When the scholars and researchers endorse the witness of the hearts and the Batini (intrinsic) belief of a person as Faith, then why one should refute Hazrat Abu Talib’s Faith. His contributions to the propagation if Islam and support to the Prophet (s.a.) are proof of his Faith. In fact this spirit is not evidenced by many of the persons who publicly accepted Islam. Public acceptance of the creed can also be done by hypocrites! There hasn’t been dearth of such persons in the annals of Islamic History! They made tall claims of support to Islam with their tongues, but when the time came for making sacrifices, they fled from the scene of battle! There are also instances of persons intriguing with the enemies against the interest of the Prophet (s.a.) and Islam. True belief in Islam is from the depths of the heart and not mere lip service. Faith is the name of firm belief and conviction and belief not mere utterance of some words from the tongue for the benefit of the hearer! If oral utterance alone is the expression of Faith, then Allah wouldn’t have refuted the Faith of such persons:
“There are some persons who say with their. tongues they have Faith in Allah and the Day of Reckoning that
although they are those who haven’t adopted the Faith.”
The Faith that comes from the heart will have no place for hypocricy and duplicity. Every act of such persons will be a mirror of his Faith and in accord with the requirements of the belief. On the basis of the person’s actions his Faith is identified. Faith means firm belief and conviction. Conviction has its effect on the actions of the person. Viewing the life and actions of Abu Talib one cannot deny the fact that all his assertions were in the service of strengthening Islam. His contribution can be termed as the foundation stone of the super-structure that arose later on. He bore all sorts of hardships to strengthen and pave the way for the propagation and growth of the Creed. He supported the Prophet (s.a.) with absolute dedication and sincerity. He kept himself away from the polytheist practices of the day practiced the Islamic ways. From his life is evident the friendship for Islam and obedience of the Prophet (s.a)’s teachings. Then who has the right to remove him from the sphere of Islam when the Holy Quran says that if a person’s ways are in accord with Islam and his actions are the same as those of Mslims, then people should not term him an infidel:
“A per who wishes you (Salam) and presents himself as a Muslim, You must not tell him that he isn’t a person of the Faith.
If it is accepted that Abu Talib didn’t profess Islam publicly, the majority of the jurists believe that public profession of Faith is not compulsory when there is a strong reason to keep it in wraps. Therefore, in the initial years after the Annunciation, the invitation to the Creed was done on the quiet and in secret conclaves. The Prophet (s.a) himself used to advise the new entrants to keep their creed secret. This was a wise way of protecting Islam and its proponents. In accordance with this many prominent Muslims kept their identiy secret for many years. They followed the Islamic norms only to the extent it was possible it those difficult days. Even when Islam assumed the status of a group, however small, there were some Muslims who discretely kept away from it for their own reasons. They did this to avoid tensions in the families or the society. History indicates that Hazrat Omar’s
sister, Fatima, who was the wife of Saeed ibne Zaid, had alreadily adopted Islam along with her husband. She used to keep her Islam secret. Similarly Naeem ibne Abd Allah, who belonged to the tribe of Bani Adi, was already a Muslim but kept his creed a secret because of the pressures from his tribesmen. After the Migration of the Prophet (s.a.), when the Islamic Commonwealth was established in Madina, there was still a group of Muslims in Makka who continued to keep their Faith a closely guarded secret. The Prophet (s.a.)’s own uncle, Abbas ibne Abd al Mutallib, was one of such personages. Therefore, Abu Rafeh writes:
“I was the slave of Abbas ibne Abd al Mutallib and had already adopted Islam at the homes of the Prophet (s.a.)’s relatives. Therefore Umm al Fazl
the wife of Abbas, and me, were Muslims.
Abbas was scared of his tribesmen and didn’t want to invite
their ire. Hence he kept his Islam a secret”
Ref: Tareeq e Tabari, Vol 2, Page 159
These persons were serving the cause of Islam in their own way by keeping their Faith a secret. Therefore, these were the persons who kept the Prophet (s.a.) informed of the movements of the Qureish who were planning preemptive attacks on the meager forces of early Islam. Ibne Abd al Bar writes about Abbas ibne Abd al Mutallib:
“He sent all the reports about the polytheists to the Prophet (s.a.) in writing that gave strength (of information) to Muslims. Abbas desired to join the Prophet (s.a.) in Madina. But the Prophet (s.a). wrote to him that his presence at Makka was better and beneficial.” Ref: Isteaab, Vol 2, Page 485
This proves that their keeping the faith as a secret was with the approval of the Prophet (s.a.). If keeping one’s Faith secret was against the norms of Islam, then the Prophet (s.a.) would never have allowed it. It proves conclusively that keeping one’s Faith secret is not un-Islamic in any way!
