THE STORY OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD - Breastfeeding by Halimah from Banu Sa'ad and Chest Cleavage

Muhammad was first breastfed by his mother, Aminah. Then, he was also brought to Tsuwaibah for several days, the slave of Abu Lahab. Hamzah bin Abdul Mutthalib, the Prophet's uncle, was also brought to Tsuwaibah, so they were brothers of one breastfeeding mother. According to the customs of the nobility of the city of Mecca at that time, Aminah waited for the arrival of women from the countryside to breastfeed Muhammad. Babies are brought to the countryside by the village women so that the baby grows healthy and breathes natural fresh air. One of the famous family in breastfeeding is Banu Sa'ad bin Bakr.

Finally came also women from the Banu Sa'ad who arrived in Mecca to nurse their babies. They avoid orphaned babies, because they still want to expect services from the father. Orphans cannot be expected to pay. So they did not want to come to Muhammad. However, finally there were also women who wanted to breastfeed Muhammad. The woman who was willing to accept her was Halimah binti Abi Dzu'aib from Banu Sa'ad. Then, the woman was known as Halimah as-Sa'diyah.

Who determines that women can be chosen is of course Allah SWT. Initially, when Halimah was offered to breastfeed Muhammad, Halimah also refused to accept it because Muhammad was an orphan who could not be expected to receive material benefits. But when no other baby can be breastfed by her, Halimah received Muhammad for breastfeeding in the countryside of Banu Sa'ad.

Actually Halimah has received a tremendous blessing, because the baby that she breastfed is the most noble man that Allah SWT has destined to guide humanity to the right path. By the will of Allah SWT, Halimah's life, which used to be mediocre, was full of sustenance and blessings. All herds of goats became fat and milk was abundant. After Muhammad was two years old and it was time to be weaned, Halimah took Muhammad to his mother and then took Muhammad back to the countryside. This is so that Muhammad grows better and avoids diseases found in the city.

During the first five years of the Prophet's life, he went through a quiet life in a beautiful rural area with fresh air in the valley of Banu Sa'ad. There is no urban bustle that makes the mind uncomfortable. Halimah cared for Muhammad well and attentively. This has a great positive impact on Muhammad's growth and development, both physically and spiritually. Muhammad has a good body shape. In the countryside, Muhammad learned to use pure Arabic. He once said to his friends, "I am the most eloquent of you. I am from Quraysh but raised by Banu Sa'ad bin Bakr ". His five-year childhood is a time that gives good memories in his life.

Around still a child, Muhammad experienced an extraordinary event as a sign of his prophethood and preparation to carry out a noble mandate. The event is the Chest Cleavage (Syaqqus Sadr). One day, a little Muhammad was playing with his friends in the yard without the supervision of parents, suddenly came the Angel Gabriel approaching Muhammad and ambushed him. Gabriel laid Muhammad down and split his chest. Then Gabriel took Muhammad's heart and took out a lump of blood from it. Gabriel said, "This is the part of the devil who dwells on you". The Angel Gabriel washed the heart in a golden vessel with zam-zam water. Then the heart was returned to Muhammad's little body and his body recovered.

Muhammad's friends were shocked and afraid to see the incident. They immediately ran and told Halimah, "Muhammad was killed". So they immediately went to Muhammad's place. They saw Muhammad still in a pale state. Halimah was very worried about Muhammad's safety. So he decided to return him to his mother in the city of Mecca. Halimah handed Muhammad to Aminah, then left the noble child.

Surah Al Insyirah verses 1-3:

أَلَمۡ نَشۡرَحۡ لَكَ صَدۡرَكَ  ١ وَوَضَعۡنَا عَنكَ وِزۡرَكَ  ٢ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَنقَضَ ظَهۡرَكَ  ٣

1.  Did We not expand for you, [O Muhammad], your chest?

2.  And We removed from you your burden

3.  Which had weighed upon your back

Reference:

·         Mubarakfuri, Syekh Shafiyyur-Rahman, and Haidir, Abdullah (Translator). 2005. Sejarah Hidup dan Perjuangan Rasulullah. Riyadh: Kantor Dakwah dan Bimbingan bagi Pendatang Al-Sulay.

·         Haekal, Muhammad Husain, and Audah, Ali (Translator). Sejarah Hidup Muhammad.