 |
| Sri Lankan Muslims take part in a protest aagainst an anti-Islam film made in the US, in Colombo on September 24, 2012 (AFP Photo / Ishara S.Kodikara) |
| by
Dr Rifai Naleemi
( October 22, 2012, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) In this part of the
series we shall examine the life of Prophet Muhammad PBUP before he attained
his prophethood. This should shed some light on the personal traits and personalities
of our beloved prophet that distinguish him from all other people. Historical accounts tell us that every
minute aspects of our beloved prophet were meticulously recorded and preserved
by his companions. According to some historians the biography of the Prophet
Muhammad was recorded by two methods: It was verbally recoded and transmitted
in accordance with the oral traditions of transmitting information in Arabic
societies. Secondly the biography of
prophet was documented in written format in the books of Sira of the prophet by
succeeding generations. Most historians and Islamic scholars argue that Prophet
Muhammad is a special human being among humanity. Some argue that since his
birth Prophet Muhammad was brought up in divine sight and care.
By examining some of incidents,
occurrences and supernatural events one could understand how our prophet is
distinguishable from others in humanity and in what ways he was identical with
others and in what ways he was different from others in his childhood.
Moreover, we should examine some of his noble characters and gracious qualities
to appreciate this difference in human qualities and perfection.
A respected
Non-Muslim scholar notes that Prophet Muhammad was “a man who had been marked
out from his early youth, even from before his birth, by supernatural signs and
qualities” (Watt. P2.). Yet, some segments of dry legal and literal schools of
thought argue that Prophet Muhammad was an ordinary man like other human beings
before his prophet hood. They argue that it would be wrong to give the prophet
Muhammad any special status or social or religious calibre before his
prophethood. Their contention is that Prophet Muhammad was an ordinary human
being like all others prior to his divine designation for prophet hood. Some
simple says that Prophet Muhammad was simple ordinary man like me and you prior
to his prophet hood and hence it would be wrong to attribute any special status
or supernatural signs or qualities to Prophet Mohammed prior to his
prophethood. It was reported in some narrations that certain super natural
things occurred during the birth of Prophet Muhammad. It is true that some
scholars have questioned the validity and authenticity of some these supper
natural occurrences and more importantly about the authenticities of these
narrations. I shall quote some of these predictions and supernatural
occurrences that occurred in the formative period of prophet’s life.
It was reported by
Ibn Ishaq and other historians that Abu Talib took his nephew to Syria
in a trade mission on a caravan when he was approximately 12 years old.
According to some accounts this caravan was carrying Arabian frankincense,
Indian spices and skills and other luxury goods of that time and they had sold
them or bartered these in the markets in Damascus.
While they were returning home they stopped on the way for resting. Abu Talib
left his nephew with the caravan to watch it.
It was reported that Bahira a Christian monk from a nearby monastery was
on the lookout for passing by caravans.
He was expecting and predicting the arrival of the Last prophet and for
that reason he monitored and observed passing by caravans. It was reported that
a cloud followed this caravan hovering over it.
Based on his expectation and prediction he thought that “This is a
special characteristic of the Prophets. The expected Prophet must be in that
caravan”.
It was
reported that Bahira invited the members of caravan for a meal and asked Abu
Talia if someone had been left behind with caravan. Abu Talib replied that they left behind a
young boy to keep an eye on camels and the loads. . The monk asked them to
fetch him and when the young boy came in and the monk asked Abu Talib about his
relationship with the boy. Abu Talib
relied that “He is my son” but Bahira disputed this replied that he can not be
your son and said according to our books, his father must have died before his
birth” It was reported that the monk
looked the boy’s back and saw a mark between his shoulders which he recognised
as the seal of prophethood.
Moreover, the
monk advised him to take care of this boy and added “ Go back home with your
nephew, and keep an eye on him, if the Jews see him and get to know what I know
about him they will certainly do him harm , for he is going o be a very big
man.” It was reported that Prophet
Muhammad made second journey when he was 25 years old on trade caravan of
Khadija. On this journey the prophet encountered the Bahira once again and the
monk was pleased with this meeting and told him” you will be a prophet, the
last prophet. I wish the God would allow me to live to see you raised as a
Prophet. I would follow you, carry your shoes and protect you against your
enemies.” These narrations are reported
by many Islamic historians and scholars and yet some question the authenticity
of these reports and some argue these are legends and fairy tales and have
nothing to do with Prophet Muhammad’s life and his mission. They argued that
before his prophet hood prophet Muhammad was an ordinary man like me and you
and he gained all special status only after he got his prophet hood when he was
40 years old. ( al-ghazali 68, al-Buyooti,65,watt, 2,)
Yet, the final message
of the Prophet Muhammad is nothing but the culmination of divine message of all
prophetic messages of previous prophets.
There is no doubt that Jews and Christian people of that time should
have some expectation and predication about the arrival of last prophet and it
was reported that Old Testament and News Testament predicated that the last
prophet would come among Arab people.
Hence, it would not be entirely wrong to recognising some truth in
Bahira’s predictions and expectations. His prediction was based on his reading
of previous divine texts and for that matter his prediction should have some
merits on it,
To be continued next…
