Who Took Care of the Prophet (PBUH) After His Grandfather Abd al-Muttalib Died?
بعد وفاة عبد المطلب جد الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم، من تكفل برعايته؟
Abu Talib, the Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) uncle took care of the Prophet after the death of his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib, and he gave him priority over his own children in care and love.
تكفل برعاية الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم بعد وفاة جده عبد المطلب، عمه أبو طالب، وكان يقدمه على أولاده بالرعاية والحب.
1. Abu Talib Embraces the Sacred Trust | أبو طالب ينهض بأمانة الكفالة بوفاء منقطع النظير
Ibn Ishaq says the Prophet ﷺ went to his uncle Abu Talib because Abd al-Muttalib had asked it of him, and because Abu Talib was the full brother of his father Abdullah: their mother was Fatimah bint Amr. Abd al-Muttalib's care passed to him when the Prophet ﷺ was eight.
أَلَمْ يَجِدْكَ يَتِيمًا فَآوَىٰ (سورة الضحى: 6)
قال ابن إسحاق: وكان رسول الله ﷺ بعد جده عبد المطلب مع عمه أبي طالب، لوصية عبد المطلب له به، ولأنه كان شقيق أبيه عبد الله، أمهما فاطمة بنت عمرو بن عائذ.
2. Preferring Muhammad Over His Own Children | إيثاره للمصطفى على سائر أولاده في المأكل والمفرش
Al-Waqidi's report, quoted by Ibn Kathir, says Abu Talib had little wealth but loved the boy more than his own children: he slept only with him at his side and took him wherever he went. His family never ate their fill without him, so Abu Talib would tell them to wait until "my son" came, and he would say to the Prophet ﷺ: "You are blessed."
وَآتَى الْمَالَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ ذَوِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ (سورة البقرة: 177)
وفي رواية الواقدي أن أبا طالب كان لا مال له، وكان يحبه حبًا شديدًا لا يحبه ولده، وكان لا ينام إلا إلى جنبه، ويخرج فيخرج معه، وكان عياله إذا أكلوا وحدهم لم يشبعوا وإذا أكل معهم شبعوا، فكان يقول: كما أنتم حتى يأتي ولدي، ويقول له: إنك لمبارك.
3. The Journey to al-Sham | اصطحابه في رحلة التجارة إلى الشام
Ibn Ishaq reports that when Abu Talib set out with a trade caravan for al-Sham, the boy clung to him, and Abu Talib said: "By Allah, I will take him with me; he will not leave me and I will never leave him." On that journey came the reported encounter with the monk Bahira; al-Waqidi gives the Prophet's age as twelve.
لِإِيلَافِ قُرَيْشٍ إِيلَافِهِمْ رِحْلَةَ الشِّتَاءِ وَالصَّيْفِ (سورة قريش: 1-2)
قال ابن إسحاق: لما تهيأ أبو طالب للخروج في ركب تاجر إلى الشام صب به رسول الله ﷺ، فرق له وقال: والله لأخرجن به معي ولا أفارقه ولا يفارقني أبدًا، وفي هذه الرحلة كان لقاء الراهب بحيرى بحسب الرواية، وجعل الواقدي عمره يومئذ اثنتي عشرة سنة.
4. Protection After the Mission | حمايته بعد البعثة
Abu Talib went on protecting him after the mission began, when Quraysh pressed him to give up his nephew; that story is told in how Quraysh threatened Abu Talib.
وَاللَّـهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ (سورة المائدة: 67)
وظل أبو طالب يحوطه بعد البعثة حين ضغطت عليه قريش ليتخلى عن ابن أخيه.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Who cared for Prophet Muhammad after his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib died?
His paternal uncle Abu Talib took charge of him according to Abd al-Muttalib's dying wish.
Why was Abu Talib chosen as his guardian over other uncles?
Because Abu Talib was the full brother of the Prophet's father Abdullah from both mother and father.
How did Abu Talib treat young Muhammad?
He loved him more than his own children, would not let the family eat until he came, and slept only with him at his side, according to al-Waqidi's report quoted by Ibn Kathir.
How long did Abu Talib support and defend Prophet Muhammad?
From the Prophet's eighth year until Abu Talib's death, protecting him after the mission as well (Sahih Muslim 209).