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Abū Ṭālib ibn ‘Abd al-Muṭṭalib (Arabic: أبو طالب بن عبد المطلب) (549 – 619) was an Arab leader, the head of the clan of Banu Hashim. He was married to Fatima bint Asad and was an uncle of Muhammad. His real name was Imran (عمران) but he is better known as Abu Talib because he had a son named Talib.
Abu Talib raised and supported Muhammad from when he was eight years old, after his parents and grandfather had died.
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Biography
Pre-Islamic era
The son of Abdul Muttalib and Fatimah bint Amr, Abu Talib was one of many children. He was a full brother of Prophet Mohammad's father, 'Abdullah ibn 'Abdul Muttalib, who became severely ill and died before Prophet Mohammad's birth. He was a scion of the noble Bani Hashem clan. As such, he had a high status and much respect among the Meccans, and owned a prosperous trading business.
After the death of Muhammad's mother Aminah bint Wahab, Muhammad was taken into the care of Abdul Muttalib (father to Abu Talib, grandfather to Muhammad). When Muhammad reached 8 years of age, he went under the care of Abu Talib as a result of the death of Abdul Muttalib. When Muhammad grew older, he began to work for his uncle, and he took responsibility for Abu Talib's son Ali ibn Abu Talib. Ali was the second person to accept the call to Islam (the first being Lady Khadijah).[1]
When an economic crisis struck Mecca, Abu Talib was heavily affected, and so Prophet Muhammad asked his uncles Hamza and Al-Abbas to help his uncle Abu Talib by adopting some of his children. They discussed this matter with Abu Talib, who said to them "Leave Aqeel to me and take whoever you want!" Abu Talib loved Aqeel greatly. Al-Abbas chose Talib and Hamza chose Jafar and the Holy Prophet chose Ali. The Prophet then said to them "I have chosen who Allah has chosen".
Abu Talib and the Spread of Islam
Three years has passed since the Prophet Mohammad received the first revelation before Allah ordered him to publicize it by revealing to him the verse "And warn your nearest kin"[2]. The Prophet Mohammad received this order and was determined to invite people to Islam. He asked his cousin Ali to invite the Hashimites, the children of Abdul Muttalib, the children of Nawfal, and other children of Abd Manaf, and asked him to serve a meal of a sheep leg, about one kilo of wheat, and three litres of yogurt. The invitees, who were forty men among whom were Abu Talib, Hamza, Al-Abbas, and Abu Lahab, came. The Prophet Mohammad offered the food and said to them, "Eat in the name of Allah". They had food and yogurt until they were full. Even though the food was not much, they all became full, and they were astonished at that fact. The Prophet Mohammad wanted to start speaking, but Abu Lahab quickly interrupted by saying "We have not seen magic like this of today. Let us leave!" All of them parted, some of them mocking and making fun of the Prophet. The Prophet Mohammad did not get a chance to speak. The next day, the Prophet once again invited them for a meal. They ate and drank and then the Prophet stood up and made a speech before them saying: "O children of Abdul Muttalib, by Allah, I do not know that a young man amongst the Arabs has brought to his people a thing better than what I have brought you. (i.e. Islam) I have brought to you the good of this life and of the afterlife, and Allah the Almighty has ordered me to invite you to it. Which of you shall support me in this matter to be my brother, guardian and successor among you?"
Everyone was silent except Ali who said passionately, "I, Oh Prophet of Allah, will be your vizier on it." The Prophet put his hand on Ali's neck and addressed the attendants saying "This is my brother, guardian, and successor among you. You should listen to and obey him." They began mocking, saying to Abu Talib, "He orders you to listen to and obey your son!" The Prophet entrusted these important positions of Caliphate, Viziership and Imamate to his brother and the gate of thr city of his knowledge, Imam Ali. Anyhow, these people lent the Prophet deaf ears and none of them responded to him except his uncle Abu Talib, and Abu Talib's son, Ali.[3]
Protecting Prophet Mohammad
After Mohammad began preaching the message of Islam, members of the other Quraishite clans increasingly came to feel threatened by Muhammad. In attempts to quiet him, they would lean on Abu Talib to silence his nephew or control him. Despite these pressures, Abu Talib did nothing but support Muhammad and defend him from the other heads of the Quraysh.
Death
Abu Talib died on his death-bed when the Quraish leaders of Mecca came to visit him and the prophet to ask them to stop preaching the Islamic message or to settle a religious agreement. The death of Abu Talib happened in year 619 or 623 [4], at around the same time as Prophet Mohammad's wife Khadijah. This year was known as the saddest year of the life of the prophet, the Year of Sorrow. With the death of his uncle and wife, Muhammad had then lost all protection.
Shortly after the death of both his uncle and wife, Muhammad was ordered by Allah to leave Mecca and go to Yathrib (Medina) because his life was going to be in grave danger if he stayed in Mecca, while the Quraish leaders of Mecca try to kill him and his companions for preaching the Islamic message. And so, Muhammad and his Muslim followers performed the first year of Hijra, which was the year of Muslims to migrate to Yathrib.
Legacy
Sunni view
Some groups among the Sunni Muslims are of the view that Abu Talib never took the shahadah, even though he loved Muhammad very much and protected him in his mission. He may have even believed in his heart, however he never took the shahadah. Based on narrations found in Sahih Bukhari, Sunni's believe that he died without belief.[5]
He said in a poem, "I do know that the religion of Muhammad is better than all other religions of mankind; were it not for fear of blame or slander, you would find me accepting it completely."[6]
Shia view
All of the Shia Muslims hold Abu Talib in high esteem, and vigorously deny any claims that he did not die as a Muslim, citing the fact that in addition to the protection of Muhammad, Abu Talib also recited the Nikah of the Prophet. If Abu Talib was a non-believer, the marriage would be void, which was not the case.[7].
Shi'a scholars also believe that such false commentaries and statements were fabricated as a part of the smear campaign which the Umayyads and their allies waged against Ali. Shias think that by fabricating such traditions they tried these to convince people that Abu Sufyan, father of Muawiyyah was better than Abu Talib, father of Ali, claiming that Abu Sufyan died while he was a Muslim and Abu Talib died while he was a pagan.
Family
Abu Talib had four sons
and two daughters:
- Fakhitah bint Abi Talib
- Jumanah bint Abi Talib (Umm Hani)
See also
References
- ^ Sahih al-Tirmidhi (vol 2 p.301), At-Tabaqat Al-Kubra - ibn Sa'd (vol 3 kklkp.12), Usd Al-Ghabah (vol 4 p.17), Kanzol Ummal (vol 6 p.400), Tareekh Al-Tabari (vol 2 p.55), Tareekh Baghdad (vol 2 p.18), to name a few...
- ^ Holy Qur'an, 26:214
- ^ Tareekh Al-Tabari (vol 2 p.63), Tareekh ibn Al-Atheer (vol 2 p.24), Musnad of Ahmed ibn Hanbal (vol 1 p.159), As-Seera An-Nabawiyyah by ibn Katheer (vol 1 p.457-459).
- ^ Wife of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWAS)
- ^ Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 23, Number 442
- ^ http://islam-qa.com/index.php?ref=655&ln=eng
- ^ Peshawar Nights[1]
| Preceded by Zubair bin Abdul Muttalib |
head of Banu Hashim ?–619 |
Succeeded by Abu Lahab |
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