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The Birthday of The Holy Prophet Muhammad [P.B.U.H]

THE BIRTHDAY OF THE HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMAD
12 OR 17 OF RABI-UL AWAL

Birth and Childhood
More than one thousand forty hundred years ago, on April 25 in 570 A.D., a child was born in Mecca. His mother, Aminah, the daughter of “Wahab ibn ‘Abd Manaf, was a patient and pious woman. Allah selected her as the mother of Muhammad (p.b.u.h) (Allah’s Messenger) and she was comparable to the Virgin Mary (p.b.u.h), mother of Jesus Christ (p.b.u.h); the only difference is that Aminah become pregnant just as other women do, unlike Mary. She also lived the like Virgin Mary, as she was pregnant with the best of creations of the world, thus, maintaining the abode of the prophet sanctified.

Muhammad’s father, ‘Abd Allah ib ‘Abd al-Mutalib, the dearest child of ‘Abd al-Mutalib, was the most handsome and popular man of the household. He had a pure and confident heart, and was satisfied with what would be destined for him; he was noted for his generosity even at hard times. Most of the women loved ‘Abd Allah because he was handsome and attractive. He was, nevertheless, a pious and modest man and did nothing unlawful.

When he was returning from Syria to Yathrib, ‘Abd Allah passed away and was unable to see his child. According to the traditions of large families in Mecca, ‘Aminah put Muhammad (p.b.u.h) under the care of a wet-nurse named Halimah to be brought up in the vast plains, far away from the city impurity. Halimah, the pure hearted and kind woman, was fond of the sweet child whose entrance to the tribe brought them lots of favours and divine graces. Nobody knew that one day this child will be the Prophet of mercy and his magnificent name will be called upon by many Muslims to the end of the world. This is surely the honour for the people all over the world.

Halimah sent back Muhammad (p.b.u.h) to Mecca when he was five. Two years later, Aminah taking Muhammad (p.b.u.h) with herself, went to Medina to see her father and mother and to visit her husband’s tomb. After one month, when returning to Mecca with her son, Aminah passed away in a place called al-Abwa’, and Muhammad (p.b.u.h) became an orphan at the age of six.

The pain of orphanhood distressed his fine soul more than before. Afterwards, a woman called Umm Ayman took Muhammad ((p.b.u.h), now like a withered flower, to Mecca. The death of Muhammad’s parents took place by Allah’s willing; this was to enable him at the early ages of life experience the sufferings of human beings especially, those deprived. From that time on, his grandfather took care of him. ‘Abd al-Mutalib was the father of the youth of the Quraysh and a brother for the middle-aged. There was an obvious sovereignty in his appearance, and in his stature there existed a strong will accompanied by a graceful tranquility and calmness as well as a sense of fulfilment. He played the role of a haven for people the was close and sociable with them and was the most popular man among the household. He never got angry with anyone and never considered himself as superior to others. The people of Mecca confided in him and were gratified with his judgement, even if it was not in their favour. He was very kind to his exalted and magnanimous grandson whose shining appearance was full of great divine signs. Taking care of Muhammad (p.b.u.h) (the Messenger of Allah) like a real father, ‘abd al-Mutalib never called him a child of ‘Abd Allah but ‘my child’. In this way he felt himself as much as possible, close to him. However, two years later ‘abd a-Muttalib passed away, and Muhammad (p.b.u.h) became deprived of his grandfather, too. ‘abd al-Muttalib’s anxiety in the last moments of his life was for Muhammad, his dear grandson.

After the deceased of ‘abd al-Muttalib, Muhammad (p.b.u.h) went under the care of his paternal uncle, Abu Talib. He took care of Muhammad (p.b.u.h) properly and took him constantly to wherever he went.

He cherished and protected his dear nephew up to the last moments of his life, with full affection and kindness. Even in the most difficult and unpleasant situations when the Quraysh aristocrats, who were stubborn people, conspired to kill Muhammad (p.b.u.h), Abu Talib protected his beloved nephew at the peril of his own life. He was fearless in this regard and totally ignored the anger of the people.


Released by Office of Cultural and Religious Affairs, IUCG