Lady Aaminah said about the Prophet’s birth...

Lady Aaminah said about the Prophet’s birth, “At the same moment (of the birth), a ray of light went out of my inners towards the east until it reached the land of Sham, and when the time of birth was near, the angel appeared to me again and said, ‘When you give birth to your child, you say: I pray the only One and Everlasting to protect him from the evil of every envier.

Then, you name him Muhammad, for this is the name that has been given as good news in the Torah and the Bible, and because that he will be praised by all the inhabitants of the Heaven and the earth…’” [1] Most of historians say that the Prophet (a.s.) was born in the year 750 AD., that was the Year of the Elephant. [2] Some say he was born on Friday the seventeenth of Rabee’ul Awwal.

[3] The place of his birth was in Mecca in the house of his grandfather Abdul Muttalib who, when was informed of this birth, became very delighted and recited some poetry like, “Praise be to Allah Who has granted me this good boy. While in cradle, he has been preferred to all boys. I charm him by the House of pillars.” [4] The Prophet’s uncles as well were very delighted for this birth.

Abdul Muttalib was certain that his grandson would be an important man as he was told by some priests and diviners. He [1] As-Seera an-Nabawiyyah by ibn Hisham, vol. 1 p.158. [2] The Life of Muhammad, by Haykal, p.70. [3] Kashful Ghummah fee Ma’rifat al-A’immah, vol. 1 p.14. [4] The margins of as-Seera an-Nabawiyyah by ibn Hisham, vol. 1 p. 167. took him and circumambulated the Kaaba with him while thanking Allah for this great blessing. [1] His name Abdul Muttalib named his grandson Muhammad.

The people of Quraysh said to him, “Why did you name him so and give up the names of his family?” Abdul Muttalib said, “I wanted that Allah would praise him in the heaven and His creatures would in the earth.” [2] Some scholar says, “Allah the Almighty has inspired them to name him Muhammad because of the praiseworthy qualities he had so that the name and the named one would conform with each other in form and meaning. There is no name more blessed and solemn than the Prophet’s name.

It is transmitted from him (the Prophet) his saying, “No house has had the name of “Muhammad” except that Allah endows it with abundant livelihood. If you name them (your children with the name of Muhammad), do not beat or abuse them.