When The Moon Split
by Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri
Publisher: Darussalam 2nd Edition October 2002

The Prophets's Tribe
  • The Prophet - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - belonged to the tribe of Quraysh as it was the surname of Fihr bin Malik
  • Qusayy was a member of the tribe who established the system of paying host to the pilgrims.
  • He also had built Dar al-Nadwah which held many of the tribes offical activities.

Lineage


  • The Prophets - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - lineage is called Hashmi after his greatgrandfather Hashim
  • He was called Hashim(one who mashes something) because he used to mash pieces of bread in meat and suop and distrubute it for others to eat.
  • This is very interesting: Hashims had passed away in Gaza and at that time his wife, Salma was pregnant. She gave birth to a son whose hair had white streaks. She therefore named him Shayba, meaninng one who has gray hair. No one of Hashims realtives new that he had a boy, and when Muttalib found out he went to get him, and when coming back people thought Shayba was his slave so they called him Abdul Muttalib, the slave of Muttalib.
  • Abdul Muttalib also rediscovered Zamzam as it was covered up by Jurhum before they left. This was also the time Abraha had tried to attack Makkah
  • When Abdul Muttalib was looking for the well he vowed to Allah that he would sacrifice one of his sons to Allah if he discovered the well.
  • He did discover the well, so he was going to sacrifice one of his sons, and it was Abdullah, the father of the Prophet - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam.
  • Instead of sacrificing Abdullah, 100 camels were sacrificed, and thus the Prophet - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - was known as the descendant of the two sacrfiiced ones, Ismael and Abdullah.
  • Abdullah married Amina bin Wahb, though as she was pregnant he died on a business trip to Yathrib.
Muhammad is born
  • He - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - was born 50 to 55 days after Abrahas failed attack on the Ka'bah, in the year known as 'Amm Al-Feel.
  • Beliving his grandson would grow up to be highly praised, Abdul-Muttalib name d him Muhammad, which means one who is praised.
  • Muhammad - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - was first nursed by his mother then by Umm Ayman, his fathers slave.
In the care of Haleemah Sa'diya
  • It was customary that the Arabs at the time give their children to the bedouins as they beleived by them being brought up by the Bedouins it would make their kids strong and hardy. As well they would learn the best Arabic (*GEM*: The parents of the kids would want to being their kids up in areas where they wouldnt be tainted by the society. Now think of what happens these days, when the kids are being bombarded with so much garbage. How much does that affect the kids development.)
  • Haleemah bint Abu Dhuwayb was one of the wet nurses how had came to makkah that would give a chance to the Prophet - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam. So she took him back home.
Haleemah's house is unexpectedly blessed

  • When Haleemah had came to Makkah her donkey was slow and frail, though when she returned back with the Prophet - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - the same animal moved swiftly that it left the caravan behind.
  • At that time Haleemah wanted to feed her kids, but she couldnt b/c of a drought. Though once Haleemah put Muhammad - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - on her lap her breasts had filled up with milk so that both her kids and the Prophet - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - could drink to their full.
  • Everything was at their best. The camels were milking, goats as well, there household was blessed for the next two years.

Haleemah asks to keep Muhammad - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - longer.
  • Every 6 months Haleemah would bring the Prophet - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - back home to his mother.
  • She requested at that time, due to all the blessings, that she could keep the Prophet - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - with her. Amina everntually did let her do that, though two years later that wanting would stop.

Muhammad's - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam -chest is open.

  • Anas ibn Malik related that the Prophet - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - was playing and then Jibrael had appeared and he had opened up his chest and removed a clot from his heart saying "this is the portion of satan in you." Then he had put his heart into a golden tray and washed it with zamzam water.
  • Anas had said that he saw a scar there on his chest from the opening of the chest.

Muhammad's - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam -time with his mother.

  • Because of that event Haleemah retured the Prophet - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - back to his mother, Amina where he would be for the next two years.
  • At that time they all decided to go to Yahtrib, his grandfather, mother and Umm Ayman(the Prophets - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - fathers slave who nursed him). When returning back from Yathrib to Makkah, she fell ill, and later died at Abwa.
A grandfathers Affection
  • Abdul Muttalib grandfather after he was prophaned, took great care of him - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam. So much so tha the would be even closer to him than even his own sons. He would allow him to sit with him on his carpet where even others were not allowed.
  • Again as his - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - mother had died early so did hos grandfather when he was only 8 years ols.
Under his Uncles Care
  • After the death of Abdul Muttalib, Abu Talib, his - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam's - uncle would then take care of him. Abu Talib and Abdullah was born of the same mother.
  • Though Abu Talib was not wealthy the Prophet - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - brought barakah to his household where he was than able to take care of him and his family.
Bahira's Warning
  • When the Prophet - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - was 12 years old, Abu Talib took him on a trade caravan to Syria. At that time, there was a christian monk named Bahira who would welcome the caravans that came in.
  • Bahira had then come across the Prophet - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - and told them, "This is the chief of the world and the Messenger of the Lord. God has sent him as a mercy for all mankind."
  • The people were curios to why he had mentioned that. He explained "When he came this side of the pass, stones and tree's bowed in prostration. They do not prostrate for anyone other than a Prophet. Moreoever I regcognized him from the Seal of Prophethood, which lies like an apple on the soft bone below his shoulders. It is mentioned in our scriptures."
  • Bahira later on told Abu Talib to send the Prophet - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - back as if he were to take him further up north his life would be in danger. So Abu Talib than sent him back to Makkah.
The Batle of Fijar
  • When the Prophet - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - was 20 years old a battle had broke out in the Fair of 'Okaz, during Dhul Qa'dah(which is one of the prohibited months to fight)
  • It was a battle between the Quraysh and Kinana against Qays Ghilan. The Prophet - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam's - role in this battle was to collect the enemys arrows and hadn them over to his uncles.
Hilf Al-Fudool
  • After the Battle of Fijar, 5 tribes from the Quraysh decided to a covenant. The tribes that were invloved were Banu Hashim, Banu Abdul Mutallib, Banu Asad, Banu Zahra, and Banu Taym.
  • The covenant stated that all would stand up for anyone who had suffered injustice, regardless of his tribal affiliation.
  • The Prophet - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - was also present at this pact which he regarded as a hononrable pact. He later would say after Prophethood "I was present when a covenatn was agreed upon in the house of Abdullah bin Jad'an, and I would not accpet even a red camel in lieu of it. Had I been asked to uphold it even in the days of Islam, I would have agreed."
Choosing a Profession
  • As the Prophet - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - lost his parents at a very young age, he came up to age with very little inheritance.
  • Because of his situation he started work which was first to tend to sheep for Banu Sa'd, though he would later return to Makkah as well to tend to sheep for the Quraysh.
  • The Prophet - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - said "There has been no prophet who has not tended sheep." (such Wisdom in this occupation for a Prophet, something to ponder over)
  • He was also noted for his trustworthiness, honesty and pietys as he then would be called Al-Ameen(the Trustwrothy)

 

source: almaghrib forums