Then a voice called out to me saying...

Then a voice called out to me saying: 'The best of mankind has been born so name him Muhammad.' Then Aamenah sent for Abdul-Muttalib. He came to her and she said: 'A wondrous boy has been born to you.' Then she brought baby Muhammad to him. Abdul-Muttalib looked at from the Quraysh who had plotted to assassinate him) marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. The Hijrah took place around 622CE. A Brief Biography of him then took him and entered the Ka'bah2 and prayed to Allah.

Then he left the Ka'bah and returned him to his mother and named him Muhammad. Muhammad was not yet seven years old when his mother died. After his mother's death, his grandfather Abdul- Muttalib assumed guardianship of him. Because of his knowledge of the status of the child and his faith in him he treated Muhammad with more care and attention than his other children.

A group of the Medlaj Clan came to Mecca and when they saw Muhammad they said to his grandfather: 'Take good care of him for we have never seen another of his station.' Abdul-Muttalib said to Abu Talib in his will to heed what they say and take care of him. Muhammad was eight when his grandfather died, and he was taken into the care of his uncle Abu Talib. Abu Talib, chief of the Bani-Hashim clan within the Quraysh3, then became the guardian of Muhammad from his eighth year.

Abu Talib went on to protect and serve the Messenger of Allah, defending him and honouring him throughout the testing times of his Prophethood, until the last breath of his life. 2 The Ka'bah is a cubical structure symbolising the House of God that was built by the Prophet Adam on instructions from the Almighty God in an uninhabited valley, which in turn brought about the creation of the holy city of Mecca around it. 3 The Quraysh is a collection of clans and tribes all of whom are blood related.

His Adulthood Muhammad grew up to become a fine young man. He became known for his excellent manners, and because of the honesty in his conduct and dealings he was referred to as al- Saadiq (The Truthful One) and al-Amin (The Trustworthy One). As a youngster Muhammad used to accompany his uncle on his business trips to Syria. When the Messenger of Allah reached the age of twelve he journeyed with his uncle Abu Talib as far as Busra.

There he was seen by a Christian monk named Georges who recognised him by his description.