Miracles of the Final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
Teeth remained intact
Mawlana Syed Imran Akhtar Attari Madani
Bujayr b. Bajra رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ narrates:
I was part of the army which the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم appointed Khālid b. Walīd رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ leader over and dispatched to Dūmat al-Jandal[1] , to apprehend the Christian leader Ukaydir b. ꜤAbd al-Malik. He also instructed him that if he is victorious in this, he should not kill Ukaydir, but bring him back alive. This was not an encounter on a battlefield, where an accomplished commander like Sayyiduna Khālid رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ could display his swordsmanship and military strategy. Their task was to enter a large city and capture the king in his palace, which was not an easy undertaking.
Sayyiduna Khālid b. Walīd رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ had some reservations about this, which he mentioned to the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, who assured, “You will find him hunting a cow, so apprehend him.” Sayyiduna Khālid b. Walīd رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ then set off, upon arrival, kept a close eye on the fort. It was a moonlit night and the view was clear. It was the will of Allah Almighty that a cow suddenly appeared and began to rub its horn against the fort’s door.
At that time, Ukaydir was with his wife atop the fort’s ramparts. His wife spotted the cow from above and informed Ukaydir. He immediately emerged with his brother Ḥasān and his servants. Sayyiduna Khālid b. Walīd رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ was waiting for that moment. He bolted forward with his army and surrounded them. Ḥasān came in the way and began to fight, leading to his death. In accordance with the Prophet’s instructions, Ukaydir was captured alive and brought back.
Bujayr b. Bajra رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ was amazed at how the Greatest Prophet’s words had come to pass on that night, from the cow suddenly appearing outside the fort to Ukaydir coming out to hunt it. When they returned to the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, Bujayr b. Bajra رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ recited these couplets extolling him:
تَبَارَکَ سَائِقُ الْبَقَرَاتِ اِنِّیْ رَاَیْتُ اللہَ یَہْدِی کُلَّ ھَاد
فَمَنْ یَکُ عَائِدًا عَنْ ذِیْ تَبُوْک فَاِنَّا قَدْاُمِرْنَا بِالْجِہَاد
Glory to He who causes cows to engage in motion
I witnessed Allah direct those who guide
When we received the command to perform jihād,
Who then can return from Tabuk?
The Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم then supplicated:
لَا يَفْضُض اللهُ فَاكَ
May Allah preserve your teeth.
The miraculous result of this dua was that despite reaching the age of ninety, none of Bujayr b. Bajra’s teeth fell out or even became loose.[2]
A similar thing occurred with another Companion, Nābigha JaꜤdī رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ. When he recited couplets of praise, the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم made dua for the preservation of his teeth, which led to him receiving immense blessings. A narrator mentions, “I saw Nābigha JaꜤdī رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ, and his teeth were the most beautiful of all people. Even if a tooth of his happened to fall out, though he was aged, another would grow in its place.”
Another narration says due to the blessings of the Prophet’s prayers, Nābigha JaꜤdī رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ lived for 120 years, yet none of his teeth fell out or became loose, and they were as bright and shining as hailstones.[3]
The teeth of Bujayr b. Bajra and Nābigha JaꜤdī رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُمَا remaining strong and intact in old age is an amazing miracle of the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. At that age, one’s teeth usually fall out. Even if some remain, they are usually very weak and stained. So, for all of the teeth to remain strong, beautiful, and sparkling at the age of 90 and 120 is something astonishing.
These miraculous events contain several lessons:
- If a pious elder instructs us to do something, even if it seems difficult, we should consider it an honour and accept what they say wholeheartedly.
- Becoming worried by difficulties is cowardice, but facing them is courageous.
- When assuming responsibility for an important task that is assigned to us, we should mention any reservations we have to the one assigning the task to us, so that they can address any concerns or appoint someone else to the task.
- When we accept any responsibility that somebody gives us, we should adhere to any special guidelines we are given and carry out the task in accordance to their instructions.
- Reciting poetry and praise in honour of the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was the way of the Companions رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهُم.
- Praising and encouraging people for the good they do is the Prophet’s way.
- If a person praises us in a permissible manner, we should thank them by making dua.
With the bestowal of Allah Almighty, our Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has knowledge of the unseen.
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