Abdullah and Aminah - The Prophet’s (s) Parents

 Abdullah and Amina

The Prophet’s (s) Parents  3 min read

(adapted with permission from Qalam Podcast; Seerah, Life of The Prophet by Sh Abdul Nasir Jangda Episode 8) 

Abdullah was a very handsome, most intelligent, well-behaved, well respected and gifted son of Abdul Muttalib, the greatest leader of the Quraysh. Abdullah was known as the Prince of Makkah, very eloquent in his speech and the most eligible bachelor of Makkah. 

When he was old enough to get married Abdul Muttalib proposed on Abdullah’s behalf to a young girl called Amina bint Wahab. 

Amina had a nickname, Zahrah Tuh Makkah meaning The flower of Makkah. She was very beautiful, intelligent and well spoken. She was known to write deep and beautiful poems. And she also was the most sought after woman in Makkah for marriage. 

The proposal was accepted and they were married shortly after. This incredible couple, were a perfect fit for each other and very much in love.  

Sometime after their marriage, Abdul Muttalib sent his son Abdullah on a business trip. There are two narrations in the books of history as to where he travelled too. The first mentions a trip direct to Madinah to purchase fresh dates to sell back in Makkah and the second mentions a stop over in Madinah as he was heading for As-Shams to do business. 

However, Abdullah fell ill whilst in Madinah and passed away there, he was buried in the house of An Nabigah Al Ja’adee. Abdullah was about 25 years old at the time of his death. 

The vast majority of narrations, books and scholars tell us that at the time of the death of Abdullah, his wife Amina, back in Makkah, was pregnant with Prophet Muhammad (S). 

When the news of the death of Abdullah reached Amina she was stricken with grief and sadness. During her time of mourning she wrote some couplets about the grief and loss of her husband. Through these couplets, you can feel her pain and can almost see her intelligence and eloquence in her words; 

‘The Earth has become very lonely without Ibn Hashim. 

Abdullah has gone to become the neighbour of a grave and he is out there amongst the noise. (Meaning: Abdullah is not in the comfort of his home any more but he is out there in the wilderness)

He died alone. 

Death came to call him and so he had to answer. 

But death has to remember one thing. Death came to call him and he had to answer he had no choice but death needs to realise, that death did not leave anyone else on the earth that was of the calibre of Abdullah. 

Death took Abdullah but did not replace him with anybody that was equal to Abdullah. 

Its the evening time, and they are carrying his body out towards the graveyard. 

And they’re fighting and they’re struggling, and they’re pushing with each other, to  switch hand from hand. It’s all crowded and rushed and everyone is trying to get to it, so they can carry his body to the grave.

Death came and seized him, snatched him away, and the uncertainty of death snatched him away.

But Death should realise that Abdullah was a gift to this earth, and to the people of this earth, who was very abundant in his blessings. (Abdullah was a gift of many many blessings, so many people loved him and many people benefited from him. So many people cared about him and he cared about so many people.)

And we understand that but people need to realise that Abdullah was a blessing upon this earth and he had so many blessings in him.’

These were the words spoken by the mother of prophet (s) when the news of the death of the father of the prophet (s) had reached her. 

(Note: Amina’s poem has been translated from Arabic. To enjoy her majestic words in their truest form, head to the Qalam Podcast, Seerah Episode 8)