Chief of the Prophets — Page 72
Chapter Five 72 According to historians, the miracle of the splitting of the moon ( Shaqqul-Qamar ), 1 which is mentioned in the Qur’ān also happened during the boycott in the Valley of Abī Ṭālib. 2 The Year of Grief (‘Āmul-Ḥuzn), 10 th Nabawī By the time the siege ended, Abū Ṭālib and Khadījah ra were quite old. Their health had further weakened due to the hard and prolonged conditions of the boycott. A few days after they left the Valley of Abī Ṭālib, both of them passed away. On account of these consecutive grievances, Muḥammad sa named this year, that is, 10 th Nabawī, the ‘Āmul-Ḥuzn (Year of Grief). Memory of Khadījah ra Muḥammad sa loved Khadījah ra immensely and was extremely grieved at her death. For a very long time, the signs of grief were visible on his face. In later years, the mere mention of her name would bring tears to his eyes, and he would talk about her with such love that the other wives 3 would long to be like her. On one occasion ‘Ᾱ’ishah ra , who was also very dear to Muḥammad sa because of her lofty qualities was overwhelmed with sentiments and said, “O Messenger of Allah, you remember an old lady who has passed away, when Allah, the Exalted, has given you wives better than her. ” Muḥammad sa replied: ‘Ᾱ’ishah, should I not remember her who believed in my truthfulness when everyone rejected me, and supported me when I had no helper? 1 At one occasion, a group of disbelievers of Makkah insisted on being shown some sign. It was night and the moon was full. Muḥammad sa pointed his finger at the moon, and it appeared to those who were present that the moon had been split, so that half of it was visible on one side of the mountain and the other half on the other side of it. This event is described in the Qur’ān (Al-Qamar 54:2-4). [Publisher] 2 Find a very useful note about the miracle of the splitting of the moon in Sīrat Khātamun-Nabiyyīn, Urdu edition, published by Islam International Publications, 1996, p. 168. 3 Muḥammad sa married again multiple times after the death of Khadījah ra , but during her lifetime she was his only wife. [Publisher]