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It is
mentioned in reliable traditions from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) that after the
Holy Prophet (S) was born, his mother could not produce milk for some days to
enable him to suckle. Abu Talib applied his chest to the mouth of the Holy
Prophet (S) and Almighty Allah produced milk in it. He continued to suckle it
till Halima Sadiyah was engaged for the job and the Holy Prophet (S) was
entrusted to her. It is
mentioned in another true tradition that Imam Ali (a.s.) said: “When he was
consulted about the marriage of Hamza’s daughter, he (the Prophet) said:
Perhaps you don’t know that she is my father’s daughter because I and Hamza had
suckled at the same breast.” Ibn Shahr
Ashob has narrated that first the Holy Prophet (S) suckled a freed slave girl
of Abu Lahab and thereafter Halima Sadiyah. The Holy Prophet (S) lived with
Halima Sadiyah for five years. Halima had also fostered Hamza earlier. When the
Holy Prophet (S) attained the age of nine years he went to It is
mentioned in Nahjul Balagha that Ali (a.s.) said that the Almighty Allah
appointed a high-ranking angel who always remained with the Holy Prophet (S)
and kept him on the best of behavior and good virtues.[24] And I always used to be with the Holy Prophet
(S), just like a child following his mother. The Holy
Prophet (S) was daily raising a flag of morals for me and saying: Follow this
and, every year, the Holy Prophet (S) used to stay at It is
narrated through reliable traditions that a man asked Imam Muhammad Baqir
(a.s.) about the Qur’anic verse إِلَّا مَنِ ارْتَضَىٰ مِنْ رَسُولٍ فَإِنَّهُ يَسْلُكُ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ رَصَدًا. “Except to him whom He chooses as an apostle; for surely He makes a guard to march before him and after him.”[25] His
Eminence, said: The Almighty Allah appoints some angels for His prophets who
guard them and continue to convey the Divine Messages to them and Allah
appointed a high-ranking angel for Prophet Muhammad (S) ever since he stopped
sucking. That angel was making the Prophet tread the path of high morals and
good deeds and protecting him from evils. When he became a youth, the angel
addressed him saying: “Peace be upon you, O Muhammad, O Messenger of Allah,” he
was till then not appointed as a messenger. The Holy Prophet (S) used to
imagine that the voice came from stones and the earth because he could not see
anyone. In another
narration Amirul Momineen (a.s.) is reported to have said that the Holy Prophet
(S) said: Before my appointment as a prophet, I had not agreed with the people
of ignorance except on two occasions: One night I arose to watch them play and
hear them talking. But Allah put me to a deep slumber so that I might not be
able either to see or hear them and hence I understood that Allah does not like
it. Thereafter
I never paid any attention to their deeds. According to another narration the
other occasion was when the Holy Prophet (S) was seven years old, it is said
that, a house was being built for a man for which he himself was also helping.
I thought of collecting some earth in the skirt of my garment but in that case
my private parts were likely to be exposed as there were no under garments.
Suddenly I heard a voice above my head: ‘Drop down your skirt’. I looked here
and there but could not see anybody. Then I dropped down my skirt and went back
home. Ibn Shahr
Ashob and Qutub Rawandi (r.a.) have narrated from Halima binte Abi Zuwaib whose
name was Abdullah bin Harith and who belonged to the tribe of Mudhir. Halima
was wife of Harith bin Abdul Uzza. She says: In the holy year in which the Holy
Prophet (S) was born, there was famine in our area. I came, along with a group
of some women belonging to Bani Saad, to I was
riding a female mule which moved very slow and I had with me a she-camel which
had no milk at all. I already had a child but I had not enough milk to gratify
it at night so he used to wake up during nights. When we reached When I took
the baby prophet in my arms and he looked at me, a kind of radiance flashed
from his eyes. The righteous child looked with a feeling of coolness towards my
right breast and suckled for some time but did not look at the left breast. He
left it for my own child. Then due to the auspiciousness of the Holy Prophet
(S) both breasts became full of milk sufficing both the infants. When I took
the baby prophet to my husband, our weak she-camel also began to produce milk
which proved sufficient for both of us and our children. Seeing
this, my husband said: “We are fortunate to get such a good child due to whom
bounties have turned to us.” Next morning I made the Holy Prophet (S) sit on
the mule. The mule proceeded to Kaaba and after reaching there, as a miracle of
Muhammad (S), it prostrated thrice and said: I got rid of my ailments and have
recovered. I have been liberated from difficulties due to the fact that the
leader of the prophets, the last messenger and the best of the earliers and the
latters rode on me. The mule
became strong and turned so swift that none of the animals of our companions
could compete with him. My companions were astonished due to the changes they
observed in me and in my animals. In short, benefits and bounties continued to
rain on us every day. Sheep and camels of other grazers returned half hungry
from fields but our animals were well fed and full of milk. On the way we
passed by a cave; a man came out of it the radiance on whose forehead was
reaching the sky. He saluted the Holy Prophet (S) and said: Almighty Allah has
appointed me to look after the affairs of the Holy Prophet (S). Then a herd
of deer passed us and all of them told me in lucid language: O Halima you do
not know whom you have brought for suckling. He is the purest of the pure
people. In short, wherever I went, mountains and deserts; all were saluting the
Holy Prophet (S). Then there was so much addition to our wealth that we became
affluent. The number of our animals increased due to the blessing of the Holy
Prophet (S). The holy baby never spoilt his clothes with urine or feces or
removed his clothes from his private parts. Usually, I
used to see a youth with him who concealed with a cloth his private parts and
protected him. I nourished the Holy Prophet (S) for five years and two months.
In the meantime the Holy Prophet (S) once asked me: “Where does my brother go
daily?” I replied: “He goes to graze the sheep.” The Holy Prophet (S) said: “I
will also accompany him today.” So he also went to the wild that day. There, a
group of angels took the Holy Prophet (S) on a hillock and cleaned him. Seeing
this, my own child came running to me and said: “Look at Muhammad! Some persons
have taken him!” I rushed there and saw a light spreading from his holy body. I
took him in my arms and asked: “What happened to you?” He replied: “Mother,
don’t be afraid, Allah is with me.” Fragrance better than musk emanated from
him. One day an astrologer saw him and fell down with a scream: “This is one
who will defeat kings and divide the Arab land.” Ibn Shahr
Ashob has narrated from Halima (r.a.) that when the Holy Prophet (S) was three
months old, he began to sit. At the age of nine months he began to run with
other children. He wanted to go with his brothers to graze sheep when he was
only ten months old. He used to shoot arrows with the youths of his tribe when
he was fifteen months old. He began to wrestle and defeated others when he was
thirty months old. Then I sent him to his grandfather. It is
narrated from Ibn Abbas that when food was being brought to children in the
morning they used to snatch it from one another. But the Holy Prophet (S) never
ever extended his hand towards the food. When children used to wake up in the
morning, their eyes were seen full of dirt. But the face of the Holy Prophet
(S) was always found clean. Fragrance could always be perceived from him. It is
narrated through reliable traditions that once when Abdul Muttalib was sitting
near Kaaba when he suddenly heard an announcer saying Halima’s child named
Muhammad is missing. Abdul Muttalib became restless. He ordered: O Bani Hashim
and O Bani Ghalib! Mount and start searching as Muhammad is missing. He swore:
“I will not get down until he is found. If he is not found I will kill a
thousand Arabs and a hundred Quraishis.” He was going round the Kaaba reciting
couplets: O Nourisher! Return my rider
prince to me and shed Your bounty again on me. If I don’t find Muhammad, I will
scatter the entire Quraish. At that
time a voice came from space: “The Almighty Allah will not destroy Muhammad.” Abdul Muttalib
asked: “Where is he?” Came the reply: “In such and such valley, under an acacia
tree.” When Abdul Muttalib went there he saw that miraculously, Muhammad was
plucking and eating fresh dates from a thorn tree and two youths stood by him;
they were angels Jibraeel and Mikaeel. Abdul Muttalib asked the Prophet: “Who
are you?” He replied:
“I am son of Abdullah bin Abdul Muttalib.” Abdul Muttalib placed him on his
shoulder, returned to Kaaba and circled it seven times. On the other side, many
women had gathered near Amina to console her. When Abdul Muttalib brought the
Prophet he himself went to Amina and did not pay any attention to other women.
