I was brought a gold basin full of wisdom and faith, and then the (part of the body) right from the upper end of the chest to the lower part of the abdomen was opened and it was washed with the water of Zamzam and then flled with wisdom and faith.
The Book of Faith - Sahih Muslim 164b
This narration from Sahih Muslim describes the miraculous opening of the Prophet's chest (known as "Shaqq as-Sadr") which occurred during his childhood. The golden basin symbolizes divine purity and the exalted nature of the wisdom and faith bestowed upon him.
Scholarly Commentary
The "gold basin" represents the noble vessel through which divine knowledge was transmitted. Gold, being the purest metal, indicates the sanctity and perfection of the wisdom and faith granted to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
The opening from chest to abdomen signifies the purification of his entire spiritual and physical being. Zamzam water, blessed since the time of Prophet Ibrahim, was used to sanctify his inner vessel before filling it with divine attributes.
This event prepared the Prophet ﷺ for his future mission, cleansing him from all spiritual impurities and endowing him with perfect wisdom (Hikmah) and unwavering faith (Iman) necessary for conveying Allah's message to humanity.
Spiritual Significance
This miraculous event demonstrates Allah's special preparation of His final Messenger, purifying him physically and spiritually to bear the weight of revelation and prophethood.
The filling with wisdom and faith indicates that the Prophet's ﷺ entire being became a receptacle for divine knowledge and perfect belief, making him the ideal guide for all humanity until the Day of Judgment.