A little later Haris came back with Muhammed by his side. When our Master joined dinner Bahira began to observe him without letting anyone notice. The first sign was validated, for when Muhammad was approaching them with Haris, the cloud was moving with him. When he sat at the dinner table Bahira had the chance to observe him from closer; all the signs he had read about regarding the final Nabi were aligned with our Master.

After dinner as the travelers were getting ready to leave, Father Bahira took hold of Muhammad’s arm and asked:

“O beloved son! In the name of Lut and Uzza, will you please answer my questions truthfully?”

This oath ‘in the names of Lut of Uzza’ was something Bahira had just heard from Haris. But it had no relevance to our Master.

“O Old man! Don’t give me an oath in the names of Lut and Uzza! If you have a question for me, don’t ask it in the names of idols. By Allah, there is nothing I hate more than these idols!”

“Then for the love of Allah, please answer me!”

This time Muhammad was pleased.

“Ask me whatever you like!”

Bahira was excited:

“Tell me, how do you sleep?”

“My eyes sleep, my heart does not!”

Then, from the way he eats to the way he sits, from what he drinks to where and how he plays, Bahira asked all the questions on his list. Every answer he got was matching the qualities in his book. 

Then he asked those around him, “Tell me about the redness in his eyes, is this temporary?”

“We have never seen his eyes without this redness” they answered.

Bahira was like a man who had found his lost jewel! He asked our Master for permission to look at his back.

Indeed, just as the books had inscribed, there was the “Stamp of Nubuwwah” – a large birthmark – right in the middle of Muhammad’s shoulder blades. This too was one of the signs of the final Nabi, who was to come at the end of times, as inscribed in the books. After this, Bahira was no longer able to hold himself… He leaned over and gently kissed our Master’s birthmark.

The people of Quraish were watching in astonishment… This was indeed an interesting scene.

“Muhammad must be valuable for Father Bahira” they started murmuring among each other. Then Bahira turned to Abu Talib and asked, “What is this child’s relation to you?” 

“He is my son” answered Abu Talib.

This didn’t sound right to Bahira.

“Based on my observations he cannot be your son… According to the books his father mustn’t be alive…”

Upon this Abu Talib told him the truth.

“You’re right! He is my brother’s son… His father passed away while he was still in his mother’s womb!”

“And his mother?”

“She passed away when Muhammad was six years old.” 

Bahira was pleased. He was now certain about his observation.

“O Abu Talib! A covenant was made when we embarked on this path… This blessed child will be the Nabi of the final times. All the signs of the final Nabi are recorded in the books and Muhammad carries all of these traits!

Now it is incumbent on you to back down from taking this child to Damascus. For the Jews of Damascus will recognize him as soon they see him, as all of the Jewish scholars know the traits of the final Nabi…”

Some anti-Islamists assert that Muhammad (saw) claimed to be the Rasul based on Bahira’s observation. However, many authentic sources clearly say that this talk was not done in confidence and that the travelers were present and witnessed it. 

If the claims of these anti-Islamists were true then surely after Muhammad was given the duty of Risalah, his opponents would have come out and confronted him with this.

The information that I am sharing with you are from the Siyar books which are composed of the narrations of the people that lived in that time. If these claims were true, then it would have been mentioned in the Siyar books. 

Additionally let us remember that our Master was only 12 when this incident took place. How much affect can a suggestion like this have on a 12-year-old child in such a short time? Any normal person would have taken it as nonsense… Hence, I do not want to give much attention to such absurd and shallow allegations.

After this, the Siyar books talk about the Fijar wars, which have no direct or indirect relevance to our Master, therefore I will move on without discussing this section.