Similarly, once Abdul Muttalib sent him to bring back his camels. When he was
late in returning, Abdul Muttalib sent groups of people in every direction to
search for him. Holding the chains of Kaaba Abdul Muttalib was saying: “My
Lord! Will You ruin your selected one or have You made any change regarding his
prophethood which You had announced?” When the Holy Prophet (S) returned Abdul
Muttalib took him in his arms, hugged him and said: “May my parents be
sacrificed on you, henceforth I will never send you on any errand lest the
enemies kill you.” Ibn Abbas
narrates that Abu Talib told him: I was always keeping Muhammad with me without
separating him even for a moment. I never trusted anyone regarding him; so much
so that I made him sleep on my bed. One night I told him to undress and sleep
on my bed, but I saw that he was hesitating due to shame. Then he told me:
“Father, turn away your face, it is not becoming for anyone to look at my
modesty.” When he
came under my quilt, I saw a cloth between me and him which I had not put
there. I had never seen so soft and fragrant cloth ever before which seemed to
be dipped in perfume. In the morning that cloth vanished. It so happened that I
did not find him in his bed many a times. When I called him, he used to speak
from under the quilt: “Uncle! I am here. Please come back.” At night I used to
hear wonderful supplications and voices from him. Once I saw
a wolf approach him, which smelled him, circled around him (baby prophet) and
began to rub its tail meekly. Often I had seen a very handsome man who drew his
hand over Muhammad’s head, pray for him and vanish. Many a times I dreamt that
the whole world has become subservient to him and he has risen up to the sky. One day I
missed him and on searching for him restlessly for a long time, all of a sudden
I saw him coming with a man the like of whom I had never seen. I said: “My son,
did I not tell you not to be away from me?” That man said: “Don’t worry;
whenever you are not with him, I am with him to protect him.” He always drank
Zamzam water. Many times when Abu Talib brought food for him in the morning, he
used to say: “Uncle! I am not hungry.” At noon or evening, when Abu Talib
brought food for his children, he used to tell them: “Don’t extend your hands
until Muhammad has eaten.” When
Muhammad began to eat the other boys, miraculously, used to be gratified with
the remaining food. It is also narrated by Abu Talib that, “during nights, I
used to hear supplications and other astonishing things from Muhammad. Arabs
did not recite: In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful (Bismillah)
before eating. But from his childhood Muhammad was habituated to recite this
formula before eating or drinking. He also used to say Praise be to Allah in
excess (Al Hamdulillah Katheeran) after he finished eating. Often I found
him alone when a line of radiance was stretched from his face upto the sky. I
have never heard false or meaningless talk from him nor did he ever laugh
aloud. He never participated in childish games or even looked at their games.
He always preferred solitude. A group of Jews came when he was seven and said:
“We have read in our books that Almighty Allah will protect Muhammad from the
forbidden and the doubtful. We intend
to witness the same.” Then they brought a fried chicken in a gathering of the
Quraish where the Holy Prophet (S) was also present, and placed it in front of
them all. The Quraish devoured it collectively but the Holy Prophet (S) did not
even extend his hand to it. When the people asked him, he said: “It is
forbidden and Allah protects me from the forbidden.” People said: “It is
permissible. What if we
put a morsel in your mouth?” The Prophet replied: “Try if you can.” Then they
made much effort to put a piece of that food in the mouth of the Holy Prophet
(S) but did not succeed as their hands turned either right or left. Then
another fried chicken was brought, which had vanished from a neighbor’s house.
They caught it with an intention to pay for it when commanded. When the Holy
Prophet (S) lifted a piece of it, it fell down. Then he
said: “This is a doubtful thing and my Lord saves me even from doubtful
things.” People again tried to put it in his mouth, but failed. Then the Jews
admitted that these exactly were the virtues of the Prophet as they had read in
their scriptures. Her Eminence, Fatima binte Asad is reported to have said:
There was a tree in the compound of our house which had dried up for long. One
day when the Holy Prophet (S) came near it and rubbed his hand on it; it became
green at once and fresh dates grew on it. She says: I
used to gather fresh dates daily for the Holy Prophet (S), kept the same for
him and put before him whenever he came. He was taking it out and distributing
among the children of Bani Hashim. One day when the Holy Prophet (S) arrived I
excused saying: “Today no dates appeared on the tree.” Then I saw
that one of those trees bent so much that Prophet’s hand reached its top branch
and he plucked as many dates as he liked. Thereafter that tree reverted to its
original position. At that moment I prayed to Allah with total humility: “O
Lord of the earth and heavens, grant me also a son who may be his brother and
who may resemble him.” That very night I conceived Ali and after his birth, Ali
never approached idol-worship or worship anyone but Only One God. Shazan
(r.a.) has reported that when the Holy Prophet (S) was four months old, his
mother, Amina departed for the eternal abode and he became without a father or
mother. He did not eat or drink for three days due to the loss of his kind
mother and continued to weep. It made Abdul Muttalib very gloomy and restless.
He called his daughters, Safiya and Atiqa and told them: “Console this son of
mine and find out a nurse for him.” Atiqa began
to feed honey to the Prophet and called all the Hashemite wet nurses to suckle
the Prophet. But he did not suck from any of them. Then came four hundred and
sixty Quraishi women but the Prophet did not accept anybody’s milk and
continued to cry. Seeing this Abdul Muttalib became very sorrowful. He went and
sat near the Kaaba. Per chance an old Quraishi man named Aqeel bin Waqqas
passed from there. He asked
Abdul Muttalib the reason of his gloom to which he replied: “My child does not
suck any woman ever since his mother expired and he goes on crying. Hence I do
not like to eat or drink anything. I am very confused and do not know what
should be done.” Aqeel said: “O Abdul Harith! I know a woman in a Quraish tribe
whose race, wisdom, talk and behavior is better than all others. Her name is
Halima binte Abdullah bin Harith.” Abdul
Muttalib liked the idea and he sent Shamrool his slave, on a fast camel to Bani
Saad bin Bakr tribe at a distance of about six farsakhs (36 Kms) and asked him
to bring Abdullah Ibnul Harth to him at once. So he brought him soon when a
number of Quraishi chiefs had gathered near Abdul Muttalib. Seeing him
Abdul Muttalib got up to welcome Abdullah Ibnul Harth and embraced him and
seated him beside him and then said: “I troubled you because my grandson
Muhammad is four months old. His mother has expired and the child is very
uneasy. He does not take suck from any woman. I have heard that your daughter
is confined. If you don’t mind please send her to suckle the baby. If my
grandson takes suck I will make you and your tribe wealthy.” Abdullah was very
pleased to hear this. He went to
Halima and gave her the good news who also became very glad. She bathed herself,
applied various scents and adorned herself with nice clothes and went, along
with her father Abdullah and her husband Bakr bin Saad, to Abdul Muttalib. They
went with her to Atiqa. Then they put Muhammad (S) in Halima’s lap. She wanted
to give her left breast but he did not accept and turned to the right one which
had dried up and no child had touched it. Halima hesitated as she feared that
the baby would not get anything from it. She again tried to give the left one
but the child only wanted the right one. At last Halima said: “O baby son! Take
this and you will know that there is no milk in it.” When the
Holy Prophet (S) took the right breast in his mouth and began to suck, his
auspiciousness made the breast full of milk and it began to overflow from both
the sides of the baby’s mouth. Halima was astounded and she said: “My son, this
is really strange! I swear by the Lord of the sky and say that I have suckled
twelve babes but none could even get a drop from the right breast and due to
your auspiciousness it is flowing.” Abdul
Muttalib was very glad to know this and he said: “Halima! If you like to live
here, I can vacate a neighboring house for you. I will give a thousand silver
coins, a pair of Byzantine clothes every month and ten mounds of white bread
and pure mutton daily.” But when she did not accept the proposal, Abdul
Muttalib said: “Halima, I am entrusting my son to you on two conditions: You should
give him utmost respect and honor, keep him always by your side, put the right
hand under his head and the left on his neck and never neglect him.” Halima
said: “By the Lord of the heaven! Ever since I saw him, my heart has overflowed
with love for him that I need no one’s recommendation.” Abdul Muttalib said:
“Another condition is that you must bring him to me every Friday, because I
cannot remain away from him longer than that.” Halima replied: “Insha Allah, it
will be so.” According
to the instruction of Abdul Muttalib, the child’s holy head was washed and he
was dressed in nice clothes. Abdul Muttalib took him up in his arms and asked
Halima: “Come with me to the Holy Kaaba so that I may entrust this child to you
there.” They arrived at Kaaba and the Prophet was carried around the holy house
seven times and God was made witness to the deal between Abdul Muttalib and
Lady Halima. Then Abdul
Muttalib entrusted the child to Halima, gave her fourteen silver dirhams, ten
pairs of nice clothes and four slave girls as well as Yemeni robes and
accompanied her upto the outer limits of the sanctuary. When Halima reached her
tribe and removed the quilt from the face of the Holy Prophet (S), radiance
flashed therefrom and lighted up both the earth and the sky. Observing this all
the young and old of her tribe came to congratulate her on this grand success.
