A Chapter from the Life of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم

‘Abdul Muttalib bin Hashim
Grandfather of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم

The actual name of 'Abdul Muttalib bin Hashim was 'Amir.
His mother called him Shaybah (Old Man) because he had some gray hair since his birth.

Hashim bin 'Abd Manaf, the father of ‘Abdul Muttalib bin Hashim, died a few days after his marriage with Salma bint ‘Amr.
Salma bint ‘Amr was from Banu (Family of) Najjar of the Khazraj tribe of Yathrib (Madinah).
Hashim bin ‘Abd Manaf died in Ghazah, where he reached on a trading trip. His traveling companions buried him there.
‘Abdul Muttalib bin Hashim was born after the death of his father. He grew up in Yathrib (Madinah) with his mother and maternal uncles.

In Makkah, one of his uncles, Muttalib bin 'Abd Manaf, a younger brother of his father Hashim bin 'Abd Manaf, took care of his wealth and responsibilities of the Ka’bah. Hashim bin 'Abd Manaf did not know that his wife had become pregnant when he continued on his trading trip to Sham.
Even after the birth of ‘Abdul Muttalib bin Hashim, no one in Makkah knew that after his death Hashim bin 'Abd Manaf had a son, who was growing up in Yathrib (Madinah).
Muttalib bin 'Abd Manaf continued to perform his duties towards the pilgrims of  the Ka’bah. One day, a pilgrim from the Najjar tribe of Yathrib (Madinah), named
Thabit bin Mundir bin Haram came to Makkah. He was father of the well-known poet of that era Haram bin Thabit. He told Muttalib bin 'Abd Manaf that his nephew Shaybah, son of Hashim bin 'Abd Manaf, was growing up with his mother and maternal uncles in Yathrib (Madinah).

Muttalib bin 'Abd Manaf went to Yathrib (Madinah) to meet his nephew Shaybah and his mother. Muttalib bin 'Abd Manaf told her that he wanted to give the property of his elder brother, back to its lawful owner Shaybah. His mother Salma bint ‘Amr initially hesitated in sending her son to Makkah. Finally, Salma bint ‘Amr trusted him and agreed to send her son Shaybah to Makkah with him.

On their way to Makkah, Shaybah was riding a camel, which was ahead of the camel of Muttalib. In those days, while traveling, normally servants used to remain ahead of their masters. When people of Makkah saw Shaybah riding a camel ahead of Muttalib, they mistook him as a servant of Muttalib.
That is why they called him 'Abdul Muttalib, which means the servant of Muttalib.

His nickname 'Abdul Muttalib became so popular that his actual name 'Amir or his earlier nickname Shaybah was completely forgotten.

Muttalib bin 'Abd Manaf died at a place called Bardman (or Ruman) during one of his trading trips to Yaman (Yemen). After the death of Muttalib bin 'Abd Manaf, one of his stepbrothers, Nawfal bin 'Abd Manaf wanted to take over the wealth and offices of the Ka’bah of Hashim bin 'Abd Manaf.
He did not want 'Abdul Muttalib, son of Hashim bin 'Abd Manaf, to inherit the wealth and offices of the Ka'bah earlier held by his father.

'Abdul Muttalib got hold of the offices of the Ka'bah (Siqayah and Rifadah) with the support of his maternal uncles from Yathrib (Madinah).

Sometime later, 'Abdul Muttalib became the chief of Makkah. He was respected more than any other Quraysh chief. He sincerely tried hard to provide more comforts to the pilgrims of the Ka'bah. The Ka'bah began attracting more pilgrims than ever before.
The city of Makkah and its people prospered because of the pilgrims.

Many people from other parts of Arabia tried to lure pilgrims away from the Ka'bah by making different places of pilgrimage. None of those could match the popularity of the Ka’bah.
Abrahah al Ashram made a grand church named al-Qullays at a place called Sana in Yaman (Yemen).
Abrahah al Ashram was the Christian Governor of Yaman (Yemen). King Najjashi (Negus) of Habash (Ethiopia) had appointed him.
His church, Al Qullays also failed to attract pilgrims.
To bring pilgrims to his church, Abrahah al Ashram decided to destroy the Ka'bah completely.
Abrahah al Ashram assembled a large army, and marched towards Makkah.

His army captured cattle before reaching Makkah.
These cattle belonged to 'Abdul Muttalib bin Hashim.
'Abdul Muttalib bin Hashim met Abrahah al Ashram and got his cattle released.
Abrahah al Ashram was surprised that 'Abdul Muttalib bin Hashim was not concerned about the safety of Ka'bah, at all.
'Abdul Muttalib bin Hashim told Abrahah al Ashram that the Ka'bah will be defended by its owner - Allah (God).

Abrahah al Ashram told the residents of Makkah that they should not fear him because he had come there only to destroy the Ka'bah.
Abrahah al Ashram also warned the people of Makkah, not to come in his way.
The residents of Makkah moved to the adjoining hills for their safety. 

