Was Abu Talib (as) a Kafir?
HAZRAT ABU TALIB (AS)
Hazrat Abu Talib (as) was the son of Hazrat Abdul-Muttalib (as); the father of Imam Ali (as) & the paternal uncle of the Holy Prophet (saww).
According to historians, his real name was ‘Imraan. Ayatullah Shaykh Ja’ffar Sub-hani in his book ‘The Message’ writes that: Sometimes it is said that the real name of Abu Talib was ‘Imraan. Some scholars are of the view that Abu Talib was his real name and not his kunniyyah.
WAS ABU TALIB (AS) A KAFIR?
One of the greatest accusations levelled against Abu Talib (as) by the non-Shia’h is that he died as a Kafir meaning as ‘a pagan’. They have based their opinion on this narration that:
[When Abu Talib was on his deathbed, the Holy Prophet (saww) went to him while Abu Jahl was sitting beside him. The Holy Prophet (saww) said to him:
“O Uncle! Say LAA ILAAHA ILLALLAH – an expression with which I will defend your case before Allah (SWT)”. Abu Jahl and Abdullah bin Umayyah said, “O Abu Talib! Will you leave the religion of Abdul-Muttalib?” They kept saying this till Abu Talib’s last statement was, “I am on the religion of Abdul-Muttalib”. So the Holy Prophet (saww) said, “I will keep asking Allah for your forgiveness unless I am forbidden to do so”. Thereupon, verse 113 of Surah al-Tawbah was revealed, in which Allah (SWT) says, “It does not befit the Prophet and the believers to ask Allah’s forgiveness for the pagans, even if they were their near relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are the dwellers of Hellfire”.]
(Sahih al-Bukhari)
The non-Shia’h Muslims also have this false narration recorded in their books that:
[Abbas bin Abdul-Muttalib said to the Prophet, “You have not been of any benefit to your uncle Abu Talib (though) by Allah, he protected you and used to become angry for your sake”. The Holy Prophet (saww) said, “He is in shallow fire, and had it not been for me, he would have been in the bottom of Hellfire”. ]
(Sahih al-Bukhari)
PROOFS OF ABU TALIB’S IMAAN
There are many points – historical as well as logical – that prove that Abu Talib (as) was NOT a pagan. He was a Muslim and also died as a Muslim! The verse:
“It does not befit the Prophet and the believers to ask Allah’s forgiveness for the pagans, even if they were their near relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are the dwellers of Hellfire”. (9:113)
This verse was not revealed for Abu Talib (as). How can this be established?
1. Hazrat Abu Talib (as) had passed away in Makkah before Hijrah whereas this verse is of Surah al-Tawbah and it was revealed in the 9th year of Hijrah. The long gap between the two shows that there is no connection between them.
2. Only one person has reported the narration, which states that this Ayah was revealed for Abu Talib, and that is Sa’eed bin Musayyab. This man is such that he cannot be relied upon. One account of his life in which Sa’eed himself has declared his affiliation to the worst people is:
[Imam Zaynul-‘Aabideen (as) had passed away. Sa’eed bin Musayyab happened to be alive and he also passed by the place where the funeral of Imam (as) was being attended. Sa’eed did not participate in Imam (as)’s funeral prayer. When people asked him in sarcasm, “Do you pray behind Hajjaj (the most evil and cruel ruler)?” Sa’eed boastfully replied, “We even pray behind worst people then Hajjaj”.] (Tafseer-e-Namoona)
Therefore, how can we rely on the authenticity of such a person?
3. Even if Abu Talib (as) said that, “I am on the religion of Abdul-Muttalib”, the question is whose religion was Abdul-Muttalib following?
There is no doubt that Abdul-Muttalib (as) followed the religion of Ibrahim (as) and the biggest testimony is the event of the elephants, which Abraha had brought to destroy the Ka’bah. Abdul-Muttalib (as) prayed to Allah (SWT) to protect the Holy Ka’bah from being destroyed and when he (as) confronted Abraha – he (as) simply asked him to release his livestock. Abraha was shocked. He said, “You are the chief of this tribe and I expected you to plead to me NOT to destroy the Ka’bah”. Abdul-Muttalib (as) said, “I am the owner of these animals and have therefore come to ask for them. As for the Ka’bah, its Master is there to protect it”. So if Abu Talib had said that he (as) followed the religion of
Abdul-Muttalib (as) – how can he (as) become a pagan?
