The Passion of Prophet Muhammad as a Grandfather

[Sayfullah]

The Prophet, peace be upon him, is the best grandfather. He nurtured his grandchildren with love and affection. He spent time with them. He showed them genuine attention and cared deeply about them.

Umaamah ( أمامة) was the daughter of Zaynab, the eldest daughter of the Prophet, who passed away while Umaamah was still a kid. The Prophet used to play with his grandchild Umaamah. He carried her on his shoulder while praying; during prostration he gently put her on the floor, then carried her again upon standing. The love and compassion that Umaamah found in her grandfather, mended the great loss she felt by the absence of her mom. The Prophet used to be greatly generous and caring to Umaamah and in different occasions, he used to send gifts specifically to her.

The love of the Prophet for al- Hassan and al- Hussayn, two sons of Lady Fatimah the youngest of his daughters, was great. The companions clearly illustrated how he treated them. He used to hug them, kiss them, and was very gentle with them. He carried them once when he was giving a speech. They used to jump on his back while he would be prostrating in prayer, and he would wait for them till they get off his back to raise his head from prostration. He used to call them "My two myrtles from this life" (ريحانتايا من الدنيا ) and made supplication for them. The scholars deduced judgements of the optional good deeds of the newborn from what the Prophet did when they were born, and he himself beautifully named them al-Hasan and al- Husayn.

The Prophet's doings exemplify the Prophet's humbleness and his deep compassion towards Umaamah, al-Hasan and Al- Husayn, and the rest of his grandchildren. It also shows the high degree of affection, empathy and kind-heartedness the Prophet used to have towards kids. Such a noticeable treatment from the Prophet would console the kids and their parents as al-Hafidh Ibn Hajar said in his book "Fathul Baariy".