Muhammad ﷺ was born in Makkah into the clan of Banu Hashim of the tribe of Quraysh, descendants of Ismaʿil son of Ibrahim (peace be upon them). He was born in the Year of the Elephant, around 570 CE, when Abrahah marched on Makkah with elephants to destroy the Kaʿbah and his army was destroyed — an event Allah recounts in Surah al-Fil. Most sources place his birth on a Monday in Rabiʿ al-Awwal; the exact day is differed upon.

His father ʿAbdullah died before he was born. As was the custom of the noble families of Makkah, he was entrusted as an infant to a wet nurse from the desert, Halimah al-Saʿdiyyah of Banu Saʿd, and spent his early years in the clean air and pure Arabic of the open country. Halimah’s household saw unusual blessing while he was with them.

When he was about six, his mother Aminah took him to Madinah to visit his relatives. On the way back she fell ill and died at al-Abwaʾ. Umm Ayman, who had cared for him from birth, brought him home to Makkah.

His grandfather ʿAbd al-Muttalib, the respected chief of Quraysh, took him in and loved him dearly. When ʿAbd al-Muttalib died about two years later, the boy passed to the care of his uncle Abu Talib, who, despite his limited means, raised him as one of his own children and protected him for the rest of his life.