Every year, members of our community spend so much time and give so much love towards gardening. In particular, it is our elder generation — men and women alike — who spend a large part of spring growing the Gourd plant, or in Bangla as we say, Khodu (খোডু).
It is an incredible sight seeing my own mother spend her time sowing the seeds, transferring the young plant from one pot to another before laying it out carefully in her garden, watering it with such care (me helping sometimes!), then taking a stroll during the early hours of the day watching it grow into vines, flowers appearing (some edible), and finally the vegetable emerging, bringing delight to the eye until it is ready to be picked.
Then comes the photograph, shared proudly with her children and grandchildren, before eventually it becomes a delicious curry. Sometimes with fish, another time with meat or chicken.
What is even more amazing is that the Gourd is a plant mentioned in the Qur’an. Surah Aṣ-Ṣāffāt 37:146
“And We caused a tree of gourd to grow over him.”
This is in reference to Prophet Yunus Alyhiwasallam (Jonah) who was swallowed by a whale, and after 40 days emerged weak and ill, whereupon Allah provided him with care, shade and healing beneath the vines of the gourd plant.
What is also amazing is that we know from the blessed life of Rasulullah ﷺ that he too had a love for gourd.
The hadith regarding the Prophet ﷺ loving gourd is narrated by Anas ibn Malik:
“A tailor invited the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to a meal which he had prepared. Anas said: I went along with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to that meal. He presented barley bread and soup containing gourd and cured meat. I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ picking the pieces of gourd from around the dish, so I continued to like gourd ever since.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5436, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2041
Another narration states:
“Since that day, I have continued to love gourd.” Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
There are also many fascinating scientific benefits associated with the gourd plant:
- Cooling Shade & Heat Reduction
- Fast Growth & Quick Shelter
- Nutritional & Healing Value
- Natural Insect Repellent
- Moisture Retention & Microclimate
- Psychological & Environmental Recovery
SubḥānAllah, a simple plant that many of our parents and grandparents lovingly grow each year which we take for granted, links with reminders of Qur'an and Sunnah of our beloved Prophet ﷺ.
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