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The First Journey to Syria and Encountering the Monk Baheeraa
Written by user2Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was twelve years old when Abu Taalib decided to travel to Syria with a trade caravan of the Quraish. Considering the difficulties encountered in travelling, Abu Taalib did not intend to take Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) with him. However, at the time of departure, he noticed signs of sadness and grief on the blessed face of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) due to which he decided to take him with.
En route to Syria, they neared the city of Busra where a Christian monk by the name of Jarjis, popularly known as Baheeraa, lived. He was well acquainted with the signs of the final Prophet that were mentioned in the divine books. The moment this trade caravan halted before Baheeraa’s monastery and his gaze fell on the illuminated personage of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), he at once recognised him as the Prophet referred to in the previous books. Baheeraa then grasped Rasulullah’s (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) hand in his own.
(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/88-89)
After the demise of ‘Abdul Muttalib, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was taken into the custody of his uncle, Abu Taalib. Abu Taalib loved Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) more than his own children, and cared for him with this compassion and love until the end of his life. Hence, he had completely fulfilled the responsibility of raising and caring for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Sadly, despite his devoted guardianship and loving care of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), he was deprived of the wealth of Islam.
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) remained in the care of his paternal grandfather, ‘Abdul Muttalib, for a period of two years. When he turned eight, ‘Abdul Muttalib also bid this world farewell. Based on the different views, ‘Abdul Muttalib passed away at the age of either eighty two, eighty five, ninety five, one hundred and ten or one hundred and twenty. He was buried in Hajoon.
The father of Kindeer bin Sa‘eed says:
During the era of ignorance, before the advent of Islam, I once came to Makkah to perform Haj. I saw a person making Tawaaf of the Ka’bah whilst uttering the following couplet:
رُدَّ إِلَيَّ رَاكِبِيْ مُحَمَّدًا يَا رَبِّ رُدَّهُ وَاصْطَنِعْ عِنْدِيْ يَدًا
“O Allah! Return to me my mounted one (i.e. the one mounted on a conveyance), Muhammad! O Lord! Return him to me and show me great favour (through returning him to me).”
Hazrat Umme Ayman (radhiyallahu ‘anha) returned to Makkah with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and handed him into the care of his paternal grandfather, ‘Abdul Muttalib.
‘Abdul Muttalib always kept Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) with him. Whenever ‘Abdul Muttalib would be present in Musjid-ul-Haraam, a special mat would be placed in the shade of the Baytullah for ‘Abdul Muttalib. Nobody was allowed to even place a foot on this mat, to the extent that even ‘Abdul Muttalib’s own children would sit on the edges of this mat. However, when Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would come, he would sit comfortably on the mat. His uncles would try to move him away from this seat but ‘Abdul Muttalib would say with complete kindness, “Leave this son of mine. By Allah! His status will be absolutely unprecedented.” He would then call him and make him sit close by, and when ‘Abdul Muttalib would look at him, he would become pleased.
(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/86)
The splitting of the chest occurred four times in the mubaarak life of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
The first occurred during his childhood when he was in the care of Hazrat Halimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha). He was four years old at the time. He was on the grazing-field when two angels, Hazrat Jibraa’eel (‘alaihis salaam) and Hazrat Mikaa’eel (alaihis salaam), appeared as men in white garments carrying a golden tray laden with ice. They cut open his chest and removed his pure heart. They then split open his pure heart and removed one or two lumps of congealed blood and said, “This is shaytaan’s portion.” They placed his heart in the tray and washed it with ice water, after which they returned it to its original location, stitched his chest and applied a seal between his shoulder blades.
The splitting of the chest left Hazrat Halimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) worried that some calamity may befall Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Hence, she took him to his mother, Hazrat Aaminah, in Makkah Mukarramah, and informed her of what had transpired. Upon hearing what happened to the child, Hazrat Aaminah was in no way alarmed. She then mentioned the noor, the divine barakaat (blessings) and good that she had experienced during pregnancy and at the time of birth, after which she said, “The status and condition of this son of mine will be very great. Shaytaan will have no access to him. Do not worry as no calamity will befall him.”
Hazrat Halimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) then returned home and Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) began living with his mother. When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was six years old, his mother decided to journey to Madinah Munawwarah and took him along with her. Hazrat Umme Ayman (radhiyallahu ‘anha) also accompanied them on this trip. She stayed at her parents’ home for a month and thereafter returned with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to Makkah Mukarramah. While returning to Makkah Mukarramah, she passed away at a place called Abwaa and was buried there as well.
