Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) reached the age of two, Haleemah Sa’diyyah weaned him off milk and then brought him back to Makkah Mukarramah to return him to his mother.
However, it was the burning desire in the heart of Haleemah Sa’diyyah that this blessed child remain with herself and her family, in their home, for a little while longer, as she and her family had continued to observe the divine blessings of Allah Ta‘ala within their home due to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) being with them.
She was also greatly concerned about the welfare of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and did not want him to stay in Makkah Mukarramah as a plague had broken out in Makkah Mukarramah at that time.
Hence, she addressed Rasulullah’s (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) mother saying, “It would be good for you to leave your son with me so that his body may become strong and tough through remaining in the countryside, as I fear that if you keep him with you, then the plague in Makkah may affect his health.”
Haleemah Sa’diyyah continued to earnestly request the mother of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in this manner until she relented and sent him back with Haleemah Sa’diyyah. In this manner, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) remained with Haleemah Sa’diyyah for another two years. (Bidaayah wan-Nihaayah 2/255, Rowdhul Unf 1/289 & Sharhuz Zurqaani 1/282)
The Splitting of the Blessed Chest of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)
In the fourth year, when Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was in the care of Haleemah Sa’diyyah, he once went out to the jungle with his milk-brother and other children to graze the goats.
While grazing the goats, two angels appeared before him in the form of men. They were wearing white garments and were carrying a golden tray containing the water of Zamzam. These two angels were Hazrat Jibraa’eel (‘alaihis salaam) and Hazrat Mikaa’eel (‘alaihis salaam). (Sharhuz Zurqaani #1/280)
They then placed Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) on the ground, split his blessed chest and removed his pure heart. Thereafter, they opened his pure heart and removed one or two lumps of congealed blood saying, “This is the portion of shaytaan (through which he tries to influence man towards wrong).” (Saheeh Muslim #162)
After removing this portion, they placed his blessed heart in the golden tray and washed it with the water of Zamzam, after which they returned it to its original location, stitched his chest and placed the seal of prophethood between his shoulder blades. (Musnad-e-Ahmed# 17648 & Rowdhul Unf 1/294)
Witnessing this frightening spectacle, one of the children of Haleemah Sa’diyyah rushed home to inform Haleemah Sa’diyyah and her husband of what had transpired. He said to them, “I had seen two men dressed in white clothing! They came to our Qurayshi brother, laid him on the ground and split open his blessed chest! They are now stitching his chest and closing it!”
On hearing this news, Haleemah Sa’diyyah and her husband were overcome with shock and they began to run frantically towards the place where Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was.
When they came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), they saw him standing with his face pale. Haleemah Sa’diyyah says, “I immediately clasped him to my chest, and his foster-father also hugged him and asked him what happened. He then gave a detailed account of what transpired.” Haleemah Sa’diyyah then returned home with him.
After this incident, Haleemah Sa’diyyah became extremely worried as she feared that no calamity should befall Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Hence, she took him back to his mother, Aaminah, in Makkah Mukarramah.
On seeing them returning with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Aaminah asked Haleemah Sa’diyyah, “O wet nurse! What has caused you to return him to me, whereas you had previously shown great eagerness to keep him with you?” Haleemah Sa’diyyah replied, “There is no reason, except that Allah Ta‘ala has assisted us to fulfil our responsibility and obligation to this child, and now that we are absolved of our responsibility, we felt that we should return him to his family before some harm or calamity befalls him.”
Aaminah responded, “That is not the reason! Tell me the truth and inform me of what had transpired!” In this manner, Aaminah continued to insist that they tell her what happened, until they finally informed her of the two men who had come and split the blessed chest of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
On hearing the incident, Aaminah was not worried or concerned and said to them, “Do you fear that he was afflicted by shaytaan? By Allah Ta‘ala – that will never be possible as Shaytaan does not have any way through which he can harm him! By Allah! This son of mine will certainly have a very great status and position in the world.” Shall I not inform you regarding him?”
When Haleemah Sa’diyyah and her husband responded in the affirmative, Aaminah said to them, “After conceiving him, I experienced a pregnancy that was easier than the pregnancy of any other woman. One night, after I had conceived him, I had a dream in which I saw a noor being emitted from me, and it illuminated the palaces of Shaam. Thereafter, when he was born, he fell onto the ground with his hands on the floor, raising his head and his shahaadah finger towards the heavens. However, if you wish to leave him with me, you may do so!”
Haleemah Sa’diyyah then returned home and Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) began living with his mother. (Bidaayah wan-Nihaayah 2/255)
Source: The Illustrious Sahaabah
