Prophet Muhammad was born in the year 570 in the town of Mecca, a mountain town in the high desert plateau of western Arabia. He was the first and only son of Abd Allah bin Al-Muttalib and Amina bint Wahb. Abd Allah died before Muhammad’s birth and Muhammad was raised by his mother Amina, who in keeping with Meccan tradition entrusted her son at an early age to a wet nurse named Halima from the nomadic tribe of the Sa’d ibn Bakr. He grew up in the hill country, learning pure Arabic.
The name “Muhammad” means “One who is worthy of praise”. Prophet Muhammad was a descendant of the Prophet Ismail, the son of Prophet Ibrahim.
- The Prophet was breastfed by his own mother Amina for three days only. As was the custom in those days, he was then given to a foster mother to nurse. Two women had this honor:
1. Suwaybah, was a slave of Abu Lahab and nursed the Prophet for four months. The Prophet and his wife Khadija regarded her with great kindness throughout her life. When the Prophet returned from the battle of Khaybar he learned of her death and was saddened by it.
2. Halimah. She belonged to the tribe of Sa’d bin Bakr. She brought up the Prophet outside the city of Macca in the desert. He stayed with her for five years
Prophet Muhammad was not yet seven years old when his mother died. After his mother’s death, his grandfather Abdul-Muttalib assumed guardianship of him. Because of his knowledge of the status of the child and his faith in him he treated Muhammad with more care and attention than his other children.
Abdul-Muttalib was one of the chiefs of the tribe of Quraysh. He always respected and honored agreements and embraced the finest of moralities. Abdul-Muttalib loved the poor and helped travelers. He would even feed the wild animals and the birds of the mountaintops. He would feed people in times of famine and would imprison offenders.
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Two years later, his aged grandfather who was not eighty-two also died. The young boy followed the bier of his grandfather at the age of eight, with a heavy heart and tearful eyes. The charge of the Prophet was now passed on to his uncle Abu Talib, There were many reasons why Abdul Muttalib chose Abu Talib as the guardian of the Prophet, Abu Talib and Abdullah were born of the same mother. He was also well known for his generous nature. He treated the Prophet better than his own sons, and never let him feel lonely.
When the Prophet was twelve years old, Abu Talib took him on a trade journey. At Basra, the caravan stopped to stock up on supplies for the rest of the journey. There was an old Christian monk whose name was Bahira, when he saw the Prophet he asked, “Who is this boy?” Abu Talib answered that he was his nephew. Bahira then said, “This boy has a brilliant future. He is the same Prophet whose coming has been foretold in the Heavenly Books. His religion will spread throughout the world. However, you must guard him from the Jews, because if they learn about him, they will kill him”.
Some historians say that after this warning, Abu Talib did not like to continue his journey and returned with the prophet to Macca, while others say that he went on to Syria but kept an extra watch over the safety of him. In any case, Abu Talib was more careful than before about the safety of his nephew.
As the Prophet grew up, the people around him noticed that this young man was not like others of his age. People admired his character and bravery and all the Quraish liked him.
In his youth, the prophet accompanied his uncle Abu Talib on trade journeys to Syria and Yemen. He soon gained a reputation in Macca for his good business sense, honesty, and trustworthiness.
People were so impressed by his qualities of him, that they began to call him as-Sadiq (the Truthful) and al-Ameen (the Trustworthy).
Such was the character of our Holy Prophet and in later years even his enemies would still leave their belongings with him for safekeeping when they went on a trip away from Mecca.
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