4. Last but not least, the verse under discussion was NOT revealed for Abu Talib (as). According to narrations, some Muslims came to the Holy Prophet (saww) and said, “Why don’t you pray to Allah to forgive our fathers and forefathers who died during the days of paganism?” This verse was revealed and the Muslims were informed that they had no right to pray for the forgiveness of such pagans. (Majma’ al-Bayaan)
Abu Talib (as) was not an ordinary person in the history of Islam. He (as) rendered great sacrifices during his lifetime to protect the Holy Prophet (saww) and his mission. Ibn Abil-Hadeed, the Sunni Scholar and commentator of Nahjul-Balaghah writes: “If Abu Talib and his son Ali were not there, the religion of Islam would not have been successful. Abu Talib supported and protected the Holy Prophet (saww) in Makkah and his son Ali (as) dived in the whirlpools of death in Yathrib for him”. Hazrat Abu Talib (as) and
Sayyida Khadeeja (as) both passed away in the same year and it is a well known fact that the Holy Prophet (saww) declared that year as ‘Aamul-Huzn meaning ‘the year of grief’.
Mulla Mujahidali Sheriff
Message of Peace 
thanks
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khuda ne martaba tumko dia ala Abutalib A.S
ke tumne baniye islam ko pala AbutalibA.S
JO RISALAT AUR IMAMAT KI PARWARISH KARE JISKI GOD ME RISALAT AUR IMAMAT PARWARISH PATI HAI USE ABUTALIB KHETE HAI!!JO KULLE IMAN KA BAAP HO USKE IMAN KA KYA KAHNA………SHAMA
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When you see the present politics, you yourself can judge who the hell is kafir,Friends of America and Israiel is pointing out fingures,wow good joke
peace be upon Hazrath Abu Talib(a.s)
W S
Mir Shourath Ali
Mysore
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very nice , i just want to say 2 sher’s in this situation
KULLE – IMA KA PEDAR, MOHSINE DINE ISLAM,
GAIR MUMKIN HAI KI ISLAM KA MUNKIR HO JAY,
HAI AGAR NABI KA MADADGAR KAFIR ,
TO FIR HAR MUSLMA PE LAJIM HAI KI KAFIR BAN JAY.
MAI KISI AUR KO MAN LOONGA NABI KA WASI,
GADEER JAISE EK ELAN KI DALEEL TO DE,
ALI KE BAP KO TUNE BATA DIYA KAFIR,
TU APNE BAP KE IMAN KI DALEEL TO DE .
SALAM JANBE ABU TALIB (A.S.
)
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That’s really fantastic!
I’d just like to say:
Jo bashar saahib-e-imaan nahi ho sakta,
wo Mohammad(s.a.w.w) ka nikaah-khwaan nahi ho sakta,
jo Mohammad(s.a.w.w.) ke nikaah-khwaan ko kaafir keh de,
wo bashar sab hai MUSALMAAN nahi ho sakta………….
SALAAM ON HAZRAT ABU TALIB(A.S.)
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warise fakhre sulaiman abu talib hain …..
kul arab jiska woh sultan abu talib hain…..
jab na islam na kalma na mohammad na rasool
us zamane ka muslaman abu talib hain,,,,,,,,
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Dear Nazar Fatma, please improve your knowledge. No doubt Abu Talib was the Nikah Khwan of Rasul-Allah SAW but it was the time of ignorance (pre-prophethood period). And belief in the religion of Abraham with the oneness of Allah SWT was sufficient at that time, which Abu Talib used to believe. But after Mohammad SAW declared that he is the Messenger of Allah all previous religions including the faith of Abraham was abrogated. Abu Talib’s belief will be checked whether he believed in Mohammad’s ministery. And there is no evidence despite his numerous support and sacrifices towards Mohammad SAW he professed Islam.
