Download PDF: [S] Juraij and the Child that Spoke (Islamic story)

In the Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim Shareef it is mentioned that the Holy Prophet – peace be upon him – has stated that, “Only three children spoke while they were in their cradle.”

 

Among these children were Nabi ‘Isa – peace be upon him, possibly Nabi Yusuf – peace be upon him – and the third was a child who gave testimony and evidence on behalf of Juraij.

 

The incident occurred in this manner. It is said that Juraij was a very pious person in the time of the Bani Israeel. He used to spend day and night in the Ibadah of the Allah Almighty. He had also built a small room outside the town so that he continue making the Ibadah of Allah Almighty without being disturbed. One day, while he was busy making Ibadah, his mother called him.

 

Since he was busy in Ibadah, he did not know whether he should interrupt his Ibadah or answer his mother. Instead of answering his mother, he continued to perform his Salaah. When his mother saw this, she left without meeting him. The same thing happened the next day and on the third day as well. In all of these days, when his mother called out to him while he was in Ibadah, he did not answer.

Obviously, this made his mother extremely angry and she cursed him by saying, “O Allah Almighty, do not allow him to die until he does not face a test from an indecent female.”

 

After cursing her son, she left.

 

Suddenly people among the Bani Israeel began to have doubts about Juraij and certain rumours began to spread about him. In fact, they were actually jealous about the amount of time he spent in Ibadah. They did not strive to be like him, instead, they wanted him to become like them. They also wanted him to join them in their frivolous ways being busy in committing sin and transgression. Since these people had continued to disobey the Divine Commands of Allah Almighty, there came a time when there was complete intermingling between males and females. Females began to spend their time in the company of males and vice versa. Because of this adultery became a common practise among them.

 

After the mother of Juraij had cursed him, these people also began to hatch a plot against him. There was a female prostitute among them who was very pretty and they decided to use her against him. She approached them and said that if they wanted, she could entrap Juraij in her evil plot. They were very happy to hear about the evil plan of this female.

 

This female then beautified herself and decided to visit Juraij. However, as much as she tried to entrap him, he paid no attention to her.

 

She then decided to sleep with a shepherd who lived next door to Juraij and through this, she became pregnant. When she gave birth to this child, she informed everyone that this was the child of Juraij. Obviously, the Bani Israeel were always looking for ways to insult Juraij and this was a perfect opportunity.

 

They then dragged Juraij from his place of worship and began to abuse him. When he asked them why they were hitting him, they replied, “You have blackened your face with this prostitute and because of this, she had given birth to your child.”

 

Juraij then asked to be shown this child. The people then brought the child in front of him. After he saw this child, he told them to let him perform Salaah.

 

After completing the Salaah, he approached the child and lightly pressed the stomach of this child and then asked the child, “Who is your father?”

 

The child immediately replied that its father was a certain shepherd.

 

When the people saw this, they felt highly embarrassed and began to kiss Juraij out of immense respect and reverence. They also mentioned that they wanted to rebuild his place of worship with gold. However, he refused to accept this and asked them to rebuild it with ordinary sand like it was at the beginning.” (Sahih Bukhari Shareef, #3436; Sahih Muslim Shareef, #2550)