Continued from Part-8…
When the Prophet (peace be upon him) struck a stone with his foot, pure and excellent water gushed out from beneath it. They had never tasted water like it before. They drank to their fill, and then they asked, “Nephew! Have you quenched your thirst?”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, “Yes.”
He then struck the spot again with his heel, and it returned to being as dry as it was before.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) had spent several years of his youth in the company of his uncle, Zubair ibn Abdul Muttalib. During that time, he once joined his uncle in a caravan traveling to Yemen. Along the way, they passed through a valley inhabited by a fierce and aggressive camel. The camel would block the path of passersby. However, when the camel saw the Prophet (peace be upon him), it immediately sat down, lowering itself and rubbing its chest against the ground. The Prophet dismounted from his own camel and rode on the wild one. The camel carried him across the valley and then stopped. Afterward, the Prophet dismounted, and the camel was set free.
On the caravan’s return journey, they passed through another valley filled with stormy, surging water. The sight alarmed the travelers. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to them, “Follow behind me.” He confidently entered the valley, and the caravan followed. By Allah’s will, the water dried up, allowing them to safely cross the valley. Upon reaching Makkah, the travelers narrated these extraordinary events to the people. Hearing these accounts, the people exclaimed, “This boy is truly unique!”
The Foretelling of the Seer
Ibn Hisham narrates the story of a man from the Banu Lahab tribe who was a skilled physiognomist (an expert in reading people’s features to predict their character and future). Whenever he visited Makkah, people would bring their children to him to hear his insights. On one occasion, Abu Talib brought the young Prophet (peace be upon him) to him. At the time, the Prophet was still a boy. The physiognomist glanced at him briefly, then turned his attention to the other children. After finishing, he demanded, “Bring that boy to me!”
Sensing something unusual in the man’s gaze toward his nephew, Abu Talib quickly left with the Prophet. Realizing the boy was no longer present, the physiognomist shouted, “Woe unto you! Bring that boy to me—the one I just saw. By Allah, he is destined for greatness!”
Abu Talib overheard his outburst as he departed with the young Prophet.
The Journey to Syria with Abu Talib
Abu Talib decided to travel to Syria for trade. The Prophet (peace be upon him) expressed his desire to accompany him. Some narrations state that the Prophet specifically requested to join the journey. Moved by his eagerness, Abu Talib said, “By Allah, I will take him with me! He can neither bear to part from me, nor can I bear to leave him behind.”
In one narration, the young Prophet held the reins of Abu Talib’s camel and said, “Uncle, who are you leaving me with? I have no mother and no father.” At the time, the Prophet was just nine years old. Finally, Abu Talib agreed and took him along, seating him on his camel.
Encounter with a Monk
During the journey, the caravan stopped near a Christian monastery. The monk residing there noticed the Prophet (peace be upon him) and was struck with awe. He approached Abu Talib and asked, “Who is this boy to you?”
Abu Talib replied, “He is my son.”
The monk firmly said, “This cannot be your son.”
Surprised, Abu Talib asked, “Why not? What do you mean?”
The monk explained, “It is not possible for this boy’s father to be alive. This boy is a prophet.”
He further clarified that the boy bore all the signs of the final Prophet, as foretold in ancient scriptures. One of these signs was that he would be an orphan—his father would pass away before his birth, and his mother would also die during his childhood.
Abu Talib then asked, “What is a prophet?”
The monk replied, “A prophet is someone who receives divine revelation from the heavens and conveys it to the people on earth. Beware of the Jews—they may harm this boy.”
The Encounter with Bahira, the Monk
As the caravan continued its journey, they encountered another monk, Bahira, who lived in a monastery in Busra. Bahira, whose real name was Georges, was a highly learned scholar. His family had passed down religious knowledge for generations. Despite frequently witnessing Quraysh caravans passing by, Bahira had never interacted with them before. However, this time, he noticed something extraordinary.
Bahira observed a small cloud providing shade exclusively to the Prophet (peace be upon him). When the caravan stopped under a tree, he saw the cloud shift to cast its shade over the tree. Moreover, the tree’s branches bent down to offer shade to the Prophet. Bahira was astonished by these signs.
He sent a message to the Quraysh caravan, inviting them to a meal. He specifically requested that everyone, including the children and slaves, attend. The Quraysh were surprised by the unusual invitation. One of them remarked, “Bahira, you have never invited us before. What is different this time?”
Bahira replied, “You are my guests, and honoring guests is a noble act.”
When the Quraysh arrived, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was left behind at the campsite.
