Everybody Was Waiting For Him
The period prior to the emergence of Islam was known as the Jahiliyya – The Age of Ignorance. It was period when people were uncivilised. The weak and helpless were forced into slavery and marginalised from society. The bonds between kin and neighbours were not strong, and people had no trust for each other. Women were debased and newly born girls were buried alive. People worshiped idols and believe in superstition. Two people who lived during that time explain the following:
“We had ignorant and barbaric lives. We worshiped idols, we were immoral and we fought amongst our kin. We didn’t honour our neighbours and the strong amongst us oppressed the weak.”
“We are people who lived the Age of Ignorance. We would worship idols and burry our own children alive. I had a daughter. When I’d called her she’d come running in joy. One day I called her as usual and took her to a nearby well. I grabbed her by the hands and threw her down the chute. She cried ‘father!’ Her voice still haunts me.”
Was this all that occurred? Definitely not!
People worshiped idols in place of the true God. The house of Allah, the Kaaba, was filled with idols.
People were forced into slavery and were bought and sold in slave markets. Human life had no value whatsoever.
The strong oppressed the weak. The weak had nowhere to go in order to seek their rights. Those who were powerful took advantage of the status quo.
People would consume vast amounts of alcohol, prostituted women and would gamble all night.
Some individuals were uncomfortable with this state of affairs yet, there was little they could do. Their numbers were limited and they were unhappy with the state of society. They yearned for somebody who would guide the society to the right path. As in the past, was Allah the Almighty going to send a prophet?
Many people were concerned with this issue. The same had occurred in the past ages and on each occasion Allahhad sent a prophet to guide humanity. The prophets proclaimed the right path. Some people believed in them and others denied their messages.
For example Noah, Salih and Hud were prophets of Allah. Each was sent to a society, similar to the people of Mecca, who had strayed from the right path. Allah sent these prophets to warn people and each of them strived to proclaim his law.
Abraham was a prophet who strived relentlessly. Those who denied his prophethood tried to burn him. However, Allah the Almighty saved him from the fire.
Allah gave books to some prophets . These holy scriptures enlightened people. Allah gave prophet Moses the Torah, prophet David the Psalms and prophet Jesus the Bible. Each of the prophets invited people to the truth and righteousness.
It had been nearly 600 years since the death of prophet Jesus. People had begun to act unjustly and rebel against Allah. The wise men thought the arrival of a new prophet was near. Everyone was waiting for the new prophet.
A Holy Birth
It was the last days in the month of April. Abdulmuttalib was awaiting a grandson. His birth was immanent.
It was the month of April in the year 571. On the 20th day our prophet was born.
He reflected on recent events and turned to the Kaaba. What had happened appeared in front of him once more: his confrontation with the governor of Yemen, Abraha, who had come to destroy the Kaaba and the sight of his camels being taken away.While Abraha expected Abdulmuttalib to plead for the Kaaba he said, “I’m the owner of my camels, and Allah is the owner of the Kaaba. He will protect it.” Allah did protect the Kaaba and Abdulmuttalib once again felt His greatness.
Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with the possessors of the elephant? Did He not cause their war to end in confusion, And send down (to prey) upon them birds in flocks, Casting against them stones of baked clay, So He rendered them like straw eaten up?
Surah Fiil
As he thought of his son Abdullah (Mohammad’s father), sorrow had overwhelmed him. It was difficult for him. His son had passed away shortly after his marriage to Amina. Now he was waiting the birth of his grandchild.
At that moment someone came running. “Greetings Abdulmuttalib. You’ve just had a grandson.” The old man felt his heart beating rapidly. His eyes were filled with tears of joy.
Did He not find you an orphan and give you shelter?
Duha, 6
He came running home. As he entered the house he heard the sound of a crying infant. He took him in his arms and he felt a mixed feeling of happiness and sorrow. When he kissed him he remembered his son Abdullah. He wanted to cry, but didn’t want to cry in front of others. He preferred to cry silently. Abdulmuttalib turned to Amina and asked her what they should name the child. She said, “Mohammad” He became silent. The name was not familiar in their household. Amina explained the dream she saw whereby she was told, “You will give birth to a son. Name him Mohammad.” Abdulmuttalib thus named his orphaned grandson Mohammad.
He then took his tiny grandchild to the Kaaba. He prayed, thanking Allah the Almighty for giving him a grandson. When asked why he named him Mohammad , “so that people and Allah would praise him”, he replied.
When Abdulmuttalib returned from the Kaaba he saw that his wife and his son Abbas had come to Amina’s house. It was a custom to visit the house of the newly born baby. Abbas was only three years old. With a look of astonishment Abbas gazed at him and touched his face with his small hands. He wanted to kiss him. He then leaned over his cot and kissed Mohammad.
First Departure
The hot climate of Mecca was not appropriate for raising babies. Thus, many people in Mecca would send their infants to the villages where they were nurtured by a foster mother. This was a source of income in these villages.
It had been one week since the birth of Mohammad (pbuh). In accordance with this custom Amina was looking for a step mother. However, most people didn’t want to take a child who’s father had passed away as they thought they wouldn’t be able to earn much.
