Abu Talib: Difference between revisions

[[File:Hajun Cemetery-1.jpg|thumbnail|[[al-Hajun Cemetery]], [[Mecca]], also well-known as Abu Talib Cemetery, where Abu Talib was buried]]

'''ʿAbd Manāf b. ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib b. Ḥāshim''' (عبد مناف بن عبدالمطّلب بن هاشم) known as Abu Talib, the father of [['Ali b. Abi Talib (a)]] and the uncle of [[Muhammad b. 'Abd Allah (s)]] was among the nobility of [[Mecca]] and the [[Tribe of Banu Hashim]]. In the [[poems of Abu Talib]], there are many verses which show his belief in [[Islam]]. These verses have been proved to have similar interpretations since their common point is Abu Talib's mentioning his belief in the [[Prophethood]] of the [[Prophet of Islam (s)]].

He had the position of [[Siqayat al-Haj]]. After [['Abd al-Muttalib]], his father passed away, he took the guardianship of Muhammad (s), his nephew, and greatly supported Muhammad (s) during his mission. It is quoted from the Prophet (s), "[[Quraysh]] feared me until Abu Talib was alive." [[Al-Shaykh al-Mufid]] narrated that when Abu Talib passed away, angel [[Gabriel]] came to the Prophet (s) and told him, "Go out of Mecca since you have no support in this city."

On the day Abu Talib passed away, the Prophet (s) asked Imam 'Ali (a) to do the [[ritual ablution]] for Abu Talib and shroud him while he (s) was very sorrowful and cried and prayed [[God]] for Abu Talib's forgiveness. When they arrived at the burial place of Abu Talib, the Prophet (s) said, "I ask God for your forgiveness in the manner that all [[Jinn|Jinns]] and people wonder." He was buried in Mecca beside the grave of his father 'Abd al-Muttalib in [[al-Hajun cemetery]] (al-Ma'la cemetery).

Abu Talib was born 35 years before the [[Prophet (s)]] (in about 536). His father [['Abd al-Muttalib]] was grandfather of the Prophet (s) who was regarded by all Arab tribes as a nobleman and the preacher of [[Prophet Abraham (a)|Prophet Abraham's (a)]] monotheism. Abu Talib's mother was daughter of [['Amr b. 'A'idh al-Makhzumi]]. Abu Talib was known with his [[kunya]] and his name was 'Abd Manaf.

Abu Talib had four sons. His sons in the order of age were [[Talib b. Abi Talib|Talib]], [['Aqil b. Abi Talib|'Aqil]], [[Ja'far b. Abi Talib|Ja'far]] and [[Imam 'Ali (a)|'Ali (a)]] . Two doughter is also mentioned for him: [[Fakhita bt. Abi Talib|Umm Hani]] (Fakhita), [[Jamana bt. Abi Talib|Jamana]]. Some sources mention another doughter for him named [[Rabta bt. Abi Talib|Rabta]]. The mother of all his children was [[Fatima bt. Asad]]. It is reported that he had another child called Taliq whose mother was 'Illa.

Abu Talib had two jobs of serving [[Haji|hajj pilgrims]] and [[Siqayat al-Haj|giving water]] to them in [[Mecca]]. His occupation was business and traded perfume and wheat.

According to a narration from [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] and the reports of historians, although Abu Talib was a needy person, he was a nobleman of [[Quraysh]] and dear to them.<ref>al-Ya'qubi, Vol.2, P.14; Qumi, Vol.1, PP.108-9</ref> He had a sheer grandeur and wisdom. About his generosity, it is said that, on the day he gave food to the needy, no one else in Quraysh gave food.<ref>Al-Baladhuri, Vol.2, P.288</ref> He was the first person who made the rule of swearing the guardians of the murdered in pre-Islam [[Age of Jahiliyya|Jahiliyya era]] and later Islam confirmed it. [[Halabi]] said, "Following [['Abd al-Muttalib|his father]]'s conduct, he also had forbidden wine to himself."<ref>Al-Halabi, Vol.1, P. 184</ref>

