Sayyidah Amina (Alayhas-Salaam) related that just before her confinement herwhole body trembled for a very short time, and after that she saw the houseexcessively illuminated, so that fright and terror overcame her, and she felt awhite bird rubbing its wings against her.  When her apprehensions vanishedshe felt very thirsty; then an extrememly white beverage was given her, whichshe imagined was milk, but drinking thereof she found it more sweet thanhoney.  After that she beheld a number of women of tall stature, whom sheconsidered to be maidens of the Bani Abd Manaf. 

She took confidence inthem and wondered whence they had come, but they calmed her mind.  Hereonshe saw a piece of long white brocade, and heard the allocution: 'Keep herconcealed from the eyes of people.'  She perceived a company of men,standing in the air with vases of silver in their hands.  Thenperspiration was dripping from her which had the odor of musk, and sheexclaimed: 'I wish Abd-ul-Muttalib were here!'  She beheld, as it were,the whole world in a blaze of light; a legion of birds with emerald beaks andruby wings had entered the house, and the Lord Most High having raised theveils, she bodily saw the eastern and western regions of the world.  Onthe roof of the Ka'bah and in other places banners had been erected, and manyshocks were felt in the house without seeing movers.  The moment Muhammad(Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim) was born he prostrated himself inadoration, and raised his head towards the sky, as if in the act ofsupplication and prayer.  All of a sudden a hand appeared from above,which covered and snatched him up into a cloud out of sight, and the words wereheard:

'Receive him in the series of prophets, investhim with the robe of honor of the orthodox religion, show him to his ancestorEbrahim, and take him to the ocean that the inhabitants of the sea may knowthat in his time unbelief and idolatry will be abolished.'  After that, upona folded woolen cloth, and piece of silk was spread under him for acouch.  He had keys in his hands, and a voice was heard saying: 'This isMuhammad, who holds in his hands the keys of prophecy, victory, andconfirmation.'  After a short time another cloud descended, which was moreluminous than the first, from which the neighing of horses and flapping thewings of birds was heard, and when Muhammad (Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi waSallim) had for a long time remained concealed from the sight of his mother,she heard a voice saying: 'Take him round the earth!  Present him to thesaints among genii and men,' and exclaiming: 'Endow him with the purity ofAdam, with the strength of Nuh, with the friendship of Ebrahim, with the natureof Ishaaq, with the eloquence of Isma'il, with the glad tidings of Ya'qub, withthe beauty of Yusuf, with the voice of Dawud, with the abstinence of Yahya, andwith the kindness of Isa.  Immerse him into the sea of the morals of theprophets and the inspired messengers.'  A considerable time afterwards sheagain beheld him with a piece of white silk in his hand, and the water of(Divine?) succor distilling from him, and heard a voice saying: 'Muhammadhaving the whole world in his grasp, every creature will obey and revere him.'

 It was also related of Amina (Alayhas-Salaam) that after the presence anddisappearance of Muhammad (Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim) she sawthree men, whose countenances were shining like the sun.  One of thesethree individuals had in one hand a silver pitcher, exhaling the odor of musk;in the other a dish of emerald, with two handles of mother-of-pearl, and at thesame time the following expressions were heard from the other would: 'As he hasselected the Ka'bah, we have there mad the Qiblah and his habitation.' The third man held a piece of white silk in his hand, which contained his(Muhammad (Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim) seal.  Then the holderof the dish placed Muhammad (Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim) into it,poured water on him, and washed him seven times.  These three men thenkissed his feet.  He who held the piece of silk was the gardener ofparadise; he wrapped him into a piece of silk, perfumed him with very fragrantmusk, and took him under his wings.  When he again took him out frombeneath his wings, he spoke many words to Muhammad (Sall Allahu alaihi waAalihi wa Sallim), which his mother could not understand.  He alsopronounced an incantation over him, rubbing his hand over the back and head ofthe infant, saying: 'O Muhammad! glad tidings to thee, for the sciences of theprophets have been deposited in thy heart.  Thou hast become the mostlearned and valiant among them.  the keys of paradise are in thy hands,and awe of thee has so taken hold of the hearts of men that, hearing only thyvoice, they will be subject to fear and trembling.' Suddenly a man appeared,who placed his mouth on the infant, in the same way as a bird feeds its littleone, and Muhammad (Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim) asked with hisfinger for more.  Then this man said: 'O Muhammad!  a glad tiding tothee, for every good quality has been bestowed upon thee.' Then he rubbed oilon his head and face, combed his hair inserted Khul into his eyes, and, takinghim up in his arms, removed him out of sight.

