Abdul-Muttalib ibn Hashem "Grandfather of the Prophet"

Who is Abdul-Muttalib ibn Hashem?

He is Abd al-Muttalib, and his name is Shaybah al-Hamd, the son of Hashim bin Abd Manaf bin Qusay bin Kilab bin Murrah bin Ka'b bin Lu'ay bin Ghalib bin Fihr bin Malik bin al-Nadr bin Kinanah bin Khuzaymah bin Mudrikah bin Ilyas bin Mudar bin Nizar bin Ma'ad bin Adnan. His mother is Salma bint Amr al-Najariyya al-Khazrajiyya.

Birth and Early Life Shaybah

He was born in Yathrib around 480 CE. He was raised among his maternal uncles from the Banu Najjar tribe. His father passed away in Gaza during a business trip, so his uncle, Muttalib bin Abd Manaf, brought him back to Mecca. When he entered Mecca with him, the Quraysh said, "Abd al-Muttalib". He replied, "No, he is my brother's son, Shaybah". Abd al-Muttalib was a wise and noble man, eloquent in speech, attentive, and beloved by his people. They honored him in a way none of his ancestors had been honored. After his uncle Muttalib's death, he assumed the responsibility of providing water and food for the pilgrims, maintaining what his ancestors used to provide for their people.

He took care of the Prophet Muhammad after his father's death and had the honor of raising him after the passing of his mother, Aminah bint Wahb of the Zuhrah tribe. Abd al-Muttalib passed away when the Prophet Muhammad was eight years old. He was known for his completeness, wisdom, eloquence, and nobility, becoming the leader of the Quraysh until his demise.

Abdul-Muttalib Kunya

His nickname was 'Al-Fayyad' (the generous). He was one of the greatest men in Mecca and the Arabian Peninsula, having a gathering near the Kaaba where men of Mecca and Quraysh would sit around him, listening and respecting him. He had a saying all over Mecca, opening his homes to feed pilgrims, visitors, and travelers. They called him the 'Feeder of Humans, Wild Animals, and Birds". He had a herd of camels dedicated to serving the Kaaba, the House of God.

Abdul-Muttalib Family Tree

Here's a breakdown of Abd al-Muttalib's wives and his descendants:

Abdul-Muttalib Wives:

• Safiyyah bint Janab ibn Hajr from the Banu Amir ibn Sa'sa'ah tribe bore him Al-Harith and Qatham.
• Natilah bint Janab ibn Kalib from the Banu an-Namr ibn Qasit tribe bore him Dhirar and Al-Abbas. Some also mention Al-Awam. Some sources mention that Al-Awam's mother was Hala bint Wahb.
• Fatimah bint Amr ibn 'A'idh ibn Imran ibn Makhzum al-Qurashiyyah bore him Abu Talib, Abdullah, Al-Zubair, Atikah, Barrah, Umm Umamah, Arwa, and Umm Hakim (also known as al-Bayda, who was the twin of Abdullah).
• Hala bint Wahb ibn Abdul Muttalib ibn Zahrah ibn Kilab al-Qurashiyyah bore him Al-Muqawwim, Hamza, Hajl, Safiyyah, and it is also said that she bore him Al-Awam.
• Lubnah bint Hajar ibn Abdul Muttalib al-Khazaiyyah bore him Abu Lahab.
• Mumanah bint Amr ibn Malik al-Khazaiyyah bore him Al-Ghaydaq.

Abdul-Muttalib Sons:

• Al-Harith ibn Abdul Muttalib was the eldest of his sons and died during his father's lifetime. His sons included Awf, Abdullah, Abu Sufyan, Umayyah, Rabi'ah, Nawfal, Abdul Muttalib, and Arwa.
• Abu Talib ibn Abdul Muttalib: It is said that his name was either Imran or Abd Manaf, and some say his name was his nickname. He became the leader of the Quraysh after his father's death. His sons were Talib, Aqil, Ja'far, Ali, Umm Hani, and Jumanah.
• Dhirar ibn Abdul Muttalib died before the prophethood and left no descendants.
• Al-Zubair ibn Abdul Muttalib, a poet of the Quraysh, died before the prophethood, and no descendants were left behind. He had sons: At-Tahir, Abdullah, Hijl, Qura, and Diba'a.
• Abd al-Uzza ibn Abdul Muttalib, also known as Abu Lahab, died as a disbeliever after the Prophet's mission. His sons were Utbah, Utaybah, Muattib, and Durrah.
• Al-Ghaydaq ibn Abdul Muttalib, whose nickname is agreed upon, had conflicting reports about his name. Some said it was Nawfal, and others said it was Mus'ab. He died before the prophethood with no descendants.
• Al-Muqawwim ibn Abdul Muttalib had sons: Abdullah, Bakr, Arwa, and Hind. The last remaining of his descendants was Abdullah ibn Bakr ibn Al-Muqawwim, who died without leaving any descendants.
• Qatham ibn Abdul Muttalib died young and has no descendants.
• Hajl ibn Abdul Muttalib, also known as Jahil, had a son called Qura ibn Hajl, who was nicknamed Qura.
• Abdullah ibn Abdul Muttalib had a son who became the Prophet Muhammad.
• Al-Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib had sons: Al-Fadl, Abdullah, Ubaydullah, Qatham, Ma'bad, Abdul Rahman, Kathir, Al-Harith, Tamam, Umm Habib, Safiyyah, and Amina.
• Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib, known as the Lion of Allah, died as a martyr on the day of Uhud. His sons were Ya'la, Amara, Amir, and Fatimah.
• Al-Awam ibn Abdul Muttalib was mentioned by some, and his mother was Hala bint Wahb.
• Abdul Ka'bah ibn Abdul Muttalib did not embrace Islam and left no descendants.

