Muhammad the kindred to Humanity — Page 6
The Prophet's Childhood. Take his earlier life. He had to experience the lot of an orphan. His father died before he was born, and mother died when he was quite young. But living first under his grandfather, and later under his uncle, he showed how an orphan should conduct himself. An orphan either grows to be petted and spoilt, or growing under a sense of oppression, he becomes a despairing, despondent child. If he is living with people who think far too much of him, their indulgence will indeed spoil him. On the other hand, if he lives with people who take him for a stranger and treat him unkindly, he will tend to get disheartened, and develop a gloomy outlook on life. Placed in so delicate a situation as a child, he displayed a remarkable character. His companions of those days tell us that he had excellent table manners. He would not spring upon things to eat, but would wait aside with dignity. Not until his aunt sent for him, would he come forward to take his share of the food of which he would then partake with the same dignity which characterized the rest of his bearing as a child. His foster-mother has reported that he was so good-natured that even his fellow children were impressed by him. His foster-brothers have reported that he tcok no part in vain and wasteful sport. He had his juvenile pranks but he hated being anything other than truth ul. He was so full of sympathy for his fellow children that even at that age they regarded him as a sort of a chief. that the most bigoted. They have, no doubt, high degree in a child, an unsound mind. But. His early life, in short, was so pure. Western writers have had to admit it. suggested that goodness of such a denotes an abnormal and, as it were, that is only an after-thought. And in any case, it is an explanation of his juvenile goodness which we have reasons to discount. The truth therefore is that Muhammad was an extraordinarily good child. He loved his guardians and conducted himself with affection towards them. The way regarded his uncle Abu Talib, is hardly equalled even by one's he