Their affection of the Holy Prophet (S) grew so much that everyone of them was
trying to take him up from the other. Halima says: I never had to clean urine
or excreta from the baby prophet nor ever felt any bad odor from his body. If ever he
had excreted it, it emanated smell of musk and camphor and the earth hid it
instantly so that no one could see it. When the baby became ten months old,
Halima stood at the door of his reserved tent waiting for his awakening so that
she may wash his face and comb his hair and to take him to Abdul Muttalib. But
it took a long time and she did not dare to enter the tent. After four hours
the Holy Prophet (S) himself came out of the tent. She saw that his head was
already washed and combed and he was dressed in clothes of various colored
brocade and satin. She was astonished to observe this. She asked:
“My son, from where did you get these adornments?” He replied: “Honorable
mother, this dress has arrived from When the
Holy Prophet (S) was fifteen months old, people thought he was five years old.
When Halima brought him for the first time she had only twenty-two sheep. But
when she returned the Holy Prophet (S) to his grandfather, due to the
auspiciousness of the Prophet, she was the owner of a thousand and thirty
camels and sheep. When the
Holy Prophet (S) became two years old, one night, Halima’s two sons returned to
her gloomy and sorrowful and said: “Mother, today a wolf took away our two
sheep.” Halima replied: “God will give more in their lieu.” The Holy Prophet
(S) said: “Don’t worry, by God’s will, tomorrow, I will get both the sheep back
from the wolf.” Halima’s elder son, Zamrah said: “Brother, strange indeed is
what you are saying. The wolf
carried the sheep away yesterday and you say you will get them back tomorrow?”
The Holy Prophet (S) replied: “God’s Grace makes everything easy.” Next morning
Zamrah seated the Holy Prophet (S) on his shoulder and carried him to the point
in the forest from where the wolf had carried away their sheep. The Holy
Prophet (S) got down and fell in prostration on the ground and prayed: “My Lord
and Master! You know my obligation to Halima. A wolf has
encroached upon her sheep. I beseech of You to order him to return those
sheep.” Instantly the wolf brought back the two sheep. What had happened
actually was that when the wolf was taking away the sheep an invisible caller
called upon him: “O wolf, fear the punishment of God. Protect these two sheep
until you return them to Muhammad, the best of the Messengers.” Then that wolf
fell down at the feet of the Prophet and, by God’s command, spoke up: “O chief
of prophets, forgive me. I did not
know that these sheep belonged to you.” Zamrah said: “O Muhammad! How wonderful
are your acts!” When the Prophet completed two years of his age, he asked
Halima: “My kind mother, I will also go to the wild with my brothers to graze
sheep and observe the divine art and designs in mountains and deserts and take
lessons from Nature and will understand the benefits and losses of different
things.” Halima asked: “My child, are you so much interested in it?” to which
he replied in the affirmative. When Halima
saw that the baby prophet was very much inclined to go out, she dressed him up
in good clothes, put nice shoes in his feet, gave him good food articles and
emphasized on her sons to take utmost care of him. When the Prophet stepped
into the wilderness, the mountains and fields lit up with his light. Whichever
stone or rock he passed, cried out: Peace be upon you, O Muhammad, Peace be
upon you, O Hamid, Peace be upon you, O Mahmud, Peace be upon you, O owner of
the word of truth and justice, there is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the
Messenger of Allah. Lucky is one who believes in your prophethood and anger of
God is on one who denies you or who rejects anything uttered by you according
to God’s command. The Holy Prophet (S) was replying to their Salams and
greetings and advancing on his path. Halima’s
sons were observing various kinds of wonders with the Holy Prophet (S) and
their astonishment increased by and by. When the sun went up and the Holy
Prophet (S) experienced difficulty due to heat Allah appointed an angel named
Ishtayeel to spread a white cloud over his head for shading him. Suddenly a
cloud came over Prophet’s head and water began to drop from it like dripping
from a water bag, but not a single drop fell on the head of the Holy Prophet
(S). Channels overflowed but there was no sign of mud in the path of the Holy
Prophet (S). That cloud was sprinkling musk and saffron, perfuming the
mountains and deserts for the sake of the Holy Prophet (S). In that desert
there was a totally dried up date tree whose leaves had fallen. When the
Prophet reached it, he intended to recline on its trunk. Suddenly that tree began
to turn green. Leaves sprouted from it, branches became green and yellow and
red ripe dates began to drop to feast the Holy Prophet (S). The Holy Prophet
(S) took some rest under that tree and then began to talk with his foster
brothers. Suddenly the Holy Prophet (S) saw a meadow adorned with various
flowers and fragrances. He said: “I
intend to go for a walk in it and to observe the art of my Creator.” His brothers
said: “We also want to accompany you.” He said: “No, you carry on your work. I
am going alone and will return soon, Insha Allah.” The brother said: “All
right, you may go but our hearts will be engaged in your thoughts.” The Holy
Prophet (S) went around attractive fields enjoying and pondering over God’s
arts and climbed a high mountain. There was no way to reach its top and hence
no one could climb it. But since the Holy Prophet (S) wished to go up there,
Ishtayeel, the angel guarding the Holy Prophet (S), called to the mountain and
it began to shake. Then the angel said: “O mountain! The best of prophets,
along with his prophetic grandeur, intends to climb you. So be humble.” The
mountain bowed down and the Prophet climbed up. Reaching its top, the Holy
Prophet (S), looked on the other side and found that the climate there was
still better. So he desired to reach there too. But that part was full of
snakes, scorpions and pythons etc. and none could dare to cross over to that
side. Ishtayeel ordered them: “O pythons and scorpions; hide in your holes;
that the chief of divine messengers may not see you.” Upon this
call, all disappeared. The Holy Prophet (S) came downhill where he saw a stream
the water wherein was very cold and sweeter than honey. He drank from it and
took some rest at the bank of that stream. At that time the angels Jibraeel,
Mikaeel, Israfeel and Dardaeel (a.s.) descended from the sky and approached the
Holy Prophet (S). Jibraeel said: “Peace be upon you, O Muhammad, Peace be upon
you, O Ahmad. Peace be upon you, O Hamid. Peace be upon you, O Mahmud. Peace be
upon you, O Taha. Peace be upon you, O Muddassir. Peace be upon you, O
Muzzammil. Peace be upon you, O Purest of the pure. Peace be upon you, O
Sayyid. Peace be upon you, O Farqaleet. Peace be upon you, O Taaseen. Peace be
upon you, O Taaseenmeem. Peace be upon you, O Sun of the world. Peace be upon
you, O moon of the hereafter. Peace be upon you, O Noor of the world and the
hereafter. Peace be upon you, O sun of Judgment Day. Peace be upon you, O seal
of the prophets. Peace be upon you, O intercessor of sinners.” In short,
they saluted him and gave him much respect and then said: “How lucky is one who
believes in you and woe to one that rejects you or denies even a single word of
yours which you utter from God.” The Prophet answered their salutations and
asked: “Who are you?” They replied: “We are servants of Allah,” and they sat
down around him. Then the Holy Prophet (S) asked Jibraeel: “What is your name?”
He said:
“Abdullah.” When asked, Mikaeel replied that his name was Ubaidullah. Israfeel
said his name was Abdul Jabbar and Dardaeel said his name was Abdur Rahman. The
Holy Prophet (S) then said: “All of us are slaves of Allah.” Jibraeel had a
plate of red ruby, Mikaeel, a flask of green ruby, full of heavenly water.
Jibraeel came forward and putting his mouth to the mouth of the Prophet
continued to blow Divine secrets in his soul for three hours. Then the
angel said: “O Muhammad, understand learn and understand whatever I have said.”
