The Koraysh admitted the situation was now beyond their ability to remedy and although Nadar, Harith's son, whose grandfather had been the illustrious Ksay, had become notorious for his slander of the Prophet (sa) he reminded the Koraysh that the Prophet (sa) had grown up amongst them as a likable person known for his excellent standing in the society.

Nadar now warned the Koraysh to be careful of their accusations for he was sure that they too knew that he was neither a poet nor yet a sorcerer. He reminded them that they also knew the ways of a sorcerer and by no means could he be described as such. He continued to advise them saying that they should be careful of what they said as he felt a serious matter had befallen them which called for a change in their tactics, and so the slanderous remarks subsided for the time being.

Nadar’s Attempt to Compete with the Prophet (sa)

Nadar was a trader and had traveled the caravan routes not only in Arabia but to distant countries. Whenever he reached his destination it was his habit to seek out the storytellers in the market place and listen to their tales. On one particular trip he heard a tale about the kings of Persia, which, over the passage of time had been embellished by one storyteller then the next, and so the tale made a great impression upon him. One day as the Prophet (sa) spoke to a group of people he told them stories the like of which they had never heard before, of bygone generations and the consequences that befell them on account of their refusal to listen to their prophet.

Nadar and Utba were among the gathering and no sooner had the Prophet (sa) finished his narration, Nadar jumped up and told them that he could tell them better stories than these then began to tell his captive audience about the kings of Persia, Rustum and Isbandiyar. After he finished the story he asked, "Who then is better at story telling, Muhammad or I?" Someone in the gathering suggested that Nadar and Utba visit the rabbis in Yathrib and ask them about the stories the Prophet had just told them. It was a challenge, and so Nadar and Utba decided to journey to Yathrib to confront the rabbis.

The Three Questions

When they arrived in Yathrib they asked where they might find the rabbis and upon being taken to them said, "You are the people of the Torah, we have come to you to ask how we should deal with one of our tribesmen," and proceeded to describe the Prophet (sa) and speak of his teachings. The rabbis remained silent until they had finished then one spoke saying, "You should ask him these three questions, if he answers you correctly then he is a prophet, however, if he is unable, then he is not, and from this you can form your own opinion."

The rabbis asked their visitors to question the Prophet (sa) about the young men that disappeared from their people in ancient days, and then to question him about the great traveler who journeyed to the east and to the west. The final question they were to ask was about the Spirit.

The Prophet (sa) is Questioned

Nadar and Utba returned to Mecca and announced to their fellow tribesmen that the rabbis of Yathrib had given them three questions that would determine whether or not Muhammad was indeed the Prophet of Allah. When they reached the Prophet (sa) he listened to the questions in silence and told them he would give them a reply the next day, for he never spoke on religious matters without receiving its knowledge via the Angel Gabriel.

However, when told them he would give them a reply the following day he forgot to say "Insha-Allah" which means - “Allah willing.” The next day came and passed, however, Gabriel did not visited him with the answers which no doubt pleased the unbelievers.

Angel Gabriel Brings the Answers

Several days elapsed and the Prophet (sa) patiently awaited the answers to the questions as rumors began to abound in every sector. Then, on the fifteenth day, Angel Gabriel came to him and he asked why he had not come before. Gabriel responded with a new verse from the Koran that said:

"(Gabriel said:) ‘We do not descend except at the command of your Lord. To Him belongs all that is before us and all that is behind us, and all that lies between, Your Lord does not forget.’" Koran 19:64

The Story of the Believing Young Men in the Cave

In reply to the question about the young men in the cave Gabriel recited to the Prophet (sa) verses detailing their circumstances so later on when Nadar, Utba and their companions came to him he was able to recite the story to them. The verses told of some young men who lived in a city of idolaters. The young men, however, were not idolaters and told their fellow tribesmen:

"Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. We call on no other god except Him; (for if we did), we would have spoken outrageously (in disbelief).” (Koran 18:14)

Then the young men challenged the idolaters to bring them some proof of their authority to worship more than One God asking:

"Who does greater evil than he who forges a lie against Allah?" Koran, 18:15

The idolaters turned against the young men and it was then that Allah put into their hearts the notion to seek refuge in a cave where they would be safe from the idolaters. Taking their dog along with them, the young men set off for the cave and upon reaching it Allah caused them to fall into a deep sleep.

"You might have seen the rising sun incline towards the right of their Cave, and, as it set go past them on the left, while they stayed within an open space in the Cave. That was one of the signs of Allah .... You might have thought them awake, though they were sleeping. We turned them about to the right and to the left, while their dog stretched its paws at the entrance. Had you seen them you would surely have become filled with terror and turned your back on them in flight. As such We revived them so that they might question one another. 'How long have you stayed here?' asked one of them. 'We have been here a day, or part of it,' they replied.