Following the order of [['Abd al-Muttalib|his father]], Abu Talib took the guardianship of his eight-year-old nephew. Accordingly, [[Ibn Shahr Ashub]] says, "In his deathbed, 'Abd al-Muttalib called Abu Talib and told him, "O my son! You well know about my love for [[Muhammad (s)]]; now, how will you observe my will about him?" Abu Talib answered, "Do not advise me about Muhammad (s), since he is my nephew and my son!" when 'Abd al-Muttalib passed away, Abu Talib always gave priority to Muhammad (s) over himself and his own family."<ref>Ibn Shahr Ashub, Vol.1, P.36</ref>

Also, [[Ibn Sa'd]] wrote, "Abu Talib paid a special attention to Muhammad (s) and showed more love to him than his children, provided him best of food and laid him in a bed next to his and always tried to take him with himself.<ref>Ibn Sa'd, Vol.1, P.119</ref> Whenever Abu Talib wanted to give food to his children, he told them, "Wait for my son (Muhammad (s)) to come!"<ref>Ibn Shahr Ashub, Vol.1, P.37</ref>

Historical reports explain Abu Talib's unreserved supports of the [[Prophet (s)]] against pressures and threats of Quraysh. Although, Abu Talib was 75 years old at the starting point of the Prophet's (s) mission, he expressed his supports for the Prophet (s) from the beginning. During his meetings and talks with chiefs of [[Quraysh]], he formally announced his support for the Prophet (s). He even criticized and threatened Quraysh to kill them for their offer for the exchange of the Prophet (s) with Ammara b. Walid al-Makhzumi who was a handsome, powerful young man. His support for the Prophet (s) was to the extent that he and [[Fatima bt. Asad|his wife]] became like real parents of the Prophet (s). It is quoted from the Prophet (s), "[[Quraysh]] feared me until Abu Talib was alive."<ref>Ibn Kathir, Vol.3, P.164</ref> [[Al-Shaykh al-Mufid]] narrated that when Abu Talib passed away, angel [[Gabriel]] came to the Prophet (s) and told him, "Go out of Mecca since you have no support in this city."<ref>Al-Mufid, P.24</ref>

His poems reach more than a 1000 verses long known as [[Diwan Abu Talib]]. His poems confirm his support and acknowledgement of the [[Prophethood]] of the [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]]. His most famous poem is an ode called Qasida Lamiyya.

{{Main|Abu Talib's Faith}}

There are many disputes between [[Shi'a]] and [[Sunni|Sunnis]] over Abu Talib's faith. Shi'a believes that Abu Talib was a [[Muslim]] according to hadiths narrated from the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]], while Sunni historians say that Abu Talib did not formally admitted Islam and died as a polytheist.

[[File:Hajun Cemetery-2.jpg|thumbnail|A view of [[al-Hajun Cemetery]], [[Mecca]], also well-known as Abu Talib Cemetery, where Abu Talib was buried]]

There are different reports on the day and month Abu Talib passed away, but according to [[Shi'a]] sources, he passed away on 26th of [[Rajab]] 10 years after the Prophet's (s) beginning of his mission (22nd of March, 619) and three days later [[Lady Khadija (a)]] passed away at the age of 85 years old. Some have mentioned his demise happened on 1st of [[Dhu al-Qi'da]] (23rd of June) or [[Shawwal]] (25th of May). The [[Prophet (s)]] called that year "[['Am al-Huzn]]" (Year of Sadness). On the day Abu Talib passed away, the Prophet (s) asked [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] to do the [[ritual ablution]] for Abu Talib and shroud him while he (s) was very sorrowful and cried and prayed [[God]] for Abu Talib's forgiveness. When they arrived at the burial place of Abu Talib, the Prophet (s) said, "I ask God for your forgiveness in the manner that all [[Jinn|Jinns]] and people wonder."<ref>Ibn Abi al-Hadid, Vol.7, P.176</ref> He was buried in [[Mecca]] beside the grave of his father 'Abd al-Muttalib in [[al-Hajun cemetery]].

* [[Ibn Abi al-Hadid]], ''the commentari on [[Nahj al-Balagha]]'', Ed. Muhammad Abu al-Fadl Ibrahim, dar ihya' al-kutub al-'arabiyya, 1378AH/1959;

* [[Shaykh 'Abbas Qumi|Qumi, Shaykh 'Abbas]], ''[[Al-Kuna wa al-alghab]]'', maktaba al-sadr, Tehran;