some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, If these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out' (Luke xix. 37-40).

b. 'The biographers narrate that when that Excellency had completed his fortieth year, the Most High gave him his apostolic mission to all people. But previously there appeared many signs and tokens to that prince, such as true dreams, and salutations from trees and stones. Jabir Ibn Simre reports that he heard the Prophet make this statement: "At the time I was about to receive my mission, I, for several days and nights, did not meet a tree or a stone which did not say to me, 'Peace be on thee, O thou Apostle of God."'

'In the narrative of the visit of Abu Talib, with his nephew Mohammed, to the monk Bahira, it is recorded that when the caravan with the future prophet reached a certain hilly and stony spot, Bahira heard how all the trees and stones of that place called out with a loud voice, "Peace be on thee, O thou Apostle of God!"' (R.)

(45.) Each of the two prophets illustrated the hopelessness of a case by referring to a camel's passing through the eye of a needle.

a. 'Jesus said to his disciples, Again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God' (Matt.xix. 24).

b. 'Amar narrates that Hadifa told him he heard Mohammed say, on their return from the expedition to Tabuk, A.H. 9, "There are twelve ¹ hypocrites amongst my companions who shall not see the face of Paradise, or smell its fragrance, until the time when a camel may pass through the eye of a needle."' (R.)

(46.) Both the prophets sometimes imparted Divine benefits and blessings by the laying on of their hands.

a. 'After that Jesus put his hands again upon the blind man's eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly' (Mark viii. 22-25). Compare Mark vii. 32-35.
'And they brought young children to Jesus, that he should touch them.... And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them' (Mark x. 13-16).
'Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases, brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them' (Luke iv. 40).

b. 'Amongst the Beni Beka, who, A.H. 9, came to Medina to profess Islam, there was Moawia Ibn Thor, a venerable old man, a hundred years of age. He begged his Excellency graciously to lay his blessed hand on his son Beshr, because he behaved so well towards him. That Excellency granted his request, and stroked Beshr's face with his blessed hand, and invoked a blessing upon him. In consequence, whenever a famine happened in the country of the Beni Beka, it did not reach them.'

'In the same year, A.H. 9, Zeiyad Ibn Abd Allah also embraced Islam, together with some others. He went to the house of Meimuna, one of the Prophet's wives, because he was her nephew. It happened that, soon after, his Excellency also came to Meimuna's dwelling, but, on seeing Zeiyad with her, he became angry and turned away. Meimuna called after him, "O Apostle of God, this is my sister's son." Then that prince turned back, and sat down with them. At noonday prayers they went to the mosque together, and his Excellency made Zeiyad sit by his side. He also prayed for him, and with his blessed hand stroked him, bringing down his blessed hand over Zeiyad's face to the end of his nose. It is recorded that the Beni Halal said, "After this, we always saw in Zeiyad's face a light, and the traces of a blessing."

'A.H. 10, Jerir Ibn Abd Allah came to Medina with 150