The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 122
Seal of the Prophets - Volume I 122 of the Quraish received news, they prohibited ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib from doing so. In the end, upon the advice of an acquaintance, it was settled that ten camels would be wagered in a ballot against ‘Abdullāh, and if the ballot of the camels was drawn, in place of ‘ Abdullāh, ten camels would be sacrificed as this was the bloodmoney of one man at that time. ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib conducted a draw between ‘Abdullāh and ten camels, yet ‘Abdullāḥ’s name was drawn. ‘Abdul- Muṭṭalib conducted another draw, this time with twenty camels but still ‘Abdullāh’s name was drawn. Then, ten more were added, but ‘Abdullāh’s name was drawn once again. Then forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty and ninety, yet every time ‘Abdullāh’s name would come up. Ultimately, the number of camels reached one-hundred, and this time the ballot drawn was of the camels. However, upon this, ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib, for the satisfaction of his heart, drew twice more and both times the camels were drawn. Upon this, 100 camels were slaughtered and ‘Abdullāh’s life was spared. 1 From this time onwards, among the Quraish, the bloodmoney of one man was set to 100 camels. 2 Aṣḥābul-Fīl During the era of ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib, the region of Yemen was ruled by the African sovereignty of Abyssinia, which in those days was the centre of a powerful dominion. Since Abyssinia was a Christian country, the ruler of Yemen was also Christian. During the time of ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib, the viceroy of Yemen was Abrahah Al-Ashram. This individual harboured severe enmity against the Ka‘bah, and in one way or other, he desired to sway the people of Arabia from the Ka‘bah. Thus, in opposition of the Ka‘bah he built a place of worship and urged people that instead of the Ka‘bah, they should come to this place of worship for pilgrimage. How could the Arabian disposition tolerate the existence of any place of worship other than the Ka‘bah? Thus, it is written that one Arab, overwhelmed by his emotions, relieved his call of nature in this place of worship. When Abrahah was informed of this, in his rage, he 1 * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Malik bin Hishām, pp. 124-126, Dhikru Nadhri ‘Abdil-Muṭṭalib Dhibḥi Waladihī, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) * Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Dhikru Qusaiyy bin Kilāb, Volume 1, p. 41, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) * Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Muḥammad bin ‘Abdul-Bāqī Az- Zarqānī, Dhikru Ḥafri Zamzamadh-Dhabīḥain, Volume 1, pp. 178-180, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 2 Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Dhikru Qusaiyy bin Kilāb, Volume 1, p. 41, Dāru Iḥyā’it- Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)