Abu Talib: Difference between revisions

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'''ʿAbd Manāf b. ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib b. Ḥāshim''' (عبد مناف بن عبدالمطّلب بن هاشم) known as Abu Talib (a), the father of [['Ali b. Abi Talib (a)]] and the uncle of [[Muhammad b. 'Abd Allah (s)]] was among the noblemen of [[Mecca]] and the [[Tribe of Banu Hashim]]. In the [[poems of Abu Talib (a)]], 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 (a) mentioning his belief in the [[Prophethood]] of the [[Prophet of Islam (s)]].

{{Timeline of Imam 'Ali's (a) life}}

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

{{Family tree of the Prophet (s)}}

According to a narration from [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] and the reports of historians, although Abu Talib (a) 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 was known for his sheer grandeur and wisdom. Regarding 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 initiated the rule of swearing the guardians of the murdered in pre-Islam [[Age of Jahiliyya|Jahiliyya era]] and later Islam confirmed this. [[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>

{{Early Islam}}

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

Moreover, [[Ibn Sa'd]] wrote, "Abu Talib (a) paid special attention to Muhammad (s) and showed more love to him than his own children, he provided him the best of food and laid him in a bed next to his and always tried to take him along with himself.<ref>Ibn Sa'd, Vol.1, P.119</ref> Whenever Abu Talib (a) 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 (a) unreserved support for the [[Prophet (s)]] against the pressures and threats of Quraysh. Although, Abu Talib (a) was 75 years old at the beginning of the Prophet's (s) mission, he expressed his support for the Prophet (s) from the initial stage. During his meetings and talks with chiefs of [[Quraysh]], he formally announced his support for the Prophet (s). He even criticized and threatened to kill the Quraysh for their offer of exchange for 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 (a) was alive."<ref>Ibn Kathir, Vol.3, P.164</ref> [[Al-Shaykh al-Mufid]] narrated that when Abu Talib (a) passed away, angel [[Gabriel]] came to the Prophet (s) and told him, "Leave Mecca since you have no support in this city."<ref>Al-Mufid, P.24</ref>

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

== Demise ==

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

== Notes ==

== References ==

* Baladhuri, Ahmad b. Yahya, ''Ansab al-ashraf'', dar al-fikr, Beirut, 1420AH/2000;

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

* [[Al-Shaykh al-Mufid|al-Mufid, Muhammad b. Nu'man]], ''Iman-i Abu Talib'', dar al-mufid, Beirut, 1414AH/1994;

* Yaqubi, Ibn Wadih, ''[[Tarikh al-Ya'qubi]]'', al-maktaba al-haydariyya, Najaf, 1384AH/1965;

== See also ==

* The material for this article is mainly taken from [http://fa.wikishia.net/%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8 ابوطالب] in Farsi Wikishia.

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{{Family tree of the Prophet (s)}}

[[id:Abu Thalib bin Abdul Muthalib]]

[[Category:Banu Hashim]]

[[Category:Buried in al-Maʿla cemetery]]