Chapter 15 Fifteenth Sign: Consists of Three Branches

 Chapter 15

Fifteenth Sign: Consists of Three Branches

Rocks, trees, the moon, and the sun recognize him and testify to hisProphethood, each demonstrating one of his miracles. In the same way, animals, the dead, jinn, and angels recognize him and testify to hisProphethood by becoming the object of his miracles. This sign is explained in three parts, as follows:

First Part: How the animal kingdom recognized him

The animal kingdom recognized God's Messenger and became themeans for him to work miracles. Although there are many examples, we mention only a few of the well-known ones having the certainty of mut-awatir in meaning, agreed on by exacting authorities, or accepted by theUmma.

 First incident:

 This has the reputation of mutawatir in meaning. Duringthe Prophet's migration to Madina, he and Abu Bakr concealed themselves from their pursuers in Thawr cave. Two pigeons guarded its entrance like sentries; a spider, functioning as a doorkeeper, covered theentrance with a thick web.

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As Ubayy ibn al-Khalaf, a leading Qurayshiwho would be killed by the Messenger during the Battle of Badr, was examining the cave, his friends wanted to enter. But he told them: "There'sno point. This web seems to have been spun before Muhammad was born." 

The others added: "Would those pigeons, standing there, still be there if someone were inside?"

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Ibn Wahb also reports that a group of pigeons shaded the Messenger during Makka's conquest.

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'A'isha reports: "We had a pigeon named Dajin in our house. WhenGod's Messenger was at home it would stay quiet, but as soon as he leftit would begin to pace to and fro."

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This signifies that the bird obeyed God's Messenger by remaining quiet in his presence.

Second incident:

This concerns a wolf. Such well-known Companionsas Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, Salama ibn al-Aqwa', Ibn Abi Wahb, AbuHurayra, and Uhban (the shepherd directly involved) report this event, which gives it the certainty of tawatur

in meaning. A wolf once snatcheda goat from a herd, but the shepherd rescued the goat. 

The wolf said:"You deprive me of my food without fearing God.

" The shepherdmuttered: "How strange! Does a wolf speak?" The wolf responded:"What is [really] strange is that a Prophet behind that hill invites you toParadise, but you do not recognize him!"All reports agree on the talking wolf. According to Abu Hurayra's re-port, transmitted through a more reliable channel, the shepherd said tothe wolf: "I will go, but who will watch over my goats?" "I will," repliedthe wolf. The shepherd went to see God's Messenger, leaving the goats

189.Ibn Hanbal, 1:248; Ibn Kathir, al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya, 3:179-81.190.Shifa', 1: 313, related by Tabarani, Bazzar, and Bayhaqi.191.Ibid., 1:313.192.Ibid., 1:309, related by Ibn Hanbal, Bazzar, Abu Ya'la, and Bayhaqi.

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under the wolf's care, and soon became a believer.

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When he returned,he found the wolf watching the goats; not one had been lost. He thenslaughtered a goat for the wolf, since it had become his teacher.Abu Sufyan and Safwan, two leading Qurayshis, once saw a wolf chasing a gazelle. When the gazelle went into the Ka'ba's enclosure, thewolf returned and testified verbally to Muhammad's Prophethood. Sur-prised, Abu Sufyan warned Safwan: "If we report this miracle to others, Ifear all of Makka will join the Muslims."

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In short, this miracle is certainand

 tawatur

 in meaning.

Third incident:

 This is the story of the camel. It is reported through fiveor six channels by such Companions as Abu Hurayra, Tha'laba ibn Ma-lik, Jabir ibn 'Abdullah, 'Abdullah ibn Ja'far, and 'Abdullah ibn Abi Aw-fa'. A camel prostrated before God's Messenger, as if greeting him, andspoke to him. Other reports say that this camel had gone wild in a vine-yard, attacking anybody who came near it. When God's Messenger ap-peared, it came to him, prostrated as a sign of respect, and knelt beforehim so that the Messenger could put a bridle on it. Then the camel com-plained to God's Messenger: "They used me in the heaviest work, andnow they want to slaughter me, so I went wild." God's Messenger askedits owner if this was true, and he replied that it was.

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The Prophet owned a camel named Abda'. After the Prophet died, thiscamel did not eat or drink anything out of grief, and finally died.

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Suchsignificant authorities as Abu Ishaq al-Isfarani relate that this cameltalked with God's Messenger about an important event. Jabir ibn'Abdullah reports that once his camel became exhausted during a milit-ary campaign. When the Messenger prodded it slightly, the resulting joyand agility made the camel move so fast that nobody could catch up withor stop it.

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 Fourth incident:

 Traditionists, including Imam Bukhari, relate that onenight it was rumored that the enemy was about to attack Madina. Somevaliant horsemen set out to investigate. On their way, they saw a manwho appeared to be God's Messenger coming toward them. He toldthem: "There is nothing."

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He had mounted Abu Talha's horse and

193.Majma' al-Zawa'id, 8:291, related by Ibn Hanbal.194.Shifa', 1:311.195.Hakim, 2:99; Ibn Hanbal, 3:158; Muslim, 1:268; Ibn Maja, 1:121.196.Shifa', 1:313.197.Bukhari, 7:6; Muslim, 3:1222.198.Muslim, no. 2307; Abu Dawud, 4988; Tirmidhi, 1685.

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investigated the matter before anybody else. He said to Abu Talha: "Yourhorse is very fast and comfortable," although before then it had beenvery slow. After that night, no other horse could beat it in a race. On an-other occasion, the Messenger told his horse to stop so he could pray.The horse remained still until he finished praying.

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 Fifth incident:

 Safina, the Messenger's servant, set out to meet Mu'adhibn Jabal, the governor of Yemen, upon the order of God's Messenger.Encountering a lion on the way, he said to it: "I am the Messenger's ser-vant." The lion made a sound and left without harming him. Accordingto another narration, Safina encountered the lion while returning toMadina. However, he got lost and the lion not only did not harm him but actually showed him the way.

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'Umar relates that a Bedouin carrying a lizard said to God's Messen-ger: "If this animal bears witness to your Prophethood, I will believe inyou. Otherwise, I will not." When God's Messenger asked the lizard, ittestified verbally to his Prophethood.

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Umm Salama (a mother of the believers) reports that an antelope once spoke to God's Messenger and bore witness to His Messengership.

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We have cited only a few well-known examples out of many similarones. We therefore say to those who do not recognize and obey God'sMessenger: "Do not try to fall behind the animals after you learn thateven wolves and lions recognize and obey God's Messenger."Shifa', 1:311.

199.Shifa', 1:315.200.Hakim, 3:606; also related by Bazzar, Tabarani, and Abu Nu'aym.201.Kanz al-'Ummal, 12:358, related by Bayhaqi, Hakim, and Abu Nu'aym.202.Shifa', 1:314, related by Tabarani, Bayhaqi, Abu Nu'aym, and Ibn Kathir.

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