At the time of the birth of the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) the Arabs were sunk to a very low state. They were fond of intoxicants, gambling, and idol worship. Girls became such a shameful commodity among them that they would bury their infant girls alive for fear of disgrace.
Women among them were considered as a commodity that was to be inherited by her husband just as they would take over his money or livestock. Slavery was rampant throughout the land. Instead of worshiping one God, the Creator of the universe, they had gods of wood and stones, molded with their own hands. There were 360 idols in the Holy Kaaba which prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael had built in Mecca. The house which was the symbol of the unity of God was taken over by the idols and pagan customs. The system of pilgrimage which was established by prophet Abraham was totally distorted by the pagan rituals. Their pilgrimage was nothing but drinking, gambling, and running naked around the idols clapping and whistling. Not only the Arabs were lost in the evils and immoralities, rather the whole world was deeply sunk in the transgressions, crimes, and sins. The Holy Quran has drawn the picture of that era in the following words:
Corruption has spread on the land and the sea because of what men’s hands has wrought, that He may make them taste the fruit of some of their doings, so that they may turn back from evil. (Holy Quran, 30:42)
That was the time when the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was born in Mecca in AD 570. He was born an orphan, as his father died a few months before his birth. The name Muhammad (the praised one) was given by his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib. It was a long-established practice for the people of Mecca to leave their babies in the care of desert’s wet-nurses so that they were brought up brave, eloquent and in touch with the realities of desert life. So, for that purpose, the little baby was handed over to Halima, the wet nurse, and he spent five years with her. His mother died when he was about six years old, and his grandfather, who was his loving and devoted guardian, died when he was eight years old. He then passed into the care of his uncle, Abu Talib, the father of Hazrat Ali.
This is confirmed beyond any doubt that his childhood and youth remained very pure and clean in the corrupt and debased society of Mecca. He lived in Mecca, among the idol worshipers, but he never paid homage to an idol, never ate of anything presented as offering to an idol. He never touched liquor, neither gambled, nor took part in any of the frivolous activities of his fellow youths. It is beyond the shadow of doubt that Almighty Allah fully safeguarded him against every kind of lapse. He arrived at his full maturity without the slightest stain on his character.