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{{Short description|Chief Leader of the Quraysh and grandfather of Muhammad (c.481–578)}}
{{other people||Abd al-Muttalib (name)}}
{{Use Oxford spelling|date=July 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}} 
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Abd al-Muttalib<br />{{lang|ar|عَبْد ٱلْمُطَّلِب}}
| native_lang1_name1 = {{lang|ar|عَبْد ٱلْمُطَّلِب شَيْبَة بْن هَاشِم}}
| native_lang1 = [[Arabic]]
| birth_name   = Shayba ibn Hāshim
| birth_date   = {{circa|481}}
| birth_place  = [[Medina|Yathrib]], [[Hejaz]], [[Pre-Islamic Arabia|Arabia]] {{small|(present-day [[Medina]], [[Saudi Arabia]])}}
| death_date   = 578 (age 97)
| death_place  = [[Mecca]], Hejaz<br />{{smaller|(present-day Saudi Arabia)}}
| burial_place = [[Jannat al-Mu'alla|Jannat al-Mu'allā]], Mecca
| succession   = 4th Major [[Tribal chief|Chief]] of [[Quraysh]]
| reign        = {{circa}}497–578 [[Common Era|CE]] (81 years)
| reign-type   = Chiefship
| predecessor  = [[Hashim ibn Abd Manaf]]
| successor    = [[Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib]]
| spouse       = {{bulleted list|[[Sumra bint Jundab]]|[[Lubna bint Hajar]]|[[Fatima bint Amr]]|[[Halah bint Wuhayb]]|[[Natila bint Janab]]|[[Mumanna'a bint Amr]] {{small|(Grandmother of [[Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf]])}}}}
| issue-type   = Children
| issue        = '''''Sons'':'''{{bulleted list|[[Al-Harith ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Al-Ḥārith]] (Son of [[Sumra bint Jundab|Sumra]])|[[Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Abū Tālib]] (Son of [[Fatima bint Amr|Fatima]])|[[Al-Zubayr ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Az-Zubayr]] (Son of Fatima)|[[Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Abdullah]] (Son of Fatima)|[[Abū Lahab]] (Son of [[Lubna bint Hajar|Lubnā]])|[[Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Al-'Abbas]] (Son of [[Natila bint Janab|Natila]])|[[Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Hamza]] (Son of [[Halah bint Wuhayb|Halah]])|[[Hajl ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Hajl]] (Son of Halah)|[[Al-Muqawwim ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Al-Muqawwim]] (Son of Halah)}}<br/>'''''Daughters'':'''{{bulleted list|[[Umm Hakim bint Abd al-Muttalib|Umm Hakim]] (Daughter of Fatima)|[[Barrah bint Abd al-Muttalib|Barrah]] (Daughter of Fatima)|[[Arwa bint Abd al-Muttalib|Arwa]] (Daughter of Fatima)| 
[[Atika bint Abd al-Muttalib|Atika]] (Daughter of Fatima)|[[Umayma bint Abd al-Muttalib|Umayma]] (Daughter of Fatima)|[[Safiyya bint Abd al-Muttalib|Safiyya]] (Daughter of Halah)}}
| father       = [[Hashim ibn Abd Manaf|Hashim]] (Son of [[Abd Manaf ibn Qusai|Abdul Manaf]])
| mother       = [[Salma bint Amr]]
| house        = [[Banu Hashim]]
| house-type   = Clan
}}

'''Shayba ibn Hāshim''' ({{langx|ar|شَيْبة بْن هاشِم}}; {{circa|481–578}}), better known as '''ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib''', ({{langx|ar|عَبْد الْمُطَّلِب|lit=Servant of [[Al-Muttalib ibn Abd Manaf|Muttalib]]}}) was the fourth chief of the [[Quraysh]] tribal confederation and grandfather of the Islamic prophet [[Muhammad]].

== Early life ==
{{Islam}}
His father was [[Hashim ibn 'Abd Manaf]],<ref name=Saad1>Muhammad ibn Saad. ''Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir''. Translated by Haq, S. M. (1967). ''Ibn Sa'ad's Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir Volume I Parts I & II''. Delhi: Kitab Bhavan.</ref>{{rp|81}} the progenitor of the distinguished [[Banu Hashim]], a clan of the [[Quraysh (tribe)|Quraysh]] tribe of [[Mecca]]. They claimed [[genealogy|descent]] from [[Ishmael in Islam|Ismā'īl]] and [[Islamic view of Abraham|Ibrāhīm]]. His mother was [[Salma bint Amr]], from the [[Banu Najjar]], a clan of the [[Banu Khazraj|Khazraj]] tribe in [[Yathrib]] (later called Madinah).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yabeyrouth.com/8073-%D8%A2%D9%84-%D9%86%D8%AC%D9%91%D8%A7%D8%B1-2|access-date=20 October 2018|title=Banu Najjar}}</ref> Hashim died while doing business in [[Gaza City|Gaza]], before Abd al-Muttalib was born.<ref name=Saad1 />{{rp|81}}

