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The Death of Abdul Muttalib ibn Hashim - Al-Shia The Scientific and Cultural Website of Shia belief The Death of Abdul Muttalib ibn Hashim 2023-11-23 1608 Views Shayba ibn Hisham , Abd al-Muttalib Abdul Muttalib ibn Hashim ibn Abdul Manaf (b. 127 before Hijra/498-9 – d. 45 BH/578) was the paternal grandfather of (peace be upon him and his family) from the Quraysh tribe and an offspring of Hashim, thus related to the Banu Hashim.

His mother, Salma, daughter of Amr, is from the Banu Najjar of the Khazraj clan in Yathrib (later called Medinah). Before the birth of Abdul Muttalib, his father, Hashim traveled to Gaza (present-day Palestine) and died and was buried there. Abdul Muttalib was born in Yathrib 127 before Hijra/498-9 and lived with his mother in Medina for seven years or more. Thereafter, he was taken by his uncle Muttalib ibn Abdul Manaf to Mecca at his childhood age.

Upon first arriving in Mecca, the people assumed the unknown child was Muttalib’s servant and started calling him Abdul Muttalib (“servant of Muttalib”). His real name was “Shayba” meaning ‘the ancient one’ or ‘white-haired’ because of the streak of white through his jet-black hair, and is sometimes also called Shaybah al-Ḥamd (“The white streak of praise”). When Muttalib died, Shayba succeeded him as the chief of the Hashim clan.

Just like his uncle, Abdul Muttalib took over the duties of providing the pilgrims with food and water and carried on the practices of his forefathers with his people. He attained such eminence as none of his forefathers enjoyed; his people loved him and his reputation was great among them. He became the chief of the Quraysh tribe and also one of the nobles of Mecca.

According to Al-Ya’qubi: “Abd al-Muttalib was an unparalleled noble of Quraysh in those days, for God had granted him magnanimity He had granted no one else before, and quenched his thirst from the Zamzam well (in Mecca) and Dhu l-Harm (in Ta’if). Quraysh appointed him as referee for [issues relating to] their wealth.

He fed the people in times of famine and hunger, so much so that he had even fed the mountains’ birds.” It is pertinent to mention that the astonishing event of the Army of the Elephant (the attack of Abraha) occurred during the rule of Abdul Muttalib in Mecca. According to historical reports, Abraha decided to demolish the Ka’aba and advanced with an army towards Mecca, including thirteen elephants.