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MASHALLAH , WELL SAID
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Great….. I am proud of myself that I am muslim and my son name is ABU TALIB.
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ji hazrat abutalib ko bura na kahe wo rasul ko jaan se zada piye kate the hazrat abutalib hazrat maula ali ke waalid the agar rasul aur hazrat ali aur hazrat fatima hazrat hussain hazrat hassan ki sifarish aap ko darkar ho to allah k baad aap panja tan ko izzat de aur hazrat abutalib ko bhi me bhi sunni hu aap hazrat abutalib ki khasiyat jane wo kiya the allah ne unhe kiya banaya tha wo amere maccah bhi the aap na bhule sunni sab sahbi ki izzat karte h to hazrat abutalib ki kiyu nahi wo bhi rasul ke chahne wale the allah
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Hazrat abutalib hamesha haj ke mokhe par hajiyon ke liye aur mithe pani ka intezam karte thee.
Aap he ki mehnat ke wajah se aj islam zinda hai.
Chahe woh ap ne mohd.saw ko bachakar islam bachaya aur ap ki aulad ne karbala me islam ko apna sar dekar bachaya.
Ek sher arz hai.
Kafir to kahte ho magar dhyan ye rakhna.
Parde se ek aulad meri dekh rahi hai
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Beshumarrrrrrrr lanat Who Say Abu Talib (as) a Kafir” The One Who Say Kafir Lanat Beshumarrrr
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Through your acknowledgement that Abu Talib had said “I am on the religion of Abdul Muttalib”, it is confessed that Abu Talib was not a Muslim. Because according to Rasul-Allah SAW after the advent of his message all previous religions have been abrogated. Once Rasul-Allah SAW mentioned “even Musa were here he had to follow my religion instead of his Taurah.” It is very clear unless Abu Talib professes that “there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah”, he will be concidered a non-Muslim. No Shi’ah can produce a single evidence that ever Abu Talib professed the religion of Allah, and he professed that Mohammad is the messenger of Allah. Serving the cause of Islam is something different and to profess Islam is different. There are several living examples even in the modern world that many non-Muslims have written great things about Islam and Mohammad SAW but they never professed Islam. Their good treatment to Islam and Muslims never means that they will be considered Muslims or they died as Muslims.
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It would be interesting if we analyze the verses that some Sunni
commentators have aleged to have revealed for the disbelief of Abu Talib
(RA). The first one is:
Surah VI – The Cattle (An’aam) – Verse 26
—————————————–
A numbQuran and the unbelievers
————————-
It is not ( fit ) for the Prophet and those who believe that
they should ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even though
they should be near relatives, after it has become clear to
them that they are inmates of the flaiming fire. [ 9 : 113 ]
Now since we have already proved that the above verse was not revealed for
Abu Talib, where the Prophet and the Muslims have been advised not to pray
for the polytheists, it would help us to look at those verses that asked
the Prophet and the Believers not to eshtablish relations for the
polytheists, let alone pray for them, out of love and respect !
Surah 58 – The Pleading One (Mujadilah) – Verse 22
————————————————–
You shall not find a people who believe in Allah and the latter
day befriending those who act in opposition to Allah and His
Apostle, even though they were their own fathers, or their sons,
or their brothers, or their kinsfolk; these are they into whose
hearts He has impressed faith, and whom He has strengthened with
an inspiration from Him: and He will cause them to enter gardens
beneath which rivers flow, abiding therein; Allah is well
pleased with them and they are well pleased with Him; these are
Allah’s party: Surely the party of Allah are the successful ones.
This was revealed in the Battle of Badr and this event occured in the 2
year of the Hijra. However there are some commentators that relate its
revelation with The Battle of the Uhud, that occured in the 3 year of the
Hijra. How ever, the verse advises us not to make friends with the non
believers or even love them. This Chapter was revealed well before Surah
Baarat ( Chapter 9, for the verse cited in the beginning )
Sunni references
– Tafseer Ibn Katheer, v 4 p 329
– Tafseer Sho Kafi, v 5 p 189
– Tafseer Aloosi, v 28 p 37
Surah IV – Women (Surah Al Nisa)- Verses 139 and 144
—————————————————-
Those who take the unbelievers for guardians rather than believers.
