Introduction to Abdul Muttalib:

Abdul Muttalib was the grandfather of our Holy Prophet Muhammad (S). His father was Hashim.

Abdul Muttalib was born in Madina. His mother named him Shibah. He was very young when his father Hashim died. When Hashim was about to die, he told his brother Muttalib, "Go to Madina and bring my son Shibah to Makka."

When he was brought to Makkah he was mistaken as the slave of Muttalib and thereafter was known as Abdul Muttalib.

Muttalib continued to manage his brother Hashim's duties until Abdul Muttalib was old enough to take over.

Abdul Muttalib had many good qualities and made many changes to the lives and habits of the Quraish. Some of these were:

1. He was the first man to make a Nazr and fulfil it. A Nazr is where a person promises Allah that, if his wish is granted, he will perform a certain good deed.
2. He stopped the custom of marriages between close relatives like brother and sister, mother and son, etc.
3. He started the rule of cutting off the hand of a thief.
4. He stopped the people from drinking alcohol.
5. He discouraged the terrible practice of burying daughters alive.
6. He set the fine of 10 camels for killing a person by mistake.
7. He was the first to give 1/5 (Khums) of treasure in the way of Allah.

Abdul Muttalib lived for 82 years and his good leadership earned him the title Sayyidul-Bat'ha, which means Chief of Makka.

Abdul Muttalib, son of Hashim: (Part 2)

Abdul Muttalib's Nadhr:

When Abdul Muttalib was digging the well of Zam Zam, he felt that his position amongst the Quraish was weak because he had only one son. At that time he made a Nadhr, a promise to Allah, that if he got ten sons, he would sacrifice one of them to Allah.

Allah blessed Abdul Muttalib with many children. When the number of his sons reached ten, Abdul Muttalib knew it was time to fulfil the Nadhr. Although it was very difficult for him to sacrifice and lose one of his beloved sons, he did not want to break his promise to Allah. After discussing the matter with his sons, he decided that one would be selected by drawing lots. When the lots were drawn, the name of Abdullah, the father of our Holy Prophet (S), came up.

Abdullah was the youngest and most loved son of his father, but Abdul Muttalib did not turn away from his duty and took Abdullah to the place of sacrifice. However, his family and the people of Quraish were very sad at the thought of losing the young Abdullah and begged Abdul Muttalib to find another solution.

When the problem was put before a wise man, he suggested that a lot should be cast between Abdullah and 10 camels. In case the lot still fell to Abdullah, a further 10 camels should be added and the lot cast again. This should be repeated till the lot fell to the camels.

In those days the penalty for the accidental killing of a person (blood price) was 10 camels, and the Quraish liked this solution. After a great deal of persuasion, Abdul Muttalib agreed.

A lot was cast between Abdullah and 10 camels but the result was Abdullah. The number was increased to 20, but still Abdullah's name came out. Thenumber was increased by 10 until it reached 100. Finally when a lot was cast between Abdullah and 100 camels, the lot fell to the camels.

Abdul Muttalib ordered that 100 camels belonging to him should be slaughtered that same day in front of the Holy Ka'ba and no person or animal should be stopped from eating the meat.

In this way Allah protected Abdullah, who later was to become the father of our Holy Prophet Muhammad (S). One year before Aamul Feel (The Year of the Elephant), Abdullah got married to Aamina, daughter of Wahab. Aamina was to become the mother of the Holy Prophet (S).

One year after his marriage, Abdullah was returning from trade in Syria and fell ill in Madina and died there. He died two months before his great son was born.
The Holy Prophet (S) used to say, "I am the son of two sacrifices, Prophet Isma'il (A) and Abdullah".

What did the Holy Prophet (S) mean about the sacrifice of Prophet Isma'il (A)?

Abdul Muttalib, son of Hashim: (Part 3)

The Well of Zam Zam:

The well of Zam Zam had existed since the time of Prophet Ibrahim (A). It was a sign of Allah's Mercy to Prophet Ibrahim's (A) wife Hajira and son Prophet Isma'il (A). This blessed well exists even today.

After Prophet Isma'il (A), the tribes that came after him overused the well and it dried up.

How is the well of Zam Zam connected to walking between Safa and Marwah during Haj?

One day Abdul Muttalib received instructions in a dream to dig up Zam Zam and was given some signs as to where it was. He took his eldest son Harith, and after digging for four days, they managed to find the entrance of the well.

