Allegation of Acquiring Education from a Christian Slave — Seal of the Prophets Vol. 1
Introduction
In this discourse from The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1), Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) details the historical events and scholarly insights surrounding Allegation of Acquiring Education from a Christian Slave.
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)
Section: VII-Days of Struggle
Pages: Book pp. 226–228 (PDF pp. 250–252)
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: [God-given Awe of the Holy Prophet (sa)] | Next: [Proposal of Compromise by the Quraish] »
Historical Account
Among the allegations that were levelled against the Holy Prophetsa by the Quraish, one is that the Holy Prophetsa would learn things from certain Christians, give them his own twist, and present them as his own teachings. In this context, a Christian by the name of Jabar is often mentioned, who was
the slave of a Makkan Chieftain named Ibni Ḥaḍramī. Since this individual was a Christian, and the teachings of Christianity are far nearer to Islām than Idolatry, and Jabar could see nothing but polytheism and Idolatry in Makkah, thus, in his religious passion, he would meet the Holy Prophetsa at times. Acknowledging his passion, the Holy Prophetsa would also visit him, and preach the message of Islām to him. When the Quraish noticed this, in order to defame the Holy Prophetsa, they began to say that “Muḥammad[sa] acquires knowledge from Jabar.” Considering the doctrinal differences between Islām and Christianity and the academic level of Jabar himself, this was an extremely futile and vain allegation. The Quraish merely needed an accusation, irrespective of whether it was logical or illogical. For this reason, they eagerly publicised this allegation. The Holy Qur’ān rebutted this allegation wonderfully, saying,
“The individual to whom you attribute the teachings of Muḥammad[sa] the Messenger of Allāh is himself speechless both apparently and in the spiritual sense. How, then, can he be a tutor to Muḥammad[sa], the Messenger of Allāh in a book like the Qur’ān?”
[An-Naḥl (16:104)]
In other words, on account of this man being a non-Arab, how can he possibly be considered the tutor of such pure and eloquent speech as found in the Holy Qur’ān? On the other hand, in reference to the spiritual connotation, how can the ignorance of this man be declared the fountainhead of Qur’ānic wisdom?
The word ‘Ajamī used in these Qur’ānic verses could also insinuate that since the Gospels had not been translated in to Arabic in the era of the Holy Prophetsa, 3 for this reason, if Jabar did in fact recite any portion of the Gospels to the Holy Prophetsa, they must have been either in Hebrew or Greek. How, then, would the Holy Prophetsa understand them, and how, then, would he mould them into Arabic?
In various narrations, in addition to Jabar, other names have also been mentioned about whom the Quraish used to object that they would tutor the Holy Prophetsa. However, the humorous point to note is that all these people
were slaves. In any case, the Quraish of Makkah publicized this objection for some time, in an attempt to cool their hearts, but how could the fire that was not meant to be extinguished be put out?
[Tafsīrul-Baḥril-Muḥīṭ, By Abū ‘Abdillāh Muḥammad bin Yūsuf, Volume 5, Tafsīru Sūratin-Nahl, Under verse 104 – Wa laqad Na‘lamu annahum Yaqūlūna……, Maktabatu wa Maṭābi‘un-Naṣril- Ḥadīthiyyah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia * Life of ‘Mahomet’, by Sir William Muir p. 65, Reprint of the 1894 Ed., Published by Voice of India New Delhi]
Allegation of being Childless
During these days, among the Quraish there were some who attempted to console their hearts by the idea that Muḥammad[sa] is without heir and without progeny, and in a few days time his succession shall finish by itself. Upon this it was revealed that:
Meaning, “O Muḥammad[sa]! We have made thy progeny, and thy blessings and thy munificence long lasting. Therefore, spend freely, the powers of thy being, and thy progeny, and thy wealth, for these treasures shall not come to an end. However, the progenies of thy ill-wishing enemies shall be erased.”
([As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Malik bin Hishām, pp. 284-285, Bābu Nuzūli Sūratil-Kauthar, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) * Al-Kauthar (108:2-4)])
The glory in which this revelation was fulfilled in favour of the Holy Prophetsa, and the horror in which it was fulfilled for his enemies, is like an open page of history which requires no elaboration. The children of this very opposition entered the fold of Islām, and put a seal on the fact that not only the Quraish, rather, among all the tribes of Arabia, if there was anyone whose progeny remained, it was that of Muḥammadsa the Messenger of Allāh.
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1)
Section: VII-Days of Struggle | Navigation: « Previous: [God-given Awe of the Holy Prophet (sa)] | Next: [Proposal of Compromise by the Quraish] »