all over [[Israel]] in preparation for a dire war,<ref name=":0">{{cite book |publisher=Oxford Academic |url=https://academic.oup.com/book/9237/chapter-abstract/155913106?redirectedFrom=fulltext |chapter=The Gharqad Tree |title=The Road to Martyrs' Square: A Journey into the World of the Suicide Bomber |first1=Anne Marie |last1=Oliver |first2=Paul F. |last2=Steinberg |date=April 2006 |pages=20–24 |doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195305593.003.0007| isbn=978-0-19-530559-3 }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web |publisher=Christians for Israel International |first=Johannes |last=Gerloff |url=https://www.c4israel.org/_teachings/gharqad-the-tree-of-the-jews/ |title='Gharqad', the Tree of the Jews |date=23 August 2021 |access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref> although this is evidently false as [[List of forests in Israel|forests planted by Israeli authorities]] are typically made of [[pine]] and [[cypress]], with around 240 million such trees planted.<ref name="TJP-pines_1">{{cite news |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-692517 |work=The Jerusalem Post |title=How planting a tree in Israel became controversial |first=Cnaan |last=Liphshiz|agency=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=January 14, 2022}}</ref><ref name="USDA_1">{{cite journal |url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/9127 |publisher=USDA |title=Biodiversity of wood-inhabiting fungi in Israeli pine forests |first1=D. L. L. |last1=Czederpiltz |first2=K. |last2=Wikler |first3=M. R. |last3=Radmacher |first4=T. J. |last4=Volk |first5=Y. |last5=Hadar |first6=J. |last6=Micales |year=2004 |journal=Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden |volume=89 |pages=191–202 }}</ref><ref name="ScienceDirect_1">{{cite journal |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S161713810600015X |journal=Journal for Nature Conservation |volume=14 |issue=3–4 |date=20 September 2006 |pages=207–216 |title=Restoring biodiversity to pine afforestations in Israel |first=Paul |last=Ginsberg|doi=10.1016/j.jnc.2006.04.003 |bibcode=2006JNatC..14..207G }}</ref><ref name="Yale">{{cite web |first=Fred |last=Pearce |url=https://e360.yale.edu/features/in-israel-questions-are-raised-about-a-forest-that-rises-from-the-desert |title=In Israel, Questions Are Raised about a Forest that Rises from the Desert |work=Yale Environment 360 |publisher=Yale School of the Environment |date=September 30, 2019}}</ref><ref name="nature-israel_1">{{cite web |work=Nature Israel |url=https://natureisrael.org/dont-plant-any-tree-in-israel/ |title=Don't Plant Any Tree in Israel|date=5 May 2022 }}</ref><ref name="isees_1">{{cite journal | url=https://magazine.isees.org.il/?p=42453 | title=סוגיות עיקריות בחקר היערות המחטניים של ישראל – סיכום ארבעים שנות מחקר (1972–2012) | journal=אקולוגיה וסביבה | date=2013 | volume=4 | issue=4/2013 | last1=אסם | first1=יגיל }}</ref> [[Olive trees]] are planted to a lesser extent, but none of the ''Lycium'' or ''Nitraria'' are cultivated.
