Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 298
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 298 scorned them as delusions resulting from the extreme of hardship from which the Muslims were suffering. Yet, in due time, all these prophetic visions were completely fulfilled in the time of the Holy Prophet’s successors. About the same time, a devout Muslim, Jabir bin Abdullah, observing the signs of starvation and weakness on the countenance of the Holy Prophet, sought his permission to go home for a short while, and on arriving home, told his wife that the Holy Prophet w as suffering the extreme of hunger, and inquired whether she had any food in the house. She said she had some barley flour and they had one goat. Jabir slaughtered the goat and kneaded the flour into dough and said to his wife, ‘Now you prepare the food an d I shall go and request the Holy Prophet to come and eat. ’ His wife warned him, ‘Take care that you do not embarrass me by inviting a large number of people along with the Holy Prophet. ’ Jabir went and said to the Holy Prophet, almost in a whisper, ‘Messe nger of Allah, we have some meat and barley flour, and I have asked my wife to prepare a meal. I would request you to come with a few Companions and eat at our house. ’ The Holy Prophet inquired how much food there was, and Jabir told him. The Holy Prophet said, ‘It is plenty’, and then looking around him and raising his voice, called out, ‘O ye company of Ansar and Emigrants, come along. Jabir has invited us to a meal. Let us go and eat. ’ Upon this a very large number, possibly a thousand or more, became re ady to accompany him. He directed Jabir to hurry home and tell his wife that she should not take the cooking pot off the fire, nor to start baking bread before he arrived. Jabir went home quickly and informed his wife