Prof. Tahir ul Qadri.

Taken from the book Nur-i-Muhammadi [sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam]

In the Sira of Ibn Hisham it is narrated that during her pregnancy Hadrat Amina saw a light [nur] by which the palaces of the cities of Basra and Sham (Syria) became visible.

It is narrated from Hadrat Amina (radiyallahu `anha) that,

“When the moment of His Excellency’s (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) holy birth became close, as per normal, the natural state (of childbirth) overcame me but then, all of a sudden, I felt as if a radiant thing, like the wings of a white bird, began to massage my heart, as a result of which the pain vanished at once. Then I was presented with a pure white drink (from Paradise) which I drank.

Then a great light [nur] surrounded me and I saw, tall, beautiful women. I was amazed and I asked from where have you come to visit me? They replied, “We are Asiya (the wife of Pharoah who believed in Hadrat Musa `alayhis-salam) and Maryam bint Imran and all these with us are the houris of Paradise.” Then I saw a whitish light from the ground to the sky. Then in the air I saw men in whose hands there were goblets of silver. Next I saw white, heavenly birds whose beaks were of emerald and whose wings were of ruby, and they cast a cool shadow in my room.

Suddenly, a Light became manifest by which all of the East and the West became visible. At that time I saw three magnificent flags which were planted: one in the East, one in the West and one on the roof of the Ka`ba. Thus, during this vision, His Excellency (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) came out of my womb and all of the house was filled with light. He (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) was smiling, then he fell into prostration [sajda].

At that time his (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) state became one of humility and weeping. He (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) had pointed his finger towards the sky (as if he was bearing witness to Allah’s Oneness [tawhid]). Then, all of a sudden, a white cloud came down from the sky and it covered His Excellency and a herald proclaimed in a loud voice, “Take Hadrat Muhammad (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) to the East and the West, the oceans and the land, so that all men, jinn, angels, and animals, in short all created things may recognise his face and attributes.” Then after a short while, the cloud dispersed and he became visible again.

This time when I saw him (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam), his holy body was shining like the full moon and the fresh fragrance of musk was exuding from it. At this time three men became apparent (from the Unseen Realm [ghayb]). One of them had a silver goblet in his hand, another an emerald ewer, and the third a cloth of white silk. His Excellency (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) was washed with (heavenly) water from the goblet, a seal (which had been wrapped in that white silken cloth) was imprinted between his shoulder-blades, and then he was laid down wrapped in that same cloth. He (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) was born with his eyes already lined with collyrium [kohl], the umbilical cord was already cut, and he was circumcised.” Hadrat Ibn `Abbas has also related something like this.)

This whole topic is in al Mawahib al Ladunniyya (al Qastalani), al Khasa’is al Kubra (Suyuti), As Siratul Halabiyya (al Halabi), al Wafa (Ibn Jawzi), Al Anwar al Muhammadiyya (Yusuf an Nabahani) etc. and these books have narrated it from Abu Nu`aym, Abu Hayyan, Khatib Baghdadi, Ibn Sa`d, Tabarani, Bayhaqi, Nishapuri, Hafiz Abu Bakr and Imam Zarkashi etc.

Muhammad bin Sa`d related a hadith from a group of people [jama`at], in which are included Ata and Ibn `Abbas that Hadrat Amina said that:

“When the Noble Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) left my womb, a Light also left with him (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) by which, everything between the East and the West became illuminated. Then he (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) took a handful of dust and raised his head and looked up at the sky.” This same Light [nur] has been mentioned in another hadith with these words, “By this Light, his [sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam] honourable mother saw the palaces of Sham [Syria].”

(Ahmad, Bazzar, Tabarani, Hakim and Bayhaqi have narrated it from `Irbad bin Sariya and Ibn Hajar, Ibn Hibban and Hakim have classified it as Sahih.)

In the same way, Abu Nu`aym narrates from `Abdur Rahman ibn `Awf who narrates from his mother, Shifa`, that:

“When (the Prophet) [sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam] was born, he [sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam] came out onto my hands. I was present with Hadrat Amina. When he [sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam] made a sound, I heard somebody say ‘Rahimakallah!’ [May Allah's mercy be upon you!].” Shifa` says (further) that, “The space between the East and West became full of light, such that, I too, saw the palaces of Rum [Byzantium].”

`Uthman Abil-`As narrates from his mother `Umm `Uthman Thaqafiya, whose name was Fatima bint `Abdullah that:

“When the time of his [sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam] noble birth arrived, I saw at the time of his [sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam] arrival that the House of the Ka`aba was full of light and that the stars had become so close to the ground that I feared they would fall on me.” (Bayhaqi has narrated this.)