The Story of Jurayj, one of the devout worshippers from the Children of Israel

Imam Aḥmad said: Wahb ibn Jarīr narrated to us; my father [Jarīr] narrated to me; I heard Muḥammad ibn Sīrīn relate from Abū Hurayrah who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Only three spoke while still in the cradle: Jesus son of Mary…

Among the Children of Israel there was a man of worship named Jurayj. He built a hermitage and would devote himself to worship inside it. The Children of Israel once spoke admiringly of Jurayj’s devotion, whereupon a prostitute among them said, ‘If you wish, I can tempt him to ruin.’ They answered, ‘We wish it.’

She went to him and tried to seduce him, but he paid her no attention. She then offered herself to a shepherd who used to shelter his flock at the foot of Jurayj’s hermitage; she became pregnant by him and later gave birth to a boy. When people asked her, ‘Who is the father?’ she replied, ‘Jurayj.’

They came to Jurayj, dragged him down, cursed and beat him, and demolished his hermitage. He said, ‘What is the matter with you?’ They replied, ‘You committed fornication with this prostitute, and she has borne a son.’ He asked, ‘Where is the child?’ They said, ‘Here he is.’

Jurayj stood, performed prayer, and supplicated. He then turned to the infant, prodded him with his finger, and said, ‘By Allah, little one, who is your father?’ The child answered, ‘I am the son of the shepherd.’

The people leapt toward Jurayj, kissing him and saying, ‘We shall rebuild your hermitage in gold!’ He replied, ‘I have no need of that; rebuild it from clay as it was before.’

The Prophet continued: While a woman was sitting with her nursing infant in her lap, a well-dressed rider of imposing appearance passed by. She said, ‘O Allah, make my son like this man.’ The child left her breast, looked at the rider, and said, ‘O Allah, do not make me like him,’ then returned to suckle.

Abū Hurayrah said: It is as though I can see the Messenger of Allah ﷺ imitating the child, putting his finger to his mouth and suckling it.

Then they passed by a slave-girl who was being beaten, and the mother said, ‘O Allah, do not make my son like her.’ The child left the breast, looked at the girl, and said, ‘O Allah, make me like her.’

Mother and child then exchanged words. She exclaimed, ‘Alas! A rider of noble bearing passed by; I prayed, “O Allah, make my son like him,” yet you said, “O Allah, do not make me like him.” Then this slave-girl came along; I prayed, “O Allah, do not make my son like her,” yet you said, “O Allah, make me like her!”’

The child replied, ‘Mother, that rider is one of the tyrants. As for this girl, people claim she has committed adultery though she has not, and accuse her of theft though she has not stolen. She merely says, “Allah is sufficient for me.”’