He fed them in this manner not once but on a number of occasions. He was exceedingly generous and his food table was very wide and spacious. His hospitality extended to every newcomer and traveller. He would assist poor travellers and provide them with camels to complete their journeys.

He was exceptionally handsome and the noor of prophethood would glimmer on his forehead. The ‘Ulamaa of the Banu Israa’eel would fall into sajdah as a gesture of respect and kiss his hands whenever they caught sight of him. A number of Arab tribes and ‘Ulamaa of the Banu Israa’eel would offer Haashim their daughters’ hands in marriage. In fact, on one occasion, Heraclius, the Byzantine emperor, wrote to Haashim thus: “I have learnt of your unrivalled generosity. I wish to grant you my daughter’s hand in marriage. She is a princess unparalleled in beauty. In order to perform the nikah with the princess, kindly come to us.” However, Haashim refused to accept the proposal. In reality, the emperor’s key objective was to transmit the noor of prophethood that was glimmering on Haashim’s forehead into the royal family.

It is said that Haashim passed away at the age of twenty-five.

(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/30)