Chapter 17: Before commissioning of the Prophethood and some of

the early signs (Part 5) Allaah تعاىل says: ﴿الَّذ ين يـ تَّب ع ون الرَّس ول النَِّب َّ اِّل مِّيَّ الَّذ ي َي د ون ه م ك ت وبًا ع ند ه م ف التـَّو ر اة و اْل ن ِ يل ي أ م ر ه م ب ال م ع ر و و يـ نـ ه اه م ع ن ال م نك ر و ُي لُّ َل م الطَّيِّب ات و ُي رِّم ع ل ي ه م اْل ب ائ ث و ي ض ع ع نـ ه م إ ص ر ه م و اِّل غ ال ل الَّت ك ان ت ع ل ي ه م ۖ ف الَّذ ين آم ن وا ب ه و ع زَّر وه و ن ص ر وه و اتـَّبـ ع وا النُّور الَّذ ي أ نز ل م ع ه ۖ ﴾ أ ول ـىئ ك ه م ال م ف ل ح ون {Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e. Muhammad) whom they find written with them in the Taurah and the Injeel, - he commands them for al-Ma`roof (i.e. Islaamic Monotheism and all that Islaam has ordained); and forbids them from al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism of all kinds, and all that Islaam has forbidden); he allows them as lawful at-Taiyibaat [(i.e. all good and lawful) as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc.], and prohibits them as unlawful al-Khabaa’ith (i.e. all evil and unlawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc.), he releases them from their heavy burdens (of Allaah’s Covenant), and from the fetters (bindings) that were upon them. So those who believe in him (Muhammad), honor him, help him, and follow the light (the Qur’aan) which has been sent down with him, it is they who will be successful.} [Surah al-A`raaf (7): 157] Imaam Ahmad recorded that Abu Sakhr Al-`Uqayli said that a Bedouin man said to him: “I brought some goods 104 to al-Madeenah during the lifetime of Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ. After I sold it, I said to myself: `I will meet that man (Muhammad) and hear from him.’ So I passed by him while he was walking between Abu Bakr and `Umar, and I followed them until they passed by a Jewish man, who was reading from an open copy of the Taurah.

He was mourning a son of his who was dying and who was one of the most handsome boys. The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ asked him (the father): ❝I ask you by He Who has sent down the Taurah, do you not find the description of me and my advent in your Book?❞ He nodded his head in the negative. His son said: “Rather, yes, by He Who has sent down the Taurah! We find the description of you and your advent in our Book. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah and 104 [TN: in another narration, it is: a milk-producing camel] that you are the Messenger of Allaah.” The Prophet said (to the Companions): ❝Stop the Jew (the father) from (taking charge of) your brother (in Islaam).❞ The Prophet then personally took care of the son’s funeral and led the funeral prayer on him.” (Ibn Katheer said): The chain of this hadith is “Jayyid” (sound) 105 and is supported by a similar hadith in the sahih narrated from Anas رضي اهلل عنه. 106 Abu al-Qaasimal-Baghawee reported from his chain, that Faltaan Ibn `Aasim رضي اهلل عنه narrated that his maternal uncle said: I was sitting with the Messenger ﷺ when his eyes fell on a person, a Jew, who was wearing a shirt, trousers, and sandals.

