A Jewish man named `Ees, who lived near Makkah but hailed from the Levant (Sham), would frequently visit Makkah. Whenever he met the locals, he would say:
“Very soon, a child will be born among you. All of Arabia will follow his path. He will humble the arrogant and will become the ruler of towns and cities. This is the time for his emergence. Whoever lives during his Prophethood and follows him will achieve success and all the goodness they hope for. But anyone who opposes him, despite living in his era, will fail in their pursuits and aspirations.”
Whenever a child was born in Makkah, this Jewish man would investigate and say, “This is not the one.” Finally, when the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) was born, Abdul Muttalib, his grandfather, left his house and went to this Jewish man. He reached his place of worship and called out to him. The man asked, “Who is it?” Abdul Muttalib introduced himself and asked:
“What do you say about that child?”
The Jewish man looked at him and said, “Yes, you must be his father.” He then added, “Indeed, the child I always spoke about has been born. The star that heralds his birth has appeared tonight. As a sign, the child will experience pain for three days, but after that, he will recover.”
The Jewish man’s remark about the child experiencing pain referred to the fact that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) did not drink milk for three days after his birth. Also, when he said to Abdul Muttalib, “You must be his father,” he meant it in the Arabic sense, where the term “father” can also mean “grandfather.” The Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) himself once said, “I am the son of Abdul Muttalib.”
The Jewish man also cautioned Abdul Muttalib: “Keep this matter secret. Do not tell anyone, or else people will harbor extreme envy against this child—greater envy than ever seen before. His opposition will also be the fiercest the world has known.”
Upon hearing this, Abdul Muttalib asked the Jewish man: “How long will this child live?”
The Jewish man replied: “Even if this child reaches a natural lifespan, he will not live to 70 years. Instead, he will pass away at the age of 61 or 63. Moreover, his nation’s average lifespan will also be around the same.”
He also added: “When this child is born, the idols of the world will collapse.”
The Jewish man’s predictions were based on prophecies from earlier scriptures, and they all came true.
Events Surrounding the Birth of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
Some Quraysh, including Amr ibn Nufail and Abdullah ibn Jahsh, used to visit a particular idol for worship. On the night of the Prophet’s birth, they noticed the idol had fallen face down. Shocked, they set it upright, but it fell again. After repeated attempts, the idol would not stay upright. Suddenly, they heard a voice from the idol, announcing:
“The birth of a child has illuminated the corners of the Earth from the East to the West with his light.”
This voice left them astonished.
In Persia, a significant event occurred at the same time. The palace of the Persian emperor, Kisra Nushirwan, trembled and developed cracks. This grand palace, built with large stones and mortar, was considered indestructible. However, 14 of its spires collapsed, and the sound of their fall was terrifying, spreading panic across the empire.
Moreover, the fire in the Zoroastrian fire temples, which they had worshipped for centuries and never let extinguish, suddenly went out that night—all across Persia, at the same moment. This caused great sorrow and confusion among the fire worshippers.
When Kisra heard about these occurrences, he summoned a soothsayer and asked about the tremors and the extinguishing of the fires. The soothsayer admitted he did not know the answers but suggested consulting another sage named Sabeh. Kisra agreed, and Sabeh was approached. Upon hearing about the events, Sabeh explained:
“A Prophet with a staff will appear, and he will dominate both Arabia and Sham (Levant). What is destined to happen will undoubtedly come to pass.”
When Kisra was informed of this prophecy, he remarked: “Then it seems this will occur after my reign.”
Naming and Early Life of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
On the seventh day after his birth, Abdul Muttalib performed the Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) `Aqeeqah (sacrificial offering) and named him Muhammad. This name was unique and unprecedented in Arabia. When the Quraysh questioned Abdul Muttalib about this unusual name, asking why he hadn’t chosen a traditional family name, he responded:
“I hope that this child will be praised in the heavens by Allah and on Earth by people.”
The name Muhammad means “the one who is highly praised,” while the Prophet’s maternal name Ahmad means “the one who praises the most.” Both names were divinely safeguarded and not used by anyone else before his birth.
According to scholars, the name Ahmad represents the Prophet’s praise of Allah, while Muhammad reflects how others praised him. This distinction is also seen in ancient scriptures, where the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) is referred to as Ahmad.
Initially, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) was nursed by Thuwaibah, the freed slave of Abu Lahab. Abu Lahab had freed her in celebration of the Prophet’s birth. Thuwaibah had just given birth to her own son, and she nursed the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) for a few days. After that, he was nursed by Halimah Sa`diyah (رضي الله عنها).
The Journey of Halimah Sa`diyah (رضي الله عنها)
Halimah Sa`diyah set out from her village with other women to seek a child for wet nursing. Her journey was fraught with difficulty. Her donkey was weak, her camel was old, and she lagged behind the caravan. Despite these challenges, Halimah reached Makkah, albeit after everyone else.
Thus began the blessed relationship between the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) and Halimah, who experienced incredible blessings after taking him into her care.
