The Blessed Child
The famine had arisen. Even a single drop of rain had not fallen to the city of Mecca for months. Leaves had withered up, earth had cracked from place to place and animals had perished.
People had been yearning for drinking water. It was possible to find Meccan people at any time of the day looking at the sky in hope of seeing a piece of cloud. But days were passing and not even a single leaf was moving. Mecca was parching day by day and hopes were exhausting.
Meccans were desperate. They did not know what they were going to do and from whom they were going to ask for help. If famine kept continuing, everyone would vanish off the face of the earth. Their only hope was to go to Abdulmuttalib and ask him to find a solution.
Abdulmuttalib was one of the leading figures of Mecca. He had a good reputation not only around the Arabian Peninsula but also in the neighboring areas. He was well-liked by the public and his opinions were taken into consideration. If a person needed help, he would come to Abdulmuttalib, and Abdulmuttalib looked for a solution.
Abdulmuttalib was really sad. He listened to the people who came to him in great silence. Then he pondered the situation: "We should pray together to our Lord and beg Him for help. Please notify everyone. Tomorrow we are going to pray for rain on the mountain of Abu Kubays when the sun comes to the meridian."
The next day all Meccans, with their elders and youngsters, were at the mountain of Abu Kubays. Abdulmuttalib took along his grandson and came up to them. When they gathered, he raised his head. The sky was blue and the sun was scorching the earth. He looked at the chapped lips, crying babies, wailing women and bowed heads — then he turned his face to the Ka'bah, held his grandson up, and sincerely began to pray: "Dear God! For the sake of this child, give us abundant rain."
Shortly after that, a small cloud arose on the horizon, pulling white clouds behind it as it drew nearer. Suddenly the sky darkened, and soon it began to rain. Children ran outside to play in the rain they had been waiting months for. Raindrops and tears of joy mingled together, the parched earth was satisfied at last, and birds began to sing. Mecca was rejuvenated.
With his grandson on his lap, Abdulmuttalib watched the raindrops on the window with tears of happiness. He knew this rain had been sent for the sake of his grandson, and he believed even more that this child was going to be a great man.
Indeed, years after this incident, this blessed child was chosen by God as His messenger. With his help, the world was once again filled with peace and tranquility — though his grandfather Abdulmuttalib did not live to see those days.