After Sayf ibn Dhi-Yazan was appointed the governor of Abyssinia...

After Sayf ibn Dhi-Yazan was appointed the governor of Abyssinia, `Abd al-Muttalib, heading an expedition, went to him and delivered a talk (customary in such circumstances).

When he finished his eloquent speech, the ruler gave him the glad tidings that an honorable Prophet had come into existence in `Abd al-Muttalibs House and said, His name is Muhammad (a.s); his father and mother will die, and his grandfather and his paternal uncle will be patronizing him respectively.[1] He, Muhammad, worships the one God, expels Satan, and smothers all the fires (of idolatry) and destroys the idols.

His words are the separators of truth from falsehood; he decrees in justice, enjoins to doing good and he himself does good. He prohibits people from evil, and nullifies it. No doubt you, `Abd al-Muttalib, are his grandfather.[2] Having heard this life-inspiring news, `Abd al-Muttalib, to thank God, fell in prostration and then narrated the following episode: I had a son, a very dear one, for whom I chose a stately lady to be his wife, i.e. aminah, the daughter of Wahab ibn `Abd-Manaf.

She gave birth to a son, whom I named Muhammad. His parents soon died. My brother Abu-Talib and I took charge of his training.[3] It is inferred from the above question that `Abd al-Muttalib, having known of the bright future that awaited the orphan, decided that his dearest son, Abu-Talib, should be [1] Al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, vol. 1, pp. 136-7, Egypt; also Beirut ed. p. 114-115. [2] Ibid. [3] Ibid. vol. 1, p. 137, Egypt ed.

Muhammads guardian; thus others were deprived of such felicity and honor. It is thus evident that Abu-Talib was in the eyes of his faithful and monotheist father, a person of such a deep faith and piety that he was considered the only one worthy of being charged with the responsibility of patronizing the holy Prophet.[1] Evidence in Support of Abu-Talibs Faith His Poems: A survey of the eloquent odes that Muslim scholars have quoted from Abu-Talib reveals his true faith.

The following extracts are just a few examples from among the many: a. The noble should know that verily Muhammad is a Prophet Like Moses and Jesus, the son of Mary. He was given the same light they were given They all guide and protect as God has ordered them to. [2] b. Do you know that we Found Muhammad to be Prophet Like Moses mentioned in the earlier books ? And surely in peoples hearts is his love; One whom God has chosen should never be treated unjustly.

[3] [1] See Al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, vol.