The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 137
IV - Early Life 137 love for the poor and special sympathy for the less fortunate; thus, his nature became exceptionally distinguished. The Holy Qur’ān mentions the orphanage of Muḥammad sa in the following words:. . . . . Did He not find thee an orphan and give thee shelter? So the orphan, oppress not. 1 Guardianship of ‘ Abdul-Muṭṭalib After the demise of his mother, Muḥammad sa reached Makkah with his slave Ummi Aiman. This is the same Ummi Aiman who was given to Muḥammad sa as a female slave through inheritance when his father passed away. When Muḥammad sa matured, he freed her and would always treat her with much kindness. Ummi Aiman was later married to a freed slave of the Holy Prophet sa named Zaid bin Ḥārithah and from this relationship Usāmah bin Zaid was born. Ummi Aiman lived even after the death of the Holy Prophet sa. In any case, after the death of his mother, the young Muḥammad sa returned to Makkah with Ummi Aiman and upon reaching there, ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib took Muḥammad sa directly into his own custodianship. ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib kept Muḥammad sa very dear to himself. While performing Ṭawāf of the Ka‘bah, ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib would place the young Muḥammad sa upon his shoulders. Muḥammad sa gradually became quite informal with ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib as well. It was the habit of ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib to sit in the courtyard of the Ka‘bah upon a carpet and none had the courage to sit upon it with him, so much so that even the sons of ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib would sit at some distance. But the young Muḥammad sa , due to his sentiments of love, would sit right beside ‘Abdul- Muṭṭalib and he would always be pleased to see Muḥammad sa. At times, the paternal uncles of Muḥammad sa would attempt to restrain him from sitting upon their father’s carpet, but ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib would always stop them saying, “Reproach him not. ” Demise of ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib It was in this very relationship of love that the days of Muḥammad sa were passing by, when ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib also passed away. As the funeral 1 Aḍ-Ḍuḥā (93:7-10)