The Death of Abdullah ibn Abdul-Muttalib and Aminah bint Wahb, and the Death of Abdul-Muttalib ibn Hashim

Abu al-Husayn ibn al-Fadl al-Qattan narrated to us in Baghdad that Abdullah ibn Ja'far told us that Ya'qub ibn Sufyan narrated to him that Asbagh ibn al-Faraj told him on the authority of Ibn Wahb, from Yunus, from Ibn Shihab, that Abdul-Muttalib sent Abdullah ibn Abdul-Muttalib to buy dates from Yathrib. Abdullah ibn Abdul-Muttalib passed away, and Aminah, the mother of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), gave birth to Abdullah's son. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was raised in the house of his grandfather, Abdul-Muttalib.

Abu Abdullah al-Hafiz narrated to us that Abu al-Abbas: Muhammad ibn Ya'qub, informed us that Ahmad ibn Abdul-Jabbar told us that Yunus ibn Bukayr informed us that Muhammad ibn Ishaq ibn Yasar stated that his father passed away when Aminah was pregnant.

The Birth and Lineage of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Birth of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

It was reported that Aminah bint Wahb, the mother of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), came to Makkah with her son, staying with his maternal relatives from Banu Adiyy al-Najjar in Madinah. When she reached the point known as Abwa', she passed away, and the Prophet (PBUH) was only six years old at the time.

Lineage of the Prophet (PBUH)

Hashim ibn 'Abd Manaf had married Salma bint Amr from Banu Najjar in Madinah, and she bore him 'Abd al-Muttalib.

Death of 'Abd al-Muttalib

'Abd al-Muttalib and the Prophet (PBUH) passed away in the same year when the Prophet was eight years old. No one wept for 'Abd al-Muttalib as intensely as the Prophet (PBUH) did.

Guardianship of Zamzam and Siqayyah

After 'Abd al-Muttalib, the guardianship of Zamzam and Siqayyah passed to his son 'Abbas ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib. He held onto them until the time of the rise of Islam, and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) acknowledged his guardianship.

Visit to the Grave of Umm Amineh bint Wahb

It has been narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) went to the grave of Umm Amineh bint Wahb and sat there. Many people surrounded him, and he began moving his head as if addressing someone. Then he cried.

Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) approached him, asking why he was crying. The Prophet replied: "This is the grave of Umm Amineh bint Wahb. I sought permission from my Lord to visit her grave, and it was granted. I also sought permission to seek forgiveness for her, but it was not allowed. When her tenderness touched me, I cried."

Mu'harib ibn Dithar reported from Ibn Buraidah, from his father.

Visit to the Graves with the Companions

Abdullah bin Mas'ud narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) went out to look at the graves, and they accompanied him. He then sat down and crossed the graves until he reached one of them. He conversed privately with it for a long time, then stood up with eyes flowing with tears. The companions also wept.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) then turned towards them, and Umar ibn Al-Khattab greeted him. Umar asked the Prophet why he cried, mentioning that they too were affected. The Prophet replied, "Did my tears alarm you? The grave is a reminder."

Visiting the Grave of the Prophet's Mother

I saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) addressing the grave of Umm Amineh bint Wahb. I sought permission from my Lord to visit her, and He granted me that permission. I also sought His permission to seek forgiveness for her, but He did not grant me that. Instead, a revelation came down to me that it is not permissible for the Prophet and the believers to seek forgiveness for the disbelievers until the end of the verse: "And Ibrahim's (Abraham's) asking forgiveness for his father was only because of a promise he had made to him. But when it became clear to him that he was an enemy of Allah, he disassociated himself from him."

Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) embraced me in a way that a parent embraces a child, and that is what made me cry." (Narrated by Muslim)

Authenticity of the Hadith

This hadith is narrated by Muslim in his authentic collection. The Prophet (peace be upon him) visited his mother's grave, sought permission from Allah to visit it, and advised his companions to visit graves as a reminder of death.

Source: Ibn Kathir's Al-Bidaya wal-Nihaya (2:280); Ibn Kathir's Tafsir of Surah At-Tawbah (9:113,114)

Hadith on the Importance of Maintaining Family Ties

Narrated by Anas (may Allah be pleased with him)

A man once asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "O Messenger of Allah, where is my father?” The Prophet replied, "In the Fire." Upon hearing this, the man became distressed and asked, "Even my father and my mother?" The Prophet confirmed, "Even your father and your mother." This hadith is reported by Muslim in Sahih Muslim.

Importance of Maintaining Family Ties

Another narration highlights the significance of maintaining family ties. An Arab Bedouin came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said, "My father used to maintain family ties. Where is he now?" The Prophet answered, "In the Fire." This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of keeping family bonds strong and not severing relationships.

(Source: Sahih Muslim, Book of Faith, Chapter: Clarification that Whoever Dies in Disbelief will be in Hell, Hadith No. 347)

The Prophet's Wise Advice

When the Prophet asked a man, "Where is your father?" The man answered, "Whenever you pass by the grave of a disbeliever, give him tidings of Hellfire." Later on, the man embraced Islam and said, "The Messenger of Allah made it incumbent upon me to exert myself. I have never passed by the grave of a disbeliever without giving him tidings of Hellfire." Then, a chain of narrators relayed a story where they buried a man with the Prophet. When they returned later, they found him at a woman's house. He asked her where she came from, and she replied that she was with the mourners of the deceased, showing them sympathy. The Prophet praised her but mentioned that she would not enter Paradise until her grandfather saw it, referring to the cemetery.

I asked: Who is her grandfather? The answer was Abdul-Muttalib Ibn Hashim, showing the connection to the Prophet's lineage. It is natural for the Prophet's ancestors to have worshipped idols until their death, as they did not embrace the religion of Jesus and their lineage was not honored due to this fact.

Understanding Classical Arabic Texts

Translation:

According to Islamic law, a man is not required to renew his marriage contract with his wives, and it is permissible for him to keep them even if they are similar in status. The phrase "وبالله التوفيق" was not included in the ḥashīyah (marginal notes). Following it in the manuscript (Ṣ) is a statement: "I say, and his narration, peace be upon him, about his parents, grandfather ‘Abd al-Muṭṭalib that they are from the people of Hellfire does not contradict what has been transmitted about them through various routes including that those who suffer from epilepsy, those who are insane, and the deaf will be in Paradise." Then he said, "From the beginning to the end, by Ibn Kathir."