Do they seek honor for them ? Then surely all honor is for Allah.
O you who believe ! do not take the unbelievers as protectors
instead of than believers; do you desire that you should give to
Allah a manifest proof against yourselves ?
This is a Mecci Surah, where the above verses advise the believers not to
take unbelievers as helpers or protectors. How could the Prophet get help
from an unbeliever if we assume Abu Talib is unbeliever?! Ofcourse, this
verse was revealed well before Chapter 9, that has been the focus our
attention!
Sunni reference :
– Tafseer Qurtubi, v 5 p 1
Surah III – The Family Of Imran (Surah Ale Imran) – Verse 28
————————————————————
Let not the believers take the unbelievers for friends rather
than the believers; and whoever does this, he shall have
nothing of ( the guardianship ) Allah, but you should guard
yourselves against them, guarding carefully; and Allah makes you
cautious of ( retribition from ) Himself; and to Allah is the
eventual journey.
According to reference ( 1 ) the first eighty ( 80 ) verses of this Chapter
were revealed during the beginning of the Hijra. The latter references
indicate that the above verse ( verse 28 ) was revealed during the Battle
of Ihzab ( 5 Hijra ). The last reference indicates that Surah Ale Imran and
Surah Baarat were revealed with a difference of four Surahs.
Sunni references
– Seera of Ibn Hisham, v 2 p 207
– Tafseer Qurtubi, v 4 p 58
– Tafseer Khazan, v 1 p 235
– Tafseer Itqan, v 1 p 17
Surah IX – Repentance – Verses 23 and 80 ( Surah Baarat )
———————————————————
O you who believe ! do not take your fathers and your brothers
for guardians if they love unbelief more than belief; and who
ever of you takes them for a guardian, these it is that are the
unjust.
Ask forgiveness for them or do not ask forgiveness for them;
even if you ask forgiveness for them seventy times, Allah will
not forgive them; this is because they disbelieve in Allah and
the Apostle, and Allah does not guide the transgressing people.
These two verses were revealed before Verse 9:113 (the verse used against
Abu Talib), and as I conclude this discussion, let me pose a question to
these accusers:
– Is it possible that the Prophet ( saw ) would ask for forgiveness
for Abu Talib ( May Allah bless his soul ), especially when these two
verses declare that it is futile to do so, assuming that Abu Talib
died as an unbeliever? If your answer is yes, then isn’t it against
the text of the Holy Book and the Will of Allah, the Almighty?!!
– The fact is that the verse 9:113 is just a command to Prophets in
general, and not apprehension for what Prophet Muhammad did not! This
will become clear when one looks at the next verse that (i.e., 9:114)
which shows this is the command of Allah to Prophet Abraham who prayed
for his uncle Azar (not to be confused with his father whose name was
Tarokh. This needs a separate discussion) before it was known to him
that he is the enemy of Allah. Quran states:
.. But when it became clear to him that he (Azar) was an enemy to
Allah he dissociated himself from him; for Abraham was most tender-
hearted forbearing. [9:114]
er of historians and hadith recorders reported that Abu Talib died
while he was a pagan. Some of them reported the verse ‘ It is not
permissible to the Prophet and the believers to ask God to forgive the
pagans even if they were akin to them, after it became clear to them that
those pagans are from the people of hell .’
Such false commentaries and statements were fabricated as a part of the
smear campaign which the Omayyads and their allies waged against Imam Ali
(AS). By fabricating such traditions they tried these to convince people
that Abu Sufyan, father of Muawiyyah was better than Abu Talib, father of
Imam Ali, claiming that Abu Sufyan died while he was a Muslim and Abu TAlib
died while he was a pagan.
The recorders of the hadiths and the historians took these hadiths without
paying attention to the evidence of their forgery. They did not try to
examine these hadiths, yet the date of the revelation of the above
mentioned verse testifies that it was not revealed about a matter
pertaining to Abu Talib ( May Allah be well pleased with him ).