Faltaan added: The Prophet ﷺ started talking to him, so he (the Jew in return was) saying: ‘O Messenger of Allaah!’ So the Prophet ﷺ asked: ❝Do you bear witness that I am the Messenger of Allaah?❞ He said: ‘No!’ The Prophet ﷺ said: ❝Do you read the Taurah?❞ He said: ‘Yes!’ The Prophet ﷺ asked: ❝Do you read the Injeel?❞ He said: ‘Yes!’ The Prophet ﷺ asked: ❝and (do you read) the Qur’aan?❞ He said: ‘No! But if you wish, I will read it.’ The Prophet ﷺ said: ❝When you read the Taurah and the Injeel, do you find my (description in them) as a Prophet?❞ He said: ‘we do find your description and your advent (mentioned in them). But at the time of your advent, we were hoping that you will be from amongst us (i.e. a Jew). But when we saw you, we realized that you are not him (the promised one).’ The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝And why is that, O Jew? ❞ He replied: ‘It is written with us: “Seventy thousand people from his Ummah will enter the Jannah without rendering any account.” But we do not see with you except only a small group of people.’ The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝My Ummah 107 will be more than seventy thousand and seventy thousand.❞ 105 Musnad Ahmad (23492) and graded as “sahih” by Shaikh al-Albaanee in al-Saheehah (3269) 106 (Shaikh al-Albaanee said): He (Ibn Katheer) is pointing towards the hadith reported by al-Bukhaaree in his sahih (1356): Narrated Anas: A young Jewish boy used to serve the Prophet ﷺ and he became sick. So the Prophet ﷺ went to visit him.

He sat near his head and asked him to embrace Islaam. The boy looked at his father, who was sitting there; he (the father) told the boy to obey Abul-Qaasim (meaning: the Prophet) and the boy embraced Islaam. The Prophet ﷺ came out saying: ❝Praises be to Allaah Who saved the boy from the Hell-fire.❞ [TN: In Sunan Abu Dawood (3095), the wording are: ❝Praises be to Allaah Who saved the boy through me from the Hell-fire.❞ and graded as “sahih” by Shaikh al-Albaanee] 107 I (al-Albaanee) say: meaning: those people who will enter the Jannah without rendering any account. In Musnad al-Bazzaar (3700) and others, the wording are: ❝By the One (Allaah) in whose Hand is my soul! Indeed, I am him (Ibn Katheer said): This hadith is “Ghareeb” (rare) from this chain (i.e. the hadith with this wording was not reported except through this chain); and they did not report it. 108 (the one you wait for), and they are (from) my Ummah, and they will be more than seventy thousand and seventy thousand.❞ 108 I (al-Albaanee) say: The chain of this narration is “sahih”, and all the narrators are reliable.

Al-Haithamee reported the same in “Majma` al-Zawaaid” (18698), on the authority of Faltaan Ibn `Aasim, but without mentioning his uncle; and he (al-Haithamee) said: “This was reported by al-Bazzaar and its narrators are reliable.” Similarly, al-Suyootee mentioned this narration in “al-Khasaais al-Kubraa” (1/26) and said: “This was reported by al-Tabaraanee (in “al-Kabeer (854, 855)), al-Baihaqee (in “al-Dlaail” (6/273)), Abu Nu`aim, Ibn `Asaakir.” He missed to mention that Ibn Hibbaan also reported it (in his sahih (6580)). (Shaik al-Albaanee adds): NOTE: Our friend Dr. Muhammad Khaleel Harraas in his comments on the book “alKhasaais” said: “This hadith has the characteristics of being fabricated. It was not the habit of the Prophet ﷺ to ask anyone from the people of the Book about his description in the Taurah and the Injeel. This is why when the following Aayah was revealed to him ﷺ: ﴾ ﴿ف إ ن ك نت ف ش كٍّ ِمَِّّا أ نز ل ن ا إ ل ي ك ف اس أ ل الَّذ ين يـ ق ر ء ون ال ك ت اب م ن قـ ب ل ك {So if you (O Muhammad) are in doubt concerning that which We have revealed unto you, [i.e. that your name is written in the Taurah and the Injeel] then ask those who are reading the Book [the Taurah and the Injeel] before you.} [Surah Yunus (10): 94] He ﷺ said: ❝I do not doubt nor will I ask (them).❞” I (al-Albaanee) say: The hadith (of Faltaan Ibn `Aasim) is “sahih”, and claiming it to be fabricated is recklessness and repulsive.

