Ruling on Cutting Trees in Makkah for Medicine or Necessity

The questioner : It is permissible for the Shaykh to dig if there is a need.

The Shaykh : In any place.

The questioner : Or the opinion is permissible, and if it is taken

The Shaykh : Is it permissible, what?

The questioner : We hold that.

The Shaykh : There is nothing wrong with camels grazing on the sidr tree; camels graze on the sidr and on things other than the sidr.

The questioner : But it is needed for patients who need the shock. Yes.

The Shaykh : That is, by analogy with the idhkhar: if the need becomes widespread, there is nothing wrong with it. As for a specific need, it may be said that it is permissible, and it may be said that it is not permissible, because cutting it entails a definite harm, which is contravening the Shari'ah, and benefiting from it in medicine may or may not be useful. However, if one is compelled to eat it to be saved from death, there is no doubt that it is permissible. That is, if a person comes and finds a tree with leaves, and he needs to eat these leaves, and if he does not do so he will perish, then at that time we say there is nothing wrong with it, because it is a dire necessity.