.
“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 Mecca so that we may take the city babes for suckling.
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 Mecca, no one liked to take up the Holy Prophet (S) for nursing him as he was an orphan and one could not expect to get much wealth from his guardians. When I did not get any other child I went to Abdul Muttalib and obtained that orphan.
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.” Fatima says: By the radiance of the holy face of the Holy Prophet (S)! As soon as he heard it, he went to tree and recited a few words.
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 Paradise and angels have decorated me.” Then Halima took him to his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib and narrated everything to him. Abdul Muttalib told her: “Halima, do not disclose this to anyone.” He gave her a thousand dirhams, ten pairs of clothes and a Byzantine a slave girl.
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 Paradise as Mikaeel poured it. It is quoted that once people asked the Prophet: “Which part of your heart was washed by Jibraeel?” He replied: “He washed out doubts and trouble.
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 Mecca, and approached Abdul Muttalib who was sitting with Quraish chiefs and Hashemite leaders near Kaaba. He shivered on seeing Halima in that condition and asked what was wrong and he fainted on hearing the frightening news.
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 Yemen to Mecca and they passed through the valley in which the Prophet was present. There they noticed a tree which Waraqa swore that he had never seen before. Aqeel said: “You are right. Let us approach that tree. Perhaps we may know the truth behind this wonderful happening.”
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 Mecca.
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 Mecca.”
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 Mecca, which was safe due to the auspiciousness of the Holy Prophet (S), the women of Bani Saad came to Mecca to nurse Meccan babies. Halima is reported to have said: We could not get anything to eat for two consecutive days and had to chew wild grass.
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 Mecca where you will get ample food due to the auspiciousness of a child who is born there.” Then he tapped my chest and said: God has bestowed increase in your milk and also enhanced your beauty.
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 Mecca. Fortunate is the lady who will obtain that child for nursing.
All the people of Bani Saad rushed to Mecca. We were the most worried among them as all of our animals had died. We had no animal to carry our luggage. So others reached ahead of us. The lady who went to Amina first was asked to mention her name and was turned down as the name was not seen in her dream. When Halima entered Mecca, the Almighty Allah guided her and she went straight to Abdul Muttalib who was then sitting near Kaaba.
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 Mecca has obtained prosperity and abundance and people of all other cities turn to us for their needs.” Then she brought Halima to her room where the Prophet was present.
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 Mecca along with the Holy Prophet (S) to hand him over to his grandfather. On the way she passed by a tribe in which there was an aged soothsayer. His eyelids had covered his eyes and people had gathered around him. When Halima passed by him, he became unconscious. After coming to his senses he cried: “Woe unto you. Catch that woman who goes away riding a camel, snatch that child from her arms and kill him before he destroys your cities.”
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 Mecca, left Muhammad with some people and went for some errand in the city but when I returned, I could not see Muhammad. On inquiring they replied that they had not seen him. Halima decided that if she did not find Muhammad, she would jump from the mountain.
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 Mecca and asked them to search Muhammad all around. He himself held the curtain of Kaaba and began to pray to Allah wailing and weeping. At that time a voice was heard saying: “O Abdul Muttalib! Do not worry about your son. You will find him in such and such valley near a banana tree.” So he rushed there and saw the Prophet sitting under a tree.
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 Mecca to my place all the things by which I passed on the way congratulated me and all the land through which I walked became green and fertile and trees became full of fruits. I have never seen his clothes soiled or dirtied as if someone else was keeping him clean. Whenever I intended to change him, he cried so much as if he did not like to be exposed. At night I often heard him glorifying Almighty Allah.
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 Syria that this boy will be the destroyer of idols.” The Quraish asked: “Have you ever observed any special thing about him which can testify to their statements?”
He said: “Yes. On the road leading to Syria we had taken shelter under a dry tree and due to his auspiciousness it became green and fructified. When he left that place that tree dropped all its fruits for him saying: O the pious one of the tree of prophethood and O great tree of divine messengership! Please draw your hand over me so that I remain green till eternity.”
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 Mecca for several years. At last Rafiqa, daughter of Saifee saw in her dream a caller calling: “O group of Quraish, a prophet will come to you, who is already born. You will gain abundance due to his auspiciousness. Call Abdul Muttalib so that he may make his nephew intercessor who may pray to Allah so that He may give you rain.”