Some [[Islamism|Sunni Islamists]] who strongly advocate for the [[Calls for the destruction of Israel|destruction of Israel]] have propagated a false allegation that [[Israeli Jews]] are planting millions of gharqad trees all over [[Israel]] in preparation for a dire war,<ref name=":0">{{cite book |publisher=Oxford Academic |url=https://academic.oup.com/book/9237/chapter-abstract/155913106?redirectedFrom=fulltext |chapter=The Gharqad Tree |title=The Road to Martyrs' Square: A Journey into the World of the Suicide Bomber |first1=Anne Marie |last1=Oliver |first2=Paul F. |last2=Steinberg |date=April 2006 |pages=20–24 |doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195305593.003.0007| isbn=978-0-19-530559-3 }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web |publisher=Christians for Israel International |first=Johannes |last=Gerloff |url=https://www.c4israel.org/_teachings/gharqad-the-tree-of-the-jews/ |title='Gharqad', the Tree of the Jews |date=23 August 2021 |access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref> although this is evidently false as [[List of forests in Israel|forests planted by Israeli authorities]] are typically made of [[pine]] and [[cypress]], with around 240 million such trees planted.<ref name="TJP-pines_1">{{cite news |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-692517 |work=The Jerusalem Post |title=How planting a tree in Israel became controversial |first=Cnaan |last=Liphshiz|agency=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=January 14, 2022}}</ref><ref name="USDA_1">{{cite journal |url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/9127 |publisher=USDA |title=Biodiversity of wood-inhabiting fungi in Israeli pine forests |first1=D. L. L. |last1=Czederpiltz |first2=K. |last2=Wikler |first3=M. R. |last3=Radmacher |first4=T. J. |last4=Volk |first5=Y. |last5=Hadar |first6=J. |last6=Micales |year=2004 |journal=Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden |volume=89 |pages=191–202 }}</ref><ref name="ScienceDirect_1">{{cite journal |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S161713810600015X |journal=Journal for Nature Conservation |volume=14 |issue=3–4 |date=20 September 2006 |pages=207–216 |title=Restoring biodiversity to pine afforestations in Israel |first=Paul |last=Ginsberg|doi=10.1016/j.jnc.2006.04.003 |bibcode=2006JNatC..14..207G }}</ref><ref name="Yale">{{cite web |first=Fred |last=Pearce |url=https://e360.yale.edu/features/in-israel-questions-are-raised-about-a-forest-that-rises-from-the-desert |title=In Israel, Questions Are Raised about a Forest that Rises from the Desert |work=Yale Environment 360 |publisher=Yale School of the Environment |date=September 30, 2019}}</ref><ref name="nature-israel_1">{{cite web |work=Nature Israel |url=https://natureisrael.org/dont-plant-any-tree-in-israel/ |title=Don't Plant Any Tree in Israel|date=5 May 2022 }}</ref><ref name="isees_1">{{cite journal | url=https://magazine.isees.org.il/?p=42453 | title=סוגיות עיקריות בחקר היערות המחטניים של ישראל – סיכום ארבעים שנות מחקר (1972–2012) | journal=אקולוגיה וסביבה | date=2013 | volume=4 | issue=4/2013 | last1=אסם | first1=יגיל }}</ref> [[Olive trees]] are planted to a lesser extent, but none of the ''Lycium'' or ''Nitraria'' are cultivated.


