Muhammad, the posthumous child

By Muhammad Embeay

As-Salaam Alaikum, Wa-Rahamatullah, Wa-Barakatuhoo

May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings, be with you.

I seek refuge in Allah against the accursed devil.

In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.

WHEREAS, when Muhammad was born over 14 centuries ago, he was just like a child, one of thousands that are born into the world everyday, but for whom the future held many surprising and wonderful things in store.

The name of this child's mother was Ameenah, and the names of his father and grandfather were Abdullah and Abdul Muttalib respectively.

The birth of the child gave rise to conflicting emotions in the hearts of his near ones, emotions, both of joy and sorrow. There was joy because there was born to them a child who would continue the line of his forefathers and keep their name alive in the world.

There was sorrow because the child reminded his mother of her loving and most beloved husband. His grand father, of a most obedient son, who had left the world before the birth of his child. Muhammad's features his winning smile, the look of wonder in his eyes with which he beheld this strange world into which he had been so recently ushered.

In short, everything connected with him brought back to the bereaved wife and the desolate father, the dear memories of the young husband and son who had seven months previously, left his dear ones to return to his maker.

Joy, however, predominated over sorrow, for the birth of this child was a guarantee that the name of the deceased would be rescued from oblivion.

His grand father gave to this child, who was born an orphan, the name Muhammad, and he began to thrive under the care of his mother and of a wet nurse employed by his uncle.

To be precise, on the 12th of the Lunar month of Rabiul "Awwal, that is, Monday, April 20, 571 A.D, a child was born in Makka in the memorably year of the Elephant, only 53 days after the destruction of the Abyssinian Army led by Abraha, that invaded Makka with the sole purpose of destroying the Ka'aba, the ancient and the oldest House of God on earth.

The child was Prophet Muhammad, on whom be the peace and blessing of Allah.

During his lifetime, he led a singularly crowded life with events, most especially in the 10 years after the emigration from Makka to Madina.

But before he died at the age of 63 years, his life was also outstanding filled to the brim with achievement in every sphere, with an impression so deep and so permanent. The pattern of human life as it has developed before now and indeed, the course of human history since his days as Muhammad, the servant of Allah most pre-eminent of Allah and his messenger per-excellence.

Muhammad's father, Abdullah, a Quraish of the Banu Hashim family, at the age of 24 years, married a virtuous and accomplished lady Ameenah, the daughter of Wahb-bin-Abu-Manaf, who belonged to ZUHRA family of another branch of the distinguished stock of Quraish.

A few days after Abdullah was married to Ameenah, he went on a trading journey to Syria. On his way home, Abdullah took ill and died at Madina, which was then known as Yatrib. Thus Muhammad was born a post humours fatherless child.

At the time of her husband's death, Ameenah was pregnant and in due course gave birth to a son. She sent for her father in-law, Abdul Muttalib, who took the child in his arms and joyfully went to the Ka'aba and offered thanks to God, he also prayed for his grandson.

Before the birth of Muhammad, his mother had dreamt that he, Muhammad, had already been born, she also dreamt that he should be named, Muhammad, which means, he who is praised. Ameenah, in addition, saw in another dream a very bright light flowing out from her and spreading far and wide to all countries.

The people of Makka used to send their babies away to be nursed by women in the countryside where the air was better for the children than in the town environment.

Ameenah wanted one of those nurses to take care of Muhammad, but when the women heard that the child's father was dead they all refused to take him, for fear that they would not be paid with adequate money and in time.

This happened because they did not know that he, Muhammad was to become the master of Kings and Emperors.

The way of God is always wonderful. He had already arranged how Ameenah would be made happy and how Muhammad might be nursed in the country side. For, among those who came to Makka from about 60 kilometres to take away children with them for nursing, was a poor woman named Haleemah. She went about from house to house, asking for baby to nurse, but no parent wished to trust their child to a poor woman.

After failing at every other house to secure a child to nurse, she decided to take this fatherless child, so that other women should not laugh at her, for coming away without any child to nurse.

Thus for a few days after his birth, Muhammad was nursed by his mother and Thuwaiba, a slave of his uncle, Abu Lahab. After that, the child was entrusted to the care of a Bedouin village nurse, Haleemah of the tribe of Banu Saad.

At the end of two years, when the child was weaned, Haleemah brought Muhammad to his mother, but due to the epidemic and unhealthy climate in Makka them, the sagacious and sensible mother sent the child back with Haleemah.

Muhammad then lived with Haleemah for another two years and enjoyed the blessings of the fresh air of the pastoral valleys and had the opportunity to learn the most eloquent of the Arabic dialect before he was returned to his mother, Ameenah, at about the age of six.

Shortly after his return, his mother, went with Muhammad, on a visit to her relatives at Madina. But on her way back to Makka, she died, and was buried at Abwa, a place of loving recollection to the prophet in his latter years.

