In the ancient Arabian culture, noblewomen seldom nursed their own children. Instead, they entrusted this task to women from the countryside, believing that the rural environment instilled purity of language, moral integrity, and physical resilience in their children. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was no exception to this custom.
For a brief period, his mother Amina and a servant woman, Thuwaybah, nursed him. However, the search for a wet nurse from the countryside soon began. Ten women from the Banu Sa’d tribe came to Makkah, each seeking to take an infant to foster. Among them was Halimah bint Abi Dhu’ayb. Her account of those days reveals the miraculous nature of her bond with the infant Muhammad ﷺ.
Halimah’s Story
“I traveled with my husband, Harith ibn ‘Abd al-‘Uzza, on a frail donkey, hoping to find a nursing child. Times were harsh, and my body barely produced enough milk to soothe our own crying infant. Along with us, we brought a weak camel that had ceased to yield any milk. Hunger and exhaustion followed us like shadows.
In Makkah, all the women of our group avoided the orphan Muhammad ﷺ. We hoped for some reward from the families, and an orphan without a father held little promise for compensation. One by one, my companions found infants to foster, while I was left empty-handed. It pained me deeply.
Finally, I turned to my husband and said, ‘I will take the orphan boy. What harm could it do?’
He replied, ‘Perhaps Allah will bless us through him.’
I approached the household and took the infant Muhammad ﷺ into my arms. The moment I held him, something shifted. My breasts, which had been dry, overflowed with milk. He nursed until he was satisfied, and even my own child, who had been crying endlessly, drank to his fill. That night, for the first time in months, both children slept peacefully.
As we settled in, my husband, curious, went to check on our camel—a poor creature that had long since ceased producing milk. To his astonishment, its udders were full. He milked it, and we drank deeply, savoring the unexpected bounty. It was the first time in what felt like ages that we went to bed with full stomachs.
Turning to me, he said with wonder in his voice, "Halimah, we have taken in a blessed child."
The Journey Home
As the caravan began the return journey to the Banu Sa’d tribe, Halimah noticed yet another wonder: the donkey that had been ailing now raced ahead of the group, leaving the others far behind.
“Is this the same donkey you came with?” her companions asked, astonished.
“Yes,” she replied.
“It must have been touched by something extraordinary,” they said.
Blessings in the Desert
Life with the infant Muhammad ﷺ brought unexplainable blessings. The arid land of Banu Sa’d, known for its barrenness, seemed to bloom around Halimah’s household. Her goats, which had once returned emaciated, now came back with full bellies and produced an abundance of milk. Neighbors began sending their herds to graze alongside hers, hoping to share in the unseen favor. Yet, their flocks remained barren, while Halimah’s thrived.
Her tribe whispered in awe, “Halimah’s child must be blessed.”
The Miracle of the Heart
One day, while young Muhammad ﷺ played with his foster siblings in the open fields of Banu Sa’d, an event unfolded that left everyone in awe. Halimah recounts the moment:
“Suddenly, my children came running towards me, their faces pale with fear. They screamed, ‘Mother! Something has happened to our brother!’
Terrified, we rushed to find him. There he was, sitting alone, his face ashen but calm. He looked at us and began to explain: ‘Two men in white garments came to me. They laid me down, opened my chest, and removed something from my heart. They said, “This is the portion of evil within you.” They then washed my heart with ice-cold water until it was pure and shining. Afterward, they returned it to my chest and sealed it.’”
Halimah and her husband were struck by the inexplicable event. Though young Muhammad ﷺ appeared unharmed, they could not shake their fear. Was this child truly ordinary? They deliberated over what to do and eventually decided to return him to his mother, Amina, in Makkah.
Upon hearing their account, Amina remained calm and composed. Her reaction was unlike anything Halimah expected. Amina reassured them with words that seemed both prophetic and filled with motherly wisdom:
“Do you fear for him? By Allah, this son of mine is destined for greatness. When I carried him in my womb, I experienced none of the usual difficulties of pregnancy. When he was born, a light emanated from me so bright that I could see the palaces of Busra in Syria. And at his birth, he placed his hands on the ground and lifted his head to the heavens. He is no ordinary child. Go in peace and do not worry.”
A Deeper Context
This extraordinary event, known as Shaqq al-Sadr (the Opening of the Chest), was not merely a miraculous occurrence but a foreshadowing of the profound purity and sanctity that would define Muhammad ﷺ throughout his life. Islamic tradition holds that this cleansing was symbolic of the spiritual preparation for his prophethood. The removal of the "portion of evil" signified his innate immunity to sin and his destined role as a beacon of guidance for humanity.
Amina’s composed response reflected her unwavering belief in her son’s unique destiny. Her earlier experiences during pregnancy and childbirth had already convinced her that he was no ordinary child. She carried the weight of these divine signs with dignity, aware that her son’s life was part of a far greater narrative written by the Divine.
The Opening of the Chest is referenced in Islamic tradition and often connected to the verse in the Quran:
"Did We not expand for you, [O Muhammad], your chest?"
(Surah Ash-Sharh: 1)
This event marked the beginning of many signs that confirmed the exceptional nature of Muhammad ﷺ, even from a tender age. It serves as a testament to the divine protection and preparation that accompanied him throughout his life.
A Return with Gratitude
Years later, after Halimah had fostered Muhammad ﷺ during his infancy, she came to visit him in Makkah. By then, he had married Khadijah (RA). Halimah, struggling through a famine, explained her plight. The Prophet ﷺ, moved by her situation, turned to Khadijah and arranged for Halimah to be gifted forty goats and a camel.
After the Prophet ﷺ received prophethood, Halimah visited him once more. It was during the time of the Battle of Hunayn when the Prophet ﷺ was at Ji’ranah. When she arrived, the Prophet ﷺ laid out his cloak for her and introduced her to his companions, saying, “This is my mother.”
The respect he showed Halimah was not just an act of gratitude but a reflection of his unparalleled love and honor for those who had nurtured him.
Thuwaybah’s Grace
Even before Halimah, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was briefly nursed by Thuwaybah, a servant of his uncle Abu Lahab. Thuwaybah’s role in the Prophet’s early life holds a special place in history, as she was among the first to nurture him after his birth. When she brought news of the newborn Muhammad ﷺ to Abu Lahab, he was so overjoyed that he freed her as a gesture of gratitude.
Thuwaybah’s devotion to the Prophet ﷺ endured even after this brief nursing period. Some traditions suggest that she later embraced Islam, aligning her legacy with the faith of the Prophet ﷺ she had once nursed.
A unique and compelling tradition speaks of Abu Lahab’s punishment being reduced every Monday due to this singular act of freeing Thuwaybah. It is said that on Mondays, the day of the Prophet’s ﷺ birth, Abu Lahab is granted a small reprieve: a drop of water is allowed to flow through his finger. This momentary respite commemorates his gesture of joy at the Prophet’s ﷺ birth.
Thuwaybah’s story reminds us of how even a single act of kindness can leave an enduring impact, resonating across generations in ways both profound and unexpected.
A Prophet’s Love for All Mothers
The stories of Halimah and Thuwaybah reflect the deep sense of love and gratitude the Prophet ﷺ carried for those who cared for him. From sharing his cloak to ensuring their well-being, he embodied a profound respect for the bonds of kinship and nurture.
These moments remind us that the blessings of Muhammad ﷺ were not just for his followers but for all those who came into his life—even those who did not yet realize his greatness. His story, woven with divine signs and human compassion, continues to inspire across generations.
