Abu Talib: Difference between revisions

| caption = [[Al-Hajun Cemetery]], [[Mecca]], also known as Abu Talib Cemetery, where Abu Talib is buried

| Wellknown Relatives = [[The Prophet (s)]] (nephew), [[Imam Ali (a)]] (son), [[Fatima bt. Asad]] (wife)

| Death/Martyrdom = 10 years after [[Bi'tha]]/620

| Known for =  

| Notable roles = Head of [[Quraysh]], guardian and supporter of the Prophet (a), [[Siqayat al-Haj]]

'''ʿAbd Manāf b. ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib b. Ḥāshim''' (Arabic:{{iarabic| عَبد مَناف بن عَبدالمُطَّلِب بن هاشِم}}) known as '''Abū Ṭālib ''' (Arabic: {{iarabic|اَبوطالِب}}), 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]]. After [['Abd al-Muttalib (a)]], his father, passed away, he took the guardianship of Muhammad (s), his nephew, and greatly supported him during his mission.  

The [[faith of Abu Talib]] has been a subject of controversy between Shi'a and some Sunni scholars. There is historical and hadith evidence supporting that Abu Talib was a Muslim. In the [[poems of Abu Talib]], there are many verses which show his belief in [[Islam]] and the [[prophethood]] of the [[Prophet (s)]].

He passed away in [[Rajab 26]], 10 years after Bi'tha/[[March 10]], 620 and was buried in Mecca beside the grave of his father 'Abd al-Muttalib (a) in [[al-Hajun Cemetery]].

 

Abu Talib 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 [[Hanif Religion|Prophet Ibrahim's (a) monotheism]]. His mother was [[Fatima daughter of 'Amr b. 'A'idh al-Makhzumi]]<ref>Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk'', vol. 2, p. 2; Yaʿqūbī, ''Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī'', vol. 2, p. 111.</ref> who was also the mother of [['Abd Allah b. 'Abd al-Muttalib|'Abd Allah]], the father of the Prophet (s).<ref>Ibn Saʿd, ''al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 1, p. 93</ref>

 

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)]]. He also had two daughters, [[Fakhita bt. Abi Talib|Umm Hani]] (Fakhita), [[Jumana bt. Abi Talib|Jumana]].<ref>Ibn al-Jawzī, ''Tadhkirat al-khawāṣṣ'', p. 158-167.</ref> Some sources mention an additional daughter named [[Rayta bt. Abi Talib|Rybta]]. The mother of all of his children was [[Fatima bt. Asad]]. It is also reported that he had another child called Tulayq whose mother was named 'Alla.<ref>Ibn Saʿd, ''al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 1, p. 121-122.</ref>

Abu Talib had two jobs which included serving [[hajj pilgrims]] and [[Siqayat al-Haj|giving water]] to them in [[Mecca]].<ref>Yaʿqūbī, ''Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī'', vol. 2, p. 13.</ref> His occupation was business related where he traded perfume and wheat.<ref>Ibn Qutayba, ''al-Maʿārif'', p. 575.</ref>

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. He was known for his sheer grandeur and wisdom.<ref>Yaʿqūbī, ''Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī'', vol. 2, p. 111; Qummī, ''al-Kinā wa l-alqāb'', vol. 1, p. 108-109.</ref> Regarding his generosity, it is said that, on the day he gave food to the needy, no one else in Quraysh gave food.<ref>Balādhurī, ''Ansāb al-ashrāf'', 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. (see: [[qusama]])<ref>Nasāʾī, ''Sunan al-Nasāʾī'', vol. 8, p. 2-4.</ref> Following [['Abd al-Muttalib|his father]]'s conduct, he also had forbidden wine to himself.<ref>Ḥalabī, ''al-Sīra al-ḥalabīyya'', vol. 1, p. 184.</ref>

Following the order of [['Abd al-Muttalib|his father]], Abu Talib took the guardianship of Muhammad (s), his eight-year-old nephew.<ref>Ibn Hishām, ''al-Sīra al-nabawīyya'', vol. 1, p. 116; Bayhaqī, ''Dalāʾil al-nubuwwa'', vol. 2, p. 22.</ref> Accordingly, [[Ibn Shahrashub]] says, "On his deathbed, 'Abd al-Muttalib (a) called Abu Talib 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 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 always gave priority to Muhammad (s) over himself and his own family."<ref>Ibn Shahrāshūb, ''Manāqib'', vol. 1, p. 36.</ref>

