The Meeting with Nastura

The Noble Prophet ﷺ greatly liked this agreement, that is, Hilf al-Fudul. You ﷺ used to say:

“I was a participant in this agreement. This agreement took place at the house of Banu Jud’an. If someone were to tell me to withdraw from this agreement and, in return, take one hundred camels, I would not accept them. If someone were to call me even today in the name of this agreement and say, ‘O members of Hilf al-Fudul!’ I would say, ‘I am present.’”

The meaning of this statement of the Prophet ﷺ was that even today, if an oppressed person were to call out saying, “O members of Hilf al-Fudul!” then I would certainly respond to his plea. Because Islam came precisely for this purpose: to raise the name of truth and to help and support the oppressed.

This Hilf al-Fudul continued even afterward.

In Makkah, because of your ﷺ honesty and trustworthiness, you ﷺ came to be called Al-Amin (the Trustworthy). This title of yours became very famous. People would not call you by any other name besides Al-Amin.

Around those days, Abu Talib said to you ﷺ:

“O my nephew! I am a very poor man, and because of the famine, I am facing even more difficult circumstances. A period of drought has been continuing for quite some time. There is no means by which we can manage our affairs, nor do we have any trade.

A trade caravan is going to Syria, and people from Quraysh are joining it. A woman of Quraysh, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, used to send her merchandise toward Syria. The person who carried her goods would settle his wages with her.

Now, if you go to her and offer to take her goods, she will certainly give her merchandise to you, because your reputation for honesty and trustworthiness has reached her.

Although I do not like the idea of your going on a journey to Syria. The Jews are your enemies. But because of our circumstances, I am compelled to do this. Besides, there is no other option.”

After saying this much, Abu Talib became silent.

Then you ﷺ said:

“Perhaps the woman herself will send someone to me.”

Abu Talib was very worried at that time. Hearing your words, he said:

“If you do not go, I fear that she will make an agreement with someone else.”

After saying this, Abu Talib got up and left.

Meanwhile, you ﷺ had a strong feeling that Lady Khadijah رضي الله عنها would herself send someone to you, and that is exactly what happened.

Lady Khadijah رضي الله عنها sent someone to call the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Then she said to you ﷺ:

“I have heard about your truthfulness, trustworthiness, and good character, and this is why I have called you. I will give you twice the compensation that I give to the other men of your people.”

You ﷺ accepted her proposal.

Then you ﷺ met your uncle Abu Talib and told him about it.

After hearing this, Abu Talib said:

“This is provision that Allah has created for you.”

After this, you ﷺ set out toward Syria carrying the trade goods of Lady Khadijah رضي الله عنها.

Lady Khadijah’s رضي الله عنها servant, Maysarah, was with you ﷺ.

At the time of departure, Hazrat Khadijah رضي الله عنها said to Maysarah:

“Do not disobey him in any matter. Whatever he says, do exactly that, and do not disagree with his opinion.”

All of the uncles of the Prophet ﷺ requested the people of the caravan to take care of you ﷺ.

One reason for this was that, in terms of responsibility, this was your ﷺ first trade journey. In other words, you ﷺ were completely new to this work.

As you ﷺ set out, your ﷺ miracle began.

A cloud came over you ﷺ and shaded you. It began moving along with you ﷺ.

When you ﷺ reached Syria, you ﷺ stopped in the marketplace of the city of Busra under the shade of a tree.

This tree was in front of the monastery of a Christian monk named Nastura.

When the monk saw Maysarah, he came out of the monastery.

At that time, he saw you ﷺ. You ﷺ were staying under the tree.

He asked Maysarah:

“Who is this person who is under this tree?”

Maysarah replied:

“He is a man from Quraysh. He is from the people of the Haram.”

Hearing this, the monk said:

“No person has ever sat beneath this tree except a prophet.”

What he meant was that, until that day, no person had ever sat beneath this tree. Allah Almighty had always protected this tree from having anyone other than a prophet sit beneath it.

After this, he asked Maysarah:

“Are there signs of redness in his eyes?”

Maysarah replied:

“Yes, absolutely. This redness remains permanently in his eyes.”

Now Nastura said:

“He is the one.”

Maysarah looked at him in amazement and said:

“What do you mean? ‘He is the one’—who is the one?”

“He is the final Prophet. I wish I could live to see the time when he will be commanded to appear, that is, when he will be granted Prophethood.”

After this, he quietly approached you ﷺ.

First, he kissed your ﷺ head, then he kissed your ﷺ feet and said:

“I believe in you ﷺ and bear witness that you ﷺ are the very one whom Allah Almighty has mentioned in the Torah.”

After this, Nastura said:

“O Muhammad ﷺ! I have seen in you ﷺ all the signs that are recorded in the ancient books as signs of your Prophethood. Only one sign remains. Therefore, please remove the cloth from your shoulder.”

You ﷺ removed the cloth from your blessed shoulder.

Then Nastura saw the Seal of Prophethood shining there.

He immediately bent down to kiss the Seal of Prophethood, and then said:

“I bear witness that there is no one worthy of worship except Allah Almighty, and I bear witness that you ﷺ are the Messenger of Allah Almighty.

Hazrat Isa ibn Maryam عليهما السلام had given glad tidings about you ﷺ, and he had said:

‘After me, no one will sit beneath this tree except the Prophet who will be an Ummi (that is, unlettered), Hashmi, Arab, and Makki (that is, a resident of Makkah).

He will be the one who will have the Pool of Kawthar and intercession on the Day of Judgment.’”

After this incident, you ﷺ went to the marketplace of Busra.

There, you ﷺ sold the merchandise that you had brought with you and purchased some things.

During this buying and selling, a man argued with you ﷺ over something and said:

“Swear by Lat and Uzza.”

You ﷺ replied:

“I have never sworn by the names of these idols.”

Hearing this sentence of yours ﷺ, the man was startled.