by Dr Sulaiman Rifai, Naleemi (London)

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BY Dr Rifai Naleemi.

In this part of the series we shall examine the life of Prophet Muhammad PBUP before he attained his prophethood. This should shed some light on the personal traits and personalities of our beloved prophet that distinguish him from all other people. Historical accounts tell us that every minute aspects of our beloved prophet were meticulously recorded and preserved by his companions. According to some historians the biography of the Prophet Muhammad was recorded by two methods: It was verbally recoded and transmitted in accordance with the oral traditions of transmitting information in Arabic societies. Secondly the biography of prophet was documented in written format in the books of Sira of the prophet by succeeding generations. Most historians and Islamic scholars argue that Prophet Muhammad is a special human being among humanity. Some argue that since his birth Prophet Muhammad was brought up in divine sight and care.

By examining some of incidents, occurrences and supernatural events one could understand how our prophet is distinguishable from others in humanity and in what ways he was identical with others and in what ways he was different from others in his childhood. Moreover, we should examine some of his noble characters and gracious qualities to appreciate this difference in human qualities and perfection.

A respected Non-Muslim scholar notes that Prophet Muhammad was “a man who had been marked out from his early youth, even from before his birth, by supernatural signs and qualities” (Watt. P2.). Yet, some segments of dry legal and literal schools of thought argue that Prophet Muhammad was an ordinary man like other human beings before his prophet hood. They argue that it would be wrong to give the prophet Muhammad any special status or social or religious calibre before his prophethood. Their contention is that Prophet Muhammad was an ordinary human being like all others prior to his divine designation for prophet hood. Some simple says that Prophet Muhammad was simple ordinary man like me and you prior to his prophet hood and hence it would be wrong to attribute any special status or supernatural signs or qualities to Prophet Mohammed prior to his prophethood. It was reported in some narrations that certain super natural things occurred during the birth of Prophet Muhammad. It is true that some scholars have questioned the validity and authenticity of some these supper natural occurrences and more importantly about the authenticities of these narrations. I shall quote some of these predictions and supernatural occurrences that occurred in the formative period of prophet’s life.

It was reported by Ibn Ishaq and other historians that Abu Talib took his nephew to Syria in a trade mission on a caravan when he was approximately 12 years old. According to some accounts this caravan was carrying Arabian frankincense, Indian spices and skills and other luxury goods of that time and they had sold them or bartered these in the markets in Damascus. While they were returning home they stopped on the way for resting. Abu Talib left his nephew with the caravan to watch it. It was reported that Bahira a Christian monk from a nearby monastery was on the lookout for passing by caravans. He was expecting and predicting the arrival of the Last prophet and for that reason he monitored and observed passing by caravans. It was reported that a cloud followed this caravan hovering over it. Based on his expectation and prediction he thought that “This is a special characteristic of the Prophets. The expected Prophet must be in that caravan”.

It was reported that Bahira invited the members of caravan for a meal and asked Abu Talia if someone had been left behind with caravan. Abu Talib replied that they left behind a young boy to keep an eye on camels and the loads. . The monk asked them to fetch him and when the young boy came in and the monk asked Abu Talib about his relationship with the boy. Abu Talib relied that “He is my son” but Bahira disputed this replied that he can not be your son and said according to our books, his father must have died before his birth” It was reported that the monk looked the boy’s back and saw a mark between his shoulders which he recognised as the seal of prophethood.

Moreover, the monk advised him to take care of this boy and added “ Go back home with your nephew, and keep an eye on him, if the Jews see him and get to know what I know about him they will certainly do him harm , for he is going o be a very big man.” It was reported that Prophet Muhammad made second journey when he was 25 years old on trade caravan of Khadija. On this journey the prophet encountered the Bahira once again and the monk was pleased with this meeting and told him” you will be a prophet, the last prophet. I wish the God would allow me to live to see you raised as a Prophet. I would follow you, carry your shoes and protect you against your enemies.” These narrations are reported by many Islamic historians and scholars and yet some question the authenticity of these reports and some argue these are legends and fairy tales and have nothing to do with Prophet Muhammad’s life and his mission. They argued that before his prophet hood prophet Muhammad was an ordinary man like me and you and he gained all special status only after he got his prophet hood when he was 40 years old. ( al-ghazali 68, al-Buyooti,65,watt, 2,)

Yet, the final message of the Prophet Muhammad is nothing but the culmination of divine message of all prophetic messages of previous prophets. There is no doubt that Jews and Christian people of that time should have some expectation and predication about the arrival of last prophet and it was reported that Old Testament and News Testament predicated that the last prophet would come among Arab people. Hence, it would not be entirely wrong to recognising some truth in Bahira’s predictions and expectations. His prediction was based on his reading of previous divine texts and for that matter his prediction should have some merits on it,

To be continued next…