I begin with the name of Allah the most merciful and the most kind, peace and blessing be upon beloved Prophet (S.A.W)

All praise is for Allah. We praise him and seek his help and his forgiveness and we believe in Him and rely on Him. We seek refuge with Allah from the evil of ourselves and the vices of our deeds. There is no one to misguide whom Allah guides and there is no one to guide whom Allah lets go astray (refuses to follow the divine guidance). I bear witness that there is not God but Allah alone. He (the most high) has no partner. I bear witness that our authority, our prophet and our master (beloved) Muhammad is His servant and His messenger. May Allah have mercy on Him (S.A.W), His household and His companions and bless them in great abundance.

Allah has blessed the family of the Prophet (S.A.W) with an outstanding status. The beloved Prophet (S.A.W) himself has said: "Allah selected Ishmael from the sons of Abraham, Kinan from the sons of Ishmael, Quraish from the sons of Kinan, Hashim from the sons of Quraish and He (the most High) selected me from the sons of Hashim" (Sahih Muslim 2/245 Tirmidhi 2/201).

Hadrat Abbas son of Abdul Muttalib quoted that the Messenger of Allah said: "Allah created mankind and chose me from the best whereof, He (the most High) chose the tribes and selected me from the best of whereof, and He (S.W.T) chose families and selected me from the best whereof. I am the very best in person and family" see Tirmidhi 2/201.

ABDUL MUTTALIB (THE GRANDFATHER OF THE PROPHET (S.A.W)

The trustworthy (Al-Ameen) the generous (Kareem) and honest Abdul Muttalib was in charge of pilgrims (Hujjaj) food and water. As we mentioned in the previous talk that Abdul Muttalib (Shaiba) was born in Al-Madina and when he reached the age of boyhood his uncle Al-Muttalib bin Abd Manaf went to Madina to take him to Makkah. In the beginning Shaiba's mother Salma, Daughter of Amr (From Adi bin An-Najjar family) refused to send her son with him (Al-Muttalib) but later Al-Muttalib made her convinced by saying: "Your son is going to restore his fathers authority and to live in the vicinity of the Sacred House. (Al-Haram Al-Makki KA'BA)".

When Al-Muttalib s/o Abd Manaf entered Makkah with Shaiba riding the same camel the people said with loud voice Abdul Muttalib, they considered Shaiba as slave of Muttalib. Through Muttalib s/o Abd Manaf did explain that the boy was not his slave, he was his nephew but the little Abdul Muttalib became famous and was known as Abdul Muttalib.

DREAM TO DIG ZAM ZAM WELL

Allah blesses certain people with true dreams; Allah guided Abdul Muttalib in dreams to dig the well of Zam Zam in a particular place. When the sacred water of Zam Zam started gushing out of the well the Quraish people made claim to partnership in the enterprise but Abdul Muttalib made it very clear that Allah has selected him and singled only him out for this honourable job. They agreed to consult Bani Sad diviner. Allah showed them certain signs by which it became very clear and confirmed that Abdul Muttalib was chosen for the well of Zam Zam.

DESTRUCTION OF THE PEOPLE OF ELEPHANT

This was the second very important event in Abdul Muttalib's life. Abraha As-Sabah became very jealous that why all people of Arabia march towards Ka'ba in Makkah and do not come to the new built large church. He thought to destroy the House (Ka'ba), which was built by great Prophets of Allah. He marched towards Makkah with 60,000 warriors and elephants. When he reached the wadi mahassar valley between Muzdalifah and Mina, the elephants knelt down and refused to go forward towards Makkah but when they directed the elephants towards to the north, south and east it moved quickly but when directed towards the Ka'ba it refused and knelt down. Allah destroyed the whole army by small birds known as Ababeel in the Quran. The birds holding baked clay (Min Sijjeel) hurled against them by the claws and the beaks. The stones hit the Abrah's great army. The large number of the soldiers were killed at the spot and those who fled died on the way. Abrah himself died in a miserable state.

Allah says in the Holy Quran: "Have you (Ya RasulAllah, (Muhammad (S.A.W) ) ) not seen how your Lord dealt with the owners of the elephant? Did He (S.W.T) not make their plot go astray? Striking them with stones of Sijjeel. And made them like an empty field of stalks (of which the corn has been eaten up by the cattle.)" [Whole surah Al-Feel verse number 1-5]

In another place Allah (S.W.T) says about those who always plot to blow off the light of God: "They intend to put out the light of Allah (S.W.T) the religion of Islam, this Quran and Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) with their mouths. But Allah (S.W.T) will compete His light even through the disbelievers (open and hidden) who hate Islam." [Surah As-Saff verse 8]

Allah (S.W.T) saved Quraishites under the leadership of Abdul Muttalib who took refuge in the hillocks and on the top of mountains.

The event of Abraha army accompanied with the elephants took place in the month of Muharram (late February or March 571A.D) 55days before the Meelad (the birth) of the beloved Prophet . Victory of Abdul Muttalib and an exemplary defeat of Abraha (people of elephant) were gifted by Allah (S.W.T) to the Prophet (S.A.W) and His family. I was actually regarded as a Devine auspicious precursor of the light to come and accompany the advent of the Prophet (S.A.W) and His family. Since the Holy Prophet Muhammad was in the womb of Amina, wife of Abdullah, Allah (S.W.T) protected the people of Makkah, due to the presence of His Prophet (S.A.W) among them. This is not just based on emotions and simple love of the Prophet , but in fact it is supported by the verse of the Holy Quran.

THE LESSON WE LEARN FROM TODAYS KHUTBAH.

Bani An-Najjar maternal grand parents of Abdul Muttalib came to Makkah and supported Abdul Muttalib against those who started oppression. Whenever we come to know the oppression, brutality and injustice we must according to our capacities to support the victims in every possible ways.

Abdul Muttalib had the characteristics of relief work by providing food and water to those who suffered famine.

It was a blessing of Allah (S.W.T) upon him (Abdul Muttalib) by which he started digging the well of Zam Zam and benefited the people with the holy water of Zam Zam. As this great work will remain the source of remembrance of Abd in the same way we are able to pay for digging a well where there is a great need of water, prayers of those who will benefit from it even after our death will also remember us. The women who provided water to a thirsty dog were forgiven and will be remembered in the Hadith.

Make your heart enlightened with the love of Holy Prophet by practising the Shari'ah. Allah will save you from the problems and help you in the most difficult time as He saved those who were with the grandfather of the Holy Prophet Muhammad .