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What is the authenticity of the story narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) regarding Jibreel (peace be upon him) taking care of the Samiri as a child, enabling him to recognize Jibreel because of that, which led him to grasp a handful from his trace? And is there any evidence for the authenticity of this story?

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Some exegetes mentioned that the Samiri was born in the year when Pharaoh would kill the children of Israel one year and spare them the next. Fearing for him, his mother placed him in a cave, and Gabriel (peace be upon him) nourished him, which is why he recognized him. Poetry has been recited saying: "And Moses whom Gabriel nurtured became an infidel And Moses whom Pharaoh nurtured became a messenger." Some scholars have weakened these narrations, mentioning that this is not found even in the books of the Israelites. Narrations from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) conveying this have been transmitted, but they are from the path of Al-Kalbi, who is weak; in fact, scholars have counted him among the liars. It was said concerning the interpretation of Allah's saying: (Then I grasped a handful from the اثر of the Messenger), that the Samiri saw Gabriel on a horse, and it was cast into his mind to take a handful from the اثر of his horse, so he did, or that it was cast into his mind that if the اثر of this horse were thrown into something, he would achieve what he desired.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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