Birth & Early Life

Birth in Makkah

Muhammad ibn Abdullah ﷺ was born in Makkah around 570 CE, in the Year of the Elephant — so named because Abraha's army, with its war elephants, marched on Makkah that year and was miraculously repelled. He was born into the noble Banu Hashim clan of the Quraysh, the tribe that held custodianship of the Kaabah. His father, Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib, had died before his birth, and his mother, Aminah bint Wahb, raised him with the help of his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib.

Years with Halimah

Following the Arabian custom of the time, the infant Muhammad ﷺ was entrusted to a wet-nurse from the desert tribe of Banu Sa'd. His nurse, Halimah as-Sa'diyah, later reported that after taking the child into her care, her household experienced an unusual abundance of blessings — her milk increased, her animals gave more milk, and crops flourished. He spent his early years among the Banu Sa'd, where the desert air, the pure Arabic dialect, and the vast open landscape shaped his character.

Loss and Guardianship

His mother Aminah passed away when he was around six years old, during a journey to Madinah. His grandfather Abd al-Muttalib then took guardianship, but he too died when Muhammad ﷺ was approximately eight years old. Custody then passed to his uncle, Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib, who raised him with great love and remained his protector for the rest of his life.

Al-Amin: The Trustworthy

Even in his youth, Muhammad ﷺ was known for honesty, good judgment, and noble character. The people of Makkah called him "Al-Amin" (the Trustworthy) and "As-Sadiq" (the Truthful). He accompanied his uncle on trade journeys to Syria, where a Christian monk named Bahira reportedly recognized signs of prophethood in him. He participated in the Hilf al-Fudul, a pact to defend the oppressed — an alliance he later said he would honour even after receiving prophethood.