Bahira

Bahira

Bahira (Arabic: بَحِيرَىٰ, Classical Syriac: ܒܚܝܪܐ) is the name in Islamic tradition of a Christian monk who is said to have foretold Muhammad's prophethood when they met while Muhammad was accompanying his uncle Abu Talib on a trading trip. There are several versions of the story, with elements that contradict each other. All accounts of Bahira and his meeting with Muhammad have been deemed fictitious by modern historians as well as by some medieval Muslim scholars, such as al-Dhahabi. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Bahira is the 544th most popular religious figure (down from 457th in 2019). (down from 106th in 2019)

Bahira is most famous for the story of her conversion to Islam. In the year 614, a Christian monk named Bahira was traveling in the desert when he met a young girl who had been abandoned by her tribe. The monk took her in and raised her as his own. As she grew up, she began to display signs of a spiritual gift. She would often see visions and dream prophetic dreams. One day, a group of Muslim traders came to the monk's monastery. They were from the Quraysh tribe, which was known for its piety and righteousness. The monk asked the traders what they were seeking and they told him that they were looking for a bride for their son Muhammad. The monk told them that he had the perfect girl for them. The girl was Bahira and she was not only beautiful but also had a spiritual gift. The traders agreed to marry their son to Bahira and they all returned to Mecca.