This is because, nowhere in the hadith is it mentioned that he ﷺ questioned the Jew for removing his (own) doubt regarding what was revealed to him from his Lord. He ﷺ is far away from having such a doubt! The question could have been for any other reason. Example: establishing evidence against the opponent using the opponent’s own words, and this hadith is one of them; and there are many more examples. What is obligatory is that one should try to reconcile between the established Texts wherever possible, as has been established in the books of Usool (Principles) of hadith and Fiqh (Jurisprudence).

And in this regards, we have the Athar (statements) of `Alee (Ibn Abu Taalib) and Ibn Mas`ood رضي اهلل عنهما. They both said: ❝If you are told a hadith from the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ, then think of it in the best, most guided and most pious manner.❞ From `Alee in Musnad Ahmad (985, 986, 987, 1039, 1080, 1081, 1082, 1092) and Sunan Ibn Maajah (20); and from Ibn Mas`ood in Musnad Ahmad (3645, 3940) and Sunan al-Daarimee (611); with chains which are “sahih”. As for the hadith which the Dr. had mentioned: ❝I do not doubt nor will I ask (them)❞, it is not authentic because it is from the reports of Qataadah and which are “Mursal” (Hurried; i.e. a Tabi`ee reported directly from the Prophet ﷺ without mentioning the name of the Companion). Moreover, there is another narration which supports the hadith (of Faltaan Ibn `Aasim) under discussion And it has been authentically reported in the sahih that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ came to “Bait al-Midraas” of the Jews (a synagogue where they used to recite the Taurah and came for gathering). He ﷺ said to them: ❝O assembly of the Jews!

Surrender to Allaah (accept Islaam) and you will be safe. [By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! You indeed find my description mentioned in your books.]❞ 109 Narrated `Ataa Ibn Yasaar: I met `Abdullaah bin `Amr bin Al-`Aas رضي اهلل عنهما and asked him: Tell me about the description of Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ which is mentioned in Taurah. He replied: “Yes! By Allaah, he is described in Taurah with some of the qualities attributed to him in the Qur’aan as follows: {O Prophet! We have sent you as a witness (for Allaah’s True religion), and a giver of glad tidings (to the faithful believers), and a warner (to the unbelievers)}, 110 and guardian of the illiterates.

You are My slave and My messenger. I have named you “al-Mutawakkil” (who depends upon Allaah alone). You are neither discourteous, harsh, nor a noisemaker in the markets; and you do not do evil to those who do evil to you, but you deal with them with forgiveness and kindness. Allaah will not let him (the Prophet) die till he makes It was narrated that `Abdullaah Ibn Mas`ood رضي اهلل عنه said: “Verily, Allaah sent His Prophet ﷺ to be the cause of a man entering Paradise! He ﷺ entered the synagogue and saw some Jews, and one of the Jews was reading the Taurah to them.

When they came to a description of the Prophet ﷺ, they stopped reading and there was a sick man in the gathering. The Prophet ﷺ said: ❝Why did you stop reading?❞ The sick man said: ‘They came to a description of a Prophet, so they stopped reading.’ Then the sick man came crawling, until he took the Taurah and read until he came to the description of the Prophet ﷺ and his Ummah. And he said: ‘This is a description of you and your Ummah. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshiped but Allaah and that you are the Messenger of Allaah.’ Then he died, and the Prophet ﷺ said to his companions: ❝Take care of your brother.❞ [Musnad Ahmad (3951) and its narrators are reliable] [TN: In Irwaa al-Ghaleel (2479, 2707), the Shaikh graded this hadith as “Dha`eef”.] 109 I (al-Albaanee) say: Imaam al-Bukhaaree mentioned this in his sahih in three places (3167, 6944, 7348) and Muslim in his sahih (1765-61); but without the phrase mentioned within the brackets. [TN: The complete narration is as follows: Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي اهلل عنه: While we were in the Masjid, Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ came out and said: ❝(Let us) go to the Jews.❞ So we went out with him till we came to Bait-al-Midraas. The Prophet ﷺ stood up there and called them, saying: ❝O assembly of Jews!

