I was with the Prophet (ﷺ) and he passed by some palm trees of Madinah, and he saw some people at the top of the palm trees who were pollinating them. He said: “What are these people doing?` [Talhah] said: “They are taking (pollen) from the male and putting it in the female, to fertilise it.” He said: `I do not think this can help in any way.” News of that reached them, so they stopped doing that and came down from the trees, which did not bear any fruit that year as a result. News of that reached the Prophet (ﷺ) and he said: “It was only a thought that crossed my mind. If it helps in any way, then do it. I am only human, just like you, and thoughts may be right or wrong. But if I tell you that Allah, May He be glorified and exalted, said something, I will never tell a lie about Allah, may He be glorified and exalted.”It was narrated from Moosa bin Talhah ( and he narrated a similar report.) a similar report
Commentary on Musnad of Abu Muhammad Talhah bin 'Ubaidullah
This narration from Musnad Ahmad (1399, 1400) contains profound wisdom regarding the Prophet's human nature and divine guidance. The incident demonstrates the distinction between matters of worldly experience and matters of divine revelation.
The Prophet's Human Judgment
When the Prophet (ﷺ) expressed his personal opinion about palm tree pollination, he clarified that this was his personal reasoning (ijtihad) based on human knowledge. This establishes the principle that the Prophet's statements fall into two categories: revelation from Allah and personal human judgment.
Scholars explain that in matters of agriculture, medicine, and worldly affairs, the Prophet (ﷺ) spoke from his human experience unless specifically guided by revelation. His retraction demonstrates humility and truthfulness.
Distinction Between Prophetic Roles
The Prophet's statement "I am only human, just like you" emphasizes his humanity while maintaining his prophethood. Classical commentators note this differentiates between his role as a human being and his role as Allah's Messenger.
His clarification "if I tell you that Allah said something, I will never tell a lie about Allah" establishes the absolute trustworthiness of prophetic revelation while acknowledging the potential for error in personal opinions.
Legal and Theological Implications
This hadith forms the basis for the scholarly principle that the Prophet's personal opinions in worldly matters are not binding religious legislation unless confirmed by revelation.
The incident also teaches Muslims to investigate natural phenomena through observation and experience, as the Companions ultimately returned to the effective pollination method after witnessing its results.