Rather, each tribe used a specific historical point of reference of its own.

Rather, each tribe used a specific historical point of reference of its own.[^19] When the army of elephants, under the leadership of Abrahah, the Ethiopian commander, came to Mecca to destroy God's House,[^20] it was severely defeated through God's hidden power.

This event overpassed all other events and that year became the historical point of reference for many years to come.[^21] On that same year, (s) was born in Mecca.[^22] This event, with regards to some pieces of evidence such as the emigration (Hegira) in 622 AD and the Holy Prophet’s demise in 632 AD at the age of 60-63 years must have occurred in the years 569-570 AD.[^23] Infancy and Childhood When (s) became two years old,[^24] his father, `Abdullah, on his mercantile journey from Damascus, passed away in Yathrib, where he was buried.[^25] Referring to the orphanage of the Holy Prophet, the Holy Qur'an states: Did He not find you an orphan and give you shelter; and find you lost (i.e.

unrecognized by men) and guide them to you; and find you in want and make you to be free from want? (93:6-8) aminah's infant was breast-fed by his mother for the first days of his birth;[^26] he was then breastfed by Thuwaybah, a female servant freed by Abu-Lahab.[^27] According to Arab customs,[^28] he was submitted to a nurse, named Halimah al-Sa`diyyah, from the tribe of Banu-Sa`d ibn Bakr who used to live in the desert.[^29] Halimah breastfed the Holy Prophet[^30] for two years, cared for him for five years and finally submitted him to his family.[^31] Most probably, they put the keeping of the Holy Prophet in the hands of a desert-dwelling nurse because his wanted him to nourish in the clean air of the desert and to stay away from the disease of cholera epidemic in Mecca.[^32] Another reason was that they wanted him to learn the eloquent Arabic from the nomadic tribes.

Some historians have referred to this factor.[^33] Attesting this fact, the Holy Prophet is reported to have said, “I am more eloquent than all of you because I am both a Qurayshite and have been breastfed among the tribe of Banu-Sa`d ibn Bakr.”[^34] Concerning the adoption of Halimah as the special nurse for Muhammad (s), there are some accounts in historical documents to the effect that since Muhammad (s) was an orphan, nobody would accept to take care of him.

This was because a nurse would receive some money from the child's parents and such a means was not available to Muhammad (s).