The Quraish claimed that the well belonged to the whole tribe so everyone should have the honour of digging the well. They could not reach a decision on who should dig it, so they decided to go to a famous wise person in Syria and follow whatever he said.

Every clan sent one person to represent it. Abdul Muttalib with his son and companions were in one caravan and the others were in another.

During the long journey Abdul Muttalib's caravan had run out of water so they asked the other people for some, but were refused. The situation was such that Abdul Muttalib thought they would die. They continued searching for water and after some time Abdul Muttalib decided that it was better to keep searching than to die in such a way. By Allah's Mercy, they soon discovered water.

The other group wanted some water as well. The companions of Abdul Muttalib tried to refuse, but Abdul Muttalib said that if they did that, then there would be no difference between the two.

Seeing the kindness of Abdul Muttalib, the other group said that the miracle of discovering water in the middle of the desert was proof from Allah that the well of Zam Zam belonged to Abdul Muttalib. They did not go on any further and returned to Makka at once.

On his return, Abdul Muttalib dug deeper in the well and found some treasure two gold deer, some swords and battle armour. The Quraish again claimed a share of the treasure and were prepared to fill up the well if they did not get it. It was decided to draw lots, and the result was that the two gold deer went to the Holy Ka'ba and the rest to Abdul Muttalib, and the Quraish got nothing.

It was then that Abdul Muttalib gave 1/5 of his share to be spent in the way of Allah.

After reading this lesson, what have you learnt about the tribe of Quraish? What sort of people were they? Think about the way they behaved towards Abdul Muttalib.

Abdul Muttalib, son of Hashim (Part 4)

Aamul Feel - The Year of the Elephant

{This lesson is in the form of a role play.}

Narrator: Yemen is a country that neighbours Arabia. Just before the birth of our Holy Prophet Muhammad (S), the ruler of Yemen was a man calledAbraha. When Abraha learnt that the Arabs looked upon the Holy Ka'ba with great honour, he decided to build a huge church in San'a in Yemen. When the church was built, he asked the Arabs to leave the Holy Ka'ba and come to his church instead.

Some Arab travellers sheltering in the church lit a fire to keep them warm and by mistake burnt the church down. As a result, Abraha was very angry.

Abraha: I built the church so that people would leave Makka and come and worship here but my church has been destroyed instead. I will show those Arabs, I will destroy the Holy Ka'ba once and for all.

Narrator: In 570 A.D. Abraha marched at the head of a huge army towards Makka. He camped outside Makka, and then sent a few of his people to capture the camels of the Makkans. Of the camels captured, around 200 belonged to Abdul Muttalib.

Abraha's officer: I come with a message from Abraha. Abraha does not wish to hurt any of you but has come to demolish the Holy Ka'ba with his Army and Elephants.

Abdul Muttalib: We too do not want to fight Abraha. As for the Holy Ka'ba, it is the house of Allah and He will do whatever He pleases.

Narrator: Abdul Muttalib then went with some of his sons to see Abraha. Abraha welcomed him with respect.

Abraha: I suspect you have come to ask me not to destroy your Holy Ka'ba.

Abdul Muttalib: No, I have come to get my camels back.

Abraha: Why are you worrying about your camels and not the Ka'ba?

Abdul Muttalib: I am the owner of the camels. The Ka'ba too has a Master who looks after it.

Abraha: There is none powerful enough to stop me!

Narrator: On his return, Abdul Muttalib ordered the people to leave Makka and go to the hills for safety. He then prayed to Allah to protect them and the Holy Ka'ba from any harm.

The next morning Abraha prepared to march towards Makka. All of a sudden, a flock of birds appeared from the side of the sea, holding tiny stones in their claws and beaks. Each bird held three stones and they showered the stones on the army of Abraha in such a way that the Elephants and many men were soon dead. One of the stones hit Abraha on his head and he was so frightened that he ordered the remaining men in his army to retreat at once. Many of his men died on the way back and Abraha himself reached San'a with the flesh falling from his body and died a painful death.

This dreadful and miraculous event is mentioned in the Holy Qur'an in the following verses:

"In the Name of Allah, the Most Kind, the Most Merciful
Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with the People of the Elephant? Did He not cause their plan to go astray? He sent down upon them flocks of birds, who showered them with stones of baked clay. So they became like straw eaten up by cattle." Suratul Feel 105:1-5

What does Allah say in suratul feel about those who plot against Islam?