Thus Muhammad was deprived of the affectionate care of his mother and, being already fatherless, he was also bereft of filial approach of the father or the child's inclination towards his father.

This was how Muhammad became an orphan, at the tender age of six. After his mother's death, Muhammad returned to Makka with his nurse UmmAyman, who had accompanied him and his mother on the memorable journey to Madina.

Now, Abdul Mutalib, the grandfather, became exceedingly grieved when he heard the sad news of Ameenah's death and took his grandson into his custody. Abdul Mutalib treated Muhammad with great care and tenderness. Scarcely had three years passed, when the old grandfather also died. So that at the early age of eight years, Muhammad was without all those who loved him dearly.

When Abdul Muttalib was about to die, he handed over his beloved grandchild into the watchful custody of his son AbuTalib, who succeeded him as the guardian of the Ka'aba and in all other civil dignities.

Muhammad, on whom be the peace and blessings of Allah, had a simple face, and yet looked like a person of importance. He was of middle height and size with a large, well-shaped head, and a wide forehead. His dark eyes were full of light and had long eyelashes. His teeth were very white, his hair was black and thick; his colour was fair, his appearance and manners were so pleasant that he won the hearts of all who saw him.

The Holy Prophet's love for the poor, the helpless, the fatherless and women who had lost their husbands, was very great, such that, from his early years, Muhammad brought help to anyone who needed it and he would take no rest till justice had been done.

Muhammad's honesty, truthfulness, kindness and purity earned for him the enviable title of Al-Ameen, in Arabic which both means "he is who truthful and he who can be trusted." Al-Ameen also means honesty, not only in monetary matters, but in every other things.

If an orphan is living with people who think far too much of him, their indulgence will indeed spoil him. On the other hand, if he lives with people who take him for a stranger and treat him unkindly, he will tend to get disheartened, and develop a gloomy outlook on life. Placed in so delicate a situation as a child, Muhammad displayed a remarkable character with excellent table manners.

As a child, he would not spring upon things to eat, but would wait aside with dignity. Not until his aunt sent for him, would Muhammad come forward to take his share of the food, of which he would then partake with the same dignity, which characterised the rest of his bearing as a child.

Muhammad's foster mother remarked that, Muhammad as a child, was good-natured, that even his fellow children were impressed by him. His foster-brothers observed that Muhammad never took part in any vain and wasteful sports. Though he had his own juvenile tricks, pranks and failure, he hated being anything other than truthful. He was full of sympathy for his fellow children, even at that age. They regarded him as a sort of chief, for his early life was so pure and good as an extraordinary good child. This shows that from childhood, his behaviour was pure and serious. Abu-Talib said to the boy's youngest uncle, Abbas:

"I have never heard Muhammad tell a lie nor have I seen him play with the boys in the street. They boy naturally disliked the quarrelling and fighting which were generally a part of these street games."

In those days, the people of Arabia had many foolish beliefs, and worshipped idols, instead of the one God. But there was nothing the prophet hated more, even from his earliest days, than the worship of idols. He never took part in it, and always refused to eat any food that had been offered to an idol.

The homes in which Muhammad lived as a child were not wealthy, and the other children did not behave well. For example, at their meals, they gathered round their mother, and called out loudly for what they wanted. Each tried to get more food than the others. But while the other children were making noise, Muhammad sat by himself quietly, waiting for his aunt to give him his food, and he ate with pleasure whatever was given him.

Even at that early age, everyone who knew Muhammad noticed his thoughtful ways; and his uncle loved him so much that he wanted to have Muhammad with him day and night.

In those days, very few people in Arabia could read or write and so the prophet grew up without any teaching formal education. But people wondered how Muhammad knew so much and was so wise without learning to read.

When Muhammad was 12 years, his uncle, Abu Talib, had to go on a journey to Syria. Muhammad could not bear the idea of such a long separation from his uncle, so Abu Talib took Muhammad with him.

On their way, they met a religious man, a Christian named Baheera, who saw in the prophet's face the signs of his future greatness.

"Take care of him, Muhammad", Baheera said to Abu-Talib, "for one day, he will have work to do for God.

Ma Salaam.

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fesse:

@post
But some Muslims don't even know that monday is the Prophet's b/day. Well happy celebration but make sure you reach out to the less privilage near.
ENJOY!!!

muhsin:

Wa'alaiku salaam,

I only get a question to ask; how did the Prophet's companions celebrate the day, or their followers, or their other followers, if they ever did? Thanks for your responses.

Mustay:

You could always get to your office tomorrow to confirm the story. lol!

Thats the thing. The overzealous HR lady claims it hasn't been declared by the FG, I want to show her a link.

Thats all I required, not sarcasm.