Hazrat Mu‘aawiyah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) says that they were once in the blessed company of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) when a Bedouin addressed Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) as “O son of the two Zabeehs!” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) merely smiled at him. After narrating this incident, one of those present enquired as to who the two Zabeehs were. In response, Hazrat Mu‘aawiyah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) went on to recount this incident of ‘Abdullah and said, “One was ‘Abdullah whilst the other was Hazrat Ismaa‘eel (‘alaihis salaam).”

‘Allaamah Zarqaani (rahimahullah) says that whenever the Quraish were afflicted by severe drought, they would take ‘Abdul Muttalib to Mount Thabir. They would then beg Allah Ta‘ala for rain through his blessed presence. The problems of the Quraish were often solved through the blessed presence of ‘Abdul Muttalib.

(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/38)