Hazrat Abu Talib ibn Abd Al-Muttalib set out for Damascus (Syria) on business and took Hazrat Muhammad (saw) along when he (saw) was 12 years old. It was a massive caravan and a great number of people traveled along with a huge quantity of merchandise until they arrived in Syria and entered the city of Busra. In the vicinity of a monastery, they pitched a tent and took rest.

Bahira, a devout Christian monk, caught sight of it through his monastery's window. He observed the caravan shaded by a little cloud that kept pace with it. Bahira came out of his monastery, stood in a corner and instructed his servant, 'Go and tell them that today they are all my guests'.

All came to him but Hazrat Muhammad (saw), who was standing beside the property and equipment of the caravan. Seeing that the cloud had ceased to move, Bahira asked his guests, 'are all the members of the caravan present here?' They answered, 'All but a youth who is the youngest'. Bahira said, 'Tell him to come as well'. So he was asked to come to the monk's room. The keen eyes of Bahira noticed that the cloud over his head moved with him. Taken by surprise, Bahira kept staring at the young boy. When the meal was over, the pious monk told him, 'I have a question to ask you and you must swear by Lat and Al-Uzza to answer my question'.

Hazrat Muhammad (saw) said, 'Those two you have asked me to swear by are the most detestable things to me'. Bahira said, 'Swear by Allah to answer my question'.

Hazrat Muhammad (saw) said, 'I always speak the truth and I have never told a lie; you ask your question'.

Bahira asked: "What do you like the most"?

Hazrat Muhammad (saw) answered: "Loneliness".

Bahira asked: "What do you look the most at and what do you like to look at"?

Hazrat Muhammad (saw) said: "The sky and the stars within it".

Bahira asked: "What do you think of"?

Hazrat Muhammad (saw) remained silent, but Bahira carefully glanced at his forehead.

Bahira asked: "When do you sleep and with what thoughts"?

Hazrat Muhammad (saw) stated: "When I fix my eyes upon the sky, I see the stars and I find them in my lap and myself above them".

Bahira asked: "Do you see dream also"?

Hazrat Muhammad (saw) stated: "Whatever I see in dream, the same I see while I am awake."

Bahira asked: "What do you dream of, as an example"?

Hazrat Muhammad (saw) kept quiet, Bahira also kept quiet.

After a while, Bahira asked: "May I take a look at the centre of your shoulders"?

Hazrat Muhammad (saw), while standing still, stated: "Come and see."

Bahira stood up, came closer, and pulled the dress of Hazrat Muhammad (saw) off his shoulders. A mole appeared. Bahira took a look and said in a murmuring voice: "He is the very person".

Bahira knelt down before him and started kissing his hands and feet, saying, 'If I live till you start your divine mission, I will most faithfully aid you and fight your enemies. You are superior to all of Adam's offspring...'.

Then Bahira asked, 'whose son is this youth?' The caravan members pointed to Hazrat Abu Talib ibn Abd Al-Muttalib, saying, 'His son'. Bahira said, 'No. His father must be dead!'

Hazrat Abu Talib ibn Abd Al-Muttalib said, 'You are right. He is my nephew'. Bahira then said, 'This youth will have a brilliant, extraordinary future. If the Jews find out what I have realized about him, they will destroy him. Take great care lest the Jews should hurt him'.

Hazrat Abu Talib ibn Abd Al-Muttalib said, 'What is he destined to do? What have the Jews to do with him?' Bahira said, 'He is predestined to become a Hazrat, and the angel of inspiration will come down and make divine revelations to him'. Hazrat Abu Talib ibn Abd Al-Muttalib said, 'God will not leave him alone and will Himself protect him against the Jews and his malevolent enemies'.