To what extent is the current living tree, which is claimed to have provided shade for the Prophet (peace be upon him) during his journey to Sham before his prophethood, authentic, and what is the ruling on visiting it?

The authenticity of the widely circulated image of a tree, claimed to be the one under which the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, sought shade, has not been established. Caution must be exercised against venerating illegitimate relics, for Umar ibn al-Khattab ordered the cutting down of the tree under which the pledge of allegiance was given, saying, "Indeed, those who came before you perished because they turned the relics of their prophets into places of worship." Visiting such a tree, even if its authenticity were proven, for the purpose of seeking closeness to Allah, would be among the forbidden innovations (bidah).