The Prophet nodded: “Yes, Insha Allah.” Thus the angel filled up the Prophet with
knowledge, wisdom, and reason. The Almighty Allah multiplied his sacred
radiance seventy times; so much so that none could dare to stare directly in
the holy face of the Holy Prophet (S). Then Jibraeel said: “O Muhammad, don’t
fear me.” The Prophet
replied: “If I fear anyone except my Lord then it would mean that I have not
yet understood the grandeur and grace of my Lord Creator.” At that moment
Jibraeel looked at Mikaeel and exclaimed: “It is quite fitting that the
Almighty Allah has made such a slave His Habib (beloved) and has proclaimed him
as the best of men.” Then they
laid down the Prophet on his back and he asked: “Jibraeel, what are you doing?”
The angel replied: “I cannot cause any trouble to you, I will only do what is
the best.” Then he sliced the holy belly with his wings, took out a dark spot
from the holy heart, washed the holy heart with the water from But it was
never in my heart. I was a prophet even at the time the soul of Adam had not
yet entered his body.” Then Israfeel took out a seal whereon was written in two
lines: ‘There is no god, except Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah’
and pressed it between his two shoulders. According to another narration it was
put on his holy heart, which filled his heart with Noor (light) and it lighted
up the entire world. Then
Dardaeel took his holy head in his lap and the Prophet fell asleep. He dreamt
that a great tree grew from his head and rose to the sky; its trunk thickened
and more stems sprouted in every branch. He also saw much grass under the tree
which was beyond appreciation. Then a caller called out: “O Muhammad, that tree
is you, its branches are your progeny and the grass implies friends and
supporters of you and your progeny. Congratulations to you for the great
prophethood and great kingdom.” Then
Dardaeel brought out a balance each scale of which was as vast as the distance
between earth and sky. Then he placed the Prophet on one pan and a hundred
companions of his in the other. Yet Prophet’s scale was found heavier. Then he
placed another thousand of Prophet’s distinguished companions. Still he weighed
heavier. Then the angel placed one half of the entire community of the Holy
Prophet (S) in that scale. Yet the scale of the Holy Prophet (S) weighed more. Then all
the community, all prophets, all angels, mountains, seas, forests, trees and
all other creation were put in that another scale and yet the scale of the Holy
Prophet (S) was found heavier. Then it was conclusively understood that the
Holy Prophet (S) is the best of the entire creation. Dardaeel said:
“Congratulation on your high position and also on your community. Your return
is better and nicer. Woe unto one who denies you.” Thereafter the angels went
up into the sky. When a long
time passed and yet the Prophet did not return, Halima’s sons began to search
for him everywhere and finally returned to Halima and reported what had
happened. She went to the people of her tribe weeping and screaming; tore her
garments, scattered her hair and started running bare head and bare foot
towards the desert; her feet bled; she was crying and screaming: “My dear son!
Light of my eyes! Where are you? Why do you not look at your grieved mother?” Women of
the tribe were also running sorrowfully with her, pulling their hair and
slapping their faces. All the young and old, free as well as slaves, belonging
to her tribe were also very worriedly searching for the Prophet. Abdullah bin
Harith rode along with the chiefs of Bani Saad and Ghitfan tribes and swore
that if Muhammad was not found he will kill each and every man of the two
tribes. When Halima
did not find any trace of Muhammad in the forest and she returned wailing to After
sometime when he regained consciousness, he said: “There is no power and
strength except by Allah the High and the Mighty,” and ordered his slave to
prepare his horse, sword and armor. Then he climbed the roof of Kaaba and
shouted: “O people of Ghalib, Adnan, Fahar, Nuzayr, Kanana, Mudhir and Malik;
come together.” All the
people of Quraish and Bani Hashim gathered around him and asked: “O Chief, tell
us what the matter is?” He replied: “Muhammad is missing since the last two
days, so mount upon your animals and let us go and search for him.” Ten
thousand men armed themselves at once and accompanied Abdul Muttalib and the
weeping and wailing arose till the divine throne. The riders sped in every direction.
Abdul Muttalib turned to Bani Saad tribe and swore that if Muhammad was not
found he would kill each and every Jew and all whom he suspected of being
inimical to his dear grandson. On the
other hand, Abu Masud Thaqafi, Waraqa bin Naufal and Aqeel bin Abi Waqqas were
coming from When they
went to that tree they saw a child under it whose face looked brighter than the
sun. One of them said: “He might be a jinn.” Another said: “How can a jinni
possess such a light and radiance? Surely he must be an angel who has appeared
in the form of a man.” At last Abu Masud asked: “O boy! Who are you? Your
beauty has astonished all of us. Are you a jinn or an angel?” The Prophet
replied: “No, but I am a human being.” “What is your name?” asked they. “Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Abdul Muttalib
bin Hashim bin Abde Manaf,” he replied. Abu Masud asked: “How did you get here?” The
Prophet said: “My Lord guided me here.” Then Abu Masud got down from his animal
and asked: “My son! May I take you to your grandfather, Abdul Muttalib?” The
Prophet replied: “Yes.” Then Abu Masud seated him in front of his animal and
proceeded to When from
one side they reached the tribe of Bani Saad, from another direction Abdul
Muttalib too had reached that spot. The Prophet said: “Abdul Muttalib has also
arrived searching for me.” They said: “We don’t see anyone.” The Prophet said:
“You will see them soon.” When they came closer and when Abdul Muttalib saw the
Prophet, he jumped off his horse and rushed to the Prophet, picked him up in
his arms and asked: “My son! Where were you? O light of my eyes! By God, were
you not to be found I would not have left any unbeliever alive in Then, by
the grace of Allah, the Prophet narrated all that had happened. Abdul Muttalib
became very happy and gifted fifty camels to Abu Masud, and sixty each to
Waraqa and one thousand mithqal[26] gold to Halima’s father and ten
thousand mithqal silver to Halima’s husband. He also gifted a lot of wealth to
her husband and two hundred camels to Halima’s sons. Then he said: “Henceforth,
I will not allow the light of my eyes to depart from me.” The author
of Kitabul Anwar says that it was a practice among Meccans, according to
which if a son was born in anyone’s house he was entrusted to a wet nurse for
nursing after seven days. When the Holy Prophet (S) was born, a number of women
desired to be his wet nurse. One day when Amina was sleeping beside her child,
someone shouted from outside: “If you intend to give your child for nursing, entrust
him to a lady named Halima belonging to the tribe of Bani Saad, daughter of
Zaweeb.” Thereafter
whenever any woman approached her for this purpose Amina used to ask her name
first and rejected the offer if it was not Halima. As there was a severe draught
in all the areas except One night,
in the state of half-sleep I saw a man who pushed me into a canal, the water of
which was whiter than milk and sweeter than honey. He asked me to drink from
that stream. I drank to gratification. Then he took us back to our place and
said: “Go to When I
awoke and went to my people they exclaimed: “Halima, we are surprised to see
your beauty so enhanced!” I kept my secret hidden from them. After sometime all
the people of the tribe heard the voice of unseen caller: O women of Bani Saad!
Be happy as God has showered His bounties on you. Your difficulties have ended
because of the nursing of a child born in All the
people of Bani Saad rushed to After
saluting him, she said: “I have come for nursing. If you have any son kindly
appoint me to nurse him.” Abdul Muttalib said: “There is my grandson who has
lost his father. If you like, I can give him to you, and help you in the
matter.” Halima said: “Let me consult my husband, I will get back to you if he
agrees.” Her husband said: “Though one cannot expect much from an orphan, you
may take him. Perhaps Allah may grant us more due to his auspiciousness as his
grandfather is famous for his generosity.” Thus Halima
came back to Abdul Muttalib and he took her to Amina who asked for her name.
She said: “Halima binte Abi Zuwaib.” Amina said: “This is the lady to appoint
whom I have been commanded.” She said: “Halima, congratulations to you. This is
the boy due to whom Halima
asked: “Have you lit up a lamp in daytime?” Amina said: “No, by God, ever since
this child is born, I have not lighted a lamp even during night time because
the radiance spreading from his face has absolved me of the need of a lamp.”
When Halima looked at the Prophet she felt that she saw the sun dressed in
white; that fragrance of musk and ambergris emanated from him. Halima’s heart
overflowed with affection for the Prophet and she became extremely happy to get
him for nursing. When the
Prophet was put in her lap and he saw Halima, he became very happy and smiled.
Whereupon, radiance flashed from his holy mouth, which brightened the entire
house. The Holy Prophet (S) sucked her right breast. Caring for the real child
of Halima, the Holy Prophet (S) did not incline to the left breast. Halima took
the Prophet in her arms and went out. Abdul Muttalib said: “Wait for a while.
