Islamic History
Cübeyr b. Mut’im’s Encounter with a Portrait of the Prophet in Syrian Monasteries
Cubeyr b. Mut’im said: “When Allah sent our Prophet (peace be upon him) and revealed his prophethood, I was in Damascus. While in Busra, a group of Christians approached me and asked, ‘Are you from the people of Mecca?’ I said, ‘Yes!’ They asked, ‘Do you know the one who claims prophethood among you?’ I said, ‘Yes!’ They placed me in a church where there were some images. They said, ‘Look! Can you see his image?’ I looked and did not see his image. I said, ‘I do not see his image!’ They put me in a larger room.
When I looked, I saw the description and image of the Messenger of Allah, and behind him, the description and image of Abu Bakr. They asked, ‘Did you see his description? Did you find it?’ I said, ‘Yes!’ They asked, ‘Is this he?’ I said, ‘Yes!’ They said, ‘We bear witness that this is your master, and the one behind him will be his successor after him!74 There will be no prophet after this prophet.'”75 “I did not want the Quraysh to torture the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). When I thought that the Quraysh might kill him, I went from one monastery to another.
The caretaker of the monastery went and informed the leaders. When they gathered, I explained the situation to the leader. He asked, ‘Are you afraid that the Quraysh will kill him?’ I said, ‘Yes!’ He asked, ‘If you see a drawn image resembling him, can you recognize it?’ I said:
- 71. Ibn Ishak, Ibn Hisham, 2/112-113, Balazuri, Ansab, 1/258-259, Ibn Asir, Usd al-Gaba, 7/341-342, Zehebi, Tarikh, s. 312, Ibn Kathir, Bidaya, 3/169-170, Ibn Hajar, Isaba, 4/458-459.
- 72. Ibn Ishak, Ibn Hisham, 2/113, Balazuri, Ansab, 1/259, Ibn Asir, Usd al-Gaba, 7/342, Zehebi, Tarikh, s. 312, Ibn Kathir, Bidaya, 3/170.
- 73. Ibn Ishak, Ibn Hisham, 2/113, Ibn Asir, Usd al-Gaba, 7/342, Ibn Kathir, Bidaya, 3/170. Bukhari, Tarikh, c. 1, ks. 1, s. 179, Abu Nuaym, Dala’il, 1/49-50, Bayhaqi, Dala’il, 1/384-385, Zehebi, Tarikh, s. 527-528, Haythami, 8/233-234, Suyuti, Hasais, 1/263. Bukhari, Tarikh, c. 1, ks. 1, s. 179, Bayhaqi, Dala’il, 1/385, Ibn Kathir, Bidaya, 6/63, Haythami, 8/234, Suyuti, Hasais, 1/364.