Now coming to the hadith by itself, let see what the most authenticated
book in the eyes of the Sunnis has to say.
al-Bukhari in his Sahih writes
Narrated Al Musaiyab : When Abu Talibs death approached, the
Prophet ( saw ) went to him while Abu Jahl and Abdullah bin
Abi Umaiya were present with him. The Prophet ( saw ) said : ‘ O
Uncle, say : None has the right to be worshipped except Allah,
so that I may argue for your case with it before Allah. ‘ On
that Abu Jahl and Abdullah bin Abi Umaiya said : ‘ O Abu Talib !
Do you want to renounce Abdul Muttalib’s religion ? ‘ Then the
Prophet ( saw ) said, ‘ I will keep on asking ( Allah for )
forgiveness for you unless I am forbidden to do so. ‘ Then there
was revealed
It is not fitting for the Prophet and those who believe that
they should pray for forgiveness for pagans even though they
be of kin, after it has become clear to them that they are
the companions of the fire. [ 9 : 113 ]
Sahih Bukhari Kitabul Tafseer
Arabic English
Volume 6
Page 158 Tradition no. 197
The above mentioned verse is a part of the Chapter of Baraat ( number 9 ).
A few points on this Chapter
– this is a totally medinite Chapter, with the exception of the
last two verses ( 128 and 129 )
– the verse which is the subject of our discussion is Verse 113
– the Chapter of Baarat was revealed during the ninth ( 9th ) year
of Hijra. The chapter speaks of the events that took place during
the campaign of Tabuk, which was during the month of Rajab in the
ninth Year. The Prophet ( saw ) had ordered Abu Bakr to announce
first part of it during the days of the pilgrimage of that year
when he sent him as an ‘ Amir Al Hajj ‘. Then he sent Imam Ali
to take that part from him and announce it, because God commanded
him that no one should deliver the revelation other than himself
or a man from the members of his House. The chapter speaks of the
events that took place during the campaign of Tabouk, which was
during the month of Rajab in the ninth Year.
Many Sunni traditionist reported that:
The Messenger of Allah sendAbu Bakr to the people of Mecca with the
Chapter of al-Bara’ah and when he proceeded, (the Prophet) sent for
him and asked him to return the chapter and said: “No one takes it to
them except one of my Ahlul-Bayt.” and thus he sent Ali for this
mission.”
Sunni references:
– Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v2, p183, v5, pp 275,283
– Musnad of Ahmed Hanbal, v1 pp 3,151, v3, pp 212,283
– Fadha’l al-Sahabah, by Ahmad Hanbal, v2, p562, Tradition #946
– Hakim in his Mustadrak, v 3 p 51
– Al Nisai in his Khasais al Awliyah, p 20
– Fadhail al Khamsah, v 2 p 343
– Siratun Nabi by Shibli Numani, v 2 p 239
Ahmad in his musnad added that Abu Bakr said : The Prophet ( saw ) had sent
me with the chapter of Baarat to the people of Mecca
No pagan should make pilgrimage after this year. No naked shall
circumnavigate around the Ancient House. No one shall enter paradise
except a Muslim soul. Any pagan community that has been between them
and the Messenger of God a peace accord, the accord will end by the
end by the end of the specified period ( without extension ), and God
and His Messenger are clear of pagans
Also Shibli Numani in his work on the Seera of the Prophet ( saw ) writes
as follows ( p 239 — > p 240 )
Now in the year 9th Hijri, the Kaaba was for the first time,
consecrated as the central House of Worship for the followers of
Abraham …… On return from Tabuk the Holy Prophet ( saw ) sent out
a caravan of three hundred muslims from Mecca to Medina to perfrom the
Hajj at Mecca.
Now coming back to the verse of [ 9 : 113 ], the verse could not mean Abu
Talib, because he died in Mecca at least two years before the Hijrah !
