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HAZRAT ABU TALIB (AS)
Hazrat Abu
Talib (AS) was the son of Hazrat
Abdul Muttalib (AS) and the
father of Imam Ali (AS). At the
death bed, Hazrat Abdul Mutallib
told Hazrat Abu Talib (AS) that
Muhammad will be a prophet so
support him with your hand and
tongue. Hazrat Abu Talib (AS)
was the most respected and
influential leader of Makka.
As part of
the Bani Umayyad strategy, who
ever were attached to Imam Ali
(AS), every effort was made to
demolish their character. Hence,
Hazrat Abu Talib (AS) was on the
top of the list. It was
emphasized by scholars that, God
forbid, he was not a Muslim as
he did not say the kalmia of
Islam. His eemaan was like that
of the momin of Suratal-Yaseen.
Considering
the environment in Makka, it was
in the best interest of Islam
and Prophet Muhammad (P) that he
should not openly accept Islam.
Allah(S) says
in Surat Az-Zuha verse 6 “ Did
He not find you an orphan and
gave you refuge”. When Allah(S)
is declaring Hazrat Abu Talib
(AS)’acts as His own, can
Allah(S) claim a kafir’s acts as
His own?
The year of
Prophet’s birth witnessed a
strange event. Abraha attacked
Makka and his forces captured
the animals belonging to Hazrat
Abu Talib (AS)'s father; Hazrat
Abdul Muttalib. Hazrat Abdul
Muttalib (AS) approached the
king Abraha and asked for his
animals. Abraha said that he
thought that Hazrat Abdul
Muttalib (AS) would request him
not to attack Khana-e-Kaabaa.
Hazrat Abdul Muttalib (AS)
replied that he wanted his
property back, as far
Khana-e-Kaabaa; his owner will
take care of it. So Allah sent
those birds (ababeel) who
crushed the entire army.
Makka was hit
by famine twice; once when
Prophet Muhammad (P) was about 2
years old and another time when
Prophet (P) had openly invited
people towards Islam. The first
time, when the leaders of
Quraish were calling on their
idols to send rain. When no rain
was coming, people approached
Hazrat Abu Talib (AS) and he
responded by taking the Prophet
(P) and praying as “O Allah,
please bless us with rain for
the sake of this child”. No
sooner his prayers finished, it
started to rain heavily. The
second time, the city was struck
with famine when Hazrat Abu
Talib (AS) was already dead. On
requests from the populace, the
Prophet (P) prayed for the rain
which started right away and it
continued for seven days. The
people once again approached the
Prophet (P) to request for
stoppage of rain. The Prophet
(P) prayed and rain stopped. The
Prophet (P) said “Alas! If my
uncle
(Abu Talib)
would have been alive; his eyes
would be cool by happiness”.
Further, he enquired if any one
could recite the poetry of
Hazrat Abu Talib (AS).
Hazrat Abu
Talib (AS) was a businessman and
used to travel to Sham (Syria).
On one of such travel he took
Prophet Muhammad (P) who was
about nine years old. At one of
the stopping place, a Christian
priest met them and after
hearing the name of the Prophet
(P) and closely watching his
face, the priest warned Hazrat
Abu Talib (AS) about the danger
to Prophet’s life. Hazrat Abu
Talib (AS) cancelled the trip
and returned.
On the birth
of Imam Ali (AS), Hazrat Abu
Talib (AS) and Hazrat Fatima
binte Asad (SA) proceeded to
Mount of Qubais and invoked
Allah’s will about the name of
the new born. A green tablet was
sent to him on which it was
written “I have conferred a
special honor for you both by
giving you a pure, dignified
son. He has been given the name
“Ali” from Allah’s side. It is
derived from Ali (The Exalted).
The tablet was hung in Masjidul
Haram
Hazrat Abu
Talib (AS) arranged the first
open meeting at his house for
the Prophet (P) to invite his
relatives towards Islam. This is
known as “Davat-e-Zulasheera”.
Abu Lahab tried to interrupt the
Prophet (P) where upon Hazrat
Abu Talib (AS) scolded him and
told the Prophet (P) “Get up and
say what ever you like. Spread
your Lord’s Mission, for you are
The Truthful, The Trusted one”.
After the meeting the third day
when every one, except Imam Ali
(AS), laughed about it while
Hazrat Abu Talib (AS) said that
he accepted the call and
promised to support him.
The Quraish
approached Hazrat Abu Talib (AS)
to ask him to restrain the
Prophet (P) from attacking their
idols but he refused to
interfere. When the Quraish were
convinced that Hazrat Abu Talib
(AS) will not stop his nephew
from speaking truth, they
unanimously agreed to socially
boycott the entire Hashemite
clan. Hazrat Abu Talib (AS) took
the whole tribe to a valley
called “Shib-e-Abu Talib”. This
boycott lasted for about three
years. In order to protect the
Prophet(P), Hazrat Abu Talib(AS)
would place his sons on the
Prophet’s bed so that in case of
an attack at night, his own sons
may be killed but the Prophet(P)
would be safe.
As per hadees
of a Sunni scholar, Amar Ibne
Saeed, the Muslims were
traveling in the valley of Zil
Majaz, when Hazrat Abu Talib
(AS) reported that he felt very
thirsty but no water was
available. He requested the
Prophet (P) for water. The
Prophet (P) was very upset. When
water could not be found, the
Prophet (P) hit the ground and a
spring of cold sweat water
erupted.
Just before
his death, the Quraish once
again asked him to restrain the
Prophet (P) not to insult their
idols. Hazrat Abu Talib (AS)
replied “If you hear Muhammad’s
words and obey his orders you
will be happy. So obey him and
get happiness here and in the
hereafter”.
The Prophet’s
nikah was solemnized by Hazrat
Abu Talib (AS). When the First
Couple, Hazrat Adam was getting
married to Hazrat Hawwa, Hazrat
Adam enquired of Allah(S) as to
what should be the “Meher”,
Allah(S) replied that recite
Salawaat over Prophet (P).
How a kafir
can recite nikah of the Prophet,
when the Lady of Paradise Fatima
Zahra (SA) and the “Youths of
Paradise”Imam Hasan and Imam
Hussain and other infallible
imams were to be born out of
this wedlock.
After Hazrat
Abu Talib (AS)’s death, the
Prophet (P) came near his dead
body and said “Uncle, may
Allah(S) have mercy on you. You
educated me when I was small,
looked after me when I became an
orphan and supported me when I
became a grown-up”
Hazrat Abu
Talib (AS) was a poet also and
he had written hundreds of
poetry couplets which are
collected under “Diwaan-e-Abu
Talib”. In one of such poems, he
says “O
Quraish, do
you not know that we have found
Muhammad (P) to be a prophet
just as Musa was and his mention
has been recorded in the Divine
Books”
In the light
of the above statements, an
impartial and educated person
will conform that
Hazrat Abu Talib(AS) was the most
perfect Muslim. In the Holy
Qur’an, there is a Suratcalled
Surat al-Munafeqoon. A munafiq
is a person who who simply
recites the kalmia but there is
no Islam in his heart. |
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