Adolescence|| The early life of the Messenger of Allah(PBUH)

 

 Adolescence

 After the death of the loving mother, his grandfather Abdul Muttaleb took him in his care.  He showed greater love and kindness to him than to his own offspring.  His sons did not dare to sit by their father, but Mohammad (PBUH) had the unique privilege of sitting with his grandfather on the mat spread for him in the holy Kaaba, with chiefs of Makkah sitting around him in a semi-circle.  However, it did not last for long either.  Just after two years (580 AD) he, Abdul Muttaleb, died too.  At his deathbed, his greatest worry was to whom he should hand over the eight. Year child who had neither father nor mother.  Finally, he decided on Abu Talib, who was not only his real uncle but also a man of great wisdom and merit.  Hashimites chose him to be their chief after Abdul Muttaleb.  For the next forty-three years, as long as he lived, Abu Talib guarded him (PBUH) more than his own children.

 Abu Talib was a man of meager means with a large family.  Muhammad (PBUH) was not like any other child.  Repeated loss

 of the dear ones had made him very self-confident, thoughtful, and responsible.  So, to help his uncle, the young Muhammad (PBUH) took it upon himself to graze his goats and camels.  He enjoyed this job and felt satisfied that he was at least doing something for his uncle.  Also by grazing goats in the rugged mountain hills of Makkah, he acquired close knowledge of the surrounding areas, which proved of great value in his years of struggle for Islam.  Moreover, controlling flocks of goats, sheep, and camels is not an easy job.  Young Muhammad (PBUH) thus developed qualities of great tolerance, patience, perseverance, and hardship, which proved of great value when he had to teach the flocks of Arabian tribes to deliver the Message of Allah as the last Messenger of God on earth.  Indeed these qualities are essential requirements for leadership jobs.

 As already said, most of the Makkans were idolaters, but he hated this from his very childhood.  Once when his uncle Abbas insisted on his joining a pagan celebration he fell ill and swooned.  When he regained consciousness, everyone wanted to know what had happened.  "In this idol-house", he said, "I saw a tall man commanding me, O! Muhammad (PBUH) keep away. Do not touch idols. They are unclean".  Arabs, superstitious as they were, never afterward asked him to participate in these rituals (31).