Abdul-Muttalib Daughters:

• Um Hakim al-Bayda bint Abdul Muttalib was the grandmother of Amir al-Mu'minin Uthman ibn Affan through his mother.
• Atika bint Abdul Muttalib was the mother of Abdullah ibn Abi Umayyah and was the companion of the Prophet in a dream before the Battle of Badr. There are conflicting reports about her conversion to Islam.
• Barrah bint Abdul Muttalib was the mother of Abu Salama ibn Abd al-Asad al-Makhzumi.
• Umm Umamah bint Abdul Muttalib was the mother of Abdullah ibn Jahsh and the mother of the believers Zaynab bint Jahsh.
• Arwa bint Abdul Muttalib was the mother of Tulayb ibn Amr.
• Safiyyah bint Abdul Muttalib, the mother of Al-Zubair ibn Al-Awwam, embraced Islam and migrated.
• Jumanah bint Abdul Muttalib is mentioned by the contemporary Jalal Maash, who stated that she is buried in al-Baqi and that she is the Prophet Muhammad's paternal aunt. However, historical sources do not mention her.

Descendants:

Descendants of Abd al-Muttalib include the offspring of Harith, Abu Talib, Abu Lahab, and Al-Abbas.

Abdul-Muttalib Upheld Monotheism and Hanīfism

Historians like al-BirzANJI and al-Suyuti, among others, who documented the lineage of the Prophet Muhammad and his ancestors, asserted their adherence to monotheism. They provided evidence for this belief and separately detailed each of the Prophet's ancestors.

Numerous Hadiths confirm that the Prophet Muhammad said, 'I have been transferred from the pure loins to the pure wombs". Some interpret this as an indication that from Adam and Eve onward, there were no unbelievers among his ancestors, as an unbeliever cannot be described as "pure". Even Abu Talib, on his deathbed, affirmed that he followed the faith of Abd al-Muttalib, as did the Prophet Muhammad and all their ancestors, adhering to the monotheism of Ibrahim.

Abd al-Muttalib rejected idol worship, acknowledged Allah's oneness, and often secluded himself in the Hira cave to contemplate Allah's attributes and actions. When severe drought struck the Quraysh, they sought rain through Abd al-Muttalib's supplications.

When the Abyssinians, led by Abraha, aimed to destroy the Kaaba, Abd al-Muttalib approached Abraha to retrieve his confiscated camels. Abraha was surprised and questioned why he cared more about his camels than the Kaaba. Abd al-Muttalib replied, 'I am the owner of the camels, and the Kaaba has its Owner who will protect it". Then he hung onto the Kaaba's curtains, reciting:

'O God, if it is the doing of your servant to defend his camels, then defend Your own today against the People of the Cross. They have brought their camels and goods to abuse Your children; the matter belongs to You and is with You, so act as You will.

Abd al-Muttalib Reopened Zamzam and the Vow to Sacrifice His Son Abdullah

The Zamzam well was dug after Jurhum buried it when they took control of Mecca. Historians mention that it was dug through repeated and truthful visions, almost as if it were an inspiration from Allah, guiding Abd al-Muttalib to purify his soul and illuminate his spirit. It is also mentioned that at the time of digging Zamzam, he had only one son, Harith. When he encountered the oppression from Quraysh at that time, he vowed that if he were granted ten sons, he would sacrifice one of them at the Kaaba for God.

When he was blessed with ten sons and realized that they would prevent him from fulfilling his vow, he informed them of his pledge. They agreed, so he gathered them and intended to cast lots among them. He instructed each one to write their names on a piece of paper. After they wrote their names, each paper was placed in a bowl, and an expert was ordered to mix them thoroughly. The lot fell upon Abdullah, his son and the father of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). 

Despite Abdullah being the dearest of his sons, he began to prepare to sacrifice him. However, this action troubled Quraysh and his brothers, who hurried to him, urging him not to proceed until he sought an excuse (a way out) from the vow. They feared that if he did this, it would set a precedent, and people would continue sacrificing their sons. They urged him to consult a priestess and a soothsayer in the Hijaz region. When they reached her, she advised them to offer a ransom, ten camels, and cast lots between the sacrifice and the camels. If the lot fell on the camels, they should add more camels until the lot fell on them.

