1852.] Mohammad' 1 s Journey to Syria. 579 



they answered, we have come, for this prophet is coming forth this 

 month (to this country) and consequently men have been sent to every 

 road. We have received intelligence (a description) of him and were 

 sent on this road. The Rahib said, Is there any one behind you who 

 is better than you ? They answered, Yes, the person who has pointed 

 out to us that the prophet would be on this road. The Rahib said, 

 Do you think that if God wishes to do a thing, any human being can 

 undo it ? They answered in the negative. Then acknowledge him 

 as a prophet said the Rahib and stand by him. Then he said to the 

 Qorayshites, I conjure you by God tell me who is his guardian ? They 

 pointed to Abu. Talib, and he urged him until Abu. Talib sent him back 

 to Makkah. Ami Bakr sent Bilal with him and the Rahib gave him 

 provisions and cakes and oil for the road." 



This tradition is also in the Taysyr alwogul ila alogul, p. 458, 

 with some unimportant variants, and there it is stated that it is 

 also contained in the original collection of traditions of Razyn (died 

 in 520), and it is also in the Mishkat, Calcutta edition, IV. p. 638, 

 and in Abu iZatim Ibn Habban who flourished in the third century 

 and quotes Abu IsAaq (died in 188) as his authority; it would there- 

 fore appear that in the early ages of Mohammadanism it was the 

 account most generally believed. The author of the Icabah says 

 (apud Mawahib allad.) that the Sanad of this tradition is so strong, that 

 notwithstanding the anachronism which it contains, we must consider it 

 as genuine, and he supposes that the words Abu Bakr and Bilal (the 

 latter of whom was not yet born when MoAammad went the first time 

 to Syria) are interpolated. The same seems to have been the opinion 

 of the author of the Bahjat almahafil who follows Tirmidzy, but omits 

 the name of Bilal retaining that of Abu Bakr. 



II. The following is the version of the story in Ibn Is/jaq : 



4 E 



