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Abd al-Muttalib: Difference between revisions
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[[File:حجون.jpg|290px|thumb|right|An old picture of [[Al-Ma'lat Cemetery|Al-Ma'at Cemetery]] before it was demolished in [[1343]]/1925.]] | [[File:حجون.jpg|290px|thumb|right|An old picture of [[Al-Ma'lat Cemetery|Al-Ma'at Cemetery]] before it was demolished in [[1343]]/1925.]] | ||
'''ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib b. Ḥāshim b. ʿAbd Manāf''', (Arabic: عبدالمطلب بن هاشم بن عبد مناف ) (b. 175 before Hijrah/500 - d. 45 before Hijra/579) is the paternal grandfather of [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]], and the chief of the [[Quraysh]] tribe. He was also one of the nobles of Mecca. Born in Yasrib, he migrated to [[Mecca]] when he was seven and became a nobility. The astonishing event of [['Am al-Fil|the Companions of the Elephant]] (the offensive of Abraha) occurred during his rule in Mecca. | '''ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib b. Ḥāshim b. ʿAbd Manāf''', (Arabic: عبدالمطلب بن هاشم بن عبد مناف ) (b. 175 before Hijrah/500 - d. 45 before Hijra/579) is the paternal grandfather of [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]], and the chief of the [[Quraysh]] tribe. He was also one of the nobles of Mecca. Born in Yasrib, he migrated to [[Mecca]] when he was seven and became a nobility. The astonishing event of [['Am al-Fil|the Companions of the Elephant]] (the offensive of Abraha) occurred during his rule in Mecca. | ||
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'Abd al-Muttalib is from the Quraysh tribe and is the offspring of [[Hashim]], thus related to the [[Banu Hashim]]. He descends from Prophet Ibrahim (a). His mother, Salam daughter of 'Amr, is from the Banu Najjar Khazraj clan. This family became the companions of the Prophet (s) after he migrated to [[Medina]]. All Shi’a Imams (a) and all Talibi’s (Banu 'Ali, Banu Ja’far, Banu 'Aqil) descend from [[Abu_Talib|Abu Talib b. 'Abd al-Muttalib]]. [[Banu 'Abbas]], including their 37 [[Abbasid caliphs]] ([[132]]/656 - [[750]]/1258) descend from 'Abbas b. 'Abd al-Muttalib. The 17 Abbasid caliphs of Egypt ([[659]]/1261 - 923/1518) descend from the 35th Abbasid caliph in Iraq, [[al-Zahir Billah]] ([[622]]/1225 - 623/1226). | 'Abd al-Muttalib is from the Quraysh tribe and is the offspring of [[Hashim]], thus related to the [[Banu Hashim]]. He descends from Prophet Ibrahim (a). His mother, Salam daughter of 'Amr, is from the Banu Najjar Khazraj clan. This family became the companions of the Prophet (s) after he migrated to [[Medina]]. All Shi’a Imams (a) and all Talibi’s (Banu 'Ali, Banu Ja’far, Banu 'Aqil) descend from [[Abu_Talib|Abu Talib b. 'Abd al-Muttalib]]. [[Banu 'Abbas]], including their 37 [[Abbasid caliphs]] ([[132]]/656 - [[750]]/1258) descend from 'Abbas b. 'Abd al-Muttalib. The 17 Abbasid caliphs of Egypt ([[659]]/1261 - 923/1518) descend from the 35th Abbasid caliph in Iraq, [[al-Zahir Billah]] ([[622]]/1225 - 623/1226). | ||
==Name and Epithet== | ==Name and Epithet== | ||
'Abd al-Muttalib’s name was Shayba and his epithet was Abu al-Harith. It is said that he was addressed with other names and epithets as well, such as: Amir, Sayyid al-Batha`, Saqi al-Hajij, Saqi al-Ghayth, Ghayth al-Wara fi al-'Aam al-Judub, Abu al-Sadat al-'Ashra, 'Abd al-Muttalib, Hafir Zamzam, Ibrahim Thani, and Fayyad. | 'Abd al-Muttalib’s name was Shayba and his epithet was Abu al-Harith. It is said that he was addressed with other names and epithets as well, such as: Amir, Sayyid al-Batha`, Saqi al-Hajij, Saqi al-Ghayth, Ghayth al-Wara fi al-'Aam al-Judub, Abu al-Sadat al-'Ashra, 'Abd al-Muttalib, Hafir [[Zamzam Well|Zamzam]], Ibrahim Thani, and Fayyad. | ||
