Islamic Exemplary Stories

Halimah Sa'diyah: The woman who breastfed the Prophet.

Told a few centuries ago, when the Prophet Muhammad was just feeling this world, the Arabs at that time had a relatively advanced tradition. One of them is that they are looking for women who can breastfeed their children. This is done to keep their children away from diseases that can spread in areas that are already developed, so that the baby's body becomes strong, so that the baby's body becomes strong, the muscles are muscular and so that nursing families can practice Arabic.

This tradition also applies to the Prophet. Abdul Mutallib, the grandfather of the Prophet, was looking for women who could breastfeed him. She asked a woman from Bani Sa’ad bin Bakar to follow her, Halimah bint Abu Dzu’aib, accompanied by her husband Al Harith bin Abdul Uzza who nicknamed Abu Kabshah from the same tribe.

In a story it is said that Halimah As-Sa’diyah can feel the blessings brought by the Prophet, thus inviting admiration. This is as said by Ibn Ishaq who tells that Halimah never came out of his country with her husband and children who were breastfed, and with women from Bani Sa’ bin Bakar. Their goal is to find children who can be breastfed.

The event took place in a time of famine, where not much wealth remained. Likewise with pets, such as donkeys and sheep, the milk does not come out even a drop. So, every night the Halimah family could not sleep, because they had to lull their children who continued to cry because of hunger. The milk she had was not expected. However, he still expects a helping hand and a way out.

After Halimah as-Sa’diyah along with her husband and children and other women arrived in Mecca, they immediately looked for babies that could be breastfed. Every woman of his entourage who was offered to breastfeed the Prophet, refused him. They all said, “He is an orphan.” It is not surprising that it happens, because they expect adequate rewards from the father of the baby who wants to be breastfed.

Some time passed, finally the women of Bani Sa’ad bin Bakar had found the baby they were going to breastfeed, and they decided to return to his residence. However, Halimah has not found a baby to be breastfed. And he does not want to go home without bringing a baby who will be breastfed. Therefore, he decided to go back to the orphan baby (Rasulullah) and was ready to take him. Her husband then said, “Don't do that!” Halima said, “May God bless us by taking the child"

Halimah immediately approached her mount animal, a white female donkey. And when the nipple of his milk was offered to the Prophet who was still a baby at that time, he could suck milk as he pleased and drink it to fullness. Halimah's biological children can also suck milk to the fullest, after which both are asleep. In fact, before that they could never sleep in the slightest because of taking care of the baby.

The next day Halima's husband said to her, “By Allah, do you know, O Halima, you have taken a blessed soul.” Halimah said, “By Allah, I hope so.”

Then, Halimah and her husband got ready to leave by riding his donkey. Everyone was amazed to see Halimah's donkey. For when the donkey departed it was very thin and weak, but now the donkey was turned into mighty. The donkey is able to travel a very long distance, but does not look tired. The others were almost left behind by him.

Finally, they arrived at his residence in the area of Bani Sa’ad bin Bakar. Halima had never seen a patch of land that was more fertile at that time. The sheep also look very full and the milk is also full, so he can squeeze and drink it.

While everyone who milked his animal milk did not release milk at all even a drop and his mammary glands also deflated. So, they said in a high tone to his traveller, “Woe be to you! Let go of your shepherds as the shepherd princess Abu Dzu’aib.” did But their sheep went home hungry and not a drop of milk came out. Meanwhile, the sheep of Halimah at that time always come home full and the mammary glands are full.

Halimah and her family always get additional blessings and kindness from God for two years breastfeeding her nursery (Rasulullah SAW). The Prophet grew well, unlike the other babies. Even before the age of two, it grows rapidly.

Subhanallah, when he was a baby, the Prophet gave blessings to those around him. This proves that the Messenger of Allah is truly God's chosen being, whom He greatly glorifies. And it should be, we as servants who profess love to the Messenger of Allah, not only pronounce it from the oral, but implement or apply it in daily life by following the sunna.