If affirmation of Faith by a person required oral expression, the condition definitely will be absolutely unnecessary.that it should be only in prescribed form. When this condition is not necessary, then Abu Talib’s affirmation of the Prophethood of Mohammed (s.a.) cannot be denied. The Prophet (s.a.) once visited Abu Talib to inquire about his health when the patriarch said:
“O my nephew! Pray to your Sustainer who has made you Maboos ( Ordained)
Prophet that He gives me recovery from illness! Ref: Asaba, Vol 4, Page 114
The Prophet (s.a.) raised his hands in prayer and said, “Alla humma ashfa ammi O Allah! Give recovery to my Uncle.” As a result of this prayer Abu Talib immediately recovered from the illness and left his bed. If he had not accepted Mohammed (s.a.) as Allah’s “Ordained” Prophet, he wouldn’t have referred to the prophethood when he asked him to pray. Isn’t accepting the Annunciation (Baasat) acception of the Prophethood? And isn’t instant recovery after the prayer a confirmation that Abu Talib did have Faith in Mohammed (s.a.)’s Prophethood! Besides this event, many a couplet composed by Abu Talib is proof that affirms his belief in – http://www.alhassanain.org/english
Mohammed (s.a.)’s Prophethood. These couplets affirm his Faith in the veracity of Islam, the truthfulness of the Faith and the Prophethood of Mohammed (s.a.). Such couplets are so many that shahr Ashoob Mazandarani has written in “Mutashabehaat e Quran” commenting on the Verse of Surat al Haj that the couplets that evidence Hazrat Abu Talib’s Faith number more than three thousand. Ibne Abil Hadeed, after quoting several of his couplets writes:
“These couplets have been quoted in continuity. Even if the continuity wasn’t there, they are all on the same subject that is common in all the couplets. And that common factor is affirmation of the truthfulness of Mohammed (s.a.).” Ref: Shara Ibne Abil Hadeed, Vol 3, Page 315
Some of the couplets composed by Abu Talib are quoted here for the interest of the readers. Thes couplets fully represent his Faith and Belief and the historians have quoted them with full proof of authencity:
When the Qureish infidels accused the Prophet (s.a.) of falsehoods, he
pointed towards the Prophet (s.a.) and recited the following couplets: “Antal ameen, Ameen Allah la kazb Wal sadiq al qawl la lahu wa laa la-ab” You are Ameen (custodian) and Allah’s Ameen in which there is no falsehood! You are free of cheap talk and are straighforward!” Antar Rasool Allah Naalam Alaik tanzal man zil izzat al kutub You are that Prophet of Allah about whom we know! And on you has been Revealed the Quran by Allah!! Ref: Munaqib Shahr Ashoob, Vol 1, Page 39 When the Qureish asked him to quieten the Prophet (s.a.) or else
they will be forced to become aggressive, Abu Talib recited the following couplets:
Wallah yaslu ilaika yajmahum Hatta awsad fil turab dafeena By Allah! Till I am interred in the soil, The Qureish hordes dare not come near you! Fasda be amrak ma alaika ghazaza Wabshar bazakwa qarmanak ayoona Recount Allah’s Commands without fear, Happily cool you eyes in this manner! Wa dawatni wa alamat inak nasehi Wa laqad daawat wa kunta summa ameena You have invited me to Islam – I know you as my well wisher, And then you are Ameen as well! Wa laqad alamta Deen e Mohammed Man khair adyaan al bariayaa deena I am sure Mohammed (s.a.)’s Faith is Better tha all the faiths in the world! Ref: Tareeq Ibne Katheer, Vol 3, Page 42
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When they took shelter in the Shaab e Abu Talib to protect the Prophet
(s.a.) from the Qureish, Abu Talib composed an encomium (Qaseeda) of 120 couplets. A few of those couplets will be of interest here: “Kazabtam wa Bayt Allah nabzi Mohammed wa lama nata-an doonahu wa nanazal By Bayt Allah! Your thought is wrong that we could be suppressed In the matter of Mohammed (s.a.); And that for his protection we will not use arrows and spears! Wa naslama hatta nasra haula Wa nazhal an abna ana wal halayel We shall not surrender him to the enemy Till we die in front of them and forget our wife and children! Hadyat benafsi doonahu wa hamiyat Wa daafaath an zamara wal kalakal I have protected him with my heart and my life, And defended him with my shoulders and the chest! Faayada Rabbil ibad be nasra Wazhar deena haqqa ghair baatil O Sustainer! Help him with Your Succor! And help the Faith that is the Truth, Pure and free of admixture!”
