Muhammad, the Qur'an and Islam
[12] In some traditions the monk is unnamed, in others he is called
"Bahira," which is not really a name, but rather Syriac epithet meaning
"proven;" see Nau in ECMD, p. 38, n. 37.
[13] Tabari's account (History, vol. 6, p. 46), not only depicts stones and
trees as bowing to Muhammad, but shows Bahira as also warning Abu
Talib not to take Muhammad to the lands of the Byzantines, because they
would kill the child.
[14] Ibn Sa`d, Classes, vol. 1, 1, 140f, in which Muhammad is quoted as
saying that all prophets grazed goats; cf. Sahih Bukhari, vol. 4, p. 408;
vol. 7, p. 264; Sahih Muslim, vol. 3, p. 1130, where Muhammad says in
effect that all prophets were shepherds.
[15] Tabari, History, vol. 6, pp. 46 f; Guillaume, Muhammad, p. 81, n. 2;
and a version of Ibn Ishaq given in Guillaume, New Light, p. 20.
Muhammad is said to have been protected from the sin of fornication.
[16] The causes of the battle are discussed briefly in Guillaume,
Muhammad, p. 82; Watt, Muhammad, pp. 8 f, and the reference in n. 17,
below.
[17] Ibn Sa`d, Classes, vol. 1, 1, pp. 141 f.
[18] Ibid. p. 144.
[19] Ibid. p. 145.
[20] Ibid.
[21] Ibid.; Guillaume, Muhammad, p. 82; Tabari, History, vol. 6, pp. 47 f.
[22] Guillaume, Muhammad, p. 82; Tabari, History, vol. 6, pp. 48. Ibn
Sa`d, Classes, vol. 1, 1, pp. 146 f. gives the monk's name as Nastur, which
no doubt comes from "Nestorius." Andrae (Mohammed, p. 38) expresses
serious doubts that Muhammad ever visited Syria or any other "Christian"
country, as the Qur'an reveals no familiarity on Muhammad's part with the
institutions and rituals of Christians. Muhammad's alleged trips to Syria are