==See also==
==See also==
Line 86: Line 86:
==External links==
==External links==
* [https://www.memri.org/tv/syrian-islamic-scholar-rifai-judgement-day-trees-help-muslims-kill-jews-jerusalem-municipality-mandatory-gharqad Syrian Islamic Scholar Abdul Nafee Al-Rifai: Jerusalem Municipality Made It Mandatory To Plant Gharqad Trees In People's Gardens In Order To Protect The Jews From The Muslims On Judgement Day]
* [https://www.memri.org/tv/syrian-islamic-scholar-rifai-judgement-day-trees-help-muslims-kill-jews-jerusalem-municipality-mandatory-gharqad Syrian Islamic Scholar Abdul Nafee Al-Rifai: Jerusalem Municipality Made It Mandatory To Plant Gharqad Trees In People's Gardens In Order To Protect The Jews From The Muslims On Judgement Day]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 01:58, 17 June 2024

Nitraria retusa
Nitraria schoberi
Lycium shawii
Lycium schweinfurthii
Some candidates for the gharqad tree.

The gharqad (Template:Lang-ar) tree is mentioned in several hadiths that describe Islamic eschatology. It is considered likely that the gharqad tree is genus Nitraria[1] or genus Lycium.[2][3]

An excerpt from a hadith attributed to Abu Huraira (one of Muhammad's companions) is famously quoted in the 1988 founding charter of Hamas, Article 17, stating that every stone and tree—except for the gharqad tree—will speak aloud to reveal if a Jew is taking cover, so that the Muslim army can find and kill the Jew.[4]

Members of the Nitraria and Lycium genuses do not have any significance in Judaism.

In Sunni Islam

It is prophesied that shortly before Judgement Day, the evil al-Masih ad-Dajjal will falsely claim to be the Mahdi; his followers will mostly be the Jewish people. The genuine Mahdi will arrive to lead a Muslim army against Dajjal and his followers in an apocalyptic battle known as al-Malhamat al-Kubra, until the Second Coming of Jesus, after which the Dajjal will be killed.[5]

Hadith

In Sunni tradition, Abu Huraira reported that the Islamic prophet Muhammad said:[4]

The last hour would not come unless the Muslims will fight against the Jews and the Muslims would kill them until the Jews would hide themselves behind a stone or a tree and a stone or a tree would say: "Oh Muslim, oh servant of Allah!, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him!" – But the tree Gharqad will not say, for it is the tree of the Jews.

Narrations that explicitly mention the gharqad tree are:

Narrations that do not mention the gharqad tree, only mentioning talking rocks or trees are:

There is a similar version allegedly narrated by Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman (one of the Sahabah, a companion of the Prophet) mentioned in Aqeedah of Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah Hadith 21: "They (the Muslims) will break the Cross, slaughter the swine and abolish Jizya".[6]

Interpretation

Within Sunni Islam, these narrations are understood as part of Sunni eschatology's description of a great war at the end times against the forces of Dajjal which should occur after the second coming Jesus according to Islam. Then, according to this eschatology, Jesus will lead an army of Muslims, some of whom are righteous Christians and righteous Jews converting to Islam in the eve of the battle, to fight the army of Dajjal consisting of Jews believing Dajjal is a god, and if a Jew of Dajjal's army hides behind a stone or a tree, this stone or tree will miraculously talk to Muslims to expose the Jew unless it is a Gharqad tree, because it is "their (the Jews') tree".[7][8]

Sunni moderate writers debate the subject in eschatological terms, emphasizing that this should happen only in the end times after the second coming of Jesus in accordance with Sunni thought and should not damage current Islamic–Jewish relations.[9][10]

According to one Sunni interpretation, Dajjal's army will not consist only of evil Jews, but also of evil Christians and evil Muslims believing Dajjal is a god, fighting as soldiers and not as civilians.[7] This specific interpretation was criticized for not referring to Jews alone, while the author noted that "No one disputes that this relates to future events and not to our time".[11]

The general message of the text is often alleged as a prophecy, but it does not appear in the Quran, which Muslims believe is Allah's revelation to Muhammad.

According to Memri TV, Qadhi described this text as referring to an end times war which is "a fight between good and evil"[12] and that the text is "predictive and not prescriptive".[12]

Other Islamic sects

Not all Muslims accept all hadiths as reliable and may conclude somewhat different eschatology; most Shia Muslims reject Sunni hadiths as unreliable and have their own hadiths such as The Four Books. While according to Karimov, Zaydi Shia may hold Sunni hadiths with high esteem,[13][better source needed] Zaydis have their own primary hadith traditions.[14] While some Ibadi Muslims do not consider Sunni hadiths as reliable and rely on Tartib al-Musnad, Hoffman noted that contemporary Ibadis often approve of the standard Sunni collections.[15]

Dajani Daoudi concluded that by comprehensive review of the Quran, no such hadith would exist since it openly contradicts Islamic faith and that Muslims believe a hadith is the word of man while the Quran is the word of God.[16] Daoudi added that "this hadith" (that which he quoted) was collected 150 years after the death of Muhammad, that the authenticity of such a hadith is disputed, and that this particular hadith has become controversial for promoting anti-Jewish sentiments among Muslims.[17]

Critical assessment

Insignificance of the tree in Judaism

Neither Nitraria nor Lycium have any sanctity in Judaism; they are not one of the four species of Sukkot, they are not one of the Seven Species of the Land of Israel and they are not one of the incense plants of the Torah; they are also not used for Havdalah and there is no Jewish tradition of eating their fruits in Tu BiShvat.