(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/73-85)
Once, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was out grazing goats in the jungle with his milk-brothers when one of his milk-brothers came running. He said, “Two men dressed in white clothing laid our Qurayshi brother on the ground and slit open his blessed chest. They are now stitching him.” On hearing this, Hazrat Halimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) and her husband were shocked and began to run frantically. When they came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), they saw him standing on one side with his face pale. Hazrat Halimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) says, “I immediately clasped him to my chest, and his foster-father also hugged him and asked him what happened. He then gave an account of what transpired.” Hazrat Halimah radhiyallahu ‘anha) then returned home with him.
(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/73)
Hazrat Halimah Sa'diyyah (radhiyallahu 'anha) - Part Three
Written by user2It was now time for the caravan to depart. All the travelers of the caravan mounted their conveyances and set out. Hazrat Halimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) also mounted her conveyance with this blessed infant. Her thin camel, which would previously be whipped to spur it forward, was now moving with extreme speed and was not slowing or delaying. At that moment in time, it was the conveyance of the blessed Nabi of Allah Ta‘ala. The other women of the caravan asked, “O Halimah! Is this the same camel you came with? By Allah! Its condition is now completely different.” In this manner, we arrived in Banu Sa’d.
Hazrat Halimah Sa'diyyah (radhiyallahu 'anha) - Part Two
Written by user2Every single one of us women was offered to take Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) with her, but the moment she discovered that he was an orphan, she would refuse, as she would think to herself, “What remuneration can one expect for raising and caring for a child who does not have a father?” However, nobody knew that this child was not a Yateem (orphan), but was a Durre-Yateem (a rare pearl). Who knew that the keys to the treasures of Chosroes and Caesar would be placed in the hands of this child? Who knew that although the child had no apparent guardian and mentor who would pay remuneration, Allah Ta‘ala, in whose hands lies the incalculable treasures of the earth and skies, was the guardian of this child? He would remunerate those who nurtured and raised this child far more than they had ever imagined possible.”
Hazrat Halimah Sa’diyyah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) – Part One
Written by user2After Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was fed by Hazrat Suwaibah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), he was next fed by Hazrat Halimah Sa'diyyah (radhiyallahu ‘anha). It was customary among the Arabs for those who were noble to send their suckling infants out to the countryside so that they would be raised in the clean and pure air of the countryside, learn to speak eloquent Arabic and so that they would not lose the qualities and culture of the Arabs. Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) says:
تمعددوا وتمعزروا واخشوشنوا
“Adopt the appearance of Ma‘ad bin ‘Adnaan (i.e. do not adopt the clothing and appearance of the non-Arabs), exercise patience upon all adversities, and wear coarse clothing (i.e. adopt simplicity and do not fall into luxurious comforts).”
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Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was breastfed by his respected mother for approximately three or four days after he was born. Thereafter, he was suckled by Hazrat Suwaibah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), the freed slave of his uncle, Abu Lahab.
When Hazrat Suwaibah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) gave the glad tidings of Rasulullah’s (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) birth to his uncle, Abu Lahab, then he was so overjoyed that he immediately set her free.
Prior to feeding Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Hazrat Suwaibah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) also suckled his uncle, Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). In this manner, apart from being his uncle (father’s brother), Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) is also Rasulullah’s (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) milk brother. After feeding Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Hazrat Suwaibah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) also breastfed Hazrat Abu Salamah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).
Names and Appellation of Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam)
Written by user2Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam): The name Muhammad originates from the root letters of “Hamd”. The word “Hamd” actually refers to extolling the praiseworthy character, excellent attributes and true virtues of a person, with love and honor.
اللّٰهُمَّ صل على محمد وعلى آله وصحبه و بارك وسلم
“O Allah! Shower Your special mercies upon Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and his family and companions, accompanied by blessings and peace.”
According to some people, Muhammad means, ‘that being in whom praiseworthy qualities and commendable attributes are found to the highest level of perfection’.
While ‘Abdul Muttalib was considering the name Muhammad, due to the dream that he had seen, the mother of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) saw a pious dream in which she was informed that she was carrying the most saintly creation and the leader of all nations. According to one narration, she was directed to keep his name Muhammad, and according to another narration, she was instructed to name him Ahmed.
On the seventh day after the birth of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), ‘Abdul Muttalib performed the ‘Aqeeqah and invited all the Quraish for this occasion. He then kept the child’s name Muhammad. On hearing this name, the Quraish asked, “O Abul Haarith! (This was the title of ‘Abdul Muttalib) Why did you keep such a name that was certainly not kept by your forefathers or any of your family members?” ‘Abdul Muttalib replied, “I propose to name him Muhammad (the praised one) because I want the one in the sky, Allah Ta‘ala , and His creation on the earth, to praise him.”