The Excellent Exemplar - Muhammad — Page 7
7 Muhammad: Early Years MUHAMMAD WAS BORN AN ORPHAN. HIS FATHER, Abdullah, had died sometime before his birth. Abdullah had been the favorite son of Abdul Muttalib, and the latter was delighted at the news of the birth of Abdullah’s son, whom he took under his care and protection. In conformity with a practice followed by urban families, Abdul Muttalib entrusted the young Muhammad to the care of Haleema, a member of a desert - dwelling tribe, to be nurtured and brought up in the fresh air of the desert. Haleema’s little charge spent three or four years in the desert with his foster parents, being taken at intervals into town so that his mother and grandfather could be reassured with regard to his health and well - being. Muhammad entertained grateful memories of Haleema’s care, and always accorded her the respect and affection due to a mother. In Muhammad’s case these sentiments may have been deepened by the sad bereavement he suffered shortly after his return to his mothe r’s care, for his mother died while on a journey to Mecca from Medina, where she had gone with Muhammad to visit some of her relatives. The little boy was thus deprived of the love and care of his mother during his early boyhood. Not long