When they gathered the required number of camels, Abd al-Muttalib prayed, and then they brought Abdullah and ten camels. The lot fell on Abdullah. They increased the number of camels, but the lot still fell on Abdullah. They continued to increase the number of camels until they reached a hundred. Finally, they struck again, and the lot fell on the camels. Quraysh said, 'Your ransom has been accepted, Abd al-Muttalib, but he wanted to be absolutely sure. It's narrated that he struck for a second and third time, and the lot fell on the camels. The camels were then sacrificed, and the meat was left for people without hindrance or prevention.

Abd al-Muttalib Seized the Golden Opportunity

His esteem grew immensely after he dug the Zamzam well, which was previously buried. This happened during the reign of Qubadh, the king of Persia. From the well, two gazelles adorned with pearls and jewels were extracted, along with various ornaments, seven fortress swords, and seven shields. He used one of the swords to forge a gate for the Kaaba and adorned it with gold plates from one of the gazelles, while the other was placed within the Kaaba itself. His reputation soared among the Arabs after the Elephant incident.

He offered support to Quraysh against the Abyssinians who invaded southern Arabia, presenting Yemen to congratulate the king, Saif bin Dhi Yazan, for his victory. The king honored, approached, favored, and promised him that prophethood would be in his lineage.

Despite some envy from a faction of Quraysh, some attempted to compete with him, but they faced humiliation and failure. He strengthened the oaths of his forefathers, tied the knots of his kin, and made an alliance between Quraysh and Khazaa'a, becoming a leader for the conquest of Mecca in the year 9 AH, leading people to embrace the religion of God in multitudes.

Abd al-Muttalib Defended the Kaaba in the Year of the Elephant

Abd al-Muttalib was a man of strong resolve, firm in his determination, undisturbed, and unwavering in the face of surprises. An example of this was when he went to meet Abraha, the Abyssinian king and leader of their army, who came with awe and tyranny. Abd al-Muttalib had camels among those taken by the people of Mecca, including those owned by Abd al-Muttalib himself. When they met, Abd al-Muttalib said to Abraha's interpreter, "My request to the king is to return to me my two hundred camels that I have lost".

When he mentioned this, Abraha said to his interpreter, "I was impressed by him when I saw him, but I lost interest when he spoke. He talks to me about two hundred camels that I have taken from him, leaving aside the House, which is the sanctity of his religion and the religion of his ancestors, and he does not mention it?" Abd al-Muttalib replied to him:

"I am the owner of the camels, but the House has its Owner who will protect and preserve it".

This incident depicts the close grandfatherly relationship that the Prophet Muhammad was raised in, the first person he witnessed showing masculine dignity, the wisdom of the elders, and the paternal affection that compensated for the absence of his father, whose eyes had not seen him. Abd al-Muttalib showered him with affection, referring to him directly as his own, saying not 'the son of Abdullah' but 'my son". When feeling his death approaching, he approached Abu Talib, instructing him to safeguard and protect the Prophet, and he singled him out with this advice, which Abu Talib honored.

The Guardianship of Abdul Muttalib for the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

When the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ father, Abdullah ibn Abdul Muttalib, passed away while the Prophet was still in his mother’s womb, his grandfather Abdul Muttalib ibn Hashim took on the responsibility of caring for him after his birth. Abdul Muttalib was a respected and powerful leader of Quraysh, highly regarded among the Arabs.

Abdul Muttalib’s Care for the Prophet ﷺ:

• After the death of the Prophet’s mother, Aminah bint Wahb, when the Prophet ﷺ was six years old, Abdul Muttalib continued to care for him with deep love and attention.
• He showed special affection toward Muhammad ﷺ, more than he did to his own sons and other grandchildren. He even used to sit him beside him on his mat near the Kaaba, despite objections from others.
• Abdul Muttalib recognized unique qualities in Muhammad ﷺ and believed he was destined for greatness.

How & When Did Abdul-Muttalib Die?

Abd al-Muttalib died around 578 CE when the Prophet ﷺ was eight years old, and his passing left a deep sorrow in the heart of the orphaned child who had found in his grandfather a source of support, security, and protection. History records that his illness worsened in the days before his death, sapping his strength until he passed away in the month of Rabi‘ al-Awwal or Jumada al-Ula. At that time, there was no elder in Mecca greater or guardian stronger than ‘Abd al-Muttalib, and when he departed, the young Prophet’s ﷺ political and tribal standing among the Quraysh weakened, so his uncle Abu Talib took over his care.

The Prophet ﷺ greatly missed his grandfather’s compassion and wisdom in resolving disputes and safeguarding the Ka‘bah, but this early trial instilled in him ﷺ a sense of loss and reliance on Allah, as well as the importance of the Banu Hāshim’s solidarity in sponsoring and caring for the orphan. Thus, the transfer of guardianship to Abu Talib marked the family’s unity and prepared the way for the beginning of the Prophet’s ﷺ spiritual journey, which was grounded in reliance on God and familial support.