Post by Khaled Eibid : Muhammad was born in Mecca on the 12th of - TopicsExpress

Post by Khaled Eibid : Muhammad was born in Mecca on the 12th of Rabi al-Awal, in the year 570 of the Christian era. His father, Abdullah, son of Abdul Muttalib of the clan of Bani Hashim of the tribe of Quraish, died before his birth. According to the custom of the nobility of Quraish tribe, the child when only eight days old was handed to a bedoum nurse called Halima from the tribe of Bani Saad, to be brought up by her in the healthy atmosphere of the desert. At the age of five, Muhammad returned to the care of his mother, Amina, the daughter of Wahb, the chief of the clan of Bani Zahra, but she died a year later. His grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, the chief of Bani Hashim and the leader of the Meccans, in whose loving care he was, died when he was eight and Muhammad was brought up by his uncle Abu Talib, who was to prove his shield and protection when some thirty years later his preaching brought upon him the enemity of the Meccans. Abu Talib was a merchant of modest means, and when Muhammad grew up he assisted his uncle in his business. At the age of 12, he accompanied his uncle in a merchants caravan to Syria. To the young, vigorous and fresh mind of Muhammad, who had no school learning, the glimpses into the contrasts and similarities of the beliefs, customs and civilisations of diverse countries and peoples, must have opened up glorious vistas and left lasting impressions. Later, Abu Talibs business began to dwindle and Muhammad earned his living as a shepherd. Thoughtful by nature, this occupation gave him full scope to contemplate the universe and commune with the creation. Arabia at this time was in a state of religious chaos and political dissolution. The Arabs were stepped in ignorance and perpetually at war with one another ; they were mostly nomadic except for those tribes living in the few cities scattered through the land, the Holy City of Mecca being inhabited by the different clans of the tribe of Quraish. Apart from a few Jewish settlements in the north-west, a few Christian tribes on the Syrian border and in the extreme south-west, and a few individuals known as Hanifs who held a monotheistic faith, the whole population of Arabia worshipped idols, stars, stones and fetishes. The idolatry of his people, their immorality, and the terrible treatment of the poor and the weak set Muhammads mind and soul aflame with intense horror and righteous disgust, In the solitude of the desert and hills where he tended his sheep Muhammad reflected on all these questions. He had now reached the age of twenty one, and had conducted himself with such rectitude and nobility of character that he was called Al-Amin, the Trusty. The war of the Fijjar, which was started by the murder of a member of the Hawazin tribe, and lasted for four years, made the leaders of the Meccans reflect on the dire results which lawlessness had brought upon them. Muhammad and the other leading members of his clan Bani Hashim and their relations Bani Al-Muttalib and the leaders of the clans of Bani Zuhra and Bani Taym formed themselves into a league pledged to defend the weak and champion the oppressed, freeman and slave alike, and to vindicate their rights against tyranny and aggression. This league, known as Hilf Al-Fuzool, exercised such efficient protection that for a long time the mere threat of its intervention was sufficient to repress lawlessness and afford redress to the helpless. Muhammad was very proud of his membership of this chivalrous league, and used to say I would not have the riches of the earth in exchange for my membership of it. Muhammad was content with his lot as a shepherd, but his uncle, Abu Talib, desired something better for him, and obtained him employment with a rich widow, Khadija, the daughter of Khuwailid, son of Asad, and thus Muhammad found himself at the age of 25 in charge of a caravan conveying merchandise to Syria. On Muhammads return, Khadija was so pleased with his successful management of her business, and was so attracted by his nobility of character, reports about which she heard from her old servant who had accompanied him, that she sent her sister to offer the young man her hand. Muhammad had felt drawn to Khadija, and so matters were soon arranged and, though Khadija was by fifteen years his senior, their twenty six years of married life were singularly happy. Muhammad continued to work as a merchant ; and his fair-dealings further enhanced his reputation as Al-Amin. In the year 605 of the Christian era, a dispute arose during the reconstruction of the Kaaba which threatened to plunge the different clans of the Quraish tribe into war, but the sagacious arbitration of Muhammad saved the situation and settled the dispute to everyones satisfaction. He continued to take an ever-increasing interest in public affairs and to exert himself in the service of the poor, the helpless and the weak. Many were the slaves who owned their freedom to Muhammad, and many were the widows and orphans who lived on his generosity. When Khadija made a gift to him of a slave called Zaid, who had been presented to her by her nephew, he immediately set the slave free. Though he was now a free man, Zaid insisted on remaining in Muhammads household as his personal servant, and Muhammad rewarded his devotion by adopting him as his son.