‘Abdul Muttalib drew lots for all his sons and the name of ‘Abdullah, his most beloved son, came up in the draw. He grasped ‘Abdullah’s hand and proceeded with a knife towards the sacrificial quarters. When ‘Abdullah’s sisters witnessed this distressing sight, they were moved to weeping in anguish. One of them pleaded with the father saying, “O father! Draw another lot with ten camels against ‘Abdullah’s name. If the lot is drawn in favour of the ten camels, slaughter the camels, but we implore you to spare ‘Abdullah.” At that time, ten camels was the blood money paid to a murdered victim’s family.
When he drew lots a second time, ‘Abdullah’s name came up again. ‘Abdul Muttalib added ten camels and drew lots again. Once more, ‘Abdullah’s name came up. ‘Abdul Muttalib continued adding ten camels each time he drew lots but on every occasion, ‘Abdullah’s name came up. When he eventually reached a hundred camels, the camels’ name was finally drawn. At that instant, ‘Abdul Muttalib and the bystanders cried out , “Allahu Akbar!” ‘Abdullah’s sisters carried him away and ‘Abdul Muttalib slaughtered his hundred camels between the mountans of Safa and Marwah.
(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/37)
