Bahira The Monk
Bahira The Monk
Bahira The Monk
Abdul Muttalib’s fortunes had decreased during the last parts of his life and what he
had left at his death amounted to no more than a small legacy for each of his sons.
Abu Lahab, who was one of his many sons, had acquired wealth of his own. And
since Abu Talib was poor, Muhammad felt obliged to do whatever he could to earn
his own livelihood. He mostly did this by pasturing sheep and goats and he would
spend day after day alone in the hills above Makkah or on the slopes of the valley
beyond. Sometimes, his uncle would take him on his travels and on one occasion,
when Muhammad was 12, they went with a merchant caravan as far as Syria. At
Bostra, near one of the halts where the Meccan caravan always stopped, there was
a cell which a Christian monk lived in for generation after generation. When one
monk died, another monk would take his place and inherit everything in the cell
including old manuscripts. There was also one manuscript which contained the
prediction of the coming of a prophet to the Arabs. Bahira, who was the monk living
in the cell, was well versed in the contents of this book and he felt that the coming of
the prophet would be in his lifetime. He often saw the Meccan caravan approach not
far from his cell but as this particular one came in sight, his attention was struck by
something which he had never seen before. It was a small, low-hanging cloud which
moved slowly above their heads so it was always between the sun and one or two of
the travellers. He watched the travellers draw near with intense interest. But his
interest changed into amazement because as soon as the travellers halted, the cloud
ceased to move, remaining still over the tree beneath which they took shelter. The
tree itself lowered its branches over them, so that they were in the shade. Bahira
knew that this indication was of huge significance. Immediately, he thought of a
prophet. He sent word to the caravan: “Men of Quraysh, I have prepared food for
you.” So they came to his cell, but they had left Muhammad to look after their camels
and their baggage. As the travellers were approaching the cell, Bahira scanned their
faces one by one but he saw nothing which matched the description of the book. He
said: “Men of Quraysh, let none of you stay behind.” They replied, “there is not one
that hath been left behind, save only a boy, the youngest of us all.” “Treat him not so,
but call him to come, and let him be present with us at this meal.” One of them said,
“We are indeed to blame that the son of Abdullah should have been left behind and
not brought to share this feast with us .” Bahira went to him and embraced him and
brought him to sit with the people. One glance at the boy’s face was enough to
explain the many miracles to Bahira. He looked at the boy attentively throughout the
entire meal and he noticed many features of both his face and his body which
corresponded to the description in his book. When they had finished their meal,
Bahira went to Muhammad to question him about his way of life, his sleep and about
his affairs in general and Muhammad willingly informed him of these things. Bahira
had already felt certain that between the boy’s shoulders was the very mark he
expected to see, which was the seal of prophethood as it was described in his book
in the same place. Bahira turned to Abu Talib and asked : “What kinship hath this
boy with thee?” Abu Talib replied: “He is my son.” The monk said: “He is not thy son,
it cannot be that this boy’s father is alive.” “He is my brother’s son,” said Abu Talib.
Another said: “He died when the boy was still in his mother’s womb.” Bahira replied: “
That is the truth, take thy brother’s son back to his country, and guard him against
the Jews, for by Allah, if they see him and know of him that which I know, they will
contrive evil against him. Great things are in store for this brother’s son of thine.”