Fundamentalism around the concept

According to Freyer Stowasser,[18] a modernist, deconstructionist approach to the apocalyptic hadith remains largely unacceptable to the traditionalists among the Sunni clerical establishment.

The narratives on the Dajjal's end time reign and ultimate defeat were unreliable because of: questionable origin and transmitters, weak chains of hadith authentication, internal contradictions on this topic within the hadith corpus as a whole (that invalidate all of its parts), and the fact that these narratives contradict the Qur'anic text.

Possible use in anti-semitic incitement

The Gharqad narrations are often quoted alongside faulty generalizations to cause incitement against Jews[19] such as that all Jews anywhere, anytime are "killers of prophets", "greedy", "arrogant" or "enemies of god" and also "enemies of humanity before they are enemies of Muslims"[19]), without considering that people of Jewish ancestry have free will to choose a religion or irreligion, may not practice Judaism (rather, another religion or no religion, without self definition as "enemies" of anything), or without an accuser's attempt to understand various different and conflicting Israelite or Jewish perspectives (Pharisees, Sadducees, Rabbinic Jews, Karaites, Reform Jews and others) on religious issues, or without considering peaceful interpretations of scripture or tolerance, as common in cases of incitement[19] caused by extremist radicals, most often fueled by political conflicts.[19][20]

Conspiracy

In the modern era, particularly in the context of the Arab–Israeli conflict, a number of Muslim scholars have subscribed to a hoax asserting that millions of gharqad trees are being planted throughout Israel in preparation for the prophesied arrival of the Dajjal and the apocalyptic Jewish–Muslim war.[21][22]

Belief that Israelis are planting gharqad trees

Some Sunni Islamists who strongly advocate for the destruction of Israel have propagated a false allegation that Israeli Jews are planting millions of gharqad trees all over Israel in preparation for a dire war,[21][22] although this is evidently false as forests planted by Israeli authorities are typically made of pine and cypress, with around 240 million such trees planted.[23][24][25][26][27][28] Olive trees are planted to a lesser extent, but none of the Lycium or Nitraria are cultivated.