His real name was "''Shaiba''" meaning 'the ancient one' or 'white-haired' because of the streak of white through his jet-black hair, and is sometimes also called ''Shaybah al-Ḥamd'' ("The white streak of praise").<ref name=Saad1 />{{rp|81–82}} After his father's death, he was raised in Yathrib with his mother and her family until about the age of eight, when his uncle [[Muttalib ibn Abd Manaf]] went to see him and asked his mother Salmah to entrust Shaybah to his care. Salmah was unwilling to let her son go, and Shaiba refused to leave his mother without her consent. Muṭṭalib then pointed out that the possibilities Yathrib had to offer were incomparable to Mecca. Salmah was impressed with his arguments, so she agreed to let him go. Upon first arriving in Mecca, the people assumed the unknown child was Muttalib's servant and started calling him '''Abd al-Muttalib'' ("servant of Muttalib").<ref name=Saad1 />{{rp|85–86}}

== Chieftain of Hashim clan ==
When Muṭṭalib died, Shaiba succeeded him as the chief of the Hāshim clan. Following his uncle Al-Muṭṭalib, he took over the duties of providing the pilgrims with food and water, and carried on the practices of his forefathers with his people. He attained such eminence as none of his forefathers enjoyed; his people loved him and his reputation was great among them.<ref name=Ishaq>Muhammad ibn Ishaq. ''Sirat Rasul Allah''. Translated by Guillaume, A. (1955). ''The Life of Muhammad''. Oxford University Press.</ref>{{rp|61}}

[[Umar|'Umar ibn Al-Khaṭṭāb's]] grandfather [[Family tree of Umar|Nufayl ibn Abdul Uzza]] arbitrated in a dispute between 'Abdul-Muṭṭalib and [[Harb ibn Umayya|Ḥarb ibn Umayyah]], [[Abu Sufyan ibn Harb|Abu Sufyan]]'s father, over the custodianship of the [[Kaaba]]. Nufayl gave his verdict in favour of 'Abdul-Muṭṭalib. Addressing Ḥarb ibn Umayyah, he said:<blockquote>

Why do you pick a quarrel with a person who is taller than you in stature; more imposing than you in appearance; more refined than you in intellect; whose progeny outnumbers yours and whose generosity outshines yours in lustre? Do not, however, construe this into any disparagement of your good qualities which I highly appreciate. You are as gentle as a lamb, you are renowned throughout Arabia for the stentorian tones of your voice, and you are an asset to your tribe.{{Citation needed||date=July 2020}}</blockquote>

== Discovery of Zam Zam Well ==
'Abdul-Muṭṭalib said that while sleeping in the [[sacred enclosure]], he had dreamed he was ordered to dig at the worship place of the Quraysh between the two deities [[Isaf and Na'ila|Isāf and Nā'ila]]. There he would find the [[Zamzam Well]], which the [[Jurhum|Jurhum tribe]] had filled in when they left Mecca. The Quraysh tried to stop him digging in that spot, but his son [[Harith ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib|Al-Ḥārith]] stood guard until they gave up their protests. After three days of digging, 'Abdul-Muṭṭalib found traces of an ancient religious well and exclaimed, "''Allahuakbar''!" Some of the Quraysh disputed his claim to sole rights over water, then one of them suggested that they go to a female shaman who lived afar. It was said that she could summon [[jinn]]s and that she could help them decide who was the owner of the well. So, 11 people from the 11 tribes went on the expedition. They had to cross the desert to meet the priestess but then they got lost. There was a lack of food and water and people started to lose hope of ever getting out. One of them suggested that they dig their own graves and if they died, the last person standing would bury the others. So all began digging their own graves and just as Abdul-Muṭṭalib started digging, water spewed out from the hole he dug and everyone became overjoyed. It was then and there decided that Abdul-Muttalib was the owner of the Zam Zam well. Thereafter he supplied pilgrims to the Kaaba with Zam Zam water, which soon eclipsed all the other wells in Mecca because it was considered sacred.<ref name=Saad1 />{{rp|86–89}}<ref name=Ishaq />{{rp|62–65}}

