Avicenna: The Stanford Journal on Muslim Affairs: Volume 2, Number 1

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The birds took wing, the mountains resounded, heaven opened up, and the angels descended. And the fish of the sea, in the waves where they were, and the brute animals in the forests where they lay. All of these are around him, too many to count, saying: ‘May He who has sent him be exalted; through his birth we were all put right by this beloved, holy, and blessed friend.’ He was quickly taken without delay, circling the entire world over land and sea, so that all would see that he was the one sent, the one who was promised, written of, and prophesied. He was then returned with great respect when his journey was complete. All the women came wishing to raise him, but in the end it was Halima, she of that high place. She heard a voice that cried out and said: ‘Praised be the woman who gives him her milk; People, if this blessed light enters among you, we will all be freed and saved from perdition.’ Then everyone quickly left the town and a went to Mecca happily and with great haste. And none of them saw this blessed one save the noble Halima, as it was ordered to be this way. When she arrived with him in Mecca, she went without delay to her mother’s house. Her grandfather was content that they should raise this beloved prophet [ . . . ] Halima then took him to let him suckle her; she gave him her left breast, but he refused to drink from it. He had been sent to the world to lead from the right; she had a son who would drink from the left. To recount the virtuous way in which he grew up is a pleasure for the eyes and a happiness for the heart; never did any obscenity or rudeness come from him. He was as beautiful as the moon, but from his goodness and virtue. Turning to relate what happened afterward, it breaks my heart and greatly disturbs me that I should be so daring as to speak of these matters; but with His power and help, I must speak of a few of them. Muhammad returned the world with great rightness to the Truth, and removed the blindness of falsity and evil. He left the world well situated; although he found it alone, he left it highly praised.

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