The Prophet Muhammad's 'Companion' Still Alive: This Is Its Home
Prophet Muhammad PBUH died on 8 June 632 CE, more than 1,300 years ago. Yet, there is reportedly a ‘Companion’ from the Prophet’s era who remains alive today. Who is he?
The Safawi Desert region, near the town of Al-Mafraq in Jordan, is home to this Prophet’s Companion. But unlike most of the Prophet’s companions recorded in Islamic history, this figure is a large tree, not a person.
This tree is often referred to as the Prophet’s Companion because it is believed to have sheltered Prophet Muhammad when he was a child. At that time, Muhammad accompanied his uncle Abu Talib on a trading journey toward the Levant. During the journey, the Quraysh caravan halted to rest beneath a tree that stood alone in the middle of a barren desert. It was there that an event occurred that has since become part of a popular narrative in Islamic history.
According to several accounts cited by the Royal Jordanian site, a Christian monk named Bahira who lived in the area observed the caravan from afar. He reportedly felt wonder at the sight of a cloud shading one member of the travel party. When the caravan halted and rested beneath the tree, Bahira approached them.
Bahira then looked closely at a small boy in the group, namely Muhammad. After speaking with Abu Talib and noting several signs, Bahira is believed to have concluded that the boy would grow up to be a prophet. He warned Abu Talib to look after Muhammad well on their journey.
Over time, the tree under which the caravan sheltered came to be known as the Sahabi Tree and its Latin name is Atlantic Pistachio. The word ‘sahabi’ itself refers to the Prophet’s companion, so the tree is often regarded as a living witness to Muhammad’s early life before his prophethood.
What makes the tree even more intriguing is its location. The tree stands alone in the midst of a dry, barren desert, with no other trees nearby. On this basis, many regard its existence as something unique.
In modern times, the tree was rediscovered by Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan. According to the Royal Archives site, after returning from studies at the University of Cambridge, Ghazi was tasked by his uncle, King Hussein, to work at the Royal Archives of Jordan. There he studied various royal records.
In that research, he found an old document concerning a tree in the Safawi area of Zarqa Governorate, which had apparently been overlooked during an inventory of holy sites during the reign of King Abdullah I. This tree is believed to be the place where the Prophet sheltered.
Today, the Sahabi Tree has become one of Jordan’s religious pilgrimage sites. Pilgrims and travellers from many countries come to see the tree, believed to be over 1,400 years old and to have served as the Prophet Muhammad’s companion on his life journey.