“The Prophet (s.a.) entered the grave prior to Interment of Hazrat Khadija. Till that time, there Was no order for offering Salat al Janaza. n Ansaab al Sharaf, Vol 1, Page 406 “9
This is the list of baseless doubts that people have concocted to prove the infidelity of Abu Talib. The faith of Abu Talib is supported with the sayings of the Prophet (s.a.) and the Ijma of the Infallible Imams (a.s.). Every right thinking person can read through the bias of the critics of Abu Talib and see through the thin veneer of doubts they try to create in the minds of people.
Hazrat Abu Talib was the protector of the Creed and the supporter of the Faith of Islam. He was like a protective rampart for the Prophet (s.a.) and an invincible fort. He confronted severe difficulties with courage and at no moment he raised the slightest objection for coming to the help of Mohammed (s.a.) and his Divine Mission. He acted with the same zeal, during his long association with the Prophet, when he was young and also when he was a grand old man! Even on his death bed his mind was occupied with the thoughts of protecting Islam and its founder! Therefore, facing the difficulties at Shaab e Abu Talib, his health deteriorated beyond repair. He called up the Sheiks and elite of Qureish and advised them to be trustworthy, truthful, generous, charitable to the poor, to respect the Kaaba and to protect and help the Prophet (s.a.).He said:
“I make a will that you do good to Mohammed (s.a.). He is a custodian (Ameen) in the Tribe of Qureish and a Siddeeq (truthful person) for the Arabs. He has all the qualities which I have willed you to cultivate. He has brought a Thing about which the hearts are convinced and the tongues are silent because of fear of enmity. By Allah! I am visualizing the scene when the poor of Arabia and the Bedouin of the neighborhood and the weak saying “Labbaek” to his call! Mohammed (s.a.) has entered the whirlpool with them and The elite of Qureish have been belittled, the chiefs ridiculed and their homes rendered desolate. The poor and the weak have come to the positions of power and the elite are subjugated to Those who are far away are drawing benefits. Arabs have turned his sincere friends and with purity Of hearts have become his well-wishers. They have entrusted to him their leadership. group of Qureish: O You should also become The friends and supporters of Mohammed (s.a.). By Allah! Whoever treads the path shown by him, he will get the Guidance and
them.
whoever follows his ways, will be felicitous. If I had some more life in me and there was
Some delay inmy inevitable death, I would shield him from
The attacks of his enemies and protect him against difficulties!”
–Samarat al Awraq, Vol 2, Page 13
After this general advice, he turned to the Progeny of Abd al Mutallib and said:
“As long as you keep paying heed To Mohammed (s.a.)’s words, and follow his precepts, Felicity and benefit will come to you. Follow him and give him a helping hand, you will remain On the path of guidance!”
Eulogising about the truthfulness and the trustworthiness of the Prophet (s.a.), during his last moments, Abu Talib advised his family to seek knowledge and guidance following him. If a person doesn’t acknowledge and bear witness to the Prophethood of Mohammed (s.a.), then there is no use of his existence. Are these words of wisdom and enlightenment not the proof of his Faith in Islam?
When he was through with his will to all concerned, the signs of impending death emerged on his face. The color of his face changed and his forehead developed the pearls of sweat. The biggest supporter and protector of the Prophet (s.a.) breathed his last. His passing away cascaded an avalance of sorrow on the Prophet (s.a.). Tears welled in his eyes and in a hoarse voice he told to Ali (a.s.):
“Go, give him Ghusl-e-janaza, wrap him in the shroud
And make arrangements for his interment. May Allah
Give him maghfirat (absolution) and keep him in His Blessing.”
Ref: Tabaqaat Ibne Saad, Vol 1, Page 105
The Prophet (s.a.) nominated Hazrat Ali (a.s) to the task of preparing his father for the last rites, although he was the youngest of his brothers. The only reason for this change from the normal social custom of assigning such duties to the eldest brother was that Aqeel and Talib had’nt embraced Islam till their father had passed away and Jafar, although in the fold of Islam, was away in Abyssinia. This act too throws light on the Faith of Abu Talib. If he was an infidel, there would be justification for entrusting this duty to one of his sons who was still living in infidelity. Thus, after all the preparations, the Prophet (s.a.) looked at his beloved uncle in his shroud, cried and said:
“O uncle! You have brought me up in my childhood,
You gave me, an orphan, your profound love and maintained me. On my growing up you gave me support. May Allah give you Good Reward
On my behalf!”
Ref: Tareeq e Yaqoobi, Vol 2, Page 26
When people started carrying the bier, the Prophet (s.a.) supported it with his shoulder from start of the journey till it reached the graveside. He participated in the interment of the mountain of patience and courage at the foot of the Mount Hajoon.
For the Prophet (s.a.) the passing away of Abu Talib was a big calamity. He was his biggest supporter and promoter. The Prophet (s.a.) was now left in the midst of sworn enemies to contend with them. Although statistically Muslims were a sizeable group now, there was none of the caliber and
position of Abu Talib who could confront the tyranny of the Qureish with some degree of success. It was logical that the nefarious activities of the Qureishincreased with the death of Abu Talib. Ibne Hisham writes:
“When Abu Talib died, the Qureish gave so much trouble to the Prophet (s.a.) that during the living days of his uncle, they couldn’t have had desire of putting him through such hardship.” Ref: Serat Ibne Hisham, Vol 2, Page 58
The sadness of Abu Talib’s death was still fresh when, after a month and five days of his demise, Janab Khadija passed away. This tragedy too had a profound saddening effect on the Prophet. He was so much affected with these two deaths that he named that year as Aam al Huzn – the Year of Sorrow! He said:
“Those days two calamities struck the Umma.
I cannot say which one is the greater cause of
Sorrow for me!
-Tareeq e Yaqoobi, Vol 2, Page 26
The Prophet (s.a.) termed the passing away of Hazrat Abu Talib and Hazrat Khadija as great calamities for the Umma. The reason was that in the early days of his ordainment as the Prophet (s.a.) the two stood with him as strong pillars of support. Hazrat Khadija sacrificed her entire wealth for the Mission of the Prophet (s.a.) and Hazrat Abu Talib stood like a rock between him and the forces of tyranny. These two deaths, which were a calamity for the person of the Prophet (s.a.), were certainly calamitous for the Umma as well!
The people of Makka mourned the passing away of the chief of the Qureish, the scion of Abd al Mutallib, the Raees e Batha, Abu Talib. Hazrat Ali (a.s.) penned elegies on the death of his beloved father..A few couplets of one of the elegies are given here:
“Aba Talib asmat al mustajir Wa ghais al mahol wa noor al zulm O Abu Talib! You are the Place of Peace for those seeking refuge Rain bearing cloud in drought and a light in the darkness! Laqad had faqadak ahl al hafaz Fasali alaika wali al naym On your death the people with modesty are saddened. May Allah shower His Bounties on you. Wa laqak Rabbak Rizwana Faqad kunta liltahr man khair am May Allah’s Beneficence be on you. You were the best (beloved) Uncle of the Prophet (s.a.)” Ref: Tadkira Sibt ibne Jauzi, Page 6.
Aal-e-Qutub Aal-e-Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi 