Allah says in the Qur’an: “Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for whoever hopes in Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah often.” (Al-Ahzab: 21)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born in Makkah, in the clan of Bani Hashim, on a Monday morning, the 12th of Rabi’ al-Awwal, in the Year of the Elephant, which corresponds to April 22, 571 CE. His father was Abdullah, and his mother was Aminah. His grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, was overjoyed at his birth, took him to the Ka’bah, and named him Muhammad, meaning the praised one.
The Prophet came from a noble family. His lineage goes back to Prophet Ismail, the son of Prophet Ibrahim. From his father’s side, he belonged to the Quraysh tribe, a tribe well-known for its honor, leadership, and service to the Ka’bah. His family, Bani Hashim, was respected for providing food and drink to pilgrims.
His grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, was a generous and noble leader. He was the one who rediscovered the Zamzam well and protected Makkah when Abrahah tried to destroy the Ka’bah with his army of elephants. Allah protected His sacred house by sending flocks of birds to destroy the army. This event happened shortly before the Prophet’s birth.
Muhammad’s father, Abdullah, passed away before his birth, so he was born an orphan. After his birth, he was cared for by his mother and also by Umm Aiman, a servant of the family.
As for nursing, the first woman to breastfeed him after his mother was Thuwaybah, the servant of Abu Lahab. Later, he was placed in the care of Halimah al-Sa’diyyah, from the tribe of Bani Sa’d. This was a common practice among the Arabs, so that children would grow strong and learn pure Arabic in the desert environment.
From the moment Muhammad entered Halimah’s household, blessings filled her life. Her animals became healthy, their milk increased, and her family lived with ease, though before they were very poor. She realized that this child was truly special and full of blessing.
He stayed with Halimah until the age of about four. During this time, an amazing incident happened: the splitting of his chest. The angel Jibreel came, opened his chest, and removed a part that represented the influence of Shaytan. Then his heart was washed with Zamzam water and returned to its place. This event left a physical mark on his body, but it was also a sign of his purity and special mission as the last Prophet.
In conclusion, the early life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) shows us that from the very beginning, he was under the protection of Allah. His noble birth, pure lineage, and the blessings witnessed by those around him are all proofs of his greatness. He was chosen by Allah to be the final messenger and the best example for all of humanity.
