Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Can you please explain the sunnah for peeling banana fruit?

Some one spoke to me that start peeling from the end side and not at the top. Some one told that banana was not available in saudi arabia throughout the life span of Prophet Mohammad (SAW) - contradicts.

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Answer:

Banana fruit

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The banana plantations obviously do not grow in the deserts of Arabia, and to the best of our knowledge there is no mention of the specific fruit banana in the authentic and established records of the Sunnah. But according to some commentators of the Quran, the ‘Talh’ trees mentioned in Surah Al-Waqiah implies a banana plantation, the fruits of which are borne in bunches, one tier above another. And Allah Alone Knows Best.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 56 Surah Waqiah verses 27-29:

27 The Companions of the Right Hand! What will be the Companions of the Right Hand?

28 (They will be) among ‘lote’ trees without thorns

29 Among ‘Talh’ trees with flowers (or fruits) piled one above another.

Your Question: Can you please explain the sunnah for peeling banana fruit?

Some one spoke to me that start peeling from the end side and not at the top.

To the best of our knowledge, there is no specific mention of the banana fruit in the authentic records of Sunnah, leave alone guidance or permissibility of its peeling!

Because no specific guidance is given regarding the peeling of the fruit, one may peel it any way one wishes, or is easy or convenient for them; eat of the fruit in the Name of Allah and be grateful for The Lord’s innumerable favors.

The brother who declared that it is required to peel the banana fruit from its end and not at the top probably was only giving his own preference; but if indeed he was giving a Shariah ruling, he should be asked to provide his evidence for the prohibition.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan