Abu Talib: Difference between revisions

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 Ibrahim (a)|Prophet Ibrahim'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.

Abu Talib (a) 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)]] . It is mentioned that he also had two daughters: [[Fakhita bt. Abi Talib|Umm Hani]] (Fakhita), [[Jamana bt. Abi Talib|Jamana]]. Some sources mention an additional daughter named [[Rabta bt. Abi Talib|Rabta]]. The mother of all of the children was [[Fatima bt. Asad]]. It is also reported that he had another child called Taliq whose mother was named 'Illa.

Abu Talib (a) had two jobs which included serving [[Haji|hajj pilgrims]] and [[Siqayat al-Haj|giving water]] to them in [[Mecca]]. His occupation was business related where he traded perfume and wheat.

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>

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, [[Jabra'il]] came to the Prophet (s) and told him, "Leave Mecca since you have no support in this city."<ref>Al-Mufid, P.24</ref>

His poems exceed 1000 verses, 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 Qasidat al-Lamiyya.

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.

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

* The material for this article is mainly taken from {{ia|[[:fa:ابوطالب|ابوطالب]]}} in Farsi Wikishia.

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

* Ibn Abi al-Hadid. ''Sharh nahj al-balagha'', Ed. Muhammad Abu l-Fadl Ibrahim, Dar Ihya' al-Kutub al-'Srabiyya, 1378 AH/1959;

* Ibn Kathir, Abu l-Fida' Ismail. ''Al-Bidaya wa al-nihaya'', Dar Ihya' al-Turath al-'Arabi, Beirut, 1408 AH/1988;

* Ibn Sa'd, Muhammad. ''Al-Tabaqat al-kubra'', Dar Aadir, Beirut;

* Ibn Shahrashub, Muhammad b. 'Ali, ''Manaqib al Abi Talib'', 'Allama, Qum, 1379 AH/1960;

* Qummi, Shaykh 'Abbas. ''Al-Kuna wa l-alghab'', Maktabat al-Sadr, Tehran;

* Mufid, Muhammad b. Nu'man al-. ''Iman Abu Talib'', Dar al-Mufid, Beirut, 1414 AH/1994;

* Ya'qubi, Ibn Wadih al-. ''Tarikh al-Ya'qubi'', al-Maktabat al-Haydariyya, Najaf, 1384 AH/1965;

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