ABSTRACT
Tradition records that Muhammad was born about the year a.d. 570. There are, however, traces in the Traditions of the early growth of a belief in the Prophet’s pre-existence. This is reflected, for example in two passages from the Mishkátu:
‘Ab’u: “The Companions said: ‘O messenger of God, when were you confirmed a Prophet?’ He said, ‘When Adam was between soul and body.’”
‘ Ib’ad-bin-Sa’riah: “Verily I was written near God the last of the Prophets; and verily Adam was in his own clay.”‘ 1