Abrahah al Ashram began his march towards Makkah with his large army.
The army of Abrahah al Ashram had an elephant. The name of this elephant was
Mahmud.
That is why the army of Abrahah al Ashram is known as the people of the elephant. 
This name people of the elephant is used is the Qur-an for the army of Abrahah al
Ashram.
The army of Abrahah al Ashram could never reach Makkah. After a certain point, his elephant refused to move forward towards Makkah.
Allah (God) defended His House and destroyed the army of Abrahah al Ashram in a very strange manner.
Abrahah al Ashram and his entire army were killed. This event has been narrated in the Qur-an. [ Surah (Chapter) al-Fil (The Elephant) (105:1-5)]

This incidence further enhanced the reputation of the Ka’bah. The Ka’bah became much more powerful than ever before. It became the undisputed center for pilgrimage.

'Abdul Muttalib bin Hashim was responsible for bringing water for the pilgrims of the Ka'bah. He had a lot of difficulty in fulfilling this responsibility. There was no major source of water in or around Makkah. Centuries ago, Zamzam well was blocked by the then caretakers of the Ka’bah. He had only one son named Harith at that time. Both of them had to carry water from distant wells for the pilgrims of the Ka'bah. They happily fulfilled their responsibility. They used to get very tired by this hard work.
'Abdul Muttalib always prayed for more sons.

One day, when 'Abdul Muttalib was sleeping in Hijr near the Ka'bah. Hijr is the semicircular space next to the Ka'bah. 'Abdul Muttalibsaw a dream. In his dream, someone asked him to dig for Zamzam. The man in his dream pointed out the exact location of the long lost Zamzam.
'Abdul Muttalib did not believe what he saw in his dream. But when he saw the dream repeatedly, he took it seriously.

'Abdul Muttalib decided to try finding Zamzam. He and his son Harith began digging for it.
They dug in between the idols of Isaf and Na'ilah, as told in the dream.
Soon, 'Abdul Muttalib and his son Harith rediscovered Zamzam. They also found the treasure buried there by the people of Jurham tribe before they left Makkah. They used to be the caretakers of the Ka’bah at that time.

All families of Quraysh wanted to share the treasure from the well of their common ancestor Isma'il عليه السلام (Ishmael). It was decided that the matter would be settled by drawing arrows near the feet of Hubal. Hubal was the main deities of the Ka'bah.
Quraysh lost out completely in this draw. Zamzam and the swords and armor found there, went to 'Abdul Muttalib. The two golden gazelles went to the Ka'bah. 'Abdul Muttalib made a the door for Ka'bah from the swords and armor. 

Before the digging of Zamzam, 'Abdul Muttalib and his only son Harith bin 'Abdul Muttalib used to get water for the pilgrims of the Ka'bah. They used to get tired in bringing water from distant wells all day.
'Abdul Muttalib always prayed for more sons because he wanted protection for Zamzam. He was also concerned about the hostility from Quraysh when he had dug it out. He vowed that he would sacrifice one of his sons if all of them grew to the age of youth.
'Abdul Muttalib had made this vow to the main deity of the Ka'bah, named Hubal.

'Abdul Muttalib decided to select one of his sons for sacrifice, by drawing arrows that were placed at the feet of their deity Hubal inside the Ka’bah. Seven arrows were placed near the feet of Hubal. Each arrow had something written on it. One arrow was marked Diyat (Blood Money) and it was used to resolve disputes about the blood money. Another was marked YES. This arrow was an indicator for the people of Makkah for doing any important work. They used to postpone their work if this arrow was not drawn. Similarly another arrow was marked NO. People never performed the task if this arrow was picked. Remaining arrows were marked with One of You, With You, Not from One of You, and Water that was used for a permission to dig wells. They used these arrows for doing anything of some significance.
'Abdul Muttalib asked each of his sons to bring an arrow each with his name written on it. These arrows were given to the priest who used to draw arrows.
Arrows were drawn at the feet of Hubal inside Ka'bah.
The name of his youngest son 'Abdullah was picked-up for the sacrifice. 
'Abdul Muttalib took 'Abdullah to a spot near Ka’bah where sacrifices were offered for sacrificing him.
'Abdullah was loved by all. His sisters, brothers and other residents of Makkah requested 'Abdul Muttalib to spare the life of 'Abdullah. They advised 'Abdul
Muttalib to get another opinion. 'Abdul Muttalib and his family went to Yathrib (Madinah) to seek advice from a priestess who lived in that area. She advised them to redraw arrows barter the life of ‘Abdullah with ten camels if the arrow with his name was picked up. Penalty of ten camels was the normal Diyat (Blood Money) for murder in those days. She further advised them to go on adding ten camels till ‘Abdullah’s name was not picked.
'Abdul Muttalib and his family returned to Makkah and tried their luck again at the feet of Hubal.
Another draw was made between 'Abdullah bin 'Abdul Muttalib and ten (10) camels.
Again, the name of 'Abdullahwas picked-up.
Ten camels were added to the lot. Again the name of 'Abdullah was picked up.
Another draw by made by adding another 10 camels to the lot.  This process was repeated many times. Every time arrow with the name of 'Abdullah was selected.

Finally, a draw was made between 'Abdullah and one hundred camels.
This time the camels were picked up.'Abdul Muttalib got this result verified.
One hundred camels were picked up three times in a row. One hundred camels were slaughtered in exchange of 'Abdullah.

Excerpts from the Book Sirat Rasul by Suhel Farooq Khan