Ibne Hisham says that one year the people were suffering from acute drought due to scanty rainfall. They went to the Prophet (s.a.) and requested him to pray to Allah for rains. He lifted his hands towards the Heaven and offered a prayer. Before he completed the prayer, dark clouds gathered over the horizon and it rained copiously. When he saw the rain falling, the Prophet (s.a.) remembered Abu Talib and said, “Lau adrak Abu Talib haadal yaum la sara – If Abu Talib was alive today, he would be very happy!” One of the companions said, “Perhaps you have remembered a couplet that he had recited about you!” The person then recited it:
“Wabyad yastasqil ghamam bewajh
Tamaal al yatama asmat lil aramal
Intercession is sought of the radiant faced persons while praying for rains,
Intercession of those who are the support for the orphans and widows!”
The Prophet (s.a.) said, “Yes! I do remember. The imprint of Abu Talib’s affection was so deep on the heart of the Prophet (s.a.) that he didn’t forget him for a moment. Bala Dari has written that when the Prophet (s.a.) was seriously ill, Hazrat Fatima said, “By Allah! You are just the way that a poet has said about you:
“Wabyad yastasqil ghamam bewajh Tamaal al yatama asmat lil aramal Hearing this, the Prophet (s.a.) opened his eyes and said: “Haada qaul ammi Abi Talib This is the saying of my uncle, Abu Talib” Ref: Ansaab al Ashraaf, Vol 1, Page 553 Abu Talib’s couplets were indicative of his deep Faith, acceptance of
the truth and unfathomable love for Islam and its founder. Every couplet of his
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is the proof of his profound Faith. If people shun their bias, there is no reason they should harbour any doubts about his true Faith. Please do consider with justice if a few of his couplets, even one of them, was traced to any other person, they would have produced it as an evidence of the deep Faith of the person! For what sin people are maligning the Faith of the Prophet (s.a.)’s beloved uncle who was ready to sacrifice everything for the nephew and his Faith. Was it for the sin of giving upbringing to the Orphan of Abd Allah who was destined to be the Last and the Most Perfect of the Prophets (a.s). Was it for the sin of protecting and preserving him in the face of the enmity and the onslaught of the Qureish? Was it for his fighting against the machinations of the polytheists to harm the Prophet (s.a.)? Was it for propagating the creed of Mohammed (s.a.) to every nook and corner of Arabia through his impeccable poetry eulogizing Mohammed (s.a.) and his creed? The truth is that the only crime of Abu Talib in the eyes of those biased critics is that he was the beloved father of Hazrat Ali (a.s.)! These persons are those who are in total darkness and have no mind to catch a ray of the radiance! Abu Talib’s Faith and belief is a radiant Truth that will be denied by only those who refuse to accept the whiteness of the dawn and the radiance of the stars.Ibne Abi Hadeed has said so wonderfully:
“The futile talk of an ignorant person and the deliberate silence of the learned would not diminish Abu Talib’s greatness and status!” “It will be like pretending that the daylight is stark darkness, thoug this thought will not affect the brightness of the day!”
The proof of Hazrat Abu Talib’s Faith doesn’t lie only in his poetry. More than these are thoughts and utterances that the Prophet (s.a.) and the Infallible Ahl al Bayt have made about him from time to time. These sayings are important from two points. One is that the Imams of the Ahl al Bayt are all from his progeny and every person’s life will be like an open book in front of the members of his family. He can neither keep his Faith hidden from them nor his acts and habits. There the witness of the members of a family will be the most reliable. The second point is that, from the juridical point of view his sayings are a proof positive of his Faith. After seeing these proofs, one can neither term it the familial bias nor as any type of partiality. Therefore, commenting on the Prophet (s.a.)’s saying, “Maa an akhaztum behi lan tazallu”, Muhaddis Dehlvi writes:
“Akhaz’ means that one should remain attached to the love of the Ahl al Bayt,
One should hold them in respect, act on their sayings (and exhortations) And have complete faith on their utterances.’ Ref: The footnote on Mishkaat, Page 569
Aal-e-Qutub Aal-e-Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi 