SEERAT UN NABI (part 3)

 

*Seerat-un-Nabi (Peace Be Upon Him)*

*(Part No. 3)*

Hazrat Hashim had established trade and diplomatic relations with the Caesar of Rome. So, during a journey to Syria in this connection, he married a noble woman of Banu Najjar, Salma, but unfortunately during that same journey Hazrat Hashim passed away.

After his death, a son was born to him who was named "Shaiba" but since Shaiba was raised and brought up by his uncle Muttalib bin Abd Manaf, Shaiba came to be called Abdul-Muttalib (the slave of Muttalib) and then history always remembered him by that same name.

Hazrat Abdul-Muttalib was extremely handsome, beautiful, dignified and possessed a magnificent personality. Allah blessed him with immense honor and he became the most important chief of the Quraish of Makkah.

For a long time, he had only one son among his children, whose name was Haris. Hazrat Abdul-Muttalib had a great desire to have many children, so he made a vow that if Allah granted him ten sons and they all reached the age of youth, he would sacrifice one son in the path of Allah.

Allah granted his prayer and vow acceptance and he was blessed with ten or twelve sons, among whom was Hazrat Abdullah.

He was the youngest son of Hazrat Abdul-Muttalib and was not only beloved to his father but to the entire family. Hazrat Abdul-Muttalib loved him very much.

After the birth of ten sons, when all of them reached the age of youth, Hazrat Abdul-Muttalib remembered his vow. So he took all his sons to the Haram of Kaaba. When lots were drawn according to the specific method of the Arabs, the lot came out in the name of Hazrat Abdullah.

Seeing this, Hazrat Abdul-Muttalib became very distressed because due to intense love, his heart did not want to sacrifice Hazrat Abdullah, but since he had made a vow, he did not want to violate it either. So he proceeded towards the place of sacrifice with Hazrat Abdullah.

Seeing this, the members of the Banu Hashim family, who had great affection for Hazrat Abdullah, became very worried. They came to Hazrat Abdul-Muttalib and advised him to consult a soothsayer woman of Yathrib (Medina) in this matter. So when that soothsayer woman was contacted, she found the solution that blood-money should be paid in place of Hazrat Abdullah. In the blood-money (Diyat) of the Arabs, ten camels are given, so lots should be drawn between Hazrat Abdullah and ten camels at a time, and this drawing of lots should be continued until the lot of sacrifice falls on the camels instead of Hazrat Abdullah.

So it was done accordingly and finally on the tenth time the lot fell on the camels instead of Hazrat Abdullah. In this way, one hundred camels were sacrificed in his place.

Hazrat Abdullah was married to Hazrat Amina, the daughter of Wahb bin Abd Manaf, the chief of Banu Zahra, from whose womb was born the Crown of both worlds, Hazrat Muhammad, Peace and Blessings of Allah Be Upon Him.

Before we formally begin, it is necessary to acquaint the readers with the religious, political, social, economic and cultural conditions of the Quraish of Makkah at the time of his (PBUH) blessed birth.

Also with the event of "Aam-ul-Feel" (The Year of the Elephant) which occurred just fifty days before his (PBUH) blessed birth, when the Abyssinian ruler "Abraha" attacked Makkah with the intention of demolishing the Kaaba...

===(To be continued, InshaAllah)