A Review of the Article “Buhira” in the Encyclopedia of Islam

One of the stories that Orientalists recount in order to raise doubt in the origin of revelation and the mission of the Prophet Muhammad (s), is the story of Buḥīra the monk. By claiming a historical origin for this story, the author of the article “Buḥīra” in the Encyclopedia of Islam, seeks to show that the Prophet (s) learnt the teachings of the Qurʾān as a child from this Christian monk. On the other hand, Muslims have used this story to prove the credibility of the Prophet’s mission. The report of this story in Sunnī historical sources, as well as in some of the Shīʿa works that quote from Sunnī sources, has provided grounds for misuse by Orientalists. The historical origin of this story has been seriously criticized by many Shīʿī scholars and some reformist scholars among the Sunnīs as well. In addition, some of the internal discrepancies, contradiction with historical facts, profound differences between the Qurʾān and Christian doctrines of monotheism, prophecy, etc. all show that this story is fabricated.