Let me give you some provisions for the journey.” Halima
said: “This auspicious child is enough for me. He is more precious than all the
treasures of this world.” But Abdul Muttalib gave money, clothes and some
eatables to Halima which made the others jealous. Amina took up the Prophet in
her arms, fondled him and shed tears due to his separation. Then she entrusted
him to Halima saying: “Halima, please take utmost care of my dear child.” Halima
says: When I walked with the Prophet in my arms all the pebbles and trees in
our path were congratulating me. When my husband saw the Prophet he was
surprised to see the radiance on his face and he exclaimed: “Halima, Allah has
given preference to us over the entire tribe due to this child. No doubt, he
belongs to the progeny of kings.” As we
traveled to our tribe, forty Christian monks met us and one of them described
the attributes of the Prophet of the last age. He was saying: “He has appeared
or is about to appear soon.” Suddenly the accursed Satan appeared in human form
and said: “This woman is taking away the man whose attributes you have
described.” So the monks rushed to us and observed the radiance of the holy
child. At that
time, the Satan cried: “Kill him before he overpowers you.” All of them drew
their swords and stood in front of me. At that time the Holy Prophet (S) raised
his head to the sky. Suddenly I heard a frightened sound like the thunder of
clouds and also observed a fire which came down from the sky and stood between
the Holy Prophet (S) and all of them. All of them were burnt to ashes. Again
came a voice that the soothsayers have failed in their efforts; they have been
humiliated. When I
arrived in the tribe of Bani Saad with the Prophet, the deserts became green,
trees fructified and the draught disappeared manifesting the auspiciousness and
grace of the Holy Prophet (S). If anybody fell ill, he was brought to him and
immediately cured. Miracles were observed daily among them. People told
Halima: O Halima! Due to this child of yours, God has made all of us lucky.
Halima says: While nursing the Holy Prophet (S), I was hearing him speak: “All
praise is due to Allah who made me from the tree from which He sprouted
prophets.” The Holy Prophet (S) grew very fast and in a week he grew like other
children grew in a month and in a month he looked like a one-year-old boy. When
we brought our food, the Holy Prophet (S) just touched it and it became so
bountiful that even after we had fed on it, it remained in the same quantity
miraculously. Once when
the Holy Prophet (S) was seven years old, he told Halima: “Dear mother, you are
not behaving judiciously between me and my brothers as you keep me in shade
whereas they are grazing goats in hot sun. I drink the milk of sheep and yet do
not share my brother’s hard work.” Halima said: “My dear, I am afraid of the
envy of jealous people. I wish that none should harm you. What can I
tell your grandfather if something untoward happens?” The Prophet said: “Please
don’t worry about me, because the Almighty Allah is my protector.” Next morning
he, with much insistence went to forest for grazing the sheep with his
brothers. At night he shone like a full moon. Halima rushed to him, took him up
in her arms and said: “My dear, I was worrying about you during the whole day.” Halima
says: Once a sheep was hit by my son, Zamrah and its leg was broken. I saw it
approach the Prophet as if to complain about its pain who drew his holy hand
over its leg reciting some miraculous words and lo, the animal was cured
instantly, and it returned to its herd. All animals were obedient to the
Prophet. They moved when he asked them to and halted when ordered to do so. One day his
foster brothers, while grazing sheep, entered a forest where dangerous animals,
like tigers lived. Suddenly a tiger jumped on a sheep. The Prophet came forward
and said something to it, upon which the animal bowed its head and went back.
His brothers were frightened and they rushed to the Prophet and told him: “We
were worried about you because of the tiger but you do not care at all. Perhaps
you were talking with that dangerous animal.” The Prophet replied: “Yes, I was
telling it that it should never come to this place henceforth, as I want the
sheep to graze here.” Once Halima
had a dreadful dream and told her husband: “Let us take Muhammad to his
grandfather. Let no harm reach him, otherwise we shall be ashamed to face his grandfather.
I dreamt that Muhammad went to a forest and suddenly two sturdy men dressed in
silk approached him. One of them had a dagger with which he cut Muhammad’s
chest. I was frightened and I woke up.” Halima’s
husband said: “Whatever you say is hardly possible because God is Muhammad’s
protector. People have said great things about him and it is hoped that all of
them will become manifest. The miracles observed by us also testify to those
news.” Next morning Halima tried her best to prevent Muhammad from going to
forest but he insisted on going with his foster brothers and he went. At midday
Halima’s sons returned weeping and wailing. Halima came out of her apartment,
threw dust on her head and asked them what the matter was and where was
Muhammad? They replied: “After reaching the forest we sat under the tree when
suddenly two sturdy men arrived; the like of whom we had never seen before. They
carried Muhammad with them to the hilltop. One of them laid him down and
another cut his chest with a dagger and took out his heart and intestines etc.
Seeing it, we ran back screaming to you. Halima slapped her face saying: “This
is the meaning of my dream.” Screaming: “O my son! O Muhammad!” she ran to the
forest. Her husband also ran after her along with other armed men of their
tribe. When they
reached the relevant place they saw Muhammad sitting calmly and sheep grazing
near him. Halima took him up in her arms immediately and looked at his belly
but could not find any scar or blood. She asked her sons: “Why did you lie
about Muhammad?” The Prophet spoke up: “My kind mother, don’t scold them.
Whatever they told you about me was true. Those two fellows laid me down, cut
my stomach without causing any pain to me. They also
cut my heart, took out a dark spot from it and threw it away and said: Now
Satan will never be able to control your soul. Then they washed my heart with
heavenly water and replaced it. Then they took out a seal which was very bright
and, with it, they stamped my back saying: Muhammad, know that you are very
precious in the view of the Almighty Allah. Verily, your eyes will always
remain bright and happy. Then they weighed me against the entire creation. I
proved heavier. Then they went up to the sky and I came downhill.” According
to another report of Halima, the Holy Prophet (S) said that when Halima was
seen wailing, the angels were sitting beside me. Halima was crying: “O son,
they killed you seeing you weak with your companions.” At that time the angels
took me up in their arms, showered her affection on me and said: “What to say
about your being “lonely”. You are not lonely. God, angels, and all the
believers are with you.” Then Halima said: “O orphan!” The angels kissed me and
said: “What to say about your being “orphan”! No one is so dear and near to God
as you are. God has reserved limitless good for you. When Halima approached me
and took me in her arms, my hand was in the hands of the angels but Halima did
not see them. The author
of Kitabul Anwar says: When Halima heard this, she felt afraid about the
dream coming true, so she went to Halima says:
Those people drew their swords and rushed to me. When they approached, a stormy
wind blew up throwing all of them on the ground and I was saved without any
harm. Then I reached Then she
tore her collar and began to run here and there wailing and beating her breast.
Suddenly she saw an old man holding a staff. When he inquired about her
restlessness she narrated everything to him. He said: “Don’t worry. I will take
you to one who will inform you about his whereabouts.” Then he took me to an
idol called Hubal. He told that idol: “Hubal, where is Muhammad?” The idol fell
headlong at the mention of Muhammad’s name. The old man was also terrified and
he ran away from there. At last I
went to Abdul Muttalib and narrated the happenings to him. He called people of Abdul
Muttalib took him in his arms, fondled him and said: “My son, who brought you
here?” “A white bird brought me here,” he replied, “I was both hungry and
thirsty. I ate the fruit of this tree and dark the water of this stream.” That
angel bird was Jibraeel. Thereafter,
Abdul Muttalib kept the Holy Prophet (S) always with him and took utmost care
to protect him. After some days, he got sore eyes and Abdul Muttalib took him
to a doctor in Johfa. He says: I removed the sheet from the face of the Holy
Prophet (S). The convent bowed to give respect to the Holy Prophet (S) and its
entire structure began to tremble. The physician testified to his prophethood and
confessed that his eyes did not require treatment. Even the
blind will see with his blessing. “O Shaykh! Know that he is the chief of all
Arabs and the last prophet and the intercessor on Judgment Day. High-ranking
angels will help him and God will command him to fight the deniers and he will
always be victorious due to divine help. His worst enemies will be from his own
tribe. If I remain alive till his arrival I will surely help him.” When the
death of Abdul Muttalib approached, he gave instructions to Abu Talib
concerning the Prophet and much emphasized on his protection, happiness and
honor. Then he departed to meet his Lord. Abu Talib and Fatima binte Asad
(r.a.) gave preference to the Prophet over their own children and served him
nicely.[27] It is
mentioned in some books that Halima said: When the Holy Prophet (S) was placed
in my arms for the first time and I intended to nurse him, he opened his eyes
to see me. A light flashed from his eyes which brightened up the entire house.
