Can i grow Lotus plants for their beauty & benefits?

Question

Hi,

I feel that Lotus plants are quite beautiful and wanted to purchase some seeds. My mom is unsure whether or not we can grow them in the house becasue they are a Hindu religious symbol. I did not know this and never thought of them as a religious symbol. I wanted clarification about whether or not I could grow them because they are a thing of nature and I had read once that they were used in Islamic gardens. I want to grow them for their beauty but mostly because I want to harvest the seeds and roots for cooking. Is this permissible?

Mahmood Suliman · Accepted Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

There are many benefits of the lotus plant. The lotus plant blocks the absorption of fats and thus helps lower cholesterol. It is also good for diabetes as the leaves lower blood sugar levels thus helping those suffering from diabetes.[i]

Apart from the lotus plant being beautiful, there are many other health related benefits from the lotus plant

It is permissible to harvest the seeds of the lotus plant to derive health related benefits from the lotus plant.

If the lotus plant is used in a specific place as a Hindu religious symbol, then, in order to avoid imitating the Hindus, then in that place, do not display the lotus plant.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mahmood Suliman

Student Darul Iftaa
Gaborone, Botswana

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

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