Question

What is the authenticity of this incident?

This incident was reported by ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhu).
He relates that there was a Jewish man living in Syria who would read the Tawrah every Saturday, as Saturday was their Sabbath. While reading, he discovered the mention of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) in four places. Disturbed by this, he cut out those passages and threw them away.
The next time he read the Tawrah, he found the name of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) in eight places. He cut them out again. On the third reading, he discovered it mentioned in twelve places. At this point, he became deeply troubled and thought, How long can I continue doing this?

He consulted his elders, asking, Who is this man whose name appears so often? They dismissed it, saying, Na’uzubillah, he is a madman, a magician, an imposter.
But this only increased his curiosity. He thought, If his name is repeatedly mentioned in the Tawrah, then I must learn who he is and what he calls towards. Perhaps it is the truth. Eventually, his elders allowed him to go, telling him, If you insist, then travel to Madinah, for that is where he is.

The man set out on his journey by camel or horse until he reached the outskirts of Madinah. There he encountered Salman Al-Farsi (radiyallahu ‘anhu). Seeing his handsome appearance, noble character, and radiant face, the traveller at first thought Salman (radiyallahu ‘anhu) himself was Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). He asked him directly, Are you Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)?

Salman (radiyallahu ‘anhu) realized that this stranger had come in search of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), but was faced with a difficult situation. Just three days earlier, Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) had passed away. If he told the truth, the man might turn back in despair; yet he could not lie and claim he was still alive. So instead he said, Come with me. I will take you to his companions.
They entered the Masjid, where grief still hung heavily. Some were weeping aloud, others sat in silent sorrow — for what loss could be greater than the passing of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)?

The traveller, unaware, greeted the gathering saying, Assalamu ‘alaykum, O Muhammad. The companions were astonished, and explained to him, Do you not know? Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) passed away three days ago.
Shocked, the man replied, I did not know. I had found his name again and again in the Tawrah, and so I came all the way from Syria to meet him.
He then asked, Is ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu) among you?

When Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu) stepped forward, the man requested, Describe Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) to me.
Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu) gave a beautiful and detailed description: Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was neither tall nor short, he had a radiant, roundish face, noble eyebrows, hair upon his blessed chest, and when he smiled, light could be seen shining between his blessed teeth. He described even his noble feet.
The traveller exclaimed, That is exactly the description I found in the Tawrah. Even your name, ‘Ali, is mentioned there.

Overcome with grief, he said, I wish my mother had not given birth to me. Or if she had, I wish I had never read the Tawrah. If I had read it, I wish I had never come across the attributes of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). And if I had read them, then I wish I had at least met him in his lifetime.
He then asked, Is there any garment of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) that I may see, to ease my longing?

‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu) instructed Salman (radiyallahu ‘anhu), Go to my house and ask Fatimah (radiyallahu anha) to give the jubbah of her father.
Salman (radiyallahu ‘anhu) went and knocked. Hasan and Husayn (radiyallahu ‘anhuma), the beloved grandsons whom Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) used to carry on his shoulders, came out crying. When they heard someone had come asking for their grandfather’s jubbah, they grew emotional, hoping for a moment that their grandfather had returned. Fatimah (radiyallahu ‘anha) from inside asked, Who is making my children cry today, and who is asking for the jubbah of my father?

Salman (radiyallahu ‘anhu) explained, and she handed over the blessed jubbah.
When it was brought to the Masjid, ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu) and the companions held it, inhaling its fragrance, and their tears flowed. For them, it was as though they were once again in the presence of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Such was their love that they were willing to give their lives for him.

The traveller too inhaled the blessed scent. Then, raising his eyes to the heavens, he said, O Allah, I believe in You and I believe in Your Messenger, and in all that he conveyed. But what purpose do I have left in this world, when the one I sought has departed? Take my soul to You.

It is reported that he then collapsed, and his soul departed from his body.

 

Answer

I have not come across this detailed incident in any Hadith source.

A shorter version of the incident appears in Nuzhatul Majalis and Al Majalisul Wa’ziyyah of ‘Allamah Safiri [Demise: 956 A.H.] without a chain of narrators. I am therefore unable to verify the authenticity of this version either.

This version is as follows:

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) related:

A Jewish man looked into the Torah and found the name of Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) written in four places, so he erased it. The next day he opened it again and found the name in eight places, and he erased those as well. On the third day he found it in twelve places. Struck by this, he travelled from Sham [Greater Syria] to Madinah, only to find that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) had already passed away.

He went to ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu) and said, “Show me the garment of Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).” Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu) brought it out for him. The man inhaled its fragrance, then stood at the Noble Grave of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and embraced Islam, saying: “O Allah, if You have accepted my Islam, then seize my soul swiftly.” He passed away on the spot. Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu) washed him and buried him in Baqi’.

(Nuzhatul Majalis, pg. 340, Sharhul Bukhari Lis Safiri; Al Majalisul Wa’ziyyah, vol. 2, pg. 119)

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

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التخريج من المصادر العربية

نزهة المجالس ومنتخب النفائس عبد الرحمن بن عبد السلام الصفوري (المتوفى: ٨٩٤هـ) (ص. ٣٤٠)
حكاية قال ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أن رجلا من اليهود نظر في التوراة فوجد اسم محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم في أربعة مواضع فكشطه ثم نظر في اليوم الثاني فوجده في ثمانية مواضع فكشطها ثم نظر في اليوم الثالث فوجد اسم محمد في إثنتي عشر موضعا فسار من الشام إلى المدينة فوجد النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قد مات فقال لعلي رضي الله عنه أرني ثوب محمد فأخرجه له فشمه وقام عند القبر الشريف وأسلم وقال اللهم إن كنت قبلت إسلامي فاقبض روحي سريعا فوقع ميتا فغسله علي ودفنه بالبقيع رحمه الله تعالى.

شرح البخاري للسفيري = المجالس الوعظية في شرح أحاديث خير البرية: (٢/ ١١٩)
لطيفة أخرى: نقل بعض العلماء عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أنه قال: نظر يهودي بالشام في زمن النبي – صلى الله عليه وسلم – في التوراة فوجد اسم محمد – صلى الله عليه وسلم – في أربعة مواضع فكشطه، ثم نظر في اليوم الثاني فوجده في ثمانية مواضع فكشطها، ثم نظر في اليوم الثالث فوجده في اثنى عشر موضعاً، فسار إلى المدينة فوجد النبي – صلى الله عليه وسلم – قد مات، فقال لعلي – رضي الله عنه -: أرني ثوب محمد، فأخرجه له فشمه وقام عند القبر الشريف وأسلم، وقال: اللهم أن كنت قبلت إسلامي فاقبض روحي سريعاً فوقع ميتاً فغسله علي – رضي الله عنه – ودفنه في البقيع رحمه الله.