It is also one of his miracles that my son accorded respect to the Prophet and
he never took suck until the Prophet was not fed. When I woke
up during the nights, I saw light radiating from the body of the Holy Prophet
(S) which brightened up the sky. I also saw a man dressed in green sitting near
him affectionately. When I told all this to my husband he said: “Keep these
things confidential, because ever since he is born all the soothsayers and
monks are restless and wonderstruck. They have not been able either to eat or sleep
properly.” Halima
(r.a.) says: When I took him from He used to
recite: There is no deity save Only One God. He is pure. All eyes are sleeping
whereas the Most Merciful is neither dozing nor ever asleep. It was due to his
grandeur that I did not sleep with my husband. The Prophet never picked
anything with his left hand. He always took everything after reciting
Bismillah. Anyone who saw him loved him restlessly. Once he was
sitting in my arms when a herd of our sheep passed by. One animal from that
herd came up to the Prophet, prostrated before him and kissed his head. Then it
went and rejoined other sheep. Everyday a light brighter than the sun came down
to encircle the Prophet and then went back after a moment. When children were
playing, the Holy Prophet (S) used to hold the hands of my children to bring
them back from the play saying “We are not born for playing.” When the angels
opened the chest of the Holy Prophet (S) to fill it up with divine lights, as
described earlier, and we came to know about it, our tribesmen thought that it
was a mischief played by some jinns. So they said that he should be taken to
some soothsayer nearby. The Holy
Prophet (S) said: “What you think is not the case with me. By the Grace of God
my soul and mind are all right.” On further insistence, I took him to a
soothsayer and explained everything to him. He said: “Just wait, let me talk to
him directly as he is wiser than you.” When the Holy Prophet (S) described his
events, the soothsayer jumped up, lifted him in his arms and cried: “O Arabs,
try to save yourselves from the forthcoming calamity and kill this boy along
with me. If you leave him alive, he will prove you are foolish, change your
religion, will call you to a god whom you don’t recognize and invite you to a
religion unknown to you.” Halima
says: When I heard this, I took back the Prophet from his arms saying: You are
mad. Then I quickly came back with the Holy Prophet (S) to my tent. On that day
a fragrance of musk emanated from all the tents. Everyday two birds alighted
from the sky and disappeared into the clothes of the Prophet. It is
mentioned in Kitabe Adad that Halima (r.a.) said: There was a tree in
the area of Bani Saad tribe, which had dried up and the Prophet was in my arms.
That tree, as a miracle of the Holy Prophet (S) miraculously began to sprout
grass and became fertile. There was a woman in the same tribe, called Umm
Miskeen as she was very poor and helpless. Once she took the Prophet in her
arms and went to her tent. Thereafter her condition began to improve. She used
to come daily, kiss the head of the Prophet and express her thankfulness.
Halima says: Whenever the Prophet was asleep, I used to look at him and admire
his beauty. His eyes
remained open and most of the time he smiled. He was never affected by heat or
cold. Till the Prophet was with us, we never witnessed a day in which our desire
of the previous day was not fulfilled. Once a wolf carried away one of our lamb
and I became very gloomy. Then I noticed the Prophet raising his head to the
sky. Suddenly the wolf returned to me and left the lamb before me. A cloud
always shaded the Prophet. No drop of
rain ever fell on the Prophet even in heavy downpour. No seasonal change of
heat and cold affected us until the Prophet lived with us. A sort of light
always rose from our tent to the sky. Whenever I thought of washing his head, I
found that it was already washed by someone. Similarly whenever I wanted to
change the Prophet’s dress, I saw that it was already changed and the Prophet
was adorned with new clothes. Whenever I
wanted to nurse him, I could hear him chanting God’s Glory. Before taking the
suck he recited: “In the name of Allah, the Lord of Muhammad” and after
drinking he said: “Praise be to Allah, the Lord of Muhammad.” It is mentioned
that Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) said: When the Holy Prophet (S) was twenty-two
months of age, he got sore eyes. Abdul Muttalib asked Abu Talib to take him to
a healer monk living in Johfa. Abu Talib took the Prophet to his monastery and
called him from outside. The monk
noticed that his monastery was lit up with radiance and he also heard the noise
of the wings of angels. He asked from inside: “Who is it?” I am Abu Talib, son
of Abdul Muttalib was the answer. I have brought my nephew to cure his sore
eyes. The monk asked: “Where is he?” Abu Talib replied to him: “I have seated
him in this cradle to protect him from the sun.” The monk said: “Open it, so
that I may see him.” When the
curtain was drawn, radiance flashed from it which frightened the monk and he
said: “Please close the curtain,” and withdrew into his monastery. Then he
said: “I testify to the oneness of God and give witness that by God, you are a
Messenger of Allah. You are the one about whom God has given glad tidings in
Taurat and Injeel and through the words of Musa and Isa (a.s.).” Then he
repeated the dual formula of faith, popped his head again out of his room and
said: “As you have heard, the greatness of your nephew is very high. You will
assist him and help him against his enemies.” Abu Talib returned home and
narrated the discussion to Abdul Muttalib. He asked Abu Talib to keep quiet
lest someone else hear it. “By God, Muhammad is to become the king of Arab and
non-Arab lands.” According to another report, Abu Talib never approached the
idols and that is why the Quraish was always quarrelling with him and insisting
that he too should, like them all, resort to idol worship but he said: “I
cannot part with my nephew and also cannot oppose him, who neither likes idols
nor wants to hear anything about man-made deities.” The Quraish
said: “Teach him idol worship and make him habituated to it, so that he may
accord respect to them.” Abu Talib replied: “God forbid, it is absolutely
impossible, because I have heard from all the monks of He said:
“Yes. On the road leading to Muhammad
drew his hand over it which multiplied its greenery. On our return journey,
when we passed by that tree we saw that all kinds of birds had made their nests
on its branches and the number of branches equaled the birds. We had never
before seen such an expanded tree anywhere. All those birds shaded the Prophet
by their wings, saying: “It was due to the auspiciousness of your holy hand
that we got such a safe place to live.” It is
mentioned in some reliable books that once during the childhood of the Holy
Prophet (S) there was a draught in Abdul
Muttalib seated the Holy Prophet (S) on his shoulders and took him to It was very
hot, so my relatives asked me: “With whom will you leave Muhammad?” I replied:
“I will take him with me, because I cannot trust anyone about his safety.” They
said it was not advisable to take a boy brought up in Whenever it
was hot an ice-like white cloud came, saluted the Prophet and shaded him. It
remained with him wherever he went. Often good quality fruits dropped from it.
One day, we were short of water and our fellow travelers were compelled to buy
a water skin for one gold coin. But, due to the auspiciousness of the Holy
Prophet (S) we always had sufficient stocks of water which never reduced. Tanks
filled up due to the auspiciousness of the Holy Prophet (S) wherever we went
and land turned green. We always found abundance and prosperity. If any camel
came down due to tiredness, the Holy Prophet (S) drew his hand over it and it
started moving again. When we came near Busra we saw a convent. Suddenly we
noticed that that the convent ran like a swift horse and arrived before us.
There was a Christian monk in it called Bahira and who never knew any doubting
persons and never talked or inquired about any caravan passing by his monastery.
