Page:Selections from Muhammadan Traditions - tr. William Goldsack (1923).djvu/312

 CONCERNING THE SIGNS OF PROPHECY

It is related from Anas that ' Gabriel came to the Apostle of God when he was playing with some boys, and he seized him and threw him on the ground, and split open his heart, and took out therefrom a clot of blood, and said, "This is Satan's portion from thee." After that he washed it in a golden vessel containing Zemzem water. Then he bound it up and put it in its place again. And the boys came running to his mother, that is to his wet-nurse, and said, " Verily Muhammad has been killed." Then they went near to him, and found that he had changed colour.' Anas said, 'I used to see the marks of the stitches on his breast.' Muslim.

It is related from Anas that, ' The people of Mecca asked the Apostle of God to show them a sign. Then he showed them the moon split into two pieces, until they saw Mount Hira' between the two.' Muslim, Al Bukhdri.

It is related from Abu Hurairah that, ' Abu Jahl said,

'Does Muhammad smear his face with dust (in prostration) amongst you?" It was said, "Yes." He said, " By Al Lat, and Al 'Uzza! If I see him doing that, I will certainly trample on his neck." Then he came to the Apostle of God when he was praying, intending to trample on his neck. But he did not come back to them from the Apostle except by retreating on his heels, and protecting himself with his hands. And it was said to him, "What is the matter with thee?" He replied,

' Verily between him and me there is certainly a pit of fire and fear and wings (of angels)." Then the Apostle of God said,

' If he had come near to me, the angels would certainly have plucked him away limb by limb." Muslim.

CONCERNING THE NIGHT-JOURNEY TO HEAVEN

It is related from. Qatadah from Anas bin Malik from Malik bin $a'sa'h that, ' The Prophet of God related to them concerning the night on which he was taken (to heaven, saying) ' When I was in Al Hatim ' and possibly he said, " I was lying down in Hijr behold! a certain one came to me and split open from here to here " that is from the opening of his upper chest to his lower hair " and took out my heart. After that a golden vessel was brought to me filled with faith,