Bahira's Interview with Hazrat Muhammad (saw) [Eid e Milad un Nabi, Birth Anniversary]

Hazrat Abu Talib ibn Abd Al-Muttalib set out for Damascus (Syria) on
business and took Hazrat Muhammad (saw) along when he (saw) was 12
years old. It was a massive caravan and a great number of people
traveled along with a huge quantity of merchandise until they arrived
in Syria and entered the city of Busra. In the vicinity of a
monastery, they pitched a tent and took rest.
Bahira, a devout Christianmonk, caught sight of it through his
monastery's window. He observed thecaravan shaded by a littlecloud
that kept pace withit. Bahira came out of his monastery, stood in a
corner and instructed his servant, 'Go and tell themthat today they
are all myguests'.
All came to him but Hazrat Muhammad (saw),who was standing besidethe
property and equipment of the caravan. Seeing that the cloud had
ceased to move, Bahira asked his guests, 'are all the members of the
caravan present here?' They answered, 'All but a youth who is the
youngest'. Bahira said, 'Tell him to come as well'.So he was asked to
come to the monk's room. The keen eyes of Bahira noticed that the
cloud over his head moved with him. Taken by surprise, Bahira kept
staring at the young boy. When the meal was over, the pious monk told
him, 'I have a question to ask you and you must swear by Lat and
Al-Uzza to answer my question'.
Hazrat Muhammad (saw) said, 'Those two you haveasked me to swear by
arethe most detestable things to me'. Bahira said, 'Swear by Allah to
answer my question'.
Hazrat Muhammad (saw) said, 'I always speak the truth and I have never
told a lie; you ask your question'.
Bahira asked: "What do you like the most"?
Hazrat Muhammad (saw) answered: "Loneliness".
Bahira asked: "What do you look the most at and what do you like to look at"?
Hazrat Muhammad (saw) said: "The sky and the stars within it".
Bahira asked: "What do you think of"?
Hazrat Muhammad (saw) remained silent, but Bahira carefully glanced at
his forehead.
Bahira asked: "When do you sleep and with what thoughts"?
Hazrat Muhammad (saw) stated: "When I fix my eyes upon the sky, I see
the stars and I find them in my lap and myself above them".
Bahira asked: "Do you see dream also"?
Hazrat Muhammad (saw) stated: "Whatever I see indream, the same I see
while I am awake."
Bahira asked: "What do you dream of, as an example"?
Hazrat Muhammad (saw) kept quiet, Bahira also kept quiet.
After a while, Bahira asked: "May I take a look at the centre of your
shoulders"?
Hazrat Muhammad (saw),while standing still, stated: "Come and see."
Bahira stood up, came closer, and pulled the dress of Hazrat Muhammad
(saw) off his shoulders. A mole appeared. Bahira took a look and said
in a murmuring voice: "He is the very person".
Bahira knelt down before him and started kissing his hands and feet,
saying, 'If I live till you start your divine mission, I will most
faithfully aid you and fight your enemies. You are superior to all of
Adam's offspring...'.
Then Bahira asked, 'whose son is this youth?'The caravan members
pointed to Hazrat Abu Talib ibn Abd Al-Muttalib, saying, 'His son'.
Bahira said, 'No. His father must be dead!'
Hazrat Abu Talib ibn Abd Al-Muttalib said, 'You are right. He is my
nephew'. Bahira then said, 'This youth will have a brilliant,
extraordinary future. If the Jews find out what I have realized about
him, they will destroy him. Take great care lest the Jews should hurt
him'.
Hazrat Abu Talib ibn Abd Al-Muttalib said, 'What is he destined to do?
What have the Jews to do with him?' Bahira said, 'He is predestined to
become a Hazrat, and the angel of inspiration will come down and make
divine revelations to him'. Hazrat Abu Talib ibn Abd Al-Muttalib said,
'God will not leave him alone and will Himself protect him against the
Jews and his malevolent enemies'.