The correct answer is Six months.The death of Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib is a pivotal and somber chapter in the early history of Islam. He passed away approximately six months before the birth of his son, the Prophet Muhammad... Read More
The correct answer is Six months.The death of Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib is a pivotal and somber chapter in the early history of Islam. He passed away approximately six months before the birth of his son, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), rendering the Prophet a posthumous child. This event occurred during a time when the Arabian Peninsula was a hub of tribal trade and nomadic movement, and the circumstances surrounding his passing are documented with great reverence in Islamic historical records.
Hazrat Abdullah was the youngest and most beloved son of Abdul Muttalib. Shortly after his marriage to Hazrat Amina bint Wahb, he set out on a trade caravan headed toward Gaza in Syria (Sham). This was a common practice among the Quraish of Makkah, who relied heavily on seasonal trade routes to sustain their economy. Abdullah was a young man, likely in his mid-twenties, and this journey was intended to provide for his new family.
As the caravan began its return journey from Syria, Abdullah fell seriously ill. By the time the travelers reached Yathrib (modern-day Madinah), his condition had worsened to the point where he could no longer endure the grueling desert trek back to Makkah. He decided to stay behind with his maternal relatives from the tribe of Banu Najjar to recover, while the rest of the caravan continued south.
Despite the care of his relatives in Yathrib, Hazrat Abdullah’s illness proved fatal. He remained in the city for approximately one month before passing away. He was buried in Dar-un-Nabigha, a location in Yathrib that would later become significant as the city where his son would eventually migrate (the Hijrah) and establish the first Islamic state.
Back in Makkah, Abdul Muttalib grew concerned when the caravan arrived without his son. He immediately sent his eldest son, Harith, to Yathrib to fetch Abdullah, but by the time Harith arrived, the tragic news of Abdullah’s burial was delivered. The grief felt by the household of Abdul Muttalib and especially by Hazrat Amina was profound, as she was six months into her pregnancy at the time.
The death of Hazrat Abdullah left a modest inheritance for his unborn son, which included a few camels, a small flock of goats, and a faithful servant named Umm Ayman (Barakah). This lack of vast wealth underscored the humble beginnings of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Historically, the fact that Abdullah died six months prior to the birth serves as a testament to the Divine protection over the Prophet, who grew up as an orphan (Yateem) under the direct guardianship of his grandfather and later his uncle.
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