By: Samsul Nizar
Professor & Head of STAIN Bengkalis
Everyone is familiar with the coconut tree. This type of plant is friendly to all levels of society. What’s more, the presence of coconut trees is a daily sight from sunrise to sunset for islanders. In every corner of the city, you can see tall buildings breaking clouds, and then for the children of the island and the coast, the view is only a row of coconut trees. Although the existence of coconut trees is known to everyone, not everyone has the time and opportunity to take lessons from coconut trees. Moreover, in some areas, the existence of coconut trees is almost extinct by the attacks and greed of oil palm plants which are more deified like sparkling pearls.
Even though Allah states, “Indeed nothing of Allah’s creation is in vain” (Surah Ali Imran: 19). Because everything has a purpose and a lesson for those who think about His creation. Allah states this in His word: “We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them to play. We created them only for a specific purpose, but most of them do not know” (Surah Ad-Dukhan: 38-39).
So many written and unfolded verses conveyed by God so that people realize His love. If all these verses are understood and practised, then humans will be safe in their lives. However, if all the verses Allah has to lay out are denied, humans and the environment will be in misery due to being blind, greedy, and ignorant. Naturally, Allah reminds people of His love in Surah Ar-Rahman (31 times repeating the word “So which of your Lord’s marvels will you deny?”). Among the many verses of Allah that are al-kauniyah in nature is the coconut tree.
Coconut trees are a choice of plants planted by ancient ancestors who lived in the island or coastal areas. This choice displays the character of the local wisdom of the people of that era, who were wise in knowing the environment. Several coconut trees philosophy can be studied to be a comparison of the quality of oneself as a human being (reputedly great and intelligent), including:
First, everything owned by coconut trees can be used for human life. Not a single side of the coconut trunk is wasted. All can benefit humans. The stems can use as bridges, house raw materials, mobile accessories, and others. The leaves are woven for roofs or covering walls, and the sticks are used as cleaning tools. The coir is used as a mattress or a substitute for foam. The shell can also be used as household utensils and accessories of high value. Moreover, the contents of coconut can be used as a delicious meal (young coconut), a culinary delicacy, food raw materials, and even high-quality cooking oil. Thus, humans should be able to take lessons from a coconut tree in their life. His whole life gives blessings and benefits to the universe. It relates to the function of the human caliphate to become rahmatanlil ‘alamin, not only for the use of oneself or a group along the belt.
Second, coconut trees can quickly adapt and live according to their environment. Even on the water, they can grow without damaging water quality. Thus, humans are present to manage nature with friendliness, not exploit nature with greed.
Third, coconut trees do not damage the surrounding habitat. They can live together. He is not greedy to control his surroundings. It becomes a protector for the plants beneath it. Thus, humans should be present to be wise and helpful to the universe. Not here to betray the caliphate.
Fourth, the roots of the coconut tree colour the surrounding water but promise freshness and health. It is not greedy to spend ground water but neutralizes water to benefit others.
Fifth, coconut water is a thirst quencher and medicine for humans. The freshness and sweetness of coconut water do not make humans sick. It is even beneficial for people with diabetes.
Sixth, coconut trees have the nature of independence in living life. He is not dependent and spoiled to continue his life. It lives by the struggle of its roots to find food. Even though sometimes, when given vitamins, he is grateful by repaying human kindness through dense fruit.
Seventh, the symbol of longing by depicting is the image of a coconut tree. This longing was expressed through the poem “nyiurmelambai”. Not much language of longing and peace was used. A few (perhaps none) are through the image of the coconut tree, another form of waving my longing for the Creator with His matchless and endless Love.
In contrast, modern humans love similar plants because they promise material value but damage the environment. The plant is a palm tree. Perhaps the human tendency towards oil palm reflects modern human nature like oil palm. Its existence promises to be material but unwittingly contributes to the destruction of civilization and destroys the environment. Among the properties of oil palm, include:
First, only palm fruit promises material enjoyment. It is like a golden glint that dazzles the eyes, but it saves suffering for the natural environment. Not a few are crazy and suffer when upstream, the cost of pampering palm oil has been pawned. It turns out that downstream the expected value has fallen. In contrast to the coconut tree, which is never troublesome, although its lustre cannot dazzle the eyes, what it produces soothes the soul.
Second, only fruit (and bunches) produce oil. On the other hand, palm trees cannot provide benefits like coconut trees. All wasted waiting for the process to be decomposed by the soil. The content of the palm is meaningless if it is without the skin and shell to produce oil. As a result, after turning into fat, the quality of the resulting cooking oil cannot match the quality of coconut oil, which is of higher quality. It is supported by a coconut tree working system that is independent, tested, and harmoniously side by side with others capable of delivering higher quality.
Third, it is spoiled by its dependence on fertilizers. It is unable to support itself independently. The reliance on the fertilizer that is served is very high. Without fertilizer, it cannot do anything. Maybe this is an image of modern humans. The level of dependence outside the self is the highest. The dependencies include reliance on technology, help from people, and so on. Everyone asks to be prepared, not prepared. It is difficult to grow crops around oil palm, except for wild grass that thrives. When quality figures cannot emerge and develop, grasses around the palm thrive that do not provide any benefit except for enjoying the fertilizer sprinkled around the palm.
Fourth, its greed for water damages the environment’s water supply. Improvements to the environment for oil palm plantations take a long time to recover. Developed countries set a policy that not all areas can be planted with oil palm, only in certain areas and far from the location of community settlements. However, for backward countries, there are no rules that protect nature. There is no mapping of places to plant oil palm. Everyone is free to grow it without realizing the danger it poses. In this way, palm oil is analogous to human greed. It will destroy the world’s civilization for generations. Its life always asks for special services. Its desire can consume the entire contents of the universe. Humans who have advanced societies are ashamed of themselves when they fail to bring virtue and maintain the benefit of the community. However, for the owners of backward civilizations, there is pride when they can disable the rules, especially if they kill the laws and justice with the accessories of the worn robe of kindness.
Fifth, the palm cannot quench thirst and ward off hunger. Instead, palms ask to be fed (fertilizer) and lots of water. Unlike coconuts, they offer sweet water, an antidote to a million diseases, and the contents can be a substitute when hunger strikes. How are humans? Has the coconut palm disappeared and been replaced with the palm oil one? Who knows.
Presumably, the use of these two plant types with the name coconut (coconut tree and oil palm) as a symbol of designating both humans for imagery. However, the nature and totality usefulness between the two are far different, as well as the nature and quality of human beings in reality. The question is, can we take lessons from coconut and oil palm trees? The choice of a self-quality mirror on a coconut tree or limited to palm oil, of course, every honest self in the mirror can answer it. Or not both, but the nature of the parasitic tree that grows on coconut and oil palm trees, which are not very beneficial, but full of harm to everything they ride.
Is there still hope to improve civilization-style palm oil, which is always thirsty and hungry, by restoring civilization-style palm trees that care more about the environment? Efforts are being made, prayers are being said, and capitulation is still being strung together. All destiny let Allah show with the justest decision.
WaAllahua’lam bi al-Shawwab
Translated by: Ruzaini, M.Pd (Alumni of English Education Study Program of STAIN Bengkalis)
