His father was the beloved son of ABDIL MUTTALIB who was the...

His father was the beloved son of ABDIL MUTTALIB who was the head of the QURAYSHI tribe. He enjoyed a sublime status and the respect of his people. ABDULLAH died few months before the birth of his son, the Messenger of Allah; hence, he (P.B.U.H.) remained in the custody of his grandfather. Newly-born it was an Arab custom to hire wet-nurses for their babies and send them to grow up in the country's open air so that they would enjoy a healthy life.

HALIMATU AL-AS'DIYYA agreed to have the orphan, Mohammed. He stayed with her till he was four years old. She brought him back to his mother who died two years later. When he was eight years old, his grandfather died; so, his uncle ABU TALIB took him in his custody and was eager to protect him. ABU TALIB was a merchant, and the people of Mecca used to make business journeys to the north: BILAD AL-SHAM (Greater Syria), and to the south to Yemen.

The holy QUR'AN refers to these journeys in the following verses: {For the protection of QURAYSH, their protection during their trading caravans in the winter and in the summer. So let them worship the Lord of this House Who feeds them against hunger and gives them security against fear}. [QURAYSH: 1-4]. Mohammed (P.B.U.H.), the young boy, accompanied his uncle during one of his journeys to AL-SHAM.

When Mohammed twenty years old, he was well-known for his truthfulness and uprightness, hence he was called AL-SADIQ, AL-AMIN. KHADIJAH daughter of KHUWAYLID was of the noble and wealthy ladies of Mecca. She was also one of his relatives. When she heard about his uprightness, she entrusted him with her trade business. He excelled in the commercial experience and trading rules. KHADIJAH was impressed by his good morals and self-dignity.

She married him and gave him full authority over her wealth and business. With such potentials of will and youth, besides the wife's wealth, he took the side of the oppressed and helped the poor and the needy. His wife gave birth to six children, two boys: AL-QASIM and ABDILLAH, and four girls: RUQAYYA, ZAINAB, UMMU KULTHUM and FATEMA (as). The two sons died soon after birth prior to his Divine mission.

He was patient and endured their death as being Allah's will and was pleased with His decision. He (P.B.U.H.) earned the people's great respect. They used to seek his help to solve their problems. They entrusted him with their trusts. They never heard him lie or cheat.