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Hazrat Haashim (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was the great-grandfather of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and his original name was Amr. He was a person of extraordinary character and calibre, and was well-known in Makkah for his bravery, generosity and hospitality.
Once, the Arab Peninsula was afflicted by such a severe drought that its people were in desperate need for even the smallest grain of food. Hazrat Haashim (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) travelled to Syria and from there, brought dry bread back to Makkah. He then proceeded to cut it into small pieces and with the meat of a camel, made it into Thareed (a soup like dish made of barley and meat). He then fed the people of Makkah and pilgrims of Hajj who were present. From this noble act, he became known as Haashim by those around him, which means ‘a person who divides up bread’. [Madaarijun Nubuwwah]
Hazrat Haashim (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was also made the custodian of the Holy Ka’bah after his father Abdul Munaaf (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) passed away, as he was his eldest and most able son. He was attractive in appearance, and later married Salma, the daughter of Amr, who was the leader of the Khazraj tribe in Madinah. It was in this city that Haashim’s son, Abdul Muttalib (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh), was born. Hazrat Haashim (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) later passed away at the age of 25 at a place called Gazah while journeying to Syria, leaving Abdul Muttalib (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) to spend his childhood in Madinah, which was the city of his maternal grandfather. He later returned to Makkah to live with his father’s family at the age of seven or eight. [Seerat-e-Mustafa]
Hazrat Abdul Muttalib (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was Rasoolullah’s (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) grandfather and his original name was Shaiba. He was a very pious and just person, spending most of his time in the Cave of Hira in the worship of Allah Ta’ala whilst carrying only necessary food and drink. Here he used to also perform I’tikaaf during Ramadaan and remained lost in the remembrance of his Creator. The Noor of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) emanated from his forehead and from his body emanated the fragrance of musk. Hazrat Abdul Muttalib (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was highly revered by the Arab people, especially the Quraish. Whenever a calamity or severe drought occurred, the people of Makkah would take him up to a mountain and supplicate to Allah Ta’ala using his Waseelah; any Dua made in this way was then accepted by Allah Ta’ala. Hazrat Abdul Muttalib (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) strongly stopped people from burying their daughters and used to also cut off the hands of thieves. Birds were fed by him, gaining him the title of Mut’imut-Tair (the feeder of birds). He treated liquor and fornication as Haraam, and was a Muwahhid (believed in the oneness of Allah Ta’ala). The well of Zam-Zam was also his responsibility; he repaired it when it became worn out and distributed its water as well. The incident of the Ashaab-e-Feel occurred during his lifetime. [Zarqaani]
Amongst all the sons of Hazrat Abdul Muttalib (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh), the most adored by their father was Hazrat Abdullah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh), the father of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). With the Noor of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) illuminating from his forehead, Hazrat Abdullah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was matchless in beauty and also possessed excellent manners. The young, beautiful women of Quraish were all interested in marrying him. His father however, desired a woman for him with not only physical beauty, but piety and a righteous family background as well.
Hazrat Abdullah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was already recognised by the Jews of Syria to be the father of the final Messenger, deduced from signs found in their holy books. They constantly tried to kill Hazrat Abdullah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) but were unsuccessful. One day, a group intending to kill Hazrat Abdullah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) followed him when he went into the jungle hunting. However, Allah Ta’ala saved him from their evil by sending some unworldly creation to protect him. They drove this group of Jews away and returned the father of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) safely back to his house. When Wahab bin Munaaf, who was present in the jungle, witnessed this, he immediately began to admire Hazrat Abdullah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) and returned to his house intending to marry his beautiful daughter Amina (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) to him. Through some of his friends, he then sent a proposal to Hazrat Abdul Muttalib (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). The qualities which Hazrat Abdul Muttalib (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) sought for in a wife for his son were precisely those inherent in Sayyidah Amina (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha).
The proposal was accepted and Hazrat Abdullah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) wed Hazrat Bibi Amina (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) at the age of 24. The Noor-e-Muhammadi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was now transferred to Hazrat Bibi Amina (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha). Two months after Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) entered the womb of his mother, Hazrat Abdul Muttalib (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) sent Hazrat Abdullah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) to Madinah to purchase dates, or in another narration, to Syria on business. On his way back, he fell sick in Madinah and remained there with his maternal family, the Banu Adi bin Najaar. At the age of 25, Hazrat Abdullah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) passed away in Madinah and was buried in Darun-Nabiya. [Zarqaani]
Before his passing away, the caravan of traders arrived in Makkah and informed Hazrat Abdul Muttalib (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) of his son’s sickness. He sent his eldest son, Haarith (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) to find out about his condition. Before he reached Madinah however, Hazrat Abdullah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) had already passed away and when the news was brought back to Makkah, his entire family began to mourn and immediately expressed their grief. Hazrat Sayyidah Amina (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) recited a Marsiya that would dismay even the hearts of our present time. It has been stated that when Hazrat Abdullah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) passed away, the angels grieved and said, “Ya Allah! Your Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is now without a father.” Upon this, He replied, “Am I not there to protect him?” [Madaarijun Nubuwwah]
Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) inherited from his father’s estate some camels and sheep, as well as a slave-girl called Umme Aiman (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) to nurse him (her real name was Barkah), which is why he sought her happiness throughout his life. Hazrat Umme Aiman (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) was later married to Hazrat Zaid bin Haarith (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) by Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and she was the mother of Hazrat Usamah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). [Seerat-e-Mustafa]
When Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was six years old, his mother took him along with Hazrat Umme Aiman (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) to visit the maternal family of Hazrat Abdul Muttalib (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) in Madinah. On her return journey, Hazrat Amina (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) passed away in a village called Abwa and was buried there. After her demise, Hazrat Umme Aiman (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) returned to Makkah and gave Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) in the care of his grandfather, Hazrat Abdul Muttalib (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh), who took great care of him. When Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was eight years old, his grandfather also passed away, at the age of 120. [Seerat-e-Mustafa]
May Allah Ta’ala grant us the Taufeeq to have utmost love, respect and honour for the parents and lineage of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), Allahumma Ameen.