Mother Ameenah and last Prophet’s (PBUH) birth

Allah’s final Messenger Muhammad (PBUH) had a blessed childhood. In his childhood, four women nurtured him with maternal love and care. The first of them was Sayyedah Ameenah. She was the biological mother of our beloved Prophet (PBUH) and holds the highest honor for giving birth to the last Prophet and showering the motherly affection on him at his birth. Noble woman Ameenah was the daughter of Wahab Ibn Abd Manaf from the Banu Zuhra clan, a highly respected and elite branch within the master Qurayesh tribe in Makkah. Wahab’s family had a position of high honor, nobility and respect within the Qurayesh. The family lineage of Amenah was directly linked to Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) through Ismayeel (PBUH). 
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was born in an age when the people of Arabia used to worship idols. Although, Ameenah, the honorable mother of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) passed away during the Fatrah [gap between the prophet-hood of Muhammad (PBUH) and Isa (PBUH)] when no divine message was actively being preached in Arabia –she grew up in the environment of Tawheed and practiced the religion of Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH). Her father, Wahb ibn Abd Manaf completely rejected the pagan idolatry and kept their household spiritually pure from it. And Ameenah was widely recognised throughout Makkah for her exceptional intelligence purity and modesty. 
After the historic event where Abdullah, the honorable father of our beloved Prophet (PBUH), was selected for sacrifice by lottery, and his father Abdul Muttalib (Prophet’s grandfather) slaughtered 100 camels instead of Abdullah, Abdul Muttalib selected Ameenah to marry his most beloved and precious son, Abdullah. Abdul Muttalib sent a proposal to the family of Amina, who gladly accepted the proposal. Shortly after, Abdullah then married Amina. As Ameenah and Abdullah were both known for their unmatched modesty and moral perfection, their marital life was full of love. But their marital life was short-lived as Abdullah departed on a trade caravan to Yathrib (the ancient name of Madinah) and passed away on his returning journey. 

When Abdullah left Makkah for Yathrib, Ameenah was pregnant. She passed a peaceful period and miraculously felt none of the typical physical burdens, pains and sickness associated with pregnancy. She also experienced miraculous signs including a prophetic light illuminating the distant palaces of Syria which referred the high rank of the child she was carrying in her womb. She gave birth to infant Muhammad (PBUH) in the Year of Elephant (around 570 CE).
According to the renowned Seerah books like Ar Raheeq-ul-Makhtum and Seerah Ibn Hisham, when Ammenah gave birth to the infant Muhammad, she sent the good news to her father-in-law Abdul Muttalib. Upon hearing this joyful news, Abdul Muttalib rushed to the house of Ameenah and took his newborn grandson in his arms, and carried him inside the Ka’ba. He stood within the sacred sanctuary and raised the infant to the heavens, and offered profound prayers thanking Allah for the safe delivery and the blessing. He also sought refuge from the malice of any envious enemies, placing the infant under the protection of Ka’ba. After completing his heartfelt prayers of gratitude and supplication, he brought the baby back and returned him safely to the mother.
As it was a widespread custom among Arabs to celebrate a newborn’s birth with an Aqeeqah, Abdul Muttalib arranged a grand Aqeeqah feast on the seventh day of child Muhammad’s (PBUH) birth. The Prophet’s (PBUH) grandfather slaughtered animals for a massive Aqeeqah celebration and invited all the elite nobility of the Quraysh tribe. During the celebration, when the guests came and ate, Abdul Muttalib formally presented his infant grandson to the leading personalities of Makkah and pronounced the unique name ‘Muhammad’ (which means ‘he who is highly praised’). Hearing this name, the people became deeply surprised and asked, ‘Why did you name the baby as Muhammad’ because the name ‘Muhammad’ was entirely unique and highly uncommon within the people of Arab at that time. Abdul Muttalib replied, ‘I intend for him to be praised by Allah in the heavens, and by Allah’s creations on the earth.’
Ammenah, the biological mother of our beloved Prophet (PBUH) was the first to breastfeed him for about three to seven days following his birth. By the eighth day after his birth, the infant Muhammad (PBUH) was formally entrusted to the care of Halimah al-Sa’diyyah, who carried him away to nurture him in the healthy environment of the desert. 
When the Prophet (PBUH) returned from the house of Halimah As-Sadiyah at around six years old, his mother, Ameenah, intended to visit the grave of her husband, Abdullah in Yathrib (Madina). Finally, she went to Yathrib (Madinah) along with her son Muhammad (PBUH) and their loyal maidservant, Barakah (Umm-e-Ayman). After spending a few weeks visiting the grave and introducing her young son Muhammad (PBUH) to his maternal relatives, they started their journey back to Makkah. However, along the way, Ameenah fell severely ill and passed away at a place called Al-Abwa, where she was buried. The young Muhammad (PBUH) was left completely orphaned in the middle of the desert, and Barakah (Umm-e-Ayman) gently brought him back to his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, in Makkah.
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The writer is an M.Phil researcher, Kahtib of Baitus Shafiq Mosque and principal of Baitul Hikmah Academy, Gazipur