They said: 'Your Lord knows best how long we have stayed here. Let one of you go to the city with this silver (coin) and let him search for one who has the purest food and bring provision from it. Let him be courteous, but let no one sense it is you. For, if they appear in front of you, they will stone you to death or restore you to their religion. Then you will never prosper.' And so We made them (the unbelievers) stumble upon them, so that they might know that the promise of Allah is true and that there is no doubt about the Hour. They argued among themselves over the affair, then (the unbelievers) said: ‘Build a building over them (their remains). Their Lord knows best who they were.' But those who prevailed over the matter said: 'We will build around them a Mosque.'" (Koran 18:17-22)

Regarding their number, the Revelation warned there was a difference of opinion among those who had heard the story and that:

"Some will say: 'They were three; their dog was the fourth.' Others, guessing at the Unseen, will say: 'They were five and their dog was the sixth.' And yet others: 'Seven, their dog was the eighth,' Say: 'My Lord knows best their number. Except for a few none know their number.' Therefore, do not dispute with them except in outward disputation, and do not ask any of them concerning them." (Koran 18:22)

The Story of Alexander the Great (thul-karnain)

The answer to the second question concerning the great traveler, Alexander, was sent down to the Prophet (sa) in the following verses:

"They will ask you about Thul-Karnain (Alexander). Say: 'I will recite to you something of this story. We established him in the land and gave him means to all things. He journeyed on a way until when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and nearby he found a nation. 'Thul-Karnain,' We said, 'you must either punish them or show them kindness.' He replied: 'The evil-doer we shall punish. Then he shall return to his Lord and He will punish him with a stern punishment. As for he who believes and does good works he shall receive a fine reward in recompense and we shall bestow on them a rich reward and shall speak to him with a mild command.'

Then he followed the road until he reached the rising of the sun, he found it rising upon a nation for whom We provided no veil against it to shade them. So, We encompassed in knowledge what was with him.

Then he followed the road, when he reached between the two barriers he found on one side of them, a nation who could barely understand speech. 'Thul-Karnain,' they said, 'Look, Gog and Magog are corrupting the earth. Build us a barrier between us and them, and we will pay you tribute.' He replied: 'That which my Lord has given me is better, therefore help me with all your power, and I will build a barrier between you and them. Bring me ingots of iron.' After he had leveled between the two cliffs, he said: 'Blow.'

And when he made it a fire, he said: 'Bring me molten copper so that I may pour over it.’ Thereafter they could neither scale it, nor could they pierce it. He said: 'This is a mercy from my Lord. But when my Lord's promise is come, He will make it dust. The promise of my Lord is true.' On that day, We will let them surge on one another, and the Horn shall be blown, and We will gather them all together. On that Day We shall present Gehenna to the unbelievers whose eyes were blinded to My remembrance and they were not able to hear." (Koran 18:83-101)

Concerning the Spirit

Concerning the answer relating to the Spirit it was revealed:

"They question you about the spirit. Say: 'The spirit is from the command of my Lord. Except for a little knowledge all of you have been given nothing.'” (Koran 17:85)

The Revelation also bore the reminder:

"'Do not say of anything: 'I will do it tomorrow unless (you add) if Allah wills.' And remember your Lord when you forget and say: ‘It may be that my Lord will guide me to something nearer to rectitude than this.'" (Koran 18:23-24)

The Prophet's life was full of guidance and examples. There was once an occasion later on in his prophethood where he offered three units of prayer when there should have been four. Had he not made this omission we would never have known how to correct our errors when we do the same. His omission to say "InshaAllah" was also another exemplary reminder to us through which we are guided.

Nadar and Utba Return with the Answers to the Rabbis

No one in Mecca had ever heard the story of the young men in the cave and the new Revelation attracted more people to Islam. As for the rabbis of Yathrib, they anxiously awaited for the news to arrive, and when it did, they acknowledged the truthfulness of the answers, however, they still wished to question the Prophet (sa) further upon the matter of the spirit. Even though the questions Nadar and Utba had challenged the Prophet (sa) with had been answered and acknowledged to be correct, their hearts remained hardened. Later, after his migration to Yathrib, the Prophet (sa) was questioned again by the rabbis concerning the spirit.

They asked: "Who, 'Little indeed is the knowledge all of you have been given" referred too -- was it to them?” Prophet Muhammad (sa), told them that it referred to them, whereupon the rabbis objected saying that they had been given its knowledge in the Torah. The Prophet (sa) replied that indeed they had been given sufficient knowledge to satisfy their needs, if only they would practice it, but in comparison with the Knowledge of Allah, their knowledge was indeed little. It was during this discourse that the Prophet (sa) received another Revelation that informed:

"Till Gog and Magog are let loose and slide down out of every slope." Koran 21:96

The Time of Gog and Magog

Later in his prophethood, the Prophet (sa) told his companions that near the end of the world, Gog, Magog and their followers would advance upon the Lake of Tabariah in Palestine. They will consume all of its water and it is then that Prophet Jesus - who will have descended from the heavens - together with his companions be besieged and suffer dreadfully from starvation. He continued to tell that when the siege reaches its height, Prophet Jesus and his companions will supplicate to Allah who will create in the back of the necks of Gog and Magog and their followers, worms, that will cause their death the very next morning.

Then, Allah will send a flock of birds with necks as large as those of camels to carry away their foul smelling corpses. Prophet Muhammad (sa), conveyed good news to his companions that after this trial, Allah will send down rain from the heavens which will cleanse the earth and the earth will provide an abundance of fruit for everyone to enjoy. Then, the Prophet (sa) told his companions that it is while the Muslims are enjoying such blessings that Allah will send a sweet, gentle breeze to take away the soul of each and every one of them, thereby leaving only those who disbelieve behind on the earth. The Prophet (sa) concluded his prophecy by telling his companions that after the death of the believers, only the most vile people will remain on the earth who will copulate in public just like donkeys for all to see and that it will be during this time that the final hour will commence.