Surrender to Allaah (embrace Islaam) and you will be safe!❞ They said: “You have conveyed Allaah’s message, O Aba-al-Qaasim” Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ then said to them: ❝ That is what I want; embrace Islaam and you will be safe.❞ They said: “You have conveyed the message, O AbaalQaasim.” Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ then said to them: ❝That is what I want❞, and repeated his words for the third time and added, ❝Know that the earth is for Allaah and I want to exile you from this land (Arabian peninsula), so whoever among you has property he should sell it, otherwise, know that the land is for Allaah and His Messenger.❞] 110 Surah al-Ahzaab (33): 45 and Surah al-Fath (48): 8 straight the crooked people by making them say: “None has the right to be worshiped but Allaah”, with which will be opened blind eyes, and deaf ears, and enveloped hearts.’” 111 `Ataa Ibn Yasaar then said: I (later) met Ka`b (al-Ahbaar) رضي اهلل عنه and asked him the same. He replied (exactly) the same (as `Abdullaah Ibn `Amr), without any change in wordings. 112 Al-Baihaqee reported from a different route on the authority of `Ataa’ Ibn Yasaar that (`Abdullaah) Ibn Salaam رضي اهلل عنه used to say: “We found the description of the Prophet ﷺ (mentioned in our books): ‘{O Prophet! We have sent you as a witness, and a giver of glad tidings, and a warner}, and guardian of the illiterates. You are My slave and My messenger. I have named you “al-Mutawakkil” (who depends upon Allaah alone).

You are neither discourteous, harsh, nor a noisemaker in the markets; and you do not do evil to those who do evil to you, but you deal with them with forgiveness and kindness. Allaah will not let him (the Prophet) die till he makes straight the crooked people by making them say: “None has the right to be worshiped but Allaah”, with which will be opened blind eyes, and deaf ears, and enveloped hearts.’” `Ataa further said: Al-Laithee informed me that he had heard Ka`b al-Ahbaar say the same like Ibn Salaam. 113 I (Ibn Katheer) say: The narration from `Abdullaah Ibn Salaam is similar to the earlier narration, but there are more narrations from `Abdullaah Ibn `Amr due to the fact that he found two scrolls (or pages) from the Books of People of the Book on the day of the battle of al-Yarmook, and he used to narrate from that a great deal. 114 111 sahih al-Bukhaaree (2125, 4838) 112 Musnad Ahmad (6622) 113 Dalaail al-Nubuwwah of al-Baihaqee (1/376) I (al-Albaanee) say: al-Daarimee reported in his Sunan (6), from the same route (as al-Baihaqee) and in it is `Abdullaah Ibn Saaleh who is “Dha`eef”. 114 [TN: `Abdullaah bin `Amr رضي اهلل عنهما used to narrate from those two scrolls because the Prophet ﷺ had allowed it when he ﷺ said: ❝Convey (my teachings) to the people even if it were a single Aayah (Verse, sentence), and tell others the stories of Banee Israa’eel, for it is not sinful to do so. And whoever tells a lie on me intentionally, will surely take his place in the (Hell) Fire.❞ [sahih al-Bukhaaree (3461) and Sunan al-Tirmidhee (2669)]] One should know that many people from the Salaf (predecessors) used to transmit from the Taurah and it was common knowledge with them, of the things that Allaah تعاىل had revealed to Moosaa عليه السالم. The knowledge that he ﷺ has been mentioned in the books of the people of the Book is an essential part of the (our) religion (and which is well known among the Muslims and no claim of ignorance will be accepted in this case), and in the Qur’aan, many Aayaat have been revealed as proof of that, and we (Ibn Katheer) have explained them in (our Tafseer), and all praise is for Allaah alone. Some of these Aayaat are as follows: ﴿الَّذ ين آتـ يـ ن اه م ال ك ت اب م ن قـ ب ل ه ه م ب ه يـ ؤ م ن ون * و إ ذ ا يـ تـ ل ىى ع ل ي ه م ق ال وا آم نَّا ب ه إ نَّه احل قُّ م ن رَّبـِّن ا إ نَّا ك نَّا ﴾ م ن قـ ب ل ه م س ل م ني {Those to whom We gave the Scripture [i.e. the Taurah and the Injeel] before it, - they believe in it (the Qur’aan).

