As they neared Makkah Mukarramah on their return, ‘Abdul Muttalib was seated on the camel behind his uncle. The clothes of Shaybah (i.e. ‘Abdul Muttalib) were dirty and his features showed his orphaned status. When asked who this boy was, out of embarrassment, Muttalib replied, “He is my slave.” He did not want to declare that this was his nephew because people would ask why his nephew was dressed in such dirty clothing. This is how he received the name “‘Abdul Muttalib” (the slave of Muttalib).

When he arrived in Makkah Mukarramah, Muttalib dressed him in fine clothing and then revealed that this boy was his nephew.

Amongst the Quraish of that time, ‘Abdul Muttalib was the most handsome, the most strong and robust, the most tolerant and composed, the most charitable and noble and the one who shunned evil and immorality the most. He was the undisputed leader of the Quraish.

‘Abdul Muttalib’s generosity even outshone that of his father, Haashim, as ‘Abdul Muttalib’s hospitality went beyond humankind to embrace even the beasts and birds. This is why the Arabs fondly remembered him as “Fayyaadh” (extremely generous) and Mut‘im-u-Tayr-is-Samaa' (the one who feeds the birds of the sky). He made alcohol forbidden upon himself. He paid particular attention to feeding the destitute in the holy month of Ramadhaan. He initiated the tradition of seclusion and isolation in the cave of Hiraa’.

(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/33)