The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 154
Seal of the Prophets - Volume I 154 Abū Ṭālib, he approached his uncle ‘ Abbās and proposed that, “Your brother Abū Ṭālib lives in a state of difficulty. Would not it be worthy, if from his sons you took one to your home and I bring one to my home. ” ‘ Abbās agreed to this proposal and both of them went to Abū Ṭālib and offered this proposal. Among his children, Abū Ṭālib dearly loved his son ‘ Aqīl, hence he said, “Leave ‘Aqīl with me and if you wish take the others into your care. ” Therefore, Ja‘far was taken into the guardianship of ‘Abbās and ‘ Ali ra was taken by Muḥammad sa. Ḥaḍrat ‘Ali ra was approximately six to seven years of age and from that day he remained in the blessed custody of Muḥammad sa. 1 Luminosity of Dawn Muḥammad sa had now reached the ripe age of 40 years. The time had come for the light of dawn to manifest itself upon the Eastern horizon. Muḥammad sa never intermingled with the general society of Makkah. For he was one who desired solitude and during this time, his disposition was such as day and night, he would remain in seclusion longing for Allāh the Exalted, diligently occupied in his remembrance. At a distance of three miles from Makkah towards Minā, in the left is the mountain of Ḥirā, wherein is a cave, famously known as the Cave of Ḥirā. During this time, it was the general practice of Muḥammad sa to retreat to this cave and would occupy himself in deep meditation and rememberance of God. Ordinarily, he would take sufficient food with him and would not return to Makkah for many days. Sometimes, Ḥaḍrat Khadījah ra also accompanied him. It is this very time period, which has been referred to as ‘the era of the search for truth’ in the Noble Qur’ān. Therefore, God Almighty states: “And He found thee wandering in search for Him and guided thee unto Himself. ” 2 It was during this time that the commencement of righteous and true dreams 1 * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Malik bin Hishām, p. 187, Bābu Dhikri anna ‘Aliyyabna Abī Ṭālibin Awwalu Dhakarin Aslama, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) * Usdul-Ghābah, Volume 3, pp. 588, ‘Aliyyubnu Abī Ṭālib ra , Dārul-Fikr, Beirut (2003) 2 Aḍ-Ḍuḥā (93:8)