Munajmin

Sawed ben Kareb al-Dussi and Hanfar bin al-Tawam al-Humairi, the two Munajmin (astrologers, soothsayers communicating with demons) with whom Mohammed is consulting from time to time, are usually telling the prophet how great he is. Now that the Khaybar campaign is over and the remaining Jews of Hejaz have been exiled, a jubilant Mohammed is waiting for the coming of the new moon to receive a fresh word from his Munajmin.

Nervous and anxious, they deliver their message to Mohammed. “O prophet of Allah,” they say, “bad news we heard. Woe to the Arabs for the coming calamity, kill yourself, if you only could.” Mohammed’s heart sinks. This is about the Jewish vengeance, he knows, and realizes that this prophecy must be concealed.

He therefore delivers another verse, found in Surat al-Jinn, which prohibits Muslims to consult demons (jinns). “Anyone who now tries to listen [to Munajmin] will find a flame lying in wait for him!” But Mohammed also knows that somewhere in the Hejaz, a Jew is carrying the scrolls containing the secret...

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