Abd al-Muttalib: Difference between revisions

Ya’qubi cites himself in a narration that quotes the Prophet (s), “God will resurrect my grandfather, 'Abd al-Muttalib, with the looks of the Prophets and the awe of the kings.”

==The Companions of the Elephant==

According to religious and regional narrations, Abraha’s offensive against Mecca, famously known as [['Am al-Fil|the Companions of the Elephant]], was contemporary to 'Abd al-Muttalib. Abraha marched from Yemen to Mecca with an army of elephants to destroy [[the Kaaba]]. Abraha’s army pillaged the camels of Quraysh, for which a meeting between 'Abd al-Muttalib and Abraha was organized, where 'Abd al-Muttalib only requested his camels be freed. Abraha said, “I thought you have come to negotiate about the Kaaba.” 'Abd al-Muttalib replied, “I am the master of the camels, and that house (i.e. the Kaaba) has a master for itself.” He went back to Mecca and told the people to go to the mountains and take their belongings with them. Only a couple of Abraha’s men survived and fled the following day, when a giant flock of birds attacked his army.

==Digging the Zamzam Well==

According to historical documents of Mecca, prior to Qusai b. Kilab’s conquest, who was 'Abd al-Muttalib’s grandfather, the Jurhum tribe ruled over Mecca. The oppressiveness of their tribesmen evoked a rise against them by other tribes. In the end, the Khuza’a tribe defeated them. 'Umar b. Harith, the final Jurhum ruler went inside the Kaaba and hid all the jewelry and valuable presents that had been gifted to the Kaaba, in the Zamzam well and filled the well with soil to hide it.