When he
observed the movement of the monastery and looked at the Prophet, he recognized
him and said: “If whatever I have heard and read is true then it is you and no
one else.” Then we gathered under a big tree near the monastery whose branches
had dried up and it bore no fruits. Caravans rested under it. When the Holy
Prophet (S) sat under it, it became green. Many branches sprouted from it to
shade the Prophet. Three kinds
of fruits grew on it; two belonging to the summer and one to winter. People in
the caravan were astonished to notice all this and so also was the monk,
Bahira. He came out with some food sufficient only for the Prophet and asked:
“Who is the guardian of this child?” Abu Talib said: “I am serving him.” He
asked: “What is your relation to him?” “I am his uncle.” He again asked: “He
has a number of uncles. Which one of them are you?” I replied:
“He is the son of my full brother.” Then the monk said: “I testify that this is
the very boy whom I know. If it is not so, I am not Bahira. Can you allow me to
take this food to him?” I said: “All right.” Then I said to the Prophet: “A man
has come with some food to give you a feast.” The Prophet asked: “Has he
brought it only for me? What about my companions?” Bahira said: “Sir, I didn’t
have more than this.” The Prophet asked: “Do you permit me to share it with my
companions?” The monk said: “All right.” Then the Prophet asked all of us to
eat saying: “In the name of Allah.” Abu Talib
says: We were one hundred and seventy persons and all of us together dined with
full satisfaction and yet the quantity of food did not reduce. At that time
Bahira, who was standing there and fanning the Prophet was wonderstruck. He
was, every now and then, bowing to kiss the head of the Holy Prophet (S)
saying: “By the Lord of Masih, he is the same.” People did
not understand what he said and finally a man in the caravan remarked: “O monk,
your talks are surprising. We have passed by your monastery on several
occasions but you have never paid any attention to us.” Bahira said: “Yes, but
this time I myself am wonderstruck. I am seeing what you are unable to see and
I know some matters, which you don’t know. Had you
known what I know about this boy sitting under the tree, you would have
doubtlessly seated him on your necks and carried him around the city. By God,
all my respect for you is only because of this child. When he came near my
monastery I observed a radiance which spread from earth to sky. I could also
see a man fanning him and another group scattering various kinds of fruits for
him and this cloud shades him without break. My
monastery rushed like a fast horse to welcome him. This tree was dry and had
few branches. By the auspiciousness of this boy, it became green, moved, put
out branches and bore three types of fruits. All these tanks had dried up long
back ever since Bani Israel had developed discontent among them after the
companions of Jesus and they had been corrupted. We read in
the book of Shamun that Shamun had crushed them and said: When you see water in
these dry tanks you should understand that the prophet has arrived due to whose
auspiciousness all this has happened who will appear in the city of Then Bahira
turned to the Holy Prophet (S) and said: “I ask you about three attributes and
give you the oath of Laat and Uzza and request you to reply to my queries.” The
Prophet became angry at the names of Laat and Uzza and said: “Never ask
anything in their names. By God, nothing else is more hateful to me than these
two names. These idols are made of stone and my community worships them due to
their folly.” Bahira
said: “This is the first sign. Well, now I ask you in the name of Allah, please
answer my questions.” The Holy Prophet (S) said: “All right, ask me, because
you have now given me the oath of that God who is my as well as your Lord and
none is like Him.” Bahira said: “I want to know about your sleep and
awakening.” Thereafter he asked many questions which the Holy Prophet (S)
replied. He found that all answers were in accordance with what he had read in
divine books. Then Bahira
fell down at the feet of the Prophet. Kissing his soles he was saying: “How
delightful is your fragrance O one whose obedience is better than that of all
the prophets. The light throughout the world is because of you. Masjids will
flourish due to you. It seems I can see you riding on Arabian horses. The Arab
land as well as the non-Arab countries are subdued by you and that you have
broken Laat and Uzza and taken control of the Kaaba and you are entrusting its
key to whomsoever you like and that you have killed many brave warriors of Arab
and non-Arab descent. The keys to heaven and Hell are in your hands and so also
the greatest good. It is only you who will break idols. It is you in whose
religion all the kings and rulers will willy-nilly enter before Judgment Day.” Then he
kissed his hands and feet, and said: “If I live till that time, I will fight
against your enemies in holy wars. Verily you are the best son of Adam and
leader of the precious prophets and the seal of divine messengers. By Allah,
the earth smiled the day you were born and will smile till Doomsday. By Allah,
all idols, chapels and satans are weeping because of your advent and will go on
weeping till Judgment Day. You are the fruit of the supplication of Ibrahim and
one whose glad tiding was given by Prophet Isa (a.s.). You have
always remained clean of the dirt of the ignorants. Then he turned to Abu Talib
and said: “How are you related to him?”[28] Abu Talib said: “He is my son.”
Bahira said: “It cannot be so. His parents cannot be alive today.” Abu Talib
said: “You are right. I am his uncle. His father expired when he was unborn and
his mother also died when he was only six.” Bahira
said: “Now you have told the truth. In my opinion it is better for you to take
him back to your town because there is no Jew or Christian in the world who
does not know that he is born. Every one of them, like me, recognizes him
through the signs observed by me. They will try out every conspiracy to kill
him and, in this matter, the Jews will be in the forefront.” Abu Talib said:
“What is the reason for this enmity?” Bahira
said: “This will be the prophet who will be visited by angel Jibraeel. He will
cancel their religions.” Abu Talib said: “No, by the will of Allah it will not
be so.” Allah will never leave him alone and no harm will ever touch him.” When Bahira
intended to part with the Prophet he wept much and said: “O son of Amina! I can
see as if all Arabs are fighting against you and your relatives too have
abandoned you. Had they known your value they would have loved you more than
their own sons.” Then he turned to me and said: “O honorable uncle! Do protect
him, observe your kinship with him and be careful of the will of your honored
father. Very soon all the Quraish will break off their relation with you. Do not care
for them. You too will get a son who will help and assist him. His courage will
be praised in heavens. He will beget two sons who will become martyrs. He will
be the leader and a great man of the Arabs and a Zulqarnain of this community.
He is more well-known in Divine Books than the companions of Isa Masih (a.s.).” Abu Talib
says: When we approached The biggest
scholar of the People of the Book, Nastoorah came for three consecutive days
and sat beside the Holy Prophet (S) without speaking a word. At the end of the
third day he became restless and began to circumambulate the Holy Prophet (S).
I asked him: “O monk! What do you want?” He asked: “What is his name?” I said:
“Muhammad (S).” He became pale and said: “Please request him to uncover his
back. No sooner
than the shirt was removed from the shoulders of the Holy Prophet (S) and he
saw the mark of prophethood, that he fell down and began to kiss that seal.
Then he told me: “Take back this sun of prophethood. Had you known how many of
his foes are living on this land, you would have never brought him with you.” Then he
used to come to meet the Holy Prophet (S) everyday and brought tasty food for
him. When we started to return from It is
mentioned in another reliable narration that when Abu Talib prepared to travel
to Seeing a
cloud accompanying us he came out of his monastery and provided us with a few
servants and also gave us a feast. All in the caravan went into the convent
leaving the Prophet with our luggage. The monk said: “It is not fair to leave
anyone out of the feast.” So he sent someone to bring the Prophet. When he saw
that the cloud had stood still at our camp, he asked: “Has anyone not come here
from the caravan?” He was told
that all have come except a boy who is left with the luggage.” Bahira said: “It
is not fair to leave anyone out of our feast.” So he sent someone to bring the
Holy Prophet (S). When the Holy Prophet (S) began to walk, that cloud also
moved with him. Bahira asked: “Whose son this child is?” He was told that he
was Abu Talib’s son. The monk asked Abu Talib: “Is this boy your son?” Abu
Talib replied: “He is my brother’s son.” He further
inquired: “Where is your brother?” Abu Talib replied: “He expired when this boy
was not yet born.” Bahira said: “Please take him back to your city because, if
the Jews recognize him, as I have recognized, they will surely eliminate him.
Know that he has a very high status. He is the prophet of a community who will
wage holy wars.” According
to another report, Yali Nusabah is reported to have said that in the year in
which the Holy Prophet (S) traveled to Syria for business, Khalid bin Usaid and
Taleeq bin Abi Sufyan were also in his caravan. After returning from the
journey they described wonderful happenings like the extraordinary speed and
obedience of animals to the Holy Prophet (S) etc. They said:
In the Busra market we saw a group of monks whose faces were pale. It appeared
as if saffron was applied to their cheeks and they were trembling. They
approached us and said: “Please come alone with us to our chief who resides in
the big convent.” We said: “What do we have to do with you?” They replied:
“What is wrong if you come along with us, we respect you.” They had understood
that the Prophet was with us. So we
entered a very big house of worship and there we saw an aged priest sitting
amidst his pupils with a book in his hands. He was looking at the book and then
towards us very often. Finally he told his companions: “You did not do
anything. You have not brought the one I want.” Then turning to us he asked:
“Who are you?” We replied: “We are Quraishis.” He further
inquired: “To which clan do you belong?” We said: “We are from Abde Shams
clan.” He asked: “Is there anybody else with you?” We replied: “Why not? There
is also a youth whom we call the orphan of Abdul Muttalib.” He screamed at this
and was about to faint. He jumped off his seat crying: “Alas, Christianity is
finished!” Then reclining for a while on his cross he fell into deep thought.
