Life of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh)
(part 2)
by Jahir Hasan
THE CHILDREN OF ISHMAEL
OVER the years Ishmael's children themselves had children. His descendants
increased and formed tribes which spread out all over Arabia. One of these
tribes was called Quraysh. Its people never moved away from Mecca and always
lived near the Kabah.
One of the duties of the leader of Quraysh was to look after those who came on
pilgrimage to the Kabah. The, pilgrims would come from all over Arabia and it
was a great honor to provide them with food and water.
As time passed, however, the Arabs stopped worshipping Allah directly and
started bringing idols back with them from the different countries they
visited. These idols were placed inside the Kabah, which was no longer regarded
as the Sanctuary of Allah, as prophet Abraham (pbuh) had intended it. It was,
however, still respected by the Arabs.
Around this time the well of Zamzam disappeared beneath the sand.
Also at this time, Qusayy, one of the leaders of Quraysh, became ruler over
Mecca. He held the keys of the temple and had the right to give water to the
pilgrims, to feed them, to take charge of meetings, and to hand out war banners
before battle. It was also in his house that Quraysh settled their affairs.
After Qusayy's death, his son Abdu Manaf, who had become famous during his
father's lifetime, took over the leadership of Quraysh. After him came his son
Hashim. It is said that Hashim was the first to begin the two great caravan
journeys of Quraysh, one in the summer to Syria and the north, and one in the
winter to Yemen and the south. As a result, Mecca grew rich and became a large
and important center of trade.
One summer Hashim went north to buy goods to sell in Yemen. On his
way he stopped in Yathrib to trade in the market and there he saw a beautiful
woman. She was Salma, the daughter of Amr ibn Zeid, who was from a much
respected family. Hashim proposed marriage to her and was accepted because he
was an honorable and distinguished man.
In time, Salma gave birth to a beautiful son and as some of his hair was white
they called him Shaybah, which in Arabic means grey-haired'. Mother and son
stayed in the cooler, healthier climate of Yathrib, while Hashim returned to
Mecca, but he would visit them each time he took his caravan to the north.
During one of these journeys, however, Hashim became ill and died.
Shaybah, a handsome, intelligent boy, grew up in his uncle's house in Yathrib.
He was proud of being the son of Hashim ibn Abdi Manaf, the head of Quraysh,
guardian of the Kabah and protector of the pilgrims, even though he had not
known his father, who had died while Shaybah was very young.
At Hashim's death his brother al-Muttalib took over his duties and
responsibilities. He traveled to Yathrib to see his nephew, Shaybah, and
decided that as the boy would one day inherit his father's place, the time had
come for him to live in Mecca. It was hard for Salma, Shaybah's mother, to let
her son go with his uncle but she finally realized that it was for the best.
Al-Muttalib returned to Mecca, entering the city at noon on his camel with
Shaybah behind him. When the people of Mecca saw the boy they thought he was a
slave and, pointing at him, called out Abd al-Muttalib, Abd being the Arabic
for 'slave'.
Al-Muttalib told them that Shaybah was not a slave but his nephew who had come
to live with them. From that day on, however, Shaybah was always affectionately
called Abd al-Muttalib. On the death of al-Muttalib, who died in Yemen where he
had gone to trade, 'Abd al-Muttalib took his place. He became the most
respected member of his family, loved and admired by all. He was, however,
unlike those Arabs who had given up the teachings of Abraham.
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In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate
"May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon You"
Praise be to Allaah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with
Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah
guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one
can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness
that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah
As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu
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