The Barakah of the Prophet (s.a.w.) with Animals & Plants

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Dr. Muhammad Muswthafa al-Badawi said, the barakah of the Prophet’s (s.a.w.) hand showed in the animals and plants he touched.  After the Prophet (s.a.w.) left Makkah for Madina, in the company of Sayyidina Abu Bakr ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Utsman asw-Swiddiq (r.a.), the latter’s servant, Sayyidina ‘Amir ibn Fuhayr (r.a.), and their guide, Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn Urayqit (r.a.), they passed by the two tents of Sayyidatina Umm Ma’bad ‘Aatikah bint Khalid al-Khuza’iyyah (r.a.) of Khuza’ah.  She was a tough, elderly woman who sat before her tent, giving people food and drink.  They asked her to sell them meat and dates, but she had none.  The Prophet (s.a.w.) noticed an ewe near the corner of the tent.  “What is this ewe, O Umm Ma’bad?” he asked. 

“An ewe that is so weak it was left behind by the sheep,” she replied. 

“Does she have any milk?” he asked. 

“She is too weak for that!” she replied. 

“Will you allow me to milk her?” he asked. 

“If you see that she can be milked, then milk her.” she said. 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) passed his hand over the ewe’s udder, uttered the Name of Allah (s.w.t.), prayed for her, then asked for a large vessel.  He milked her and milk came out in profusion.  He gave Umm Ma’bad (r.a.) to drink first, until she was full, then his companions, leaving himself for last.  Then he milked the ewe again until the vessel was full and left it with her.  This was recorded by Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah al-Hakim an-Nishaburi (r.a.), Imam Abu al-Qasim Sulayman ibn Ayyub ath-Thabarani (r.a.), Imam Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Husayn al-Bayhaqi (r.a.), Imam Abu Nu’aym Ahmad ibn ‘Abdullah al-Aswbahani (r.a.), Imam Abu Muhammad al-Husayn ibn Mas’ud al-Baghawi (r.a.), Imam Abu Hafsw ‘Umar ibn Ahmad ibn Shahin (r.a.), and Imam Abu al-Fadhl ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuthi (q.s.). 

Sayyidatina Umm Ma’bad (r.a.) later said that the ewe the Prophet (s.a.w.) had touched with his hand remained with them until the Year of the Famine, in the days of Sayyidina Abu Hafsw ‘Umar ibn al-Khaththab al-Faruq (r.a.).  They milked her mornings and evenings even though nothing at all grew from the earth.  Meaning that she produced milk although there was nothing for her to eat.  This was recorded by Shaykh Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Sa’d (r.a.), Imam Abu Nu’aym (r.a.), and Imam as-Suyuthi (q.s.). 

Sayyidina Abu Qursafah (r.a.) recounted that as an orphan, he was raised by his mother and her sister and was more attached to his aunt.  She had a few sheep which he looked after for her and she often told him about the Prophet (s.a.w.), “My son, do not pass by this man, for he will deceive you and lead you astray!”  But Sayyidina Abu Qursafah (r.a.), leaving his sheep to graze, spent his time listening to the Prophet (s.a.w.), then took his sheep home lean, with dry udders.  “Why does your herd have dry udders?” his aunt asked. 

“I do not know!” he replied.  He went on listening to the Prophet (s.a.w.) until he accepted Islam, took his hand, and gave him allegiance.  Then he told the Prophet (s.a.w.) about the state of his sheep. 

“Bring the ewes here!” the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, then passed his hand over their backs and udders, and prayed for them to have barakah.  The animals swelled with meat and milk.  When Sayyidina Abu Qursafah (r.a.) took them back to his aunt she said, “My son, this is how to graze your animals!” 

“My aunt, I grazed them at the same place as previously,” he replied, “but I will tell you the story.”  His mother and aunt listened to him then asked to be taken to the Prophet (s.a.w.).  They accepted Islam, gave him allegiance and took his hand.  This is recorded by Imam ath-Thabarani (r.a.), in his Mu’jam al-Kabir; and Imam Abu Nu’aym (r.a.), in his Dala’il an-Nubuwwah. 

Sayyidina Abu ‘Abdullah Salman al-Farisi (r.a.), the Persian, was a slave owned by the Jews.  He made an agreement with them for his freedom to plant three hundred palm trees and give them a certain amount of gold.  As soon as the palms produced their first dates, he was to be free.  He went to the Prophet (s.a.w.), asking for his help.  The Prophet (s.a.w.) planted the three hundred trees with his blessed hands.  All three hundred grew and produced dates by the end of the year.  This was recorded by Imam Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hanbal (r.a.).