And when it is recited to them, they say: “We believe in it. Verily, it is the truth from our Lord. Indeed even before it we have been from those who submit themselves to Allaah in Islaam as Muslims (like `Abdullaah bin Salaam and Salman al-Faarisee).} [Surah al-Qasas (28): 52-53] And Allaah تعاىل says: ﴿الَّذ ين آتـ يـ ن اه م ال ك ت اب يـ ع ر ف ون ه ك م ا يـ ع ر ف ون أ بـ ن اء ه م ۖ ﴾ و إ نَّ ف ر يقًا مِّنـ ه م ل ي ك ت م ون احل قَّ و ه م يـ ع ل م ون {Those to whom We gave the Scripture (Jews and Christians) recognize him (Muhammad) as they recognize their sons. But verily, a party of them conceal the truth while they know it - [i.e. the qualities of Muhammad which are written in the Taurah and the Injeel].} [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 146] And Allaah تعاىل says: ﴿ ق ل آم ن وا ب ه أ و ّل تـ ؤ م ن وا ۖ إ نَّ الَّذ ين أ وت وا ال ع ل م م ن قـ ب ل ه إ ذ ا يـ تـ ل ىى ع ل ي ه م َي رُّون * ل ْل ذ ق ان س جَّدًا ﴾ًو يـ ق ول ون س ب ح ان ر بـِّن ا إ ن ك ان و ع د ر بـِّن ا ل م ف ع وّل {Say (O Muhammad to them): “Believe in it (the Qur’aan) or do not believe (in it). Verily!

Those who were given knowledge before it (the Jews and the Christians like `Abdullaah bin Salaam and Salmaan al-Faarisee), when it is recited to them, fall down on their faces in humble prostration.” And they say: “Glory be to our Lord! Truly, the Promise of our Lord must be fulfilled.”} [Surah al-Israa’ (17): 107-108] And Allaah تعاىل says: ﴿ ِّو إ ذ ا ْس ع وا م ا أ نز ل إ ىل الرَّس ول تـ ر ىى أ ع يـ نـ ه م ت ف يض م ن الدَّم ع ِم َّا ع ر ف وا م ن احل ق ۖ يـ ق ول ون ر بـَّن ا آم نَّا ﴾ ف اك ت بـ ن ا م ع الشَّاه د ين {And when they (who call themselves Christians) listen to what has been sent down to the Messenger (Muhammad), you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of the truth they have recognized. They say: “Our Lord! We believe; so write us down among the witnesses.”} [Surah al-Maaidah (5): 83] And there are many more proofs in the stories of al-Najjaashee, Salmaan (al-Faarisee), `Abdullaah Ibn Salaam, and others which will be mentioned later. 115 And all praise is for Allaah alone. In addition, we (Ibn Katheer) have mentioned in our book (Qasas al-Anbiyaa’) some of the descriptions that (some of these Prophets) had mentioned regarding the coming of the Prophet ﷺ, and the place of his birth, and the place of his migration, and the description of his Ummah, (which are mentioned) in the stories of Moosaa, Daniel and others.

