Christ thorn

Scientific Name: Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf.

Arabic name(s): السِّدْر

English name(s): Christ thorn

Growth form: Christ thorn "Sidr" is a shrub, or evergreen tall tree.

Order: Rosales

Family: Rhamnaceae

Genus: Ziziphus Mill.

Species: Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf.

Citation in the Quran:

Sidr and its derivatives have been mentioned 4 times in the Holy Qur’an; Allah The Most Sublime Says; “But they turned away (from the obedience of Allah), so We sent against them Sail Al’Arim (flood released from the dam), and We converted their two garden (rows) into “gardens” producing bitter fruit, and tamarisks, and some few (stunted) Sidr.” Surat Sabaa, verse# 16

Citation in the Hadit:

Umm ‘Atiyya reported: the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) came to us when we were bathing his daughter, and he told us: Wash her with water and (with the leaves of ) Sidr tree, three or five times, or more than that if you think fit, and put camphor or something like camphor in the last washing; then inform me when you have finished. So when we had finished, we informed him, and he gave to us his (own) under-garment saying:” Put it next her body.” Sahih Al Bukhari, book of the funerals.

Habitat & Distribution:

Z. spina-christi is native to a vast area of Africa and naturalized in many tropical countries. In Qatar, Sidrah has been planted for windbreaks, sand dune fixation and reforestation of dry lands.

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