Born to Aminah and ‘Abdullah (son of ‘Abdul-Muttalib), Muhammad’s father died close to the time of his birth[1].
There are unconfirmed chains of narration that report significant signs accompanying his birth including a bright light shining from his mother and the collapsing of some churches.
His grandfather, ‘Abdul-Muttalib, took him to the Ka’bah and gave Allah thanks for him. Muhammad (SAW) was suckled by his mother and by the free slave Thuwaibah, before being entrusted to Halimah As-Sa’diyah of the Banu Sa’d in the desert of Al-Hudaibiyah. Muhammad (SAW) was a great blessing to Halimah however, following the fright of the angel Jibreel removing Muhammad’s (SAW) heart and a blood clot – part of Satan – from within it, Halimah returned him to his mother at the age of four or five.
Muhammad (SAW) was tragically orphaned at the age of six when his mother died on a journey returning from visiting his father’s grave on the road from Madinah to Mecca. Muhammad’s grandfather took care of him until the end of his life at which point, with Muhammad (SAW) just eight years old, Abu Talib, Muhammad’s uncle, took on responsibility for him.
At the age of twelve Muhammad (SAW) was recognized as the Messenger of Allah by the monk Bahirah in Syria.
At the age of twenty-five, acknowledged for his character and abilities, the wealthy businesswoman Khadijah asked Muhammad (SAW) to go to Syria as a merchant for her. Subsequently, Kadijah, aged forty, married Muhammad (SAW) and, with the exception of his son Ibrahīm, bore all of his children. Tragically, Muhammad’s sons all died in childhood and his daughters, with the exception of Fatimah, all died during his lifetime.
[1] Historians differ in the views regarding whether Muhammad’s father died shortly before or shortly after his birth. (The Sealed Nectar – P91)