In the Injeel too, the glad tidings of the Paraclete (Comforter) is mentioned, and it refers to Muhammad ﷺ. 116 115 I (al-Albaanee) say: The story of al-Najjaashee will be mentioned in “Chapter: Migration to Abyssinia”; as for the story of Salmaan (al-Faarisee) was already mentioned in the previous chapter. As for the story of `Abdullaah Ibn Salaam, the author (Ibn Katheer) will mention it in the chapter concerning the Prophet’s ﷺ migration (to Madeenah) and I have added another narration here (in this chapter). [TN: Allaah have mercy of Shaikh al-Albaanee, since he passed away before he could reach the chapter on the Prophet’s migration to Madeenah, the narration of Islaam of `Abdullaah Ibn Salaam, which the Shaikh was referring to, will be mentioned in the footnote at the end of this chapter.] 116 [TN: Shaikh Muhammad Taqee-uddeen al-Hilali and Muhammad Mohsin Khan mentioned the following in the appendix to “The Noble Qur’aan”: Biblical Prophecy of the advent of Muhammad ﷺ: John (14): 15-16 Al-Baihaqee reported (al-Dalaail) from the chain of al-Haakim that `Aaishah رضي اهلل عنها narrated that the Prophet ﷺ is mentioned in al-Injeel (with the description): ❝He is neither discourteous, nor harsh, nor a noisemaker in the markets; and he does not do evil to those who do evil to him, but he deals with them with pardons and forgives.❞ 117 [Shaikh al-Albaanee’s addition] Narrated `Awf Ibn Maalik رضي اهلل عنه: One day the Prophet ﷺ and I went to a Jewish synagogue in Madeenah on one of their festivals. They hated that we made an appearance. The Prophet ﷺ said: ❝O tribe of Jews! Show me twelve men from among you who testify that there is no one worthy of worship except Allaah, and that “If you love me, keep my commandments.

And I will pray to the Father and He shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you forever.” Muslim theologians have said that “another Comforter” is Muhammad, the Messenger of Allaah; and him to “abide forever” means the perpetuity of his laws and way of life (Sharee`ah) and the Book (Qur’aan) which was revealed to him. John (15): 26-27 “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. And you shall bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.” John (16): 5-8 “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

And when he has come, he will reprove the world of sin, and approve of righteousness and judgment.” John (16): 12-14 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak; and he will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for he will take of what is mine and declare it to you.” Disclaimer: This is by no means an encouragement to read the Bible.] 117 Al-Baihaqee in “al-Dalaail” (1/377-378) and al-Haakim in “al-Mustadrak” (4224) and said: “It is “sahih” as per the conditions of Imaam al-Bukhaaree and Imaam Muslim”, and al-Dhahabee agreed with him. But this is from their delusion; the narrators in this chain are as per the condition of Imaam Muslim only, except for Ahmad Ibn `Abdul-Jabbaar, both (al-Bukhaaree and Muslim) did not report through him. Al-Haafidh (Ibn Hajar) said: “He is “Dah`eef” but in Seerah he is “sahih”. [TN: in al-Saheehah (2458) Shaikh al-Albaanee graded this as “Hasan”.] Muhammad is Allaah’s Messenger, and Allaah will spare all the Jews under the heaven from the wrath He (تعالى) has upon them.❞ They remained silent; no one answered him.

So he ﷺ repeated what he had said, but and no one answered. So he ﷺ repeated it the third time, but no one answered. So he ﷺ said: ❝By Allaah, you deny! I am al-Haashir (gatherer) and I am al-`Aaqib (the last, after whom there will be no Prophet or Messenger), and I am the chosen Prophet, whether you believe or deny.❞ The Prophet ﷺ and I then turned to leave. As we were about to exit, a man from behind us called: “(Stay where) you are, O Muhammad!” The man walked towards us and said: “O tribe of Jew!

