Life and Teachings of the Prophet Muhammad
2. The Life of the Prophet Muhammad
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2. THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET
MUHAMMAD
T
HE
Prophet of Islam, Muhammad ibn Abdullah, was born in
Makkah in 570 A.D. in the tribe of Quraysh and died at the age of
63 in 632 A.D. in Madinah. The year of his birth is known among
the Arabs as the year of the Elephant (
Aam al-Fil
) referring to the
campaign of Abraham, an Abyssinian ruler, who had come to
Makkah to destroy Kabah. Makkah was then inhabited mainly by the
tribe of Quraysh. In those times, this tribe enjoyed great prestige all
over Arabia and the neighbouring countries, for Makkah was a
flourishing trade and religious centre.
Muhammad was still in his mother’s womb when his father,
Abdullah, died. After his birth, Amine, his mother, sent the baby to
Abdul Mutely, his grandfather, who was in Kabah at that time. The
grandfather was overjoyed at the news, for he loved Abdullah,
Muhammad’s father, very much. The grandfather gave him the
name “Muhammad”, meaning “the praised one.” As was the
practice of the Makkah nobility, he was handed over to a wet
nurse, Kalimah al-Sadly, who belonged to the Banu Sad tribe. This
custom is still practiced among Makkah aristocracy.
Kalimah nursed Muhammad for two years and a few months.
She said that when he stayed with them, her family received all
kinds of unaccustomed blessings. Having nursed so many children
before, she noticed something ‘different’ or ‘extraordinary’ about
