The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 2 of 4

220 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
saliva of the Messenger of God (SAAS). He then gave him a date to chew on,
prayed for him and blessed him. He was the first baby born in Islam." This
account was followed by one of Khdid b. Makhlad, from 'Ali b. Mushir, from
Hishim, from his father, from Asmz', to the effect that she was pregnant when
she emigrated to the Prophet (SAAS).
Qutayba related to us, from Abfl Usma, fiom Hishim b. Wrwa, from his
father, from 'A'isha, who said, "The first child born in Islam was 'Abd All* b.
al-Zubayr. They brought him to the Prophet (SAAS) and he took a date which
he chewed, then placed in the baby's mouth. And so the first food that entered
his stomach was the saliva of the Prophet (SAAS)."
This refutes al-Witqidi and others, because he reported that the Prophet
(SAAS) sent Zayd b. Haritha and Aba &fi' back to Mecca with 'Abd Allith b.
Wrayqif to bring his and Aba Bakr's children. They brought them back right
after the emigration of the Prophet (SAAS). Asmz' was pregnant and near term,
that is almost ready to deliver her child. When she did so the Muslims let out
great shouts of "God is Most Great" in their joy at the birth because it had come
to their attention that the Jews had used magic against them so that they would
not have children following their emigration. And so God had refuted what the
Jews were claiming.
The Messenger of God (SAAS) consummated his marriage with 'A'isha in the
month of Shawwd that year.
Imm Ahmad stated, "Waki' related to me, quoting Sufym, from IsmScil b.
Umayya, from 'Abd Allah b. Wrwa, from his father, from 'A'isha, who said,
'The Messenger of God (SAAS) made a marriage contract with me in (the
month of) Shawwd and consummated the marriage in Shaw* and which of
his wives did he favour more than myself?"'
'A'isha used to prefer to have her women marry in Shawwitl.
Muslim, al-Tirmidhi, al-N&'i, and Ibn Mitja related this on various paths
from al-Thawri. Al-Tirmidhi considered it hasan $~hih,"~ "good and authentic";
we know of it only from Sufym al-Thawri.
According to this the marriage of the Messenger of God (SAAS) to 'A'isha
took place in the seventh or eighth month after the emigration. Both statements
were related by Ibn Jarir, who commented earlier, in his treatment of his marriage
with Sawda, on how he had married 'A'isha after they had arrived in Medina, and
that his marriage was at al-Sur& and during the daytime. This is in contrast to the
normal practice of people today. In his marrying her in Shawwd there is a refutation
of those who express disfavour for marriage occurring between the two
46. The term designates a hedifh that is deemed more clearly authentic than one designated as
haran, hut less so than one considered sahib.