Aug 24
Death of Hazrat Abdul Muttalib (RA)
Monday 10 Rabi Al Awwal, 1448
Aug 24
Monday 10 Rabi Al Awwal, 1448
Hazrat Abdul Muttalib was the grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. He was the fourth chief of the Quraysh tribe of Mecca. His role in the entire Arab society was quite significant, especially in the capacity of the custodian of Ka’aba, which was the most prestigious status in the Arab world even before the inception of Islam.
His role in shaping the early life of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ was quite remarkable. The father of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ had expired a few months before his birth. The mother of the Prophet also died when he was just six years old. So, the entire responsibility of the young Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ had already shifted on the shoulders of his grandfather Abdul Muttalib, right from the day of his birth. Abdul Muttalib loved his orphan grandson so much and took good care of him, even before the death of his mother.
Hazrat Abdul Muttalib was born in 481 CE. The name of his father was Hashim Ibn Abd Manaf, who was the progenitor of the renowned Banu Hashim clan of the Quraysh tribe. Banu Hashim is believed to be the direct descendants of Hazrat Ismail عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ. The name of his mother was Salma Bint Amr, who belonged to Banu Najjar, of the Khazraj tribe from Medina (then Yasthrab).
His actual name was Shayba Ibn Hashim (شَيْبة بْن هاشِم), but he is popularly remembered with his title "Abdul Muttalib” (عَبْد الْمُطَّلِب), which translates to “servant of Muttalib”. Muttalib was the name of one of his uncles. The father of Hazrat Abdul Muttalib died earlier. After that, he remained with his mother in Yasthrab till the age of around 8 years. At that stage, his uncle Muttalib went to Yasthrab and asked her mother to hand him over Shayba so he could raise him under his guardianship.
When the young Shayba came to Mecca with his uncle Muttalib, the Meccans presumed that he was a servant of Muttalib; hence, they started calling him Abdul Muttalib (servant of Muttalib). Eventually, it became his popular title. Accordingly, he is mentioned as Abdul Muttalib in history, instead of his original name Shayba. The word Shayba, the actual name of Hazrat Abdul Muttalib, translates to “ancient”. It also means “white haired”. The name Shayba also refers to a white streak in his otherwise dark black hair.
Muttalib Ibn Abd Munaf took good care of young Shayba (Abdul Muttalib) and shaped him into a brave, intelligent, and wise personality.
After the death of Muttalib Ibn Munaf, Shayba, commonly known as Abdul Muttalib, became the chief of the Hashim clan. He was a young man of around 16 years of age at that stage. He continued the legacy of his uncle Muttalib by providing food and water to the pilgrims of Ka’aba. He fulfilled these duties dedicatedly with unprecedented passion. Resultantly, he soon attained a distinguished status, even beyond the level of his forefathers. His fellow tribesmen loved him so much due to his leadership and devotion to serving the pilgrims.
As the chief of Banu Hashim, he gained great respect in Arabian society due to his wisdom, leadership, and integrity. Overall, he rapidly got a unique status and enjoyed a good reputation among the people of the Hashim clan. He was a man of strong ethics and firm belief in the oneness of God, though not a follower of any religion. He upheld the traditions of Prophets Ibrahim and Ismail عَلَيْهِمَا ٱلسَّلَامُ. He was known and rated very highly for his generosity and just leadership.
Some of the major events and achievements associated with Hazrat Abdul Muttalib are summarized here, which made him the most revered chief of the Quraysh tribe.
Hazrat Abdul Muttalib commanded the prestigious positions as Siqayah (the one who provided water to pilgrims) and Rifadah (the one who provided food to pilgrims) during the annual pilgrimage. This role was the continuation of the legacy of his forefathers. His role as caretaker of the Kaaba elevated his social standing in the entire Arab world.
Initially, there was a little dispute on the custodianship of Ka’aba, between him and Herb Ibn Umayyah (father of Abu Sufyan Ibn Herb). The dispute was, however, settled in favor of Hazrat Abdul Muttalib, after a peaceful arbitration by Nufayl Ibn Uzzah (grandfather of Hazrat Umar Ibn Al-Khattab رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). The verdict given by Nufayl, addressing Herb Ibn Umayyah, speaks loud and clear about the high moral grounds and qualities of Hazrat Abdul Muttalib, while justifying him as the custodian of Ka’aba. The verdict, as quoted in the earlier commentaries, reads:
Quote
Why do you pick a quarrel with a person who is taller than you in stature, more imposing than you in appearance, more refined than you in intellect, whose progeny outnumbers yours, and whose generosity outshines yours in lustre? Do not, however, construe this into any disparagement of your good qualities, which I highly appreciate. You are as gentle as a lamb, you are renowned throughout Arabia for the stentorian tones of your voice, and you are an asset to your tribe.
Unquote
Zamzam Well has been the most sacred water source, even before the advent of Islam. It is attributed to the historic event of the quest for water by the infant Hazrat Ismail عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ and his mother Hazrat Hajar. It was believed that this well was later on hidden, which was initially situated somewhere near the Ka’aba. During the time of Hazrat Abdul Muttalib, this well was still hidden. He ventured to rediscover this sacred well.