What sort of man am I?” They replied: “By Allaah, we do not know of any other man among us who knows the Book of Allaah (Taurah) better than you, nor anyone more knowledgeable about jurisprudence than you, and your father before you, and your grandfather before your father.” The man said: “Then, by Allaah, I testify for him (the Prophet ﷺ) that he is Allaah’s Messenger that you find in the Taurah.” They said: “You lied.” Then they retracted what they said about him earlier, and said bad things about him. The Prophet ﷺ said: ❝You lied; what you said is not acceptable. First, you praise him with many virtues, then when he believes (in me), you say what you say now? What you say is not accepted.❞ Then the three of us, the Prophet ﷺ, I and ‘Abdullaah ibn Salaam, exited. Allaah then revealed: ﴿ق ل أ ر أ يـ ت م إ ن ك ان م ن ع ند اللَّـه و ك ف ر مت ب ه و ش ه د ش اه د مِّن ب ن إ س ر ائ يل ع ل ىى م ث ل ه ف آم ن و اس ت ك بـ ر مت ۖ ﴾ إ نَّ اللَّـه ّل يـ ه د ي ال ق و م الظَّال م ني {Say: “Tell me!

If this (Qur’aan) is from Allaah, and you deny it, and a witness from among the Children of Israa’eel (`Abdullaah bin Salaam) testifies that this Qur’aan is from Allaah [like the Taurah], so he believed (embraced Islaam) while you are too proud (to believe).” Verily! Allaah guides not the people who are Dhaalimoon (polytheists, disbelievers and wrong-doing).} [Surah al-Ahqaaf (46): 10] 118 118 Musnad Ahmad (23984) and the wording are his; al-Haakim in “al-Mustadrak” (5756) and said: “It is “sahih” as per the conditions of al-Bukhaaree and Muslim”, and al-Dhahabee agreed with him. But it is only as per the condition of Imaam Muslim only, as al-Bukhaaree did not report through Safwaan Ibn `Amr except in “al-Adab alMufrad”. [TN: This is the narration which Ibn Katheer mentioned in the chapter of the Prophet’s migration and to which Shaikh al-Albaanee referred to in the earlier comment Narrated Anas bin Maalik رضي اهلل عنه: Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ arrived at Madeenah with Abu Bakr riding behind him on the same camel. Abu Bakr was an elderly man known to the people, while Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ was a youth that was unknown. Thus, if a man met Abu Bakr, he would say: “O Abu Bakr!

Who is this man in front of you?” Abu Bakr would say: “This man shows me the Way.” One would think that Abu Bakr meant the road, while in fact, Abu Bakr meant the way of virtue and good. Then Abu Bakr looked behind and saw a horse-rider pursuing them. He said: “O Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ! This is a horse-rider pursuing us.” The Prophet ﷺ looked behind and said: ❝ O Allaah! Cause him to fall down.❞ So the horse threw him down and got up neighing.

After that the rider, Suraaqah said: “O Allaah’s Prophet! Order me whatever you want.” The Prophet said: ❝Stay where you are and do not allow anybody to reach us.❞ So, in the first part of the day Suraaqah (pretended to be) an enemy of Allaah’s Prophet (to divert the people from chasing the Prophet) and in the last part of it, he was a protector. Then Allaah’s Messenger alighted by the side of the Al-Harrah and sent a message to the Ansaar, and they came to Allaah’s Prophet and Abu Bakr, and having greeted them, they said: “Ride (your she-camels) safe and obeyed.” Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ and Abu Bakr rode and the Ansaar, carrying their arms, surrounded them. The news that Allaah’s Prophet ﷺ had come circulated in Madeenah. The people came out and were eagerly looking and saying: “Allaah’s Prophet has come!

Allaah’s Prophet has come! So the Prophet ﷺ went on till he alighted near the house of Abu Ayoob. While the Prophet ﷺ was speaking with the family members of Abu Ayoob, `Abdullaah bin Salaam heard the news of his arrival while he himself was picking the dates for his family from his family garden. He hurried to the Prophet ﷺ carrying the dates which he had collected for his family from the garden. He listened to Allaah’s Prophet and then went home.

