Childhood and Youth

The Prophet Muhammad , was born in Makkah into the tribe of the Quraysh in 570 A.D.  He died at the age of 63 in 632 A.D. in Madinah. Makkah was then inhabited mainly by the tribe of the Quraysh. In those times, this tribe enjoyed great prestige all over Arabia and the neighbouring countries, for Makkah was a flourishing trade and religious centre.

Muhammad was still in his mother’s womb when his father, Abdullah, died. Soon after his birth, Aminah, his mother, sent the baby to Abdul Muttalib, his grandfather, who was overjoyed to receive him, for he had loved Abdullah, Muhammad’s father, very much. The grandfather gave him the name “Muhammad”, meaning “the praised one.” As was the practice of the Makkan nobility, he was handed over to a wet nurse, Halimah al-Sadiyya, who belonged to the Banu Sa‘d tribe. This custom is still practiced among the Makkan aristocracy.

Muhammad remained in the charge of Halimah until the age of five. He learned Arabic in its purest form from her tribe.

After five years of desert life, Muhammad returned to his mother Aminah, who took him to Yathrib (now known as Madinah) to meet her uncles, the Banu al-Najjar. After a month’s stay in Yathrib, Aminah set out again for Makkah, but, on the way, she fell ill and died.

The orphan Muhammad was then taken care of by his grandfather Abdul Muttalib, the chief of the Quraysh, who looked after him with great affection. As leader of the Quraysh, he used to sit on a cushion in the Kabah, and whenever Muhammad joined him, he was allowed to sit on that cushion. Abdul Muttalib died when Muhammad was just eight years old.

Now the guardianship of Muhammad passed to Abu Talib, his uncle, who was a merchant. Once when Abu Talib was preparing to go to Syria on a trading journey, Muhammad expressed a keen desire to accompany him. Though he was rather young to undertake such a difficult journey, Abu Talib was so full of affection for him that he could not refuse, and agreed to take him along.

When they reached Syria, their trade caravan halted at the city of Busra. There they met a Christian monk by the name of Bahirah who was living there in a monastery. He had read in the ancient books about the emergence of an Arab prophet, and immediately recognised in Muhammad the signs of prophethood.

The monk invited the whole caravan to his monastery and asked Abu Talib, “In what way are you related to this child?” He said, “He is my son.” Bahirah said, “This cannot be. His father should not be alive.” Then Abu Talib informed him that his father was deceased. Bahirah advised him to return with his nephew immediately and to protect him from enemies. He said, “By God, if he is recognised, he will surely be harmed.”

He was called Al-Amin (trustworthy) and As-Sadiq (truthful) by his compatriots.

By the time Muhammad reached adulthood, he was well-known in Makkah for his good morals, gentle disposition and sincerity. He was called Al-Amin (trustworthy) and As-Sadiq (truthful) by his compatriots.

When Muhammad was twenty-five, a rich 40-year old widow, Khadijah, entrusted him with the management of her business. She used to employ men to engage in trading on her behalf, and rewarded them with a share of the profits. Muhammad was so honest in all his dealings that she was deeply impressed by his virtues and expressed her desire to marry him. After consultations with his uncle, Muhammad accepted the proposal of marriage.