This act by him is considered one of his most notable achievements, which had been buried and lost for generations. It is believed that he had a series of dreams, in which he was commanded to dig at a particular spot near the Kaaba. When he started to work on this massive but ambitious task, he had to face considerable opposition from the people of the Quraysh tribe. However, he bravely continued with his ambitious endeavor and finally succeeded in rediscovering the sacred well of Zamzam. After the advent of Islam, drinking water from it was made a compulsory part of the Hajj.
One of the most renowned incidents that occurred during the time of Hazrat Abdul Muttalib was an attempted attack on the Ka'aba by a Christian Ethiopian Governor, namely Abraha. Abraha had established a Cathedral in his territory and expected that people should come there for pilgrimage instead of visiting Mecca. But contrary to his expectations and manipulations, people persisted with the pilgrimage to the Ka’aba.
In anguish, he decided to raid Mecca with his army to demolish the Ka’aba. It is reported that his army included at least 13 elephants. In that reference, this event is remembered as the “year of Elephants” or (عام الفيل). It is also remembered as “Ashab al-Feel” or “the People of Elephants”.
When the news of the intentions of Abraha reached Hazrat Abdul Muttalib, he dealt with this crisis with extreme wisdom and profound belief in Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ. He advised the people of Mecca to take refuge in the nearby high hills. However, he himself, along with notables of the Quraysh tribe, stayed back in Mecca to face the attack by Abraha. Hazrat Abdul Muttalib held a meeting with Abraha, which probably remained inconclusive, as it is reported that while leaving the meeting, he was saying that “I am confident that the Owner of this House (God) will surely protect it from the attack and that the Owner of Ka’aba is its Defender”. He also expressed his firm belief that the Owner of the House will certainly save the honor of His servants.
His firm belief and faith proved to be true. Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ sent small birds (referred to as Ababeel), who threw small stones on the army of Abraha and his elephants. The entire army was destroyed, and his men were crushed to death, whereas he himself was seriously injured and eventually died on his way back. This entire incident is mentioned in the Quran in Surah Al-Feel.
Translation
So, the strategy of Hazrat Abdul Muttalib and his firm belief in God proved successful, and the Ka’aba was protected successfully by the Will and Command of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ.
Hazrat Abdul Muttalib had 10 sons, Abdullah, the father of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, being one of them. When Hazrat Abdul Muttalib started his endeavor to discover Zamzam Well, he vowed to sacrifice one of his sons if the well were discovered. On successfully uncovering the Zamzam Well, he was compelled to fulfill his promise. He made a draw between his 10 sons, and the lot fell on his favorite son, Abdullah. He remained firm on his vow and got prepared to sacrifice Abdullah. At that stage, the elders of the tribe suggested to sacrifice camels instead of his son. He started by offering 10 camels instead of his son and kept on increasing the number of camels. Eventually, the lot turned in favor of 100 camels. He then sacrificed 100 camels as a replacement for his son Abdullah.
At the age of around 97 years, Hazrat Abdul Muttalib’s life came to an end in the year 578 CE. At that point in time, the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ was still very young, just 8 years old. During this short span of time, he somehow realized that his grandson Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ was not just a kid; he was destined for a special status in the coming days. As a gesture of that, he used to make him sit alongside him during the important meetings with the notables of Quraysh.
During his last days, when he sensed that his life was about to end, he called his son Abu Talib and entrusted the responsibility of his grandson Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ to him. After the death of Hazrat Abdul Muttalib, Abu Talib fulfilled his responsibilities by taking extraordinary care of his nephew Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, which was also the Will of his father Hazrat Abdul Muttalib.
The earlier life of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ is marked by consistent emotional losses. His father Hazrat Abdullah had already died, a few months prior to his birth. When he was six years old, his mother Hazrat Amna also left his world. Eventually, he was left in the sole guardianship of his grandfather Hazrat Abdul Muttalib.
When he was just 8 years old, his most loving and affectionate grandfather, Hazrat Abdul Muttalib also expired at the age of around 97 years. The event of the death of Hazrat Abdul Muttalib was, in fact, a continuation of the ongoing tragedies for him. Once again, his guardianship has to be transferred. This time, it was his uncle Abu Talib, who took great care of him, even after the declaration of his Prophethood.
Such early emotional experiences of loss of loved ones and those who matter left a profound impact on young Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. It instilled a deep sense of empathy in his character for the week and orphans.
The death of his grandfather Hazrat Abdul Muttalib had a significant impact on his early life.
The death of Hazrat Abdul Muttalib left a deep impact on not only the Arab society, especially the Quraysh of Mecca, but it was also a deep and emotional loss for the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, who was quite young at that stage and had already suffered the loss of his parents. Hazrat Abdul Muttalib was a symbol of leadership and foresight for his fellow tribesmen. On the other hand, he was a great mentor and affectionate guardian for his young orphaned grandson.
The death of Hazrat Abdul Muttalib deprived the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ of a great source of love, care, and protection. It left a deep and persistent impact on the coming life of the Prophet. Although Hazrat Abdul Muttalib entrusted the responsibility of his grandson to his son Abu Talib, who took unprecedented care of him, the emotional loss experienced by the Prophet on the death of his grandfather was enormous.