Then Allaah’s Prophet said: ❝Which is the nearest of the houses of our kith and kin?❞ Abu Ayoob replied: “Mine, O Allaah’s Prophet! This is my house and this is my gate.” The Prophet ﷺ said: ❝Go and prepare a place for our midday rest.❞ Abu Ayoob said: “Get up (both of you) with Allaah’s Blessings.” So when Allaah’s Prophet went into the house, `Abdullaah bin Salaam came and said: “I testify that you (i.e. Muhammad) are Messenger of Allaah and that you have come with the Truth. The Jews know well that I am their chief and the son of their chief and the most learned amongst them and the son of the most learned amongst them. So send for them (i.e.

Jews) and ask them about me before they know that I have embraced Islaam, for if they know that they will say about me things which are not correct.” So Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ sent for them, and they came and entered. Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ said to them: ❝O (the group of) Jews! Woe to you: be afraid of Allaah. By Allaah except Whom none has the right to be worshiped, you people know for certain, that I am Messenger of Allaah and that I have come to you with the Truth, so embrace Islaam.❞ The Jews replied: “We do not know this.” So they said this to the Prophet and he repeated it thrice. Then he said: ❝ What sort of a man is `Abdullaah bin Salaam amongst you?❞ They said: “He is our chief and the son of our chief and the most learned man, and the son of the most learned amongst us.” He ﷺ said: ❝What would you think if he should embrace Islaam?❞ They said: “Allaah forbid!

He cannot embrace Islaam.” He ﷺ said: ❝What would you think if he should embrace Islaam?❞ They said: “Allaah forbid! He cannot embrace Islaam.” He ﷺ said: ❝ What would you think if he should embrace Islaam?❞ They said: “Allaah forbid! He cannot embrace Islaam.” He ﷺ said: ❝O Ibn Salaam! Come out to them.❞ He came out and said: “O (the group of) Jews! Be afraid of Allaah except Whom none has the right to be worshiped.

You know for certain that he is Messenger of Allaah and that he has brought a True Religion!’ They said: “You tell a lie.” On that Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ turned them out. [sahih al-Bukhaaree (3911)] Narrated Anas رضي اهلل عنه: When the news of the arrival of the Prophet ﷺ at Madeenah reached `Abdullaah bin Salaam, he went to him to ask him about certain things. He said: “I am going to ask you about three things which only a Prophet can answer: ‘What is the first sign of The Hour? What is the first food which the people of Paradise will eat? Why does a child attract the similarity to his father or to his mother?’” The Prophet ﷺ replied: ❝ Jibreel has just now informed me of that.❞ Ibn Salaam said: “He (i.e. Jibreel) is the enemy of the Jews amongst [End of Shaikh al-Albaanee’s addition] the angels.” The Prophet ﷺ said: ❝As for the first sign of the Hour, it will be a fire that will collect the people from the East to the West.

As for the first meal which the people of Paradise will eat, it will be the caudate (extra) lobe of the fish-liver. As for the child, if the man’s discharge proceeds the woman’s discharge, the child attracts the similarity to the man, and if the woman’s discharge proceeds the man’s, then the child attracts the similarity to the woman.❞ On this, `Abdullaah bin Salaam said: “I testify that none has the right to be worshiped except Allaah, and that you are the Messenger of Allaah”, and added: “O Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ! Jews invent such lies as make one astonished, so please ask them about me before they know about my conversion to Islaam.” The Jews came, and the Prophet ﷺ said: ❝What kind of man is `Abdullaah bin Salaam among you?❞ They replied: “The best of us and the son of the best of us and the most superior among us, and the son of the most superior among us.” The Prophet ﷺ said: ❝What would you think if `Abdullaah bin Salaam should embrace Islaam?❞ They said: “May Allaah protect him from that.” The Prophet ﷺ repeated his question and they gave the same answer. Then `Abdullaah came out to them and said: “I testify that none has the right to be worshiped except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah!” On this, the Jews said: “He is the most wicked among us and the son of the most wicked among us.” So they degraded him. On this, he (i.e. `Abdullaah bin Salaam) said: “It is this that I was afraid of, O Allaah’s Messenger (ﷺ).” [sahih al-Bukhaaree (3329, 3938, 4480)]]