Musings on the date Palm as a symbol of unity

Allow me to muse here about the symbolic value of the date palm. The palm species with the long slender trunk and the canopy that often unfolds dozens of meters above the ground like a green fan, pleasantly rustling in the wind. Here in Spain, we usually take the date palm for granted. The exotic trees are everywhere to be seen in gardens, streets, parks, along boulevards, and in squares. It’s nice to know that Elche and Orihuela have the two largest palm groves in Europe. But there is so much more behind the seeming obviousness of the seemingly ordinary date palm.

Let me continue my musings with a bold statement: the date palm is one of the very few symbols on which the often squabbling world religions wholeheartedly agree. The date palm appears regularly in the Bible. For example, in the description of Babylon and also at a moment when Jesus blesses date palms. In the Quran, the prophet Mohammed declares that 'a man should be as sincere, honest, and generous as the palm tree.' In the writings of ancient peoples such as the Hebrews, Greeks, and Egyptians, the physical appearance of the date palm is described as a symbol of fertility and triumph. The Persians saw in the appearance of the date palm the symbol of the divine celestial body. And then there are the countless coins and paintings from various countries depicting palm trees next to important monuments. This symbolism underscores the great importance attributed to palms centuries ago.

But even in modern times, it has not lost any of its significance. The most pretentious project ever to reclaim land from the sea in Dubai is not without reason shaped like a gigantic date palm. The Palm Jumeirah became in 2006 the first of three archipelagos off the coast of the Persian Gulf, once again spotlighting the enduring symbolism of the date palm.

There is only one blemish on interreligious unanimity. When the Spaniards finally expelled the Moors after centuries of domination, the defeated had to convert to Christianity. If not, they had to leave. Many of them reluctantly agreed but placed a palm tree in their garden as a sign of their loyalty to the Islamic faith. Beyond that, the date palm has always managed to unite people from different corners and different religions in a unanimous appreciation.