Ajwa tree (I wish)

This is my fruit-tree collection. I have been sticking fruit stones into pots on my window-sill not really thinking they would grow. So far I have an avocado plant and a lychee which is very pretty. My pride and joy though is my little ajwa plant. Ajwa is a very special kind of date and the most expensive variety you can get. (I recently saw a small 1 ½ pound box for £10). Short and almost round and a purple-black colour, it is sweet but not too sweet. People who go for hajj try to bring a little back for their families, believing it to be blessed. It is believed that the first plant was planted by the beloved Prophet (saws) himself and grew and bore fruit within a year rather than the twelve years it normally takes for a date tree to grow and bear fruit. Eating an odd number of the dates is thought to keep away shaytan. As far as I know the fruit is only found in Madinah.

As for my tree, I don’t expect it to bear fruit anytime soon and would be over the moon if it just managed to survive, but imagine if I did manage to grow my own ajwa dates, would be amazing.

http://almiskeenah.blogsome.com/category/dates-4/ (link regarding the story of Hadhrat Salman-al-Farsi (RA) and the origin of the Ajwa).

Sa'd, radiya Allahu anhu, narrates that the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, said: Whoever awakens to eat 7 dates of the 'Ajwa variety, will not be harmed by poison or black magic. (Reported by Al-Bukhari)

'Aisha, radiya Allahu anha, narrated that the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, said: A household with dates will never go hungry. (Reported by Ad-Darimi)

Ibn Umar, radiya Allahu anhuma, (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, asked: There is a tree whose leaves do not shed and it is similar to a Muslim, so tell me about it. We were silent and I thought it was the date palm but I was to shy too speak, so we said, "tell us what it is". He, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, said: It is the date palm. (Reported by Al-Bukhari)

And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree: she cried (in her anguish) "Ah! Would that I had died before this! Would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!" But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm tree): "Grieve not! For thy Lord has provided a rivulet beneath you; And shake towards you the trunk of the palm tree; it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon you. So eat and drink and cool (your) eye. And if you see any man, say, 'I have vowed a fast to (Allah) Most Gracious, and this day will I enter into no talk with any human being'". (Maryam: 23-26)