The Formative
Years – Adulthood
By M. Dr. Mateen Khan
Seerah
The Ka`ba, a stoic structure, has been
a silent witness to many important
events. For this, I am envious.
It has stood as the base of a pillar
that stretches far into the heavens,
a building constructed upon divine
command as a source and direction
of spiritual light. Like comets, people
from across Arabia have endured unforgiving
empty expanses to simply
circumambulate it before returning
home. Even the surrounding homes
stood like stationary satellites caught
in its gravity. It is a sun, and they, its
solar system.
Decades before, the noble child
Muhammad a, like the Ka`ba, began
to attract many into his orbit. From
family members, hermitic monks,
and townsfolk to close companions,
they observed his impeccable character
and bore witness to it in word,
deed, and life. All this well before he
was proclaimed a Messenger.
The Uncle- Abu Talib
Meanwhile, after `Abdul Muttalib’s
burial, the eight-year-old Muhammad
a and his foster mother returned to
the house of his uncle, Abu Talib. `Abdul
Muttalib did not leave this world
without arrangements for his dear
grandson. He instructed Abu Talib,
who was the full brother of `Abdullah
and closest living relative, to look
after the child. Obedience to his father,
Abdul Muttalib’s last wishes and
a strong blood relationship brought
the child into his house. However, an
undying affection and fierce life-long
devotion kept Abu Talib attached
to his beloved nephew, favoring
him over his own sons. In any other
household, the horns of jealousy
would bludgeon hearts and destroy
families. However, his a presence was
such that no matter how many sought
his attention, they all walked away
satiated. In those days, Abu Talib and
his sons, `Ali, Ja`far, and `Aqil sought
his attention. In later days, it would
grow to hundreds of thousands and,
miraculously, none envied the other
in the least.
The Loyal Monks
One day and a thousand miles away,
the nine-year-old child a emerged
with a caravan through scattered
air and dust from a desert valley in
the mountains near Busra in Sham.
The secluded monk, Baheera, had
lived there for some time among the
boulders and trees as his companions.
He cared little for the world or
the caravans that sought it out. This
time, however, he noted something
extraordinary – those boulders and
trees leaned into the path as if to
reach out in yearning towards a group
of travelers. Baheera knew that just as
these objects remember their Lord,
they also long for His Emissaries.
Frantically, he searched through the
group until he beheld the young boy
a, shaded by a tree and a cloud with
the mark of prophethood on his back.
Abu Talib was among the group and
like most Qurayshi men, he was a
trader traveling to Sham in search of
profit. Before his departure, his young
charge a fearing separation, had
grown close to Abu Talib- for an uncle
is like a father. He had already lost too
many of those.
This was not an expedition for
children. Despite this, Abu Talib also
not wanting to separate from him,
relented. The two endured the desert
with the caravan until they reached
Baheera’s locality.
Enmity against prophets was a recurrent
trait of the People of the Book.
At the time, the Christian Romans
were already searching with ill-intent.
However, there have been some like
Baheera that protected those beloveds
of Allah:
“Return him home safely and protect
his identity,” Baheera urged Abu Talib.
“This is the master of the worlds. This
is the messenger of the Lord of the
worlds. Allah will commission him as
a mercy to the worlds.”
Not knowing what to make of this
exactly, but not wanting to tempt fate
either, the child a was sent back to
the safe obscurity of Makkah. Nine
years later as a business partner of his
future wife, he would meet another
loyal monk, Nastura. He, too, would
recognize the young man a and pro-
Seerat al-Habib a
14 January – February 2022 | AL-MADINAH