One is left to wonder how many of the rest of Muhammad’s actions were, like this one, unworthy of emulation?
Sahih Muslim Book 30, Number 5830, (#1099 in Al-Alim 6.0): Musa b. Talha reported: I and Allah’s Messenger happened to pass by people near the date-palm trees. He (the Holy Prophet) said: What are these people doing? They said: They are grafting, i.e. they combine the male with the female (tree) and thus they yield more fruit. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger said: I do not find it to be of any use. The people were informed about it and they abandoned this practice. Allah’s Messenger (was later) on informed (that the yield had dwindled), whereupon he said: If there is any use of it, then they should do it, for it was just a personal opinion of mine, and do not go after my personal opinion; but when I say to you anything on behalf of Allah, then do accept it, for I do not attribute lie to Allah, the Exalted and Glorious.