Abdul Muttalib seated the Holy Prophet (S) on his shoulders and took him to mount Abu Qubais. Quraish chiefs gathered round him. The Holy Prophet (S) prayed for rain and it rained instantly which flooded Mecca from the hillocks. Ibn Babawayh has narrated from Abu Talib: I intended to proceed to Syria for trade when the Holy Prophet (S) was eight years old.
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 Mecca and Medina in such a hot season.” I said, “By God! I cannot separate him from me. I will prepare a litter for him.” At last I seated him on a camel and made sure that it was always before my eyes.
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 Tahama and who will migrate to Medina. His name in his community will be Amin and in the heaven, Ahmad. He will be born in the progeny of Ismail, son of Ibrahim (a.s.). By God, this is that one.”
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 Syria, by Allah, the palaces of Syria shook and a light emanated from him which was brighter than the sun. When we entered Syria, we could not pass through the bazar due to heavy rush of people who had come from every direction to observe the beauty of the Holy Prophet (S). His elegance became well known all around and so also his grace and perfection. Monks and soothsayers arrived from their monasteries and gathered around the Holy Prophet (S).
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 Syria, he brought a shirt for the Prophet and requested him to wear it so that he may thereby be remembered by the Holy Prophet (S). When I observed signs of dislike on the face of the Prophet, I kept it aside and said to him that I would dress him in it afterwards and hastened to Mecca with the Holy Prophet (S). Hearing about our arrival, all except Abu Jahl came out to welcome us.
It is mentioned in another reliable narration that when Abu Talib prepared to travel to Syria, the Holy Prophet (S) clung to his camel’s rein saying: “Uncle, with whom are you leaving us? I have neither a father nor mother.” Abu Talib began to weep and took the Holy Prophet (S) with him. Abu Talib says: Whenever the sun was hot, a cloud appeared to shade the Prophet. We went along until we reached the monastery of Bahira.
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 Syria with Lady Khadija’s (s.a.) merchandise, Abde Manat bin Kanana and Naufal bin Muawiyah were also in his caravan.
When they reached Syria, a monk named Abdul Muwaihab saw them and asked: “Who are you?” They said: “We are some traders belonging to Quraish tribe living at Kaaba.” He asked: “Is there anyone else from Quraish with you now?” They replied: “Yes, a youth named Muhammad belonging to the progeny of Hashim is also with us.” Abdul Muwaihab said: “It is he, whom I want.” They said: “Nobody in Quraish is more famed than him and he is called orphan of Quraish. He has come here to sell the goods of a Quraishi Lady Khadija (s.a.) on remuneration. What have you to do with him?”
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, Mecca was inundated by floods which damaged the walls of Kaaba. Thieves stole the golden deer from it. The legs of those deer were studded with jewels. The Quraish intended to reconstruct it with wider dimensions but they feared that if they dug with a digging tool it might cause some kind of calamity.
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 30 yards long and 24 yards wide. Its height was 9 yards. The Quraish decided to maintain the length and width as before and to raise its height. A dispute then arose in the matter of fixing the black stone. Every tribe insisted that they had the right to perform this noble job. Finally it was agreed that who entered first from Bani Shaibah gate would decide the matter. The first to enter was the Holy Prophet (S). People exclaimed: “Lo, the honest (Amin) has arrived and we will abide by what he decides.”
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 Mecca. It was found that the measurement of that wood was exactly that of Kaaba. Finally the construction work was concluded and a covering of Yemeni cloth were put over it. It is reported that Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) said: The Holy Prophet (S) drew lots to decide about the construction of Kaaba between him and Quraish.
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 Syria with him in his trade journey. Some say that the heart-incision occurred in his tenth year. Some say in the ninth year he went to Busra and in the twelfth to Syria and that the event of Bahira happened in that second journey.
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 Iran and he killed the Arab king Noman bin Manzar. The events of Prophet’s trade journey to Syria will be described in the next chapter, if Allah wills.
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
[25] Surah Jinn 72:27
[26] One mithqal - 4 masha and 3.5 rattis
[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.
