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)