Eighty monks were seated around him. At last he told us: “Can you show me that
young man?” “Yes,” we said. So he accompanied us upto the bazar of Busra. The Holy
Prophet (S) was standing there like a shining sun. His holy face was shinning
bright and onlookers were all around him staring at his elegance. Buyers were
eager to bargain with him like the buyers who in the past wanted to buy from
Prophet Yusuf (a.s.). They paid more for his articles and sold to him at low
cost. We thought of showing somebody else to the monk so that his knowledge
could be checked. But he
said: “It is enough. I have already recognized him.” He immediately rushed to
the Prophet and kissed his holy head saying: “You are that holy one,” and then
he asked a number of questions about the Holy Prophet’s (S) signs. The Prophet
replied all his queries. Then he said: “If I live till your time, I will wage holy
war along with you which will be a perfect Jihad.” Then he told us: “Both a
better life and better death is connected only with this man. One who
obeys and follows him will become everlasting and one who deviates from his way
will die never to be alive again. All kinds of benefit is connected with this
gentleman,” and than he went to his convent. It is mentioned in another report
that when the Holy Prophet (S) had gone to When they
reached Abdul
Muwaihab shook his head and said: “It is he whom I want to see. Please show
me.” They said: “We have left him in the market of Busra.” In the meanwhile
they saw the Prophet coming towards them. As soon as the monk saw him, he recognized
him. Exclaiming, “This is he,”‘ he took the Holy Prophet (S) aside and talked
with him for a long time. Then he
kissed the Prophet’s forehead, took out something from his sleeve and gave it
to him but he did not accept it. Finally, leaving the Holy Prophet (S), the
monk came to those people and said: “Listen to my advice, join this man forever
and always obey him because, by God, he is the final divine Messenger. He will
arise soon to call upon the people to accept the slogan of: There is no god
except Allah. Follow him unhesitatingly when he declares his prophethood. Thereafter
the monk asked: “Is any son born to his uncle, Abu Talib by the name of Ali?”
They said: “No.” The monk said: “Either he is born, or will be born soon. And
he will be the first to believe in the prophethood of Muhammad. I have read in
divine scriptures that he will be the Prophet’s legatee. He will be the chief
of the Arabs, a divine scholar and Zulqarnain of the last prophet; who will
wage holy wars. His name in
the high abodes is Ali. On Judgment Day his rank will be the highest after the
rank of Muhammad. Angels call him ‘a victorious brave light’. He will be
victorious wherever he will go. Among the companions of your prophet, he is
most well known than the sun in the sky. Kulaini
has, through authentic chains, narrated from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) that
when, in the days of ignorance, the Quraish, after demolition of Kaaba intended
to rebuild it and could not do so. It came to their mind that someone had told
them that everyone of them should bring his pure wealth which should not have
been earned wrongfully or oppressively. When they did so, the difficulty was
removed and they started reconstruction of Kaaba. Finally it
was time to fix the Hajar Aswad and there developed a dispute as to who should
perform that act. The dispute worsened and they were about to quarrel. At last
it was decided that one who would enter the Kaaba first next morning should be
made arbitrator. The man to enter first was the Holy Prophet (S). People
narrated the dispute to him. He spread
out a cloth and put the black stone on it. Then he asked all the chiefs to hold
the corners of the sheet and to raise it. When the stone came upto the required
level, the Holy Prophet (S) picked it up and fixed it in the wall of Kaaba.
Thus the Almighty Allah gave him this honor. According
to another authentic report, it is mentioned that thirty years before the
appointment of the Holy Prophet (S) by God to prophethood, Walid bin
Mughira said: Let us start digging. If Allah is pleased with this act of ours
no calamity will fall on us. But if He is not pleased and some calamity falls
we will stop demolition work. Then he went up the ceiling of Kaaba. When he
removed a stone a snake came out and attacked him and the sun eclipsed.
Observing this event people began to weep and prayed saying: O Lord! Corruption
is not our intention. We only want reform. Then the snake disappeared. They
felled the walls and went on digging down to the foundation which was laid by
Ibrahim (a.s.). When they
intended to dig that part again the earth quaked and darkness enveloped the
atmosphere. Ibrahim’s foundation was The Holy
Prophet (S) spread out his sheet (some say his shirt) and put the black stone
on it and then said: “The chief of all the tribes should hold each corner and
lift it.” Accordingly those who held the four corners were Utbah bin Rabiah from
Bani Abde Shams, Aswad Bin Abdul Muttalib from Bani Asad bin Abdul Uzza, Abu
Huzaifa from Bani Makhzum and Qays bin Adi from Bani Saham. Then the
Holy Prophet (S) took up the stone and put it at its proper place. Wood etc.
was sent in a ship by the king of Byzantine so that a house of worship be
constructed for him in Abyssinia but blowing winds drove that ship to the
shores of Mecca where it was grounded and could not be pulled out. When Quraish
knew about the incident they came to the shore and saw that whatever was needed
for the ceiling (roof) work of Kaaba was available there. So they
purchased all of it and brought it to According
to it the part between the door of Kaaba and Rukne Yamani and Hajre Aswad went
to Holy Prophet (S). According to another narration the portion between Hajre
Aswad and Rukne Yamani belonged to Bani Hashim. It is reported through
authentic chains that Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) said: The Holy Prophet (S) had
performed Hajj twenty times without the knowledge of Quraish; four times before
his appointment as prophet and ten times (according to some seven times before
his appointment as prophet) and that he had prayed at the age of four when Abu
Talib had gone to Busra. It is
mentioned in Dalailun Nubuwwa that Abbas said: I once told the Holy
Prophet (S): ‘I entered your religion because I once saw you talking with the
moon in your cradle. You were pointing to it and it was moving according to
your signals.’ The Holy Prophet (S) said: ‘I used to talk with the moon and it
with me. It was preventing me from weeping. I used to hear its recitation when
it prostrated under the Throne (Kursi).’ It is
mentioned in some books that the Prophet’s heart was incised when he was three
or four years old, that he lived with Halima for five years. In the sixth year,
Amina expired and when he was seven, many soothsayers informed Meccans about
his prophethood and the event of Johfa monk took place in the same year. That same
year it rained due to the auspiciousness of the Holy Prophet (S) and the
supplication of Abdul Muttalib. Same year when Abdul Muttalib went to
felicitate Saif bin zee Yazan, who gave him glad tidings of his prophethood. In
the eighth year when Abdul Muttalib met his Lord at the age of eighty-two
(according to some 120) he commanded Abu Talib by his will to protect and take
care of the Holy Prophet (S) and he engaged himself in that duty. It is
mentioned by some that it was the year in which Hatim and Nausherwan died and
the son of Nausherwan ascended the throne. In the ninth year, Abu Talib took
the Holy Prophet (S) to Hurmuz was
dethroned in the seventeenth year of Prophet’s age and he (Hurmuz) was blinded
by his army chiefs and killed in the nineteenth year and they made his son,
Parvez, the ruler and that Kaaba was reconstructed in the twenty-third year.
According to some the Holy Prophet (S) married Khadija in the twenty-fifth year
of his age and according to the most reliable report the reconstruction of
Kaaba was carried out in the thirty-fifth year. It is also said that Fatima
(a.s.) was born in that year and that the signs of his prophethood appeared in
the thirty-eighth year when lights were observed and voices of angels were
heard. In the
fortieth year, the Holy Prophet (S) was appointed as the great prophet. In that
year Parvez became king of Notes: [24] It
is not understood how an angel may give the training of good manners to the
Holy Prophet (S) when the angels had learnt how to hallow and praise God from
the Holy Prophet (S) as mentioned in this very book’s beginning while
describing the creation of Light. Maybe it means that the angel was guarding
the Holy Prophet (S) all the time - Translator [27] The
author says: Some scholars have not accepted the event of opening (cutting) of
the stomach of the Holy Prophet (S). Though it is not clearly mentioned in Shia
literature (reliable books) its rejection too is not seen anywhere. Some
traditions quoted in the first part of this book support this story, so it
should neither be totally accepted nor fully rejected. It is better to keep it
in plausibility. [28] This
monk had already asked this question in the beginning and the reply also was
given. Perhaps the reason of repetition was either he was awed and had
forgotten or repeated just to be more satisfied about the relation of the Holy
Prophet (S) with Abu Talib -Tr. |
