1  Now as they journeyed to Syria they stopped at Bostra and supped with the monk Bahira, and talked through the evening about the Gods, and the way of religion, and Muhammed listened intently.  And finally the monk, recognizing the wisdom in his eyes, said "What say you, young man, what God do you worship?"
2  "I worship The One True God," Muhammed answered, "Truth and love.  Man tends to break God into little pieces.  He makes Zeus The Father, and Hera The Mother, Mercury, The God Of War, and so on and so forth.  But what they are actually worshipping is the aspects of The One True God.  For all these things are in The One True God.
2  But man has divided up The True God's Teachings, and each people claimed a part of It here and there, when they must bring ALL the parts together, and make them One.
3  The Hebrews, The Jews, have The Law, others have Wisdom, still others have Strength.  For all to be united God must be made one singular and complete, that all who worship Him should worship Him in His Wonder And Glory.
4  God is Truth, nothing else can be said.  God is Love, nothing else can be said.
5  This is what Jesus taught, this is what this Moses taught.  This is what Our Father Abraham began.  The Truth needs to be united."
6  Now there was one there named Ptolemy, who was a Greek, and he spoke up, saying, "But my truths aren't the same as The Hebrews', as The Judaens'.  How can there be one God when our Truths are so different?
7  Muhammed sat back and stared at him.  "Did your God not say to honor your fathers and mothers?"  he asked.
8  "Of course!" the Greek answered.
9  "Did your God not teach you not to covet your neighbor's wife?"
10  "Of course He did!"  the Greek answered.
11  "Did your God not teach you not to steal from your neighbors?"  Muhammed asked.
12  "Of course He did!"  the Greek answered.
13  "Did your God not teach you not to bear false witness?"
14  "Of course He did!" the Greek answered.
15  "And last of all," Muhammed asked, "did your God not teach you to love your neighbor as yourself?"
16  The Greek stared at Muhammed and then understood his words.  "Yes, of course!"  he finally replied.  "We were taught these things in different ways, but we were taught them.  I see what you are saying, young man!  You are wise, indeed, for your age!  I will contemplate these things that you have said greatly, and I will share them with others, for it is wisdom well worth sharing.
17  We all worship one God.  We have all been taught the same things, but we have been taught them in different ways.  Yes, indeed, young man!  Yours is a great Wisdom!"
18  Now the monk declared it was time for bed, and ushered them all off to their chambers.  But he stopped Muhammed's uncle and spoke to him in private.  "Nurture this young man," he said, provide well for him, for he is a Gift From God.  And there will come an hour when he will do great things."
19  "I brought him precisely that you might see him," Abu answered.  "Now I am MORE than glad that I did."
20  Now, they returned to Mecca, and there were years of peace.  Then bandits began to attack the caravans coming up to Mecca, and all were at a loss as to what to do.  But Muhammed, being a young and vital man at that time, had no question what needed to be done.
21  He gathered around him a body of swift, hard riders and they went down into the caravan routes, and within a year's time these bandits that survived, fled, telling all that practiced their trade "Go not near Mecca. There is a demon there called Muhammed, who has a band of horrors that no man can kill."
22  Now, Muhammed returned to Mecca and decided that it was time to take a wife.  And he went to a cousin, Umm Hani, who he was extremely fond of, and proposed to her.  But she rejected him, saying, "You are a man, Muhammed, who will not be much to keep a home. You are far too interested in the affairs of others.  You have a little but not as much as I would like.  I mean you no offense, I wish us always to be friends.  But I want a husband that will have roots that are deep in the ground, and sure, so I will not wonder from night to night, where he is. Though I may say someday, with regret, that I could've been Muhammed's wife, I must tell you no."
23  And Muhammed did not rebuke her, but said "I understand what is in your heart, for your words are true.  I am a man whose Soul is much in the affairs of others.  I am disappointed, but I will always value your friendship."
24  So, taking his foster brother as a servant, Muhammed moved into a small house in Mecca, and there carried on his business. And he was not the richest in the city, but he was the most loved.