I now quote Shibli Numani, in his most celebrated work on the Seera of the
Prophet, Siratun Nabi ( v 1, p 219 and 220 )
Death of Khadija and of Abu Talib
( 10th Year of Revelation )
On return from the mountain, the Prophet had hardly passed a few days
in peace when Abu Talib and Khadija both died. He paid his last visit
to Abu Talib when he was dying. Abu Jahl and Abd Allah ibn Ummaya were
already there. The Prophet asked Abu Talib to recite the credo of
Islam, so that he might bear witness to his faith in the presence of
Allah. Abu Jahl and Ibn Umayya expostulated with Abu Taleb and asked
if he was going to turn away from the religion of Abd Al Muttalib. In
the end Abu Talib said that he was dying with is belief in the
religion of Abd Al Muttalib. Then he turned to the Prophet and said
that he would have recited the creed but he feared lest the Quraish
should accuse him of fear of death. The Prophet said that he would be
praying to Allah for him till He forbade (Bukhari on the Chapter of
Funeral. The last sentence has been taken from Muslim and not
Bukhari). This is the version of Bukhari and Muslim. Ibn Ishaq says
that while dying Abu Talib’s lips were in motion. al-Abbas who was
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
till then a nonbeliever, put his ear to his lips and then said to the
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Prophet that he was reciting the KALIMA the Prophet had wanted of him.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
( Ibn Hisham, Cairo Edition, p 146).
[ Please do bear in mind that all the references cited in the above
para are * NOT * my adition, and * NEITHER * are the block letters my
addition, they have been rendered by Shibli Numani himself ]
Then Shibli Numani further writes
But from a traditionist’s point of view this report of Al Bukhari is
not worthy taking as reliable because the last narrator is Musaiyyab
who embraced Islam after the fall of Mecca, and was not himself
present at the time of Abu Talib’s death. It is on this account that
al Aini in his commentary has remarked that this tradition is MURSAL
(Al Aini, Chapter Janaiz or Funeral, VOL IV, p 200 ).
Also he writes on page 221
Abu Talib made great sacrifices for the Prophet none can deny that. He
would even sacrifice his own children for his sake. For his sake he
had exposed himself to the odium of the whole country, and for his
sake he had passed years in state of siege, suffering starvation as an
exile, unprovided with food or drink. Will all this love, sacrifice
and devotion go unrewarded ?
– asking God to forgive a deceased usually takes place at the time of the
funeral prayer. The wording of the verse ‘ It is not permissible to the
Prophet and the believers to ask God to forgive the pagans ‘ , indicates
that the Prophet was with other believers ( in a congregational prayer )
when he asked forgiveness for the pagans.
– as a matter of fact, the funeral prayer was not instituted before the
Hijrah (migration to Medina). The first prayer offered by the Messenger for
a deceased was his prayer for Al Bura Ibn Maarour.
it is likely that this verse was revealed after the Prophet offered a
funeral prayer for one of the hypocrites who used to pretend Islam and
conceal paganism. It is very likely that the verse was revealed when the
Holy Prophet ( saw ) offered a funeral prayer for Abdullah bin Obai bin
Salool who died during the ninth year and who was well noted in his
hypocrisy, his hatred towards the Messenger of Allah and his adversary to
the faith of Islam. About him and his followers, the Chapter of Al
Munafiqoon ( the Hypoctites ) was revealed before that time. Had historians
and hadith recorders thought with some depth and logic, they would not have
commited this terrible historical error !
