Question:
Assalamualaikum SS Dato’ Seri Mufti. What is the status of the hadith regarding the story of the Prophet PBUH and a blind Jew?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
According to the above question, there are several stories that recount incidents between the Prophet PBUH and a blind Jew. Among the famous story that we often hear is:
“There was a poor blind Jew who lives in the market of Medina. The man always reminds the people who passes him by with false allegations saying that Muhammad is a liar and a sorcerer. Furthermore, he also mocks and insults the Prophet PBUH. However, the Prophet PBUH still visits him and feeds him without telling the man who he really is. The Prophet PBUH feeds the blind Jew until the Prophet PBUH passed away. One day, Abu Bakar RA asked Aisyah RA: Are there any sunnah of the Prophet PBUH that I have not followed?” Then, Aisyah RA answered narrating that the prophet PBUH used to feed a blind Jew man in the morning. Learning this fact, Abu Bakar immediately went to the house of the blind Jew and feed the Jew. The blind Jew however, realize that it is not the same man that is feeding him as the man who used to feed him before. The Jew then asked Abu Bakar who was feeding him before, then Abu Bakar told him that it was the Prophet PBUH. After hearing Abu Bakar’s answer, the Jew cried and regretted his actions against the Prophet PBUH. The Jew finally embraces Islam touched by the Prophet PBUH’s actions.”
After analysing this story and trying to find to find the source and validate the story, we did not find the original source of this story. Thus, we state that this story should not be spread to others for it does not come from the Prophet PBUH.
There is a sahih hadith about an incident that happened between the Prophet PBUH and a young Jew boy. This is narrated by Imam al-Bukhari in his book Sahih al-Bukhari:
- From Anas bin Malik RA:
كَانَ غُلاَمٌ يَهُودِيٌّ يَخْدُمُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَمَرِضَ، فَأَتَاهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَعُودُهُ، فَقَعَدَ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ: «أَسْلِمْ»، فَنَظَرَ إِلَى أَبِيهِ وَهُوَ عِنْدَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ: أَطِعْ أَبَا القَاسِمِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَأَسْلَمَ، فَخَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ: الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَنْقَذَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ
“A young Jewish boy used to serve the Prophet (ﷺ) and he became sick. So the Prophet (ﷺ) went to visit him. He sat near his head and asked him to embrace Islam. The boy looked at his father, who was sitting there; the latter told him to obey Abul-Qasim and the boy embraced Islam. The Prophet (ﷺ) came out saying: "Praises be to Allah Who saved the boy from the Hell-fire."
Sahih al-Bukhari (1356)
Closing
To conclude, there are numerous narrations regarding the Prophet PBUH that is discussed in sermons and lectures. However, we should verify the truthfulness of something before stating that it comes from the Prophet PBUH, for it is considered as a deception done unto our beloved Prophet PBUH. Lastly, may Allah SWT bless us with good character and conduct, the same as our beloved PBUH who are loved by all, regardless of race or religion. Amin.
Wallahua’lam.