‘Abdullah — Seal of the Prophets Vol. 1
Introduction
In this discourse from The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1), Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) details the historical events and scholarly insights surrounding ‘Abdullah.
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)
Section: III-Makkah, the Ka’bah & the Quraish
Pages: Book pp. 121–122 (PDF pp. 145–146)
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: [Search for the Fountain of Zamzam] | Next: [Ashabul-Fil] »
Historical Account
chieftain of noble character.
‘Abdullāh
After the instance of the fountain of Zamzam, ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib became very influential, and by the decree of God, his children also began to flourish until their number reached ten, at last. When these children reached adulthood, and the time for the fulfillment of his vow had arrived, ‘Abdul- Muṭṭalib started towards the Ka‘bah with all of his sons, and conducted a draw of ballots before Hubal. By the decree of God the drawn ballot was of his youngest son, ‘Abdullāh, who was most dear to ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib. At that time, ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib’s state was completely inexplicable but ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib was a man of his word, and he was to fulfill his vow in any case. Therefore, he set out to sacrifice ‘Abdullāh, and along with his father, ‘Abdullāh bowed his head in complete submission and left with his father. When the chieftains
[The name of an idol of the Arabs, placed in the Ka‘bah, who they took as God (Publishers)]
of the Quraish received news, they prohibited ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib from doing so. In the end, upon the advice of an acquaintance, it was settled that ten camels would be wagered in a ballot against ‘Abdullāh, and if the ballot of the camels was drawn, in place of ‘Abdullāh, ten camels would be sacrificed as this was the bloodmoney of one man at that time. ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib conducted a draw between ‘Abdullāh and ten camels, yet ‘Abdullāḥ’s name was drawn. ‘Abdul- Muṭṭalib conducted another draw, this time with twenty camels but still ‘Abdullāh’s name was drawn. Then, ten more were added, but ‘Abdullāh’s name was drawn once again. Then forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty and ninety, yet every time ‘Abdullāh’s name would come up. Ultimately, the number of camels reached one-hundred, and this time the ballot drawn was of the camels. However, upon this, ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib, for the satisfaction of his heart, drew twice more and both times the camels were drawn. Upon this, 100 camels were slaughtered and ‘Abdullāh’s life was spared. From this time onwards, among the Quraish, the bloodmoney of one man was set to 100 camels.
[As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Malik bin Hishām, pp. 124-126, Dhikru Nadhri ‘Abdil-Muṭṭalib Dhibḥi Waladihī, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) * Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Dhikru Qusaiyy bin Kilāb, Volume 1, p. 41, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) * Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Muḥammad bin ‘Abdul-Bāqī Az- Zarqānī, Dhikru Ḥafri Zamzamadh-Dhabīḥain, Volume 1, pp. 178-180, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)]
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1)
Section: III-Makkah, the Ka’bah & the Quraish | Navigation: « Previous: [Search for the Fountain of Zamzam] | Next: [Ashabul-Fil] »