Moreover, [[Ibn Sa'd]] wrote that Abu Talib 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 Saʿd, ''al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', 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 Shahrāshūb, ''Manāqib'', vol. 1, p. 37.</ref>

Historical reports explain Abu Talib's unreserved support for the [[Prophet (s)]] against the pressures and threats of Quraysh. Although Abu Talib 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).<ref>Ibn Hishām, ''al-Sīra al-nabawīyya'', vol. 1, p. 172-173.</ref>  

 

Heads of Quraysh offered Abu Talib to exchange the Prophet (s) with Ammara b. al-Walid al-Makhzumi, who was a handsome, powerful young man, he criticized and rejected them.<ref>Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk'', vol. 2, p. 327;  Ibn Hishām, ''al-Sīra al-nabawīyya'', vol. 1, p. 267.</ref> 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).<ref>Yaʿqūbī, ''Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī'', vol. 2, p. 14.</ref> It is quoted from the Prophet (s), "[[Quraysh]] feared me until Abu Talib was alive."<ref>Ibn kathīr, ''al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya'', vol. 3, p. 164.</ref> [[Al-Shaykh al-Mufid]] narrated that when Abu Talib passed away, [[Jabra'il]] came to the Prophet (s) and told him, "Leave Mecca since you have no support in this city."<ref>Mufīd, ''Īmān Abī Ṭālib'', p. 24.</ref>

His poems exceed 1000 verses, known as ''[[Diwan Abu Talib]]''. His poems confirm his support and acknowledgment of the [[prophethood]] of the [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]]. His most famous poem is an ode called Qasidat al-Lamiyya praising the Prophet (s).<ref>Mufīd, ''Īmān Abī Ṭālib'', p. 18.</ref>

{{Main|Faith of Abu Talib}}

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 was a [[Muslim]] according to hadiths narrated from the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]],<ref>Ṭabrisī, ''Majmaʿ al-bayān'', vol. 4, p. 31; Ṭūsī, ''al-Tibyān'', vol. 8, p. 164.</ref> while Sunni historians say that Abu Talib did not formally accept Islam and died as a polytheist.

There are different reports on the day and month Abu Talib 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 10]], 620) and three days later [[Lady Khadija (a)]] passed away at the age of 86 or 90.<ref>Yaʿqūbī, ''Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī'', vol. 1, p. 354.</ref> Some have mentioned his demise happened on the 1st of [[Dhu l-Qa'da]] (June 11) or [[Shawwal]] (May 13).<ref>Maqrīzī, ''Imtāʿ al-asmāʾ'', vol. 1, p. 45.</ref> The [[Prophet (s)]] called that year "[['Am al-Huzn]]" (Year of Sadness).<ref>Maqrīzī, ''Imtāʿ al-asmāʾ'', vol. 1, p. 45.</ref> On the day Abu Talib passed away, the Prophet (s) asked [['Ali (a)]] to do the [[ritual ablution]] for Abu Talib and shroud him while he (s) was very sorrowful and cried and prayed to [[God]] for Abu Talib's (a) forgiveness.<ref>Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 35, p. 163.</ref> 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 Abī l-Ḥadīd, ''Sharḥ Nahj al-balāgha'', vol. 14, p. 76.</ref> He was buried in [[Mecca]] beside the grave of his father 'Abd al-Muttalib (a) in [[al-Hajun cemetery]].<ref>Balādhurī, ''Ansāb al-ashrāf'', vol. 1, p. 29.</ref>

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*Balādhurī, Aḥmad b. Yaḥyā al-. ''Ansāb al-ashrāf''. Beirut: Dār al-Fikr, 1420 AH.

*Ibn al-Jawzī, Yūsuf. ''Tadhkirat al-khawāṣṣ''. Qom: Majmaʿ-i Jahānī-yi Ahl al-Bayt, 1426 AH.

*Maqrīzī, Aḥmad b. ʿAlī al-. ''Imtāʿ al-asmāʾ''. Edited by ʿAbd al-Ḥamīd al-Namīsī. Beirut: Dār al-Kutub, 1420 AH.

 

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