==The Year of the Elephant==
According to [[Muslim]] tradition, the Ethiopian governor of [[Yemen]], [[Abraha]]h al-Ashram, envied the Kaaba's reverence among the Arabs and, being a [[Christian]], he built a cathedral on [[Sana'a]] and ordered pilgrimage be made there.<ref name=Ishaq />{{rp|21}} The order was ignored and someone desecrated (some saying in the form of [[defecation]]<ref name=Hisham>Abdulmalik ibn Hisham. ''Notes to Ibn Ishaq's Sirat Rasul Allah''. Translated by Guillaume, A. (1955). ''The Life of Muhammad''. Oxford: Oxford University Press.</ref>{{rp|696 note 35}}) the cathedral. Abrahah decided to avenge this act by demolishing the Kaaba and he advanced with an army towards [[Mecca]].<ref name=Ishaq />{{rp|22–23}}

There were thirteen elephants in Abrahah's army<ref name=Saad1 />{{rp|99}}<ref name=Ishaq />{{rp|26}} and the year came to be known as '''Ām al-Fīl'' ([[Year of the Elephant|the Year of the Elephant]]), beginning a trend for reckoning the years in [[Arabia]] which was used until [[Umar|'Umar ibn Al-Khaṭṭāb]] replaced it with the [[Islamic Calendar]] in 638 CE (17 AH), with the first year of the Islamic Calendar being 622 CE.

When news of the advance of Abrahah's army came, the Arab tribes of Quraysh, [[Banu Kinanah|Kinānah]], [[Banu Khuza'a|Khuzā'ah]] and [[Banu Hothail|Hudhayl]] united in defence of the Kaaba. A man from the [[Himyar|Ḥimyar]] tribe was sent by Abrahah to advise them that he only wished to demolish the Kaaba and if they resisted, they would be crushed. "Abdul-Muṭṭalib told the Meccans to seek refuge in the nearest high hills while he, with some leading members of Quraysh, remained within the precincts of the Kaaba. Abrahah sent a dispatch inviting 'Abdul-Muṭṭalib to meet him and discuss matters. When 'Abdul-Muṭṭalib left the meeting he was heard saying, "The Owner of this House is its Defender, and I am sure He will save it from the attack of the adversaries and will not dishonour the servants of His House."<ref name=Ishaq />{{rp|24–26}}

It is recorded that when Abrahah's forces neared the Kaaba, Allah commanded small birds (''abābīl'') to destroy Abrahah's army, raining down pebbles on it from their beaks. Abrahah was seriously wounded and retreated towards Yemen but died on the way.<ref name=Ishaq />{{rp|26–27}} This event is referred to in the following [[Quran|Qur'anic]] chapter:

{{quote|Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with the owners of the Elephant?
Did He not make their treacherous plan go astray?
And He sent against them birds in flocks, striking them with stones of baked clay, so He rendered them like straw eaten up.|Qur'an sura 105 ([[Al-Fil]])}}

Most Islamic sources place the event around the year that Muhammad was born, 570 CE,<ref>{{cite book |title=Islam: A Worldwide Encyclopedia |last1=Çakmak |first1=Cenap |year=2017 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-61069-216-8 |page=170}}</ref> though other scholars place it one or two decades earlier.<ref>{{cite book |page=[https://archive.org/details/oxfordencycloped01espo/page/154 154] |title=The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World: Libe-Sare |url=https://archive.org/details/oxfordencycloped01espo|url-access=registration |last1=Esposito |first1=John L. |year=1995 |publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref> A tradition attributed to [[Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri]] in the [[Musannaf of Abd al-Razzaq|musannaf]] of [[ʽAbd al-Razzaq al-Sanʽani]] places it before the birth of Muhammad's father.<ref>{{cite book |pages=3–5 |title=The Expeditions: An Early Biography of Muhammad |publisher=NYU Press |last1=ibn Rashid |first1=Mamar |date=16 May 2014 |translator=Sean W. Anthony |isbn=978-0-8147-6963-8}}</ref>

== Sacrificing his son Abdullah ==
Al-Harith was 'Abdul-Muṭṭalib's only son at the time he dug the Zamzam Well.<ref name=Ishaq />{{rp|64}} When the Quraysh tried to help him in the digging, he vowed that if he were to have ten sons to protect him, he would sacrifice one of them to Hubal at the Kaaba. Later, after nine more sons had been born to him, he told them he must keep the vow. The divination arrows fell upon his favourite son [[Abd Allah ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib|Abdullah]]. The Quraysh protested 'Abdul-Muṭṭalib's intention to sacrifice his son and demanded that he sacrifice something else instead. 'Abdul-Muṭṭalib agreed to consult a "sorceress with a familiar spirit". She told him to cast lots between Abdullah and ten camels. If Abdullah were chosen, he had to add ten more camels, and keep on doing the same until his Lord accepted the camels in Abdullah's place. When the number of camels reached 100, the lot fell on the camels. 'Abdul-Muṭṭalib confirmed this by repeating the test three times. Then the camels were sacrificed, and Abdullah was spared.<ref name=Ishaq />{{rp|66–68}}