In regards to the epithet 'Abd al-Muttalib which is most popular, it is said that a couple of years after the death of Hashim, Muttalib (paternal uncle of 'Abd al-Muttalib) took him from Yasrib to Mecca. When people saw Muttalib entering the city with 'Abd al-Muttalib they thought he was Muttalib’s slave, bought from Yasrib. He therefore became known as 'Abd al-Muttalib and this name stuck. | In regards to the epithet 'Abd al-Muttalib which is most popular, it is said that a couple of years after the death of Hashim, Muttalib (paternal uncle of 'Abd al-Muttalib) took him from Yasrib to Mecca. When people saw Muttalib entering the city with 'Abd al-Muttalib they thought he was Muttalib’s slave, bought from Yasrib. He therefore became known as 'Abd al-Muttalib and this name stuck. | ||
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==Personality of 'Abd al-Muttalib== | ==Personality of 'Abd al-Muttalib== | ||
Ya’qubi says: | Ya’qubi says: | ||
'Abd al-Muttalib was an unparalleled noble of Quraysh in those days, for God had granted him magnanimity He had granted no one else before, and quenched his thirst from | 'Abd al-Muttalib was an unparalleled noble of Quraysh in those days, for God had granted him magnanimity He had granted no one else before, and quenched his thirst from the Zamzam well (in Mecca) and Dhu l-Harm (in Ta'if). Quraysh appointed him as referee for [issues relating to] their wealth. He fed the people in times of famine and hunger, so much that he had even fed the birds of the mountains. In this regard Abu Talib says: | ||
{{ | {{ | ||
centered pull quote|When the hands of gamblers start to tremble (i.e. when the generous start to become stingy) we shall give people so much food that even the birds will eat from what is left. | centered pull quote|When the hands of gamblers start to tremble (i.e. when the generous start to become stingy) we shall give people so much food that even the birds will eat from what is left. | ||
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==Digging the Zamzam Well== | ==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 Ka'ba and hid all the jewelry and valuable presents that had been gifted to the Ka'ba, in the Zamzam | 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 Ka'ba and hid all the jewelry and valuable presents that had been gifted to the Ka'ba, in the [[Zamzam Well]] and filled the well with soil to hide it. | ||
Years later, 'Abd al-Muttalib attempted to find the well. It is said that he found the place of the well in a dream and was given the mission to excavate it. 'Abd al-Muttalib excavated Zamzam, found the jewelry, and spent it for the Ka'ba. Zamzam once again sprang with water. | Years later, 'Abd al-Muttalib attempted to find the well. It is said that he found the place of the well in a dream and was given the mission to excavate it. 'Abd al-Muttalib excavated Zamzam, found the jewelry, and spent it for the Ka'ba. Zamzam once again sprang with water. | ||
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According to reports 'Abd al-Muttalib faced disagreement and obstruction by the Quraysh when he decided to excavate the well. He made a pledge that if God gives him ten sons he would sacrifice one of them next to the Ka'ba. God Almighty blessed him with ten sons. He randomly selected one of his sons, and Abdullah's name came out, but he sacrificed a hundred camels instead. | According to reports 'Abd al-Muttalib faced disagreement and obstruction by the Quraysh when he decided to excavate the well. He made a pledge that if God gives him ten sons he would sacrifice one of them next to the Ka'ba. God Almighty blessed him with ten sons. He randomly selected one of his sons, and Abdullah's name came out, but he sacrificed a hundred camels instead. | ||
'Ali Davani believes this story is not true and was composed by the [[ | 'Ali Davani believes this story is not true and was composed by the [[Umayyad]]s, arguing based on the weak chain of narrators that includes unknown or weak persons, and the fact that child sacrificing was a pagan tradition while 'Abd al-Muttalib was a monotheist. He believes that the Umayyads fabricated this story in order to decrease Imam 'Ali's (a) position through damaging his ancestral nobility. | ||
==Faith== | ==Faith== | ||