Here is another hadeeth from Sahih Bukhari that mentions the event similar
to the previous hadeeth
Narrated Al Musaiyab : When Abu Talib was on his death bed, Allah’s
Apostle same to him and found Abi Umaiya bin Al Mughira. Allah’s
Apostle said : ‘ O uncle ! say : None has the right to be worshipped
except Allah, a sentence with which I will defend you before Allah. ‘
On that Abu Jahl and Abdullah bin Abi Umaiya said to Abu Talib : ‘
Will now you leave the religion of Abdul Mutallaib ? ‘ Allah’s apostle
kept on inviting him to say that senetnce while the other two kept on
repeating their sentence before him till Abu Talib said as a last
thing then he said to them , ‘ I am on the religion of Abdul Muttalib
‘ and refused to say : None has the righ to be worshipped except
Allah. On that Allah’s Apostle said : ‘ By Allah I will keep on asking
Allah’s forgiveness for you unless I am forbidden ( by Allah ) to do
so. So Allah revealed
It is not fitting for the Prophet and those who believe that they
should invoke ( Allah ) for forgiveness for pagans ( 9 : 113 )
And then Allah revealed especially about Abu Talib :
Verily ! You ( O, Muhammad ) guide not whom you like, but Allah
guides whom He will (28:56)
Sahih Bukhari Kitabul Tafseer
Arabic English
Volume 6 page 278 -> 279
Tradition no. 295
Readers will be surprised to know that the two hadeeths cited above, prove
that the two verses descended one after the other. But this is contrary to
another hadeeth that Bukhari cites in his Sahih, and it proves that Surah
Baarat was among the last revealed chapters. Here is the hadith
Narrated Al Bara : The last Sura that was revealed was Bara’a …
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sahih Bukhari Kitabul Tafseer
Arabic English
Volume 6
Page 101 Tradition 129
Other Sunni references that affirm to the fact that Sura Baarat was among
the last revealed chapters and a Medanite Sura, please refer to
– Tafseer Kashshaf, v 2 p 49
– Tafseer Qurtubi, v 8 p 273
– Tafseer Itqan, v 1 p 18
– Tafseer Showkani, v 3 p 316
But where is the fault in the Hadeeths? The verse cited from Surah Qasas,
was revealed at least ten (10) years before Surah Baarat, and that it was
revealed in Mecca, where as Surah Baarat was revealed in Medina. Please
think about it, and you shall find out that in a futile effort to discredit
Abu Talib and declare him as an unbeliever, the order of the revelation of
the Quran was not taken into consideration. Just imagine the time gap in
between the revelation of the two chapters, and the matter will be very
clear.
Also history tells us that Al Musaiyab
– disliked Imam Ali
– refused to say the funeral prayers for the grandson of Imam Ali,
and the son of Imam Hussain, Imam Zainul Abidin
Sunni Reference
– Sharah of Ibn al Hadid, v 1 p 370
One could conclude that this fabrication was done to simply elevate Umayad
over Hashimites.
Also I came across a very ashtonishing commentary, by the most reverred
Sunni commentator, Fakr ar Din Al Razi in his Tafseer, with reference to
Surah Qasas (28:56). He has mentioned this verse about Abu Talib, * not *
because of his personal opinion; because of the opinion of some other
scholars ‘. Surprisingly, he admits, that this verse could not be
associated with Abu Talib’s beliefs …
Reference: Tafseer Kabir, v 25 p 3 ( Fakhr ar Din al Razi )
And they prohibit ( others ) from it and go far away from it,
and they only bring destruction upon their own souls while they
do not perceive it.
– Tabari relates from Sufiyan Soori who relates it from Habeeb ibn
Abu Sabit who narrated it from somebody saying that Ibn Abbas
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
said ‘that this verse came down for Abu Talib, because he used to
protect Muhammad from the Kufar but he never recited the Kalima.’
Sunni references
– Tabaqat of Ibne Sa’ad, v 2 p 105
– History of Tabari, v 7 p 100
– Tafseer Ibn Katheer, v 2 p 127
– Tafseer Kashaf, v 1 p 448
– Tafseer Qurtubi, v 6 p 406
– … and many many more
Now let us see for ourselves if the ideology behind the above
interpretation
is correct or not, so that we would have no doubts in our minds. Further
scrutiny of the above interpretation would lead us to believe that it is
nothing but a futile effort to discredit Abu Talib:
– The verse talks about living people, since the verse mentions
that ‘ people who prevent others from doing it and neither do
it ‘. Of course a dead person can’t think of preventing others
from a course of action, and they have to be living to do so.
This convinces us to believe that this verse can’t be for
Abu Talib.
– The chain of narrators terminates after Habeeb ibn Abu Sabit
and Sufyan doesn’t mention who narrated it from Habeeb ibn Abu
Sabit, and all he says that he ( Habeeb ) narrated it from some
one who heard it from Ibn Abbas.
This criterion is not acceptable according to the standards of
hadeeth, since the chain of narrators is incomplete, therefore
this hadeeth is unacceptable.
