TENTH SIGN

Corroborating   the  miracles  concerning  trees  and  reported   in  the  form  of ‘consensus,’ is the miracle of the moaning of the pole. Yes, the pole’s moaning in the Prophet’s (UWBP) mosque before a vast crowd because of its temporary separation from him both confirms and corroborates the instances of miracles related to trees. For the pole also was of wood; their substance was the same. However, although there is a consensus of opinion concerning the reports of this miracle, the other miracles are unanimously agreed upon only as a class; there is mostly no clear consensus about them individually or as separate instances.

When delivering the sermon in the mosque, God’s Noble Messenger (UWBP) used to lean against a pole consisting of a date-palm. But when the pulpit was made, he began to give the sermon from there. Whereupon the pole moaned and wailed like a camel; the whole congregation  heard it. Only when the God’s Messenger  (Upon whom be blessings and peace) came down from the pulpit, and placed his hand on it, speaking  to  it  and  consoling  it,  did  the  pole  stop  moaning.[142] This  miracle  of Muhammad  (UWBP)  was  narrated  through  numerous  chains  of transmission,  and there was agreement concerning it.

Indeed, the miracle of the moaning of the pole is very widely known and there is ‘true  consensus  (hakikî  mütevatir)’  concerning  it.[143] Hundreds  of  authorities  on Hadith of the subsequent generation narrated the miracle through fifteen chains of transmission[144] from an illustrious group of Companions, and passed it down to succeeding centuries.

[142] Bukhari, Manaqib, 25; Jum’a, 26; Ibn Maja, Iqama, 199; Nasa’i, Jum’a, 17; Tirmidhi, Jum’a, 10; Manaqib, 6; Darimi, Muqaddima, 6; Salat, 202; Musnad, i, 249.

[143] See, al-Kattani, Nazm al-Mutanathir, 134-5.

[144] Ibn Kathir, al-Bidaya wa’l-Nihaya, 125-132.