This Is Not Your Son

You were not taken along with the caravan because you were still young. You sat there beneath the tree.

Meanwhile, Bahira looked at the people and did not find in any of them the characteristic that he knew about the final Prophet. Nor did he see the cloud over any of them.

Rather, he noticed something strange: the cloud had remained at the campsite.

This clearly meant that the cloud was there where the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was.

So he said:

“O people of Quraysh! None of you should remain absent from my invitation.”

The Quraysh replied:

“O Bahira! No one who needed to attend your invitation has remained behind… Yes, there is one boy who has been left behind, and he is the youngest of all.”

Bahira said:

“Then please call him as well. How improper it would be for all of you to come while one of you remains behind, especially since I saw him with you.”

Then one of the men went and brought you toward Bahira.

At that time, the cloud moved along with you and continued to shade you throughout the entire journey.

Bahira clearly saw this scene. He now began observing you even more carefully and was searching your blessed body for the signs that were recorded in his books.

When the people had finished eating and had dispersed here and there, Bahira came to you and said:

“I want to ask you a few things in the name of Lat and Uzza. Whatever I ask you, tell me.”

Upon hearing this, you said:

“Do not ask me anything in the name of Lat and Uzza! By Allah! I hate them more than anything.”

Bahira then said:

“Very well, then tell me in the name of Allah what I want to ask you.”

You said:

“Ask. What do you want to ask?”

He asked you many questions. He asked about your habits and character.

After that, he removed the cloth from your back and saw the Seal of Prophethood. It was exactly as he had read about it in his books.

He immediately kissed the place of the Seal of Prophethood.

The people of Quraysh were watching all of this and were astonished.

Eventually, they could not help but say:

“This monk is taking a great interest in Muhammad ﷺ… Perhaps, in his view, Muhammad ﷺ holds a very high rank.”

After speaking with the Noble Prophet ﷺ, Bahira came to Abu Talib and said:

“What relation is this boy to you?”

Abu Talib said:

“He is my son.”

Bahira replied:

“No! He cannot be your son. It is impossible that his father is alive.”

Abu Talib was astonished upon hearing this. Then he said:

“Actually, he is the son of my brother.”

“Where is his father?”

“He has passed away. He died when this boy had not yet been born.”

Upon hearing this, Bahira exclaimed:

“Yes! That is correct. And what happened to his mother?”

“She passed away only a short while ago.”

As soon as he heard this, Bahira said:

“Exactly! You have said it correctly.

Now do this: take your nephew back to his homeland. Protect him completely from the Jews. If they see him and notice the signs that I have seen, they will try to kill him.

Your nephew is a prophet. He possesses a great rank.

We find his greatness written about in our books, and we have also heard much about him from our forefathers.

I have fulfilled my duty by giving you this advice, and it is your responsibility to take him back.”

Abu Talib became frightened after hearing Bahira’s words.

He took you and returned to Makkah.

At the time of this incident, you were nine years old.

Boys of this age normally participate in games and activities. Some of these games can also be improper and inappropriate.

Allah Almighty protected you completely from such things as well.

Allah Almighty also protected you from the evils in which the Arabs were deeply involved during the Age of Ignorance.

You yourself narrated an incident:

“There was a Qurayshi boy with me in the upper part of Makkah, and he had his goats with him.

I said to him:

‘You look after my goats for a while so that I can attend the storytelling gathering. All the boys go there.’

The boy said:

‘All right.’

After that, I set off.

I entered a house in Makkah and heard the sound of singing and musical instruments.

I asked the people:

‘What is happening?’

I was told:

‘A certain Qurayshi man is getting married to the daughter of such-and-such person.’

I had just begun paying attention to it when my eyes began to become heavy with sleep.

Eventually, I fell asleep.

Then I woke up when the sunlight fell upon me.”

You returned to the boy.

He asked:

“What did you do after going there?”

I told him the whole incident.

The following night, the same thing happened again.

The meaning was that Allah Almighty protected you from the frivolous gatherings of Quraysh.

There was an idol of Quraysh named Buwanah.

Every year, Quraysh would visit it. They held it in extremely high regard.

They would sacrifice an animal there, shave their heads, and spend the entire day in seclusion beside it.

Abu Talib would also visit this idol along with his people.

On this occasion, Quraysh would celebrate as though it were a festival.

Abu Talib said to the Noble Prophet ﷺ:

“My nephew! You should also join us in the festival.”

You refused.

Every year, Abu Talib continued asking you to participate, but you refused every time.

Eventually, on one occasion, Abu Talib became angry.

Your paternal aunts also became extremely angry with you. They said to you:

“You avoid and stay away from our gods in this way. We are afraid that some harm may come to you.”

They also said:

“Muhammad! Why, after all, do you not participate in the festival?”

Tired of their words, you got up and went far away from them.

Regarding this, you said:

“Whenever I came near Buwanah or any other idol, a very tall man with a white complexion would appear before me.

Every time, he would say the same thing to me:

‘Muhammad! Move back! Do not touch it.’”