But for argument sake if we still accept the chain of narrators, and the
fact that Habeeb ibn Abu Sabit is the only person who narrates it, the
books of Rijal testify to the fact that we can’t accept this tradition, for
the following reasons
– In the eyes if Ibn Habban, Habeeb is a ‘deceiver’, and Aqeeli Ibn
Aun has ‘avoided’ Habeeb since Habeeb has copied hadeeths from
Ata’a which are ‘ absolutely unacceptable ‘.
Qita’an says that Habeeb’s hadeeths other than Ata’a are also
unacceptable and are not safe from being fake. Abu Dawood quotes
from Ajri that the hadeeths narrated by Habeeb from Ibn Zamrah
are not correct. Ibn Khazeema comments that Habeeb is a
‘deceiver’
Sunni reference
– Tahzeeb al-Tahzeeb, by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, v 2 p 179
Therefore the tradition narrated by Habeeb is his personal innovation, and
after reading the views of so many Rijal experts how can we accept his
hadeeth?
But this shouldn’t stop us from further investigating the issue, and if we
accept the fact that Habeeb can be trusted, let us look at Sufyan who is
the last narrator in the chain of the tradition against Abu Talib. We still
have to declare this hadeeth void, because, al-Dhahabi writes about him
that
“Sufyan narrations are lies”
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sunni reference
– Mizan al-Itidal, by al-Dhahabi, v 1 p 396
I find it very difficult to believe that despite the fact the commentators
who have written down the traditions are respectable personalities, they
have copied it down from cheap people such as above, without any
hesitation.
Despite all these weak traditions that have been narrated by weak
narrators, we find hadeeths related by Ibn Abbas that are genuine and state
the opposite of what we find in the hadeeth mentioned above. Let see what
they have to offer
– Tabari states that the above verse came down for all the mushrikeen
who used to stay away from the Prophet and used to advise others to
stay away from him ( the Prophet ).
Sunni reference
– Tafseer Tabari, v 7 p 109
– Tafseer Durre Manthoor, v 3 p 8
The fact is that Abu Talib never advised others to stay away from Prophet
(PBUH&HF). Even many of those who accused him for not uttering Shahadah,
confess that he helped the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HF) during those days of
tribulations of the young Islam with all his means. Also he raised the
Prophet when he was child, and then accepted that Imam Ali (AS) to be
raised by Prophet. He, in fact, was Muslim from the begining, but was
ordered by Prophet to practice Taqiyya (to conceal his belief) so that he
could play as a mediator between Prophet and chiefs of unbelievers in Mecca
(like Abu Sufyan).
Also it is important to note that we do NOT believe that the parents of
Prophets and Imams were necessarily perfect (Infallible). However we
believe that their parents and all their forefathers were righteous and
believers and monotheist during their entire life.
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Mr atif please read this topic carefully there are number of occasion when abu talib saved prophet means he saved islam its that simple
Just try to understand your oppinion won’t change the religion of him (as)
Dushmani ka tareka ajab nikala hai
Jo gussa bete pe tha baap pe utara hai
Ali k baap ko kaafir kahe na kyu kaafir
Inhi k baap ko maula ali ne maara hai
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atif sahab improve your knowledge…hazrat abutalib ki akhiri namaz kisne padhai hai……kya kafir ki namaz e janaza padhai ja saki hai…kya rasool ka nikah ek kafir ne padhaya………to apko shukriya ada karna chahiye ek kafir ka jisne islam ko parvan chaadhaya aur rasool ki parvarish ki…….hazrat Muhammad ke boyqat ke vakt abutalib kis kheme me the…kya ap bardasht kar sakte hain ki apke ghar me khana khane aur pene vala apke khuda aur rasool ko bura kahe chahe vo apka beta hi kyon na ho……agar abutalib kafir the mazAllah to unhonne kaise bardasht kar liya ki rasool unke khudaon ko bura kahte the aur vah rasul ko bachate bhi the…….mufti ye kiske kufr ka elan ho gaya…..shayad tumhari akl ko hizyan ho gaya…..jisne nabi ko pala vo kafir hai aj bhi….aur katile Husain as musalman ho gaya……….
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