A Rabbi examining Mohammed`s prophecy Religious people, specially scholars, have more knowledge than normal people.

Some of them know the signs of prophecy that Allah provides his prophets and messengers with to be recognized. The rabbi1 Zeed Ibn Snayt was one of those who lived at the time of the prophet Mohammed (PHUM)2. He wanted to examine the prophecy of the prophet Mohammed so he came closer to him and examined his prophecy. What did he find? Below is the full story of the rabbi Zeed and the prophet Mohammed (PBUH): It is narrated that Zeed Ibn Snyat said that: I have seen all signs of prophecy on Mohammed`s face except two signs. First, his patience precedes his anger. Second, getting tougher on him increases his patience. I wanted to examine these two signs on him so I went to mingle with him. A man looks like Bedouin came to the prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and said: oh Mohammed there is people living in a poor village. They entered Islam and I told them when they entered Islam they will have better life in terms of provisions and food. Now they are in a drought and shortage of food. Would
1

A rabbi is a Jewish scholar. Peace and blessing of Allah be upon him.

you send something to support them? Zeed Ibn Sanyt said to the prophet sell me the garden belonging to so and so. The prophet replied: no but I sell you dates to be delivered in a certain day. Zeed bought the dates from the prophet for 80 dirhams3. The prophet gave the money to the Bedouin man to be given to the poor village. Later on, Zeed went to meet the prophet before the time that the sold dates due to be handed over to him and tried to examine the prophet`s patience. He seized the chance that the prophet was walking with his companions and he grabbed the prophet cloths and shouted at him aggressively saying : oh Mohammed why you don`t give me my right, I swear by Allah that I knew you Banu Abd Al-Motelb ( the prophet`s tribe) that you procrastinate your debts. Omer bin Khtab was around and saw what Zeed had done .Omer said: by Allah who I fear his power, I would stroke your head by my sword for what you did to the prophet Mohammed . When the prophet heard what Omer said to Zeed he looked at Omer in tranquility and calmness and said: we don`t need that from you Omer, you have to command me to give kindly Zeed his right and command him to ask me nicely his right. The
3

Dirham is a basic unit of currency in some Arab counties like Morocco and United Arab Emirates.

prophet commanded Omer to give Zeed his right the date he bought from the prophet and twenty saa4 of dates extra as a compensation to Zeed. The rabbi Zeed Ibn Sanyt was astonished by what the prophet did and recognized that he was not dealing with a normal person but a prophet. He converted to Islam and supported Muslims against their enemies and died in tabouk battle5.

Saa is a unit of weight in early Arab world. Saheh bin Haban, vol1, p521.