IMAM ABU AL-FIDT\' ISMA'IL IBN KATH~R 8 1Layth b. Aba Sulaym reported Mujxhid as having said, "The moon split into
two pieces in the time of the Messenger of God (SAAS) who said to Abii Bakr,
'Bear testimony, Abii Bakr!'
"And the polytheists said, 'He has bewitched the moon so that it split apart!'"These various lines are strong in their links and provide decisive proof for those
who consider them and the probity of these men. The version told by some
storytellers, that the moon fell down to earth and entered one sleeve of the
Prophet (SAAS), and came out of the other, has no foundation; it is a lie, an
invention and untrue.
When the moon split it did not leave the sky. However, when the Prophet
(SAAS) gestured towards it, it reacted by splitting and became two halves. One
of these passed over until it was beyond Hira' and they saw the mountain between
that one and the other. This is how Ibn Masciid related that he had witnessed it.
What we find in the account of Anas in the compendium of Ahmad to the
effect that, "The moon split 'twice' in Mecca" is controversial. Obviously he
meant "into two parts". But God knows best.Section: The death ofAba Tulib, uncle of the Messenger of God (WS), and
thereafrer that ofKhadiju, daughter ofKhuwaylid, and the wife, may God be
pleased with her, of the Messenger of God (&!AS).
Some say that she preceded him in death, but the reverse is commonly known.
These were both sympathizers, he publicly, she privately. He remained a
disbeliever while she was trusting and a believer; may God be pleased with her
and please her.
Ihn Ishaq stated, "Thereafter Khadija and Aba Talib both died, in one year.
"After the death of Khadija troubles fell upon the Messenger of God (SAAS)
in quick succession. She had been his trusted adviser in all his troubles and he
would seek reassurance from her. The death of his uncle Aba Tdib meant he
had lost a source of support and protection against his people.
"This occurred three years before his emigration to Medina.
"When Abii Tdih died, Quraysh harmed the Messenger of God (SAAS) to an
extent they would never have dared during Abii Tdib's life; one fool of Quraysh
even went so far as to throw dirt on his head.
"Hisham h. 'Urwa related to me, from his father, as follows, 'The Messenger
of God (SAAS) went into his house with the dirt still on his head. One of his
daughters went to hi, washing him off and weeping, while the Messenger of God
(SAAS) told her, "Don't weep, child. God is your father's protector," while he
also commented, "Quraysh never treated me so badly before Abii Tdib died.""'
Ihn Ishaq previously reported that they might toss something harmful into his
cooking pot when it was set up for him. When they did that, he stated, quoting
Wmar b. 'Abd Allah from Wrwa, he would lift out on a stick whatever they had