Babyhood:
It was the
custom in Makkah for suckling babies to be put in the care of a desert tribe
where they grew up in the traditional healthy outdoor environment.
'Abdu'l-Muttalib
looked for a wet-nurse for his fatherless grandson, whom he loved more than all
his children. Halimah as-Sa'diyah, who received this good fortune had left her
home to find a suckling child. It was a year of severe drought and her people
were suffering hardship. They needed some income. The baby (may Allah bless him
and grant him peace) had been offered to many nurses but they had refused him,
because they were hoping for a good payment from the child's father. 'An
orphan!' they would exclaim,
'What can his mother or grandfather do?'
Halimah also
left him at first but her heart had warmed to him. Allah inspired her with love
for this baby so she returned to fetch him and took him home with her. Up until
this time she had been an unlucky person but now she found countless blessings.
Her animals' udders and her own breasts overflowed with milk and her aged camel
and lame donkey were rejuvenated. Everyone said, 'Halimah, you have taken a blessed
child.' Her friends envied her.
She continued to
enjoy prosperity from Allah until the baby had spent two years with the Banu
Sa'd and was weaned. He was growing up differently from the other children.
Halimah took him to his mother and asked if she could keep him for a longer
period and Aminah agreed.
While the
infant, who was to become the Messenger of Allah, was with the Banu Sa'd two
angels came and split open his chest. They removed a black clot from his heart
threw it away. Then they cleansed his heart and replaced it.
He tended sheep
with his foster, brothers and was reared in an uncomplicated, natural
environment. He lived the healthy life of the desert and spoke the pure Arabic
for which the Banu Said ibn Bakr were famous. He was sociable and popular. His
foster brothers loved him and he loved them.
Eventually he
returned to Makkah to live with his mother and grandfather. He thrived under
Allah's care grew up to be healthy and strong.
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