== Family ==

=== Wives ===
Abd al-Muttalib had six known wives.
* [[Sumra bint Jundab]] of the [[Hawazin]] tribe.
* [[Lubna bint Hajar|Lubnā bint Hājar]] of the [[Banu Khuza'ah|Khuza'a]] tribe.
* [[Fatima bint Amr]] of the [[Banu Makhzum|Makhzum]] clan of the Quraysh tribe.
* [[Halah bint Wuhayb]] of the [[Banu Zuhrah|Zuhrah]] clan of the Quraysh tribe.
* [[Natila bint Janab|Natīla bint Janab]] of the Namir tribe.
* [[Mumanna'a bint Amr]] of the Khuza'a tribe.

=== Children ===
According to Ibn Hisham, ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib had ten sons and six daughters.<ref name=Hisham />{{rp|707–708 note 97}} However, Ibn Sa'd lists twelve sons.<ref name=Saad1 />{{rp|99–101}}

By Sumra bint Jundab:
# [[Al-Harith ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Al-Ḥārith]].<ref name=Hisham />{{rp|708}} He was the firstborn and he died before his father.<ref name=Saad1 />{{rp|99}}
# Quthum.<ref name="Saad1" />{{rp|100}} He is not listed by Ibn Hisham.

By Fatima bint Amr:
# [[Al-Zubayr ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Al-Zubayr]].<ref name=Hisham />{{rp|707}} He was a poet and a chief; his father made a will in his favour.<ref name=Saad1 />{{rp|99}} He died before Islam,{{citation needed|date=September 2016}} leaving two sons and daughters.{{rp|101}}<ref name=Saad8 />{{rp|34–35}}
# [[Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Abu Talib]], born as Abd Manaf,<ref name=Saad1 />{{rp|99}}<ref name=Hisham />{{rp|707}} father of the future Caliph [[Ali]].<ref>Muhammad ibn Saad. ''Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir'' vol. 3. Translated by Bewley, A. (2013). ''The Companions of Badr'', p. 20. London: Ta-Ha Publishers.</ref> He later became chief of the Hashim clan.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}
# [[Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Abdullah]], the father of Muhammad.<ref name=Saad1 />{{rp|99}}<ref name=Hisham />{{rp|707}}
# [[Umm Hakim bint Abd al-Muttalib|Umm Hakim ''al-Bayda'']],<ref name=Saad1 />{{rp|100}}<ref name=Hisham />{{rp|707}} the maternal grandmother of the third Caliph [[Uthman]].<ref name=Saad8 />{{rp|32}}
# [[Barrah bint Abd al-Muttalib|Barra]],<ref name=Saad1 />{{rp|100}}<ref name=Hisham />{{rp|707}} the mother of [[Abu Salama]].<ref name=Saad8 />{{rp|33}}
# [[Arwa bint Abd al-Muttalib|Arwa]].<ref name=Saad1 />{{rp|100}}<ref name=Hisham />{{rp|707}}
# [[Atika bint Abd al-Muttalib|Atika]],<ref name=Saad1 />{{rp|100}}<ref name=Hisham />{{rp|707}} a wife of [[Abu Umayya ibn al-Mughira]].<ref name=Saad8 />{{rp|31}}
# [[Umayma bint Abd al-Muttalib|Umayma]],<ref name=Saad1 />{{rp|100}}<ref name=Hisham />{{rp|707}} the mother of [[Zaynab bint Jahsh]] and [[Abd-Allah ibn Jahsh|Abd Allah ibn Jahsh]].<ref name=Saad8>Muhammad ibn Saad. ''Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir''. Translated by Bewley, A. (1995). ''The Women of Madina''. London: Ta-Ha Publishers.</ref>{{rp|33}}

By Lubnā bint Hājar:
# Abd al-'Uzzā, better known as [[Abū Lahab]].<ref name=Saad1 />{{rp|100}}<ref name=Hisham />{{rp|708}}

