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by Bahira, a learned monk of that place, who immediately knowing him to be the great Prophet that was to come, pressed with great earnestness through the crowd unto him, and taking him by the hand, there foretold of him all these great things which afterwards came to pass.
The mark whereby he knew him (say they) was the prophetic light which shone on his face. This prophetic light, they tell us, God first placed on Adam, to be a sign of the prophets that were to be born of him; that this light, descending down to Abraham, was from him divided into two; one on the face of Isaac, and the other on the faco of Ishmael: that Isaac's light was soon manifested in the many prophets which appeared of his posterity among the children of Israel: but that which was placed on Ishmael was suppressed, and lay hid till the coming of Mahomet, on whom it first appeared; and that Bahira seeing it on him, thereby knew him, (say they,) to be a great prophet sent of God, who was ere long to manifest himself. But others say, the mark by which he knew him was the seal of his prophetic mission, stamped with a wonderful impression between his shoulders. But the truth is, Mahomet did not become acquainted with this Bahira, till many years after, when he traded for Cadigha in those parts, as will hereafter appear.
Till the 25th year of his age, he continued in his employment under his uncle; but then, one of the chief men of the city dying, and his widow, Whose name was Cadigha, (to whom he left all his stock, which was of considerablo valuo) wanted a actor to manage it for her, she invited Mahomet into her service; and having offered him such advantageous conditions as he thought fit to accept of, he undertook this employment under her, and