   At that time Amina became much distressed, amazed, and said: 'Where are mypeople?  It seems that they have become annihilated in this emergency,from the labor of parturition, and no one comes near me!'  At that timethe same man (whose countenance shone like the moon, and who smelt like musk)brought back Muhammad (Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim), and said: 'Ihave carried him about the earth, and have presented him also to Adam, who tookhim on his breast, pronounced a blessing upon him, and
said: 'O Lord tidings to thee!  Whoever firmly adheres to thy religion andobeys thee will be resuscitated in thy company on the day of Judgment!' At that time Abd-ul-Muttalib entered, and Amina informed him of everything thathad taken place.  He, in turn, said: 'This night I was engaged in prayerin the house of the Ka'bah, and I suddenly perceived that it inclined itselftowards the place of Ebrahim, again recovered its former position, andexclaimed: "Allah is greatest!  O Lord Muhammad (Sall Allahu alaihiwa Aalihi wa Sallim), purify me of the idolaters!"  I also beheldHabal, the chief idol, prostrate on its face, and heard the announcement: "Amina has given birth to a son, over whom a Divine cloud has alighted,and a plate has been brought from the Sanctum in which to wash him. Muhammad (Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim) will lead out the people fromdarkness into the light of guidance.  He will obtain a mission, and willbe a shining light.  He will be an apostle, inviting and addressing allmankind.  O ye angels! witness that we have presented to him the keys ofthe treasuries of prophecy.  Rejoice ye, therefore at hisnativity!"  Abdul-Muttalleb further said to Amina (Alayhas-Salaam)that on hearing these words, his tongue became benumbed in his palate and thathe thought he had been dreaming.  But on rubbing his hands over his eyeshe found himself awake, and proceeded from the gate of the Bani Shaibah towardsBattha.  He beheld Safa exalted and Marwaa abased, and heard a voiceexclaiming: 'O Prince of the Quraish! why do I see thee in fear andtrembling?'  Then he went to the house of Amina to see Muhammad (SallAllahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim), but when he reached the door he saw thereona white bird with spread wings, the light whereof illuminated the mountainsaround Makkah.  Over the house there was a white cloud, which hindered himfrom entering.  He therefore sat down awhile, and said to himself: "Iwonder whether I was awake or asleep when I saw all these things?'  Theodor of musk issuing from the house was so strong that he could not enter it;at last, however, he mustered courage, went in, and found her in the conditionabove described.

   It is related that when Abd-ul-Muttalib entered the house and shook the rung ofthe door, Amina replied in a feeble voice, and said: 'Open quickly, for myheart is well nigh breaking!'  When she let him in he could not see theholy light of prophecy on her countenance, and, ready to tear his garments,exclaimed: 'Woe to me!  Where has that light from they face departedto?  For I cannot see it!'  She replied that she had been deliveredof a child, and informed him of everything in detail that had happened on theoccasion.  But he retorted that he disbelieved her allegation, as heperceived no traces of child-birth upon her.  Amina continued: 'ByAllah!  I speak the truth, and the white bird which thou hast seen isquarrelling with me when I gave milk to Muhammad (Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihiwa Sallim), and desires to suckle him alone.'  Abd-ul-Muttalib exclaimed:'Then show me the new-born infant.'  But she rejoined: 'Alas!  howcouldst thou see him, since a man had brought a dish of emerald and washed himtherein, and told me not to show my babe to anyone during three days?'  Hecontinued 'Show him to me, or else on of us two must die at my hands.' When she perceived how incensed Abd-ul-Muttalib was, she directed him to acertain house, and told him that he would there find the child, swaddled inwoolen cloth.  But when he entered and wished to behold the world-adoringbeauty of the lord of creatures, he perceived a man of terrible aspectapproaching him with a sabre, and exclaiming: 'Return! for no one can see himuntil all the angels have finished their visits!'  Hereon, Abd-ul-Muttalibbegan to tremble, and wished to leave the house.  When, however, hedeparted he became mute, and it is said that he was unable to utter a singleword during seven days.

   It is related that the excellent Fatima (Radhi Allahu Ta'ala Anhaa) said: 'Iwas present with Amina on the night of her confinement, and beheld staresmoving towards us as if about to fall on the ground.'  After the birth hadtaken place, a light detached itself from Amina which illuminated the apartmentin such a manner that I could see nothing except brightness.

   It is related of Shafai, the mother of A'bd-ur-rahman, who was the midwife ofAmina, and when Muhammad the elect--Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim--wasborn, the exclamation 'May the Lord have mercy on thee!' was heard, and thehorizon was so lit up from east to west that she was able to perceive severalcastles of Syria.  But all the strange things witnessed by Shafai on thatnight are recorded in chronicles.

   There was also a tradition that on the day after the birth of his propheticlordship, the Jewish priests asked Abd-ul-Muttalib whether an infant had beenborn in his tribe during the past night, and that he replied: 'There is a caseof pregnancy among us, but I cannot tell whether the birth has taken place ornot.'  They continued: 'We have found in the Torah that last night, wasthe nativity of the prince of former and latter times in the sacred valley,which will become the place of pilgrimage to Arabs and the foreigners; andverily that high banner and shinning light has entered existence last night.'Here on Abd-ul-Muttalib dispatched someone to Amina to make inquiries, and shereplied: 'Last night I gave birth to an infant, circumcised, with his umbilicalstring cut, looking as if he had been washed of the impurities adhering toinfants.  A light shone from him which illuminated the world, as I hadseen in my sleep.  He came to the ground without my feeling any pain ordistress, and pointed with his finger to the heaven; whereon I received theinjunction from above to keep him concealed for three days.'  When thisnews was brought to Abd-ul-Muttalib, the Jewish Ulama exclaimed: 'God is great!the prediction of the Torah has been fulfilled!'  Here on Abd-ul-Muttalibentered the house, renewed his inquiries, obtained the same information, satdown in a room to receive the congratulations of his friends, and slaughteredseveral camels for the purpose of feasting his guests. Being asked what namehis grandson was to receive, he said: 'Muhammad.'  And being told thatnone of his ancestors bore that name, he replied: 'I wanted him to be praisedin heaven and earth.' After three days he went to the house of Amina, tookpossession of the lord of prophecy, carried him to the Ka'bah and, prostratinghim in front of it, on the palms of his hands said:

Verses: Praise be to Allah, who gave me
                 This nice and handsome boy;
                 I take refuge in the house with buttresses
                 Against the followers of Satan,
                 Against the evils of sorcerers,
                 Against envious disturbers and rebels.

   After reciting these verses Abd-ul-Muttalib took the lord of prophecy back toAminah's house, recommended him to her care, and said: 'A high destiny is instore for this child.'