Arabia and the Prophet’s Early Years

Arabia, a peninsula situated in the south western part of Asia, is a desert country which has been inhabited since ancient times. Various tribes lived here in different regions, ruled by their respective chiefs. It was in this country, at Makkah, that four thousand years ago, the Prophet Abraham settled his family, his wife Hajira and his infant son Ishmael. The progeny of Ishmael were known as Mustariba, or naturalized Arabs, and they greatly multiplied. They were divided into many tribes and clans. The Quraysh, the largest tribe had several clans. Their settlement in Makkah can be traced back to a distinguished ancestor named Qusayy ibn Kilab. The clans who lived in the vicinity of the Kabah were considered most honourable. These were called Quraysh al-Bitah (the Quraysh of the Valley).

The location of Makkah on important caravan routes across the Peninsula, and the prestige of the Kabah gave it great advantages as a trading city. This is why the Quraysh became one of the richest and most powerful tribes. The Prophet Muhammad was of the Banu Hashim clan of the Quraysh, who lived in the vicinity of the Kabah and enjoyed great honour and prestige in Arabia. These clans were divided into families. Besides these Arabs there were also Christians and Jews who lived in Arabia. A large number of their population lived in Madinah.

The Prophet Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Abdul Muttalib was born in Makkah in 570 AD. When Muhammad was born, his father Abdullah had already died. And when he was six years old, his mother Amina, the daughter of Wahb, also passed away. Afterwards, he lived under the guardianship of his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, and his uncle, Abu Talib.

According to Daud ibn Husayn, as Muhammad grew older he became known as the most chivalrous among his people, tolerant and forbearing, truthful and trustworthy, always the good neighbour. He would stay aloof from all quarrels and quibbles and never indulged in foul utterances, abuse or invective. People even left their valuables in his custody, for they knew that he would never betray them. His unimpeachable trustworthiness won for him the title of “Al-Amin,” a faithful custodian, an unfailing trustee.