By Halah bint Wuhayb:
# [[Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Ḥamza]],<ref name=Hisham />{{rp|707}} the first big leader of Islam. He killed many leaders of the kufar and was considered as ''the strongest man of the quraysh''. He was killed at [[Battle of Uhud|Uhud]].<ref name=Saad1 />{{rp|100}}
# [[Safiyya bint Abd al-Muttalib|Ṣafīyya]].<ref name=Saad1 />{{rp|100}}<ref name=Hisham />{{rp|707}}
# Al-Muqawwim.<ref name="Hisham" />{{rp|707}} He married Qilaba bint Amr ibn Ju'ana ibn Sa'd [[Banu Sahm|al-Sahmia]], and had children named Abd Allah, Bakr, Hind, Arwa, and Umm Amr (Qutayla or Amra).{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}
# Hajl.<ref name="Hisham" />{{rp|707}} He married Umm Murra bint Abi Qays ibn Abd Wud, and had two sons, named Abd Allah, Ubayd Allah, and three daughters named Murra, Rabi'a, and Fakhita.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

By [[Nutayla bint Janab|Natīlah bint Khubāb]]:
# [[Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib|al-'Abbas]],<ref name=Saad1 />{{rp|100}}<ref name=Hisham />{{rp|707}}<ref>{{cite book |last=al-Tabari |first=Muhammad ibn Jarir |title=''Tarikh al-Rusul wa'l-Muluk: Biographies of the Prophet's Companions and Their Successors'' |volume=39 |page=24 |year=1998 |publisher=Albany: State University of New York Press}}</ref> ancestor of the [[Abbasid Caliphate|Abbasid]] caliphs.
# Ḍirār,<ref name=Hisham />{{rp|707}} who died before Islam.<ref name=Saad1 />{{rp|100}}
# Jahl, died before Islam{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}
# Imran, died before Islam{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

By Mumanna'a bint 'Amr:

# Mus'ab, who, according to Ibn Saad, was the one known as ''al-Ghaydāq''.<ref name="Saad1" />{{rp|100}} He is not listed by Ibn Hisham.
# Al-Ghaydaq, died before Islam.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}
# Abd al-Ka'ba, died before Islam.<ref name="Saad1" />{{rp|100}}
# Al-Mughira,<ref name="Saad1" />{{rp|100}} who had the byname ''al-Ghaydaq''.

== Ancestry ==
{{Quraysh tree}}

== Death ==
Abdul Muttalib's son 'Abdullāh died four months before Muḥammad's birth, after which Abdul Muttalib took care of his daughter-in-law Āminah. One day [[Muhammad]]'s mother, [[Amina bint Wahb|Amina]], wanted to go to [[Yathrib]], where her husband, [[Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Abdullah]], died. So, Muhammad, Amina, Abd al-Muttalib and their caretaker, [[Umm Ayman]] started their journey to [[Medina]], which is around 500 kilometres away from [[Makkah]]. They stayed there for three weeks, then, started their journey back to Mecca. But, when they reached halfway, at [[Al-Abwa']], Amina became very sick and died six years after her husband's death. She was buried over there. From then, Muhammad became an orphan. Abd al-Muttalib became very sad for Muhammad because he loved him so much. Abd al-Muttalib took care of Muhammad. But when Muhammad was eight years old, the very old Abd al-Muttalib became very sick and died at age 81-82 in 578-579 CE.

Shaybah ibn Hāshim's grave can be found in the [[Jannatul Mualla|Jannat al-Mu'allā]] cemetery in [[Makkah]], Saudi Arabia.

== Legacy ==
He sired his own sub-clan of Banu Abd Al-Muttalib under the [[Banu Hashim]] sub-clan.

He was the ancestor of two prominent Muslim dynasties the [[Fatimids]] and the [[Abbasids]].

At the [[Battle of Hunayn]] Muhammad chanted "I am the Prophet undoubtedly; I am the son of `Abdul Muttalib."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sunnah.com/bukhari:4316|title=Sahih al-Bukhari 4316 - Military Expeditions led by the Prophet (pbuh) (Al-Maghaazi) - كتاب المغازى - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)|website=sunnah.com|accessdate=16 February 2024}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Family tree of Muhammad]]
* [[Family tree of Shaiba ibn Hashim]]
* [[Sahaba]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://al-islam.org/beacons/3.htm The Holy Prophet of Islam]
* [http://www.al-islam.org/peshawar/9.4.html Ninth Session, Friday night, 2nd Sha'ban 1345 A.H.]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Abd al Muttalib}}
[[Category:490s births]]
[[Category:578 deaths]]
[[Category:5th-century Arab people]]
[[Category:6th-century Arab people]]
[[Category:Sahabah ancestors]]
[[Category:Banu Hashim]]
[[Category:Najjarite people]]
[[Category:Ancestors of Muhammad]]
[[Category:Burials at Jannat al-Mu'alla]]