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insufficient to satisfy her baby, and many a time her baby cried itself to sleep
because it was hungry.

Before reaching Mecca, there was another setback. Halima's donkey started to
show signs of lameness, so they proceeded slowly at their own pace whilst the
others went on ahead.

Because of the delay, Halima and her family were the last of the prospective
foster parents to reach Mecca. By the time she arrived each of the other
prospective foster mothers had visited the homes of parents wishing to send their
newly born to the safety of the desert, and chosen a baby. However, all had
declined the offer to take Lady Amina's baby on account of him being an orphan,
and so he was the only one available.

As Halima entered Lady Amina's house she found the tiny babe sleeping upon
his back wrapped in a white woolen shawl under which a green piece of silk had
been placed. Immediately, Allah filled her heart with love for the babe whereupon
she was overcome by his beauty, and as she bent down to pick him up she smelt
the delicate fragrance of musk. Fearing she might disturb him, she placed her