To appreciate this highly revered honey, one has to understand the story behind its tree. The Sidr tree, (also known as Lote tree, Christ's Thorn, Jujube or Nabkh tree. Botanical name: Ziziphus spina-christi) is an ancient tree. It is believed that the Jujube fruit was the first thing Adam ate when he was made to descend to earth. The tree was used during the time of King Suleiman and the Pharaohs to build palaces and temples.
All of its parts have medicinal values. Its leaves are used as a herbal shampoo, to treat dandruff, head lice, swollen eyes, abscesses, furuncles and counter obesity. Mixed with warm water the leaves are used to clean the body since they are a disinfectant and the oil from the resin is deodorant. Its wood ash is used for the treatment of snakebites. Its fruits are found to have a very high energy value. Its seeds are rich in protein; its leaves rich in calcium, iron and magnesium. The root, stem bark are also used in various medicinal preparations. Other known medicinal uses include as a stomachic, an appetizer, an astringent and also as a cough medicine.
Sidrat al-Muntaha, by which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saw Jibreel when he was taken up into the heavens Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): "And indeed he (Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saw him (Jibreel) at a second descent (i.e., another time), near Sidrat al-Muntaha (the lote tree of the utmost boundary, beyond which none can pass), near it is the Paradise of Abode, when that covered the lote-tree which did cover it! The sight (of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)) turned not aside (right or left), nor did it transgress beyond (the) limit (ordained for it). Indeed, he did see of the Greatest Signs of his Lord (Allah)." [al-Najm 53:13-18] The phrase translated here as "when that covered the lote-tree which did cover it" is explained by the hadeeth narrated by Imaam al-Bukhaari from Abu Dharr, in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "It was covered in colours, I do not know what they are…" According to a hadeeth narrated by Abu Sa'eed and Ibn 'Abbaas, he said: "It was covered by the angels." According to a report narrated by Muslim, he said: "When it was covered with whatever covered it by the command of Allah, it changed, and none of the creation of Allah could describe its beauty." In the famous hadeeth about his Mi'raaj (ascent into heaven), the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that when Jibreel took him up into the heavens, he went through from one heaven to the next by the command of Allah, until he reached the seventh heaven. He said: "Then I was taken to Sidrat al-Muntaha; its fruits were like the pitchers of Hajar and its leaves were like the ears of elephants. He said, 'This is Sidrat al-Muntaha'…" (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 3598).
The reason why it is called Sidrat al-Muntaha is stated in the hadeeth narrated from Ibn Mas'ood by Imaam Muslim: "There everything that comes up from earth stops (yantahee), and it is taken from there, and there everything that comes down stops, and it is taken from there." Al- Nawawi said: It is called Sidrat al-Muntaha because the knowledge of the angels stops at that point, and no one has gone beyond it except the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).