The Expansion of the Prophet’s (s.a.w.) Chest

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Shaykh ‘Utsman Nuri Tufbas wrote, in “The Prophet Muhammad Muswthafa the Elect (s.a.w.)”, in order to prepare the Prophet (s.a.w.) for his future reception of Divine Mysteries, Allah (s.w.t.) Opened his chest, and Cleansed his heart on numerous occasions, Filling it with unique traits like serenity, compassion, mercy, faith, and wisdom.  The first of these occurred while the Prophet (s.a.w.) was still with his foster mother, recounted later on by the Prophet (s.a.w.) himself. 

Years later, a man asked the Prophet (s.a.w.) what the first signs of his prophethood were.  The Prophet (s.a.w.) responded, in detail, “My foster mother was from the clan of Banu Sa’ad.  One day, my foster sister and I, had set out with our livestock.  We had not taken anything with us to eat.  So, I advised my sister to go to our mother, and bring back some food.  So, she left.  I was left alone with the animals.  It was not long after, when two angels appeared, dressed in white. 

‘Is that him?’ one said to the other. 

‘Yes’, the other replied. 

Then, they quickly came next to me.  Laying me on my back, they cleaved my chest.  They then took out my heart, removing from it a black spot.  ‘Go and bring me some snow water’, I heard one say to the other.  The water was brought, and with it, they washed my inside.  ‘Now get me some hail water’, one again told the other.  With that, they washed my heart.  ‘Now bring me peace and serenity’, one commanded yet again.  They poured both into my heart.  ‘Now close it up and stamp it with the Seal of Prophethood’, one said.  They closed up and sealed my heart and thereafter my chest.  Then they immediately stitched my chest.  I was really frightened.  Quickly rushing home, I informed my foster mother of the incident.” 

Many sources testify to the occurrence of the above incident when the Prophet (s.a.w.) was still four years of age.  This is recorded in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hanbal (r.a.), in al-Bidayah wa an-Nihayah of Hafizh ‘Imad ad-Din Abu al-Fida’ Isma’il ibn ‘Umar ibn Katsir (r.a.), and the works of Imam Shibab ad-Din Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hajr al-Haytsami (r.a.). 

Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (r.a.) confirmed this, having repeatedly seen the scar the Prophet (s.a.w.) carried on his chest from that opening.  This is mentioned in Swahih Muslim. 

Some of the underlying Wisdom behind the cleaving of the chest of the Prophet (s.a.w.) could be given as follows: Through the incident, Allah (s.w.t.) Informed people of His Prophet’s (s.a.w.) reputation, and Prepared him for Revelation from a very early age.  That the Sharh asw-Swadr, an act of spiritual purification, left in its trail, marks and signs for all to witness, was to ease the path for others in affirming faith in his prophethood.  Extraordinary events like these, in fact, did make it easier for people to believe him.