Besides this...
Besides this, persistent want and
earnest desire to have sexual intercourse are influential on the
appearance and intelligence of the child. In light of these two points (the nutritional and psychological effects
upon children), we move on to elaborate on the subject by verifying it
through a selection of narrations mentioned in Volume 6 of Bihar al-
Digitized by: www.playandlearn.org 35
Gabriel descended to the Messenger of Allah (S) and told him: "O
Muhammad! The Most Exalted sends His peace upon you and
commands you to refrain from (coming close to) Khadijah for forty
It was difficult for the Prophet, who loved and adored Khadijah to do
so; nevertheless (in obedience to Allah's command) he spent forty
days fasting and praying nights. When it was close to the end of the
forty days, he summoned Ammar Ibn Yasser and asked him to go to
"O Khadijah! do not assume that my separation from you means
abandoning or forsaking you, rather my Lord commanded me to do so,
so expect nothing save benevolence, for surely Allah (exalted is His
Name) praises you to His most honorable angels several times a day. Therefore, with nightfall, close the door and lay down to sleep; for I will
be staying at Fatima Bint Assad's house."
This brought sad tidings to Khadijah who missed having the Prophet
At the end of the forty days, Gabriel once again descended to Allah's
Messenger and said: "O Muhammad! The Most Exalted sends His
peace upon you and commands you to be prepared for His salutation
The Prophet said: "Gabriel! What is the Lord of the world's gift and
Gabriel said: "I have no knowledge of it."
At that moment, Michael descended with a plate covered with a
kerchief made of brocade or sarcenet and presented it to the Prophet! Gabriel said to him (S): "O Muhammad, your Lord commands you to
break your fasting with this food tonight."
Imam Ali Ibn Abu Talib (A) said in this regard: "The Prophet (S) used
to order me to open the door to whoever wanted to join him when he
came to break his fast, but that night he ordered me to guard the door
of the house and said to me: `O son of Abu Talib! this food is forbidden
Then he (A) said: "I sat at the door, and the Prophet (S) uncovered the
plate, in privacy, to find a cluster of dates and a bunch of grapes; he
ate until satisfied and drank his need of water. He then extended his
hands to be washed, so Gabriel poured the water, Michael washed his
hands, and Israfil dried them.
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