Post by Walid on Apr 21, 2005 14:58:13 GMT
Bahira the Monk and Muhammad (Peace and Blessings upon Him and His family)
There was once a monk named Bahira, who lived in a monastery near the desert city of Basra. He had spent his life in study, and read of a great Prophet who would one day come into the world. Bahira prayed that he would one day live to see him.
The people of Makkah were merchants, who traded with the cities of Syria. Day after day, caravans of camels, laden with goods, set out across the barren desert. One of these caravans belonged to Abu Talib.
Abu Talib was the beloved Prophet's uncle, and cared for the child now that he had lost both his parents and also his grandfather. One day, Abu Talib decided that Muhammad (peace be upon him) should travel with him to Syria.
The caravan slowly made its way across the desert until, after many days, it reached the edge of the city of Basra. The monk, seated alone in his cell, looked up from his books, and out across the desert. Through the shimmering heat, he saw a caravan approaching. Above it hovered a solitary cloud.
It seemed that the cloud was shielding someone from the sun. Bahira watched as the caravan drew nearer and stopped beneath a grove of trees. As soon as everyone was in the shade the cloud disappeared.
Bahira went to greet the merchants, who he had met before. "It's good to see you again," they told him. "But why do you never invite us into your cell?"
At once, Bahira asked them to join him for a meal. He knew that there was someone very important with them--for what else could the cloud mean? He asked them questions about themselves, but he could not get the answers he wanted. At last he said:
"Is all of your group here?"
"No," replied Abu Talib. "My nephew is minding the camels. He's very young, so we didn't bring him."
"Let me talk to him," said Bahira.
Bahira questioned the child closely, learning all he could about who he was, what he believed, and what he thought. He became sure that Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him) was the Prophet he was waiting for. He tried one last test.
In this, he asked the child to swear by the idol-gods of Makkah, Lat, and Ozza. Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him) refused.
Bahira spoke at once to Abu Talib:
"This child is destined for greatness," he said. "Take him back to your country and look after him well." So, as soon as he had finished trading in Syria, Abu Talib took his beloved nephew back to Makkah, and looked after the boy until he grew up.
Thought i would share this story for Mawlid.
There was once a monk named Bahira, who lived in a monastery near the desert city of Basra. He had spent his life in study, and read of a great Prophet who would one day come into the world. Bahira prayed that he would one day live to see him.
The people of Makkah were merchants, who traded with the cities of Syria. Day after day, caravans of camels, laden with goods, set out across the barren desert. One of these caravans belonged to Abu Talib.
Abu Talib was the beloved Prophet's uncle, and cared for the child now that he had lost both his parents and also his grandfather. One day, Abu Talib decided that Muhammad (peace be upon him) should travel with him to Syria.
The caravan slowly made its way across the desert until, after many days, it reached the edge of the city of Basra. The monk, seated alone in his cell, looked up from his books, and out across the desert. Through the shimmering heat, he saw a caravan approaching. Above it hovered a solitary cloud.
It seemed that the cloud was shielding someone from the sun. Bahira watched as the caravan drew nearer and stopped beneath a grove of trees. As soon as everyone was in the shade the cloud disappeared.
Bahira went to greet the merchants, who he had met before. "It's good to see you again," they told him. "But why do you never invite us into your cell?"
At once, Bahira asked them to join him for a meal. He knew that there was someone very important with them--for what else could the cloud mean? He asked them questions about themselves, but he could not get the answers he wanted. At last he said:
"Is all of your group here?"
"No," replied Abu Talib. "My nephew is minding the camels. He's very young, so we didn't bring him."
"Let me talk to him," said Bahira.
Bahira questioned the child closely, learning all he could about who he was, what he believed, and what he thought. He became sure that Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him) was the Prophet he was waiting for. He tried one last test.
In this, he asked the child to swear by the idol-gods of Makkah, Lat, and Ozza. Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him) refused.
Bahira spoke at once to Abu Talib:
"This child is destined for greatness," he said. "Take him back to your country and look after him well." So, as soon as he had finished trading in Syria, Abu Talib took his beloved nephew back to Makkah, and looked after the boy until he grew up.
Thought i would share this story for Mawlid.
