Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 22
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 22 she feared the unhealthy air of Mecca. Thus Halima returned with him to her tribe. He already looked like a child double his age. After another two years Halima again took the boy to his mother, who again persuaded her to take him back once more to the enc ampment of her tribe. She loved her foster - child and was happy that she had been able to keep him for so long. After one more year, she returned him to his mother and grandfather. There can be no doubt that the constitution of Muhammad was rendered robust, and his character free and independent, by his five years among Bani Sa’d. Also his speech was formed upon one of the purest models of the language of Arabia. Muhammad always retained a grateful impression of the kindness he had experienced as a child among Bani Sa’d. On one occasion, Halima visited him at Mecca after his marriage with Khadija. It was a year of drought in which many cattle had perished. Muhammad spoke to Khadija and she gave Halima a camel used to carrying a litter, and forty sheep with which she returned to her people. Muhammad spent the sixth year of his life at Mecca with his mother, under the care of his grandfather. His mother then planned a visit to Medina and took him along with her to show him to the maternal relatives of his father. She was accompanied by her sla ve - girl, Um Aiman, who tended the child. They rode upon two camels. Arrived in Medina, she alighted at the house where her husband had died. The visit was of sufficient duration to imprint the scene and the society upon the memory of Muhammad, notwithstand ing his tender age. In later days he used to recall things that happened on this occasion. Forty - seven