See also

References

  1. ^ ""Nitraria retusa, Nitraria tridentata, Salt tree, Hebrew: ימלוח פגום, Arabic: دقرغ/قدرغ"". Flowers in Israel.
  2. ^ Divakar, Madhu C.; Al-Siyabi, Amani; Varghese, Shirley S.; Al Rubaie, Mohammed (July 2016). "The Practice of Ethnomedicine in the Northern and Southern Provinces of Oman". Oman Medical Journal. 31 (4): 245–252. doi:10.5001/omj.2016.49. PMC 4927734. PMID 27403235.
  3. ^ Ojalvo, Denis (15 September 2015). "The Jewish Tree 'Gharqad'". Şalom.
  4. ^ a b According to sunnah.com, it is narrated by Abu Huraira in Sahih Muslim 2922 (Book 54, Hadith 103; Book 41, Hadith 6985).
  5. ^ Cook, David (2021) [2002]. Studies in Muslim Apocalyptic. Berlin and London: Gerlach Press. pp. 93–104. ISBN 9783959941211. OCLC 238821310.
  6. ^ "Major Signs Before the Day of Judgement". www.islaamnet.com. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  7. ^ a b Suleiman, Omar; Khan, Nazir; Parrot, Justin (2017). "The Myth of An Antisemitic Genocide In Muslim Scripture" (PDF). Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research.
  8. ^ "Tafsir Ibn-Kathir or Surah An-Nisa". Quran.com.
  9. ^ Al-Munajjid, Muhammad (ed.). "In the battle between the Jews and the Muslims at the end of time, the aggressors will be the Jews". Islam Question & Answer.
  10. ^ Elias, Abu Amina (February 27, 2013). "Hadith of Gharqad Tree: A good deed to kill Jews in Islam?".
  11. ^ Al Sayfaddin, Abu Talut Haytham (2018-11-02). A Reply To The Myth of an Antisemetic Genocide In Muslim Scripture. pp. 14, 49.
  12. ^ a b "American Islamic Scholar Sheikh Yasir Qadhi Defends Antisemitic Comments: MEMRI Jumps on Any Preacher Who Quotes Hadith about the Trees and the Rocks, But the Killing of Jews Is Prediction, Not Prescription; Muslims Cannot Be Antisemites". Memri TV. August 31, 2019.
  13. ^ Karimov, N. R. (2019). "Some brief information on al-Sihah al-Sitta". Theoretical & Applied Science. 5 (5): 611–620. doi:10.15863/TAS.2019.05.73.96. S2CID 195456153.
  14. ^ "The Zaidi Dilemma: Shia Hadith Sources". TwelverShia.net. March 7, 2019.
  15. ^ Hoffman, Valerie Jon (2012). The Essentials of Ibadi Islam. Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press. pp. 3–4. ISBN 9780815650843.
  16. ^ Dajani, Mohammed (May 13, 2016). "On the Significance of Dialogue". Fikra Forum. Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
  17. ^ Dajani, Mohammed (September 5, 2017). "Dealing with Hate Sermons". Fikra Forum. Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
  18. ^ Stowasser, Barbara Freyer. "The End is Near: Minor and Major Signs of the Hour in Islamic Texts and Contexts" (PDF). Georgetown University.
  19. ^ a b c d Lasson, Kenneth (2005). "Incitement in the Mosques: Testing the Limits of Free Speech and Religious Liberty". Whittier Law Review. 27 (3). University of Baltimore Law.
  20. ^ Hayden, Michael Edison (1 October 2018). "Three U.S. Imams have Called for Death of Jews Since Trump's Jerusalem Announcement". Newsweek. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  21. ^ a b Oliver, Anne Marie; Steinberg, Paul F. (April 2006). "The Gharqad Tree". The Road to Martyrs' Square: A Journey into the World of the Suicide Bomber. Oxford Academic. pp. 20–24. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195305593.003.0007. ISBN 978-0-19-530559-3.
  22. ^ a b Gerloff, Johannes (23 August 2021). "'Gharqad', the Tree of the Jews". Christians for Israel International. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  23. ^ Liphshiz, Cnaan (January 14, 2022). "How planting a tree in Israel became controversial". The Jerusalem Post. Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
  24. ^ Czederpiltz, D. L. L.; Wikler, K.; Radmacher, M. R.; Volk, T. J.; Hadar, Y.; Micales, J. (2004). "Biodiversity of wood-inhabiting fungi in Israeli pine forests". Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden. 89. USDA: 191–202.
  25. ^ Ginsberg, Paul (20 September 2006). "Restoring biodiversity to pine afforestations in Israel". Journal for Nature Conservation. 14 (3–4): 207–216. Bibcode:2006JNatC..14..207G. doi:10.1016/j.jnc.2006.04.003.
  26. ^ Pearce, Fred (September 30, 2019). "In Israel, Questions Are Raised about a Forest that Rises from the Desert". Yale Environment 360. Yale School of the Environment.
  27. ^ "Don't Plant Any Tree in Israel". Nature Israel. 5 May 2022.
  28. ^ אסם, יגיל (2013). "סוגיות עיקריות בחקר היערות המחטניים של ישראל – סיכום ארבעים שנות מחקר (1972–2012)". אקולוגיה וסביבה. 4 (4/2013).
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