Chapter 11 : Fatherhood Flashcards
What was the marriage between The Prophet and Lady Khadijah like ?
- The marriage of The Prophet and Lady Khadijah was a blissful one
- Lady Khadijah may have married down in terms of wealth but what she saw in The Prophet was more important than that ( Much more valuable than any wealth ) :-
i) She saw him as a man of great integrity
ii) She saw him as a man of morality
iii) She saw him as a virtuous individual
iv ) She saw him as someone who she felt they could grow with as an individual
- Children arrived quickly cementing the couple’s bond
- Unfortunately, the couple loses their 1st son Qasim Ibn Mohammad when he was around 2 - 3 years old ( One of The Prophet’s Kunya is Abul Qasim - Father of Qasim )
- The Prophet’s lack of male heir was the reason why he would remain as an “ Abtar “ in the eyes of Makkan society ( Surah 108 : 3 ) :-
” Indeed it is your insulter ( Shani’aka ) who is cut off ( Al - Abtar ) “
- Abtar means either :-
i) One who has no children ( People used to mock The Prophet for being childless after the death of his 2 sons Qasim and Abd - Allah )
ii) One who is cut off from all good
iii) One who is cut off from his people
- Lady Khadijah had a servant by the name of Zayd who was 15 years old
- Lady Khadijah gave him to The Prophet as a wedding gift ( Common during this era )
- Zayd Ibn Haritha Al Kalbi was from the Northern Tribe of Kalb between Syria and Iraq where he had been abducted and sold into servitude
- Shortly after the marriage of The Prophet and Lady Khadijah, Zayd encountered visiting pilgrims from Banu Kalb and sent word to his family that he was safe and happy in Makkah
- Upon hearing the news, his father Haritha came to Makkah to pay for Zayd’s freedom
- The Prophet emphatized with the boy’s father but when he told Zayd that he was free to return to his family, Zayd replied :-
” I would not choose any man in preference to you. You are to me as may father and mother … I have seen from this man such things that I could never choose another above him. “
- After hearing these words, The Prophet invited Zayd’s father and uncle to join him at the Kaabah where he publicly proclaimed the following :-
” All you who are present, bear witness that Zayd is my son. I am his heir and he is mine. “
- From that day, Zayd Ibn Haritha Ibn Al Kalbi became known as Zayd Ibn Muhammad
- He remained in Makkah with his adoptive father ( The Prophet ) and Haritha returned home without any bitterness in his heart
- Despite Lady Khadijah’s great wealth, the couple lived a simple life
- They shared each others values and were disturbed by the inequities of Makkan Society
- They lived their joint life according to the Principles of Zuhd [ Detachment, Self Discipline, Austerity ( Living without the use of unnecessary things ) ] :-
i) Wearing homespun linen instead of the ostentatious silks of the elite
ii) Darning ( A process for repairing minor / major damage on clothes using thread and needle ) and mending ( Similar to darning ) clothes instead of purchasing new ones
iii) Giving most of their income in food and alms
Regarding the birth of Imam Ali
- Abu Talib had been informed by the Monk, Al Mithram Ibn Du’ayb sometime earlier that a son would be born to him who would be a Wali Allah [ Vicegerent ( A person appointed to exercise all or some of the authority of another ) of God ]
- Both Abu Talib and Fatima Bint Asad were hopeful that this child would be the fulfillment of that prophecy
- They devoted themselves to prayer and performed daily pilgrimages to the Kaabah
- It was Friday, 13th Rajab when Abu Talib and Fatima Bint Asad were circuiting the Kaabah ( Tawaf ) when Fatimah felt her labour pains begin
- Fatima Bint Asad turned will full resolve to God and said the following :-
” My Lord ! I firmly believe in you and in all your messengers and books. And I affirm the teachings of my forefather Abraham. He built this ancient house so i swear by the one who built this house and by the child who is in my womb that you make my labour easy for me. “
- Bihar Al - Anwar ( Allama Majlisi ), Volume 35, Page 36
- Abu Talib’s Nephew, Muhammad Ibn Abd Allah ( The Prophet ) was with them
- He took his uncle by the hand, who in turn took his wife by the hand and he led her towards the structure of the Kaabah
- Abbas Ibn Abd Al Muttalib and others who were sitting around the Kaabah witnessed the wall of the Kaabah, opposite its door split open and she was able to walk in easily
- As soon as she entered, the wall closed up again
- They ran to the point where she entered and then to the door but found they were unable to enter
- The Prophet assured them that what they had just witnessed was a miracle of God
- For 3 days, Fatima Bint Asad remained inside the Kaabah
- On the 3rd day, when she exited, she presented her newborn to son to Abu Talib who named him Ali
- He was born without any blood being split in the Kaabah and he was born with his umbilical cord severed and fully circumcised
- The Prophet is reported to have said on this occasion :-
- Imam Ali was born on the 13th Rajab 600 AD when The Prophet was 30 years old ( 30 Years after the Year of The Elephant )
” On this night, a child has been born to us through whom God will open a myriad of doors of blessings and mercy. “
Regarding the restoration of the Kaabah
- 5 years before the commencement of The Prophetic Mission ( Bi’thah ), the Kaabah was damaged by a flood
- Quraysh decided to finance the rebuilding from only lawfully gotten money
- When it came time to replace The Black Stone ( Hajar Al - Aswad ), there was nearly an all out war
- Umm Salama’s Father, Abu Umayyah Ibn Al - Mughirah proposed that they accept the arbitrated solution of the next person to enter the Masjid Al Haram through the Salam Gate ( Bab As - Salam )
- It was The Prophet, The Trustworthy
- He placed the stone on a large fabric and had all tribes have a member lift it and then he placed the stone in place
When did Imam Ali enter The Prophet’s Household
- 4 years before The Bi’tha ( The Prophetic Mission ), there was a severe draught in Makkah
- Abu Talib had a large family and so was financially strained :-
i ) Talib ( 1st Son )
ii ) Aqil ( 2nd Son )
iii ) Jafar ( 3rd Son )
iv ) Ali ( 4th Son )
v ) Umm Hani ( 1st Daughter )
vi ) Jumana ( 2nd Daughter )
- The Prophet suggested to Abbas that they help Abu Talib by taking some of his children
- Abu Talib said :-
” Leave Aqil with me and take any of the others whom you can. “
- Hamza Ibn Abdul Muttalib took Jafar
- Abbas Ibn Abdul Muttalib took Talib
- The Prophet took Ali ( 6 years old ) and said :-
” I chose him whom God chose for me. “
- Imam Ali used to say :-
” I worshipped God before anyone from this nation for 7 years. “
- Al Mustadrak A’la Saheehayn ( Sunni Scholar ), Volume 3, Page 112 (
- He also said :-
” I used to hear voices and see light for 7 years ( 7 years before the Bi’tha ) when The Messenger of God was yet silent not having been given leave to warn and proselytize ( Persuade to change faith ). “
- Shia sources
- The following is a statement of Imam Ali in Nahjul Balagha :-
” And you knew my position with The Messenger of God through my close kinship and special standing. When I was only a child, he took charge of me. He used to press me to his chest and lay me beside him in his bed, bring his body close to mine and make me smell his fragrance. He used to chew something and then feed me with it. He found no lie in my speaking nor misconduct in action. “
- Nahjul Balagha, Sermon 192