His grandfather was searching as well. He took his grandson in his arms and roamed the streets in search of someone who would accept the infant. It was difficult, yet Abdulmuttalib didn’t relent. After a long search he found a lady named Halima and asked, “would you like to look after an orphan?”Halima didn’t have any other children in her custody and after discussions with her husband she accepted the proposal.
During the prophet’s marriage to Hatija, Halima came to Mecca to visit him. Our prophet hugged her and said, “my beloved mother.” He asked if she had any needs. Halima told him that there was a severe drought in her region and that it had caused much hardship for the inhabitants of the village. He sent her off with a gift of 40 sheep and a camel.
Halima took Mohammad (pbuh) and after preparations they embarked on a journey. It was a long journey and she finally arrived at her village.
Mohammad (pbuh) was growing fast and his new sister Shayma and brother Abdullah had become accustomed to him. Mohammad (pbuh) enjoyed the village environment and playing in the fields. He was happy there.
Not before long Halima’s husband realised that Mohammad (pbuh) was a different child. This was because his arrival had bought their house more happiness and blessings.
Time was progressing rapidly and Mohammad (pbuh) had reached the age of 5. It was time for him to return to his mother Amina. However, Halima and her family had become so accustomed to him that this would be a difficult separation. She took him back to Mecca and when handing him to Amina she wept. She felt like she was loosing her own child. Halima left Mecca to her village in sarrow.
Mohammad (pbuh) spent his days in Mecca becoming accustomed to his mother’s household.
Amina’s brothers were living in Madinah. So Amina took Mohammad to visit her brothers. His nanny Ummu Ayman came with them as well. They stayed in Madinah for a month and then departed for Mecca. On their arrival at the village of Ebwa, Amina became ill.
His Mother’s Last Kiss
In Mecca Ummu Ayman went searching for Abdulmuttalib. They were able to reach the town after 5 days. How was she going to tell him of her death? At that momant the sight of Mohammad (pbuh) appeared in front of her eyes. The orphan had now lost his mother as well.
On finding Abdulmuttalib she was unable to hide her tears. Abdulmuttalib knew of his bride Amina’s illness. However, he was anxious because he was unable to receive any further news. He became even more nervous when he didn’t see Amina with Ummu Ayman. The news wasn’t good. He knew this from the look on her face. Ummu Ayman put her head down and said, “Amina passed away.”Abdulmuttalib hugged Mohammad (pbuh) tightly to relieve his pain.
Ummu Ayman later told him about what had happened. They had left Madinah and reached Ebwa after a two days walk. Amina became ill and once she realised that she was living her final moments she had a talk with her son. She kissed him and then passed away.
After loosing his father at Madinah and his mother at Ebwa Mohammd (pbuh) was looking for a place of refuge. It was his grandfather who was to look after him from now on.
Our beloved prophet visited his mother’s grave after the Emigration and fixed it with his own hands. He was unable to hold back his tears and when asked why he was crying he replied, “I cry out my love for her.”
His Grandfather Abdulmuttalib
He lived for two years with his grandfather. They went everywhere together. During the year of severe drought he even took him to the prayers for rain. He would not sit for dinner without him. Everywhere the two would go he sit him on a pedestal. When asked for the reason he’d reply. “ in the future he will become an influential man.”
A voice said, “Abdulmuttalib has died.” Everyone in the house started crying. Those looking at Mohammad (pbuh) could see him in corner crying. The news had affected Mohammad (pbuh) more than anyone else. Abdulmuttalib was like a father to him. His grandfather had treated him with such compassion that he didn’t feel he had no mother or father.
Mohammad (pbuh) was crying profoundly. He only came to himself when someone tapped him on his shoulder. When he looked up he saw it was his uncle Ebu Talib. His uncle took him by the hand and raised him to his feet. He rubbed his head and said, “Your grandfather left you in my custody.” From that time on, his uncle was to look after him.
In the later years when his uncle’s wife Fatima, the daughter of Esed, died, the prophet grieved. He said, “on this day my mother died” and made her a shroud from his own shirt. When asked about her he’d say, “nobody did more good for me than my uncle Ebu Talib and his wife. She was like a mother to me. She’d feed me before her own children and comb my hair before she’d comb theirs.”
His Uncle Ebu Talib
Mohammad (pbuh) knew that preparations were being made for a journey to Damascus. The journey could take months. Mohammad (pbuh) didn’t want to stay in Mecca without his uncle and asked him to take him as well. Ebu Talib said the journey would be long and exhausting. He could become sick and he told him he will not be taking him.
Mohammad (pbuh) cried and grabbed the saddle of his camel saying, “Uncle, if you go who will I stay here with.”
Ebu Talib was touched by his nephew’s plea and replied, “OK. I will take you with me. From now on the two of us will be inseparable.”
From that day on Ebu Talib took his nephew Mohammad (pbuh) everywhere he went.
Ebu Talib had a large family and his financial situation was not good. He and his wife didn’t want Mohammad (pbuh) to feel that he was a bourdon on them. In return Mohammad (pbuh) would help his uncle and wife with their affairs. At times he would do their chores, at other times he’d look after their livestock and be their shepherd. His aunt would not treat him any different than her own children.
Thus, Mohammad (pbuh) lived in his uncle’s household until adulthood.
When our prophet was asked whether he worshiped to idols or took alcohol when he was young, he answered ‘No’.
He was never mixed up with the wickedness of his society throughout his life.