Sunni/Shia Dialouge (All references are from the Qur an and Sunni books)

Transcription

1 \ In the name of God, Most Merciful, Most Kind Sunni/Shia Dialouge (All references are from the Qur an and Sunni books) Part 1 Abu-Talib:The Supporter of the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) Part 2 ABU TALIB: Did he die Muslim or Kaffir? Holy prophet (SAWW)'s words about Hazrat Abu Talib (AS) By: Bintul Huda The Messenger of Allah (saww) remained with the bier of Hazrat Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) till he was entrusted to the grave. Then he said: "You have done Sile Rahem (that fulfilled the rights of relationship), o my uncle, you will be given a good compensation for this. I was brought up under your care and when I grew up, you supported me. By Allah! I will do such Isteghfar (seek repentance) for you and do intercession for you, that the Jinns and men will be astounded." (Sibte Ibne Jauzi, Tadkeraku Khawaas, Asnaul Matalib Pg. 15 Al Hadidi Vol. 4, pg. 314 Sheikhul Abtah pg. 43 Al Ghadir vol. 7, pg. 387 Mojam al Qabour vol. 1, pg. 204 Imam e Abi Talib (AS) pg. 10)

2 Abu Talib (r) Praises The Holy Prophet Mohammad (s) Surely the Prophet Muhammad, son of Aminah, Is for me like my own Child. When he held on to the halter of my camel, I felt compassion for him, Even as the white camels were loaded, Copious tears flowed from my eyes, Tears like scattered pearls I treated him kindly as befits a close relative And guarded well the trust of his forefathers concerning him. I ordered him to ride among paternal uncles, With white faces, brave swordsmen, They traveled to the furthest known station Far indeed was the station where their camels lay down! When at last the people of Busra saw him, They met a learned monk who was keeping close watch He related to them a true account concerning him, And thus turned back the people of envy A group of Jews also saw what he saw : The shade of a white cloud and the glory of a close relative They went seeking to kill Muhammad, and he restrained them, And thus engaged in the best of struggle. 2

3 The Faith Of Abu Talib I Sunnis claim Abu Talib dies as a pagan. Is this claim true? What does the Quran say? What does history say? The Quranic verse states: It is not ( fit ) for the Prophet and those who believe that they should ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even though they should be near relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are inmates of the flaiming fire. [ 9 : 113 ] Sunnis claim this verse to be revealed when Abu Talib died and the prophet plead for his forgiveness. This is not true. The above sura is totally a Medinite sura, except the verses The above sura was revealed after the migration of prophet and logically, a lot later after the death of Hz Abu Talib. Now since we have already proved that the above verse was not revealed for Abu Talib, where the Prophet and the Muslims have been advised not to pray for the polytheists, it would help us to look at those verses that asked the Prophet and the Believers not to establish relations for the polytheists, let alone pray for them, out of love and respect! Surah 4 Verses 139 and 144: Those who take the unbelievers for guardians rather than believers. Do they seek honor for them? Then surely all honor is for Allah...O you who believe! do not take the unbelievers as protectors instead of than believers; do you desire that you should give to Allah a manifest proof against yourselves? This is a Mecci Surah, where the above verses advise the believers not to take unbelievers as helpers or protectors. How could the Prophet get help from an unbeliever if we assume Abu Talib is unbeliever?! Of course, this verse was revealed well before Chapter 9, that has been the focus our attention! Surah 9 Verses 23 and 80: O you who believe! do not take your fathers and your brothers for guardians if they love unbelief more than belief; and who ever of you takes them for a guardian, these it is that are the unjust...ask forgiveness for them or do not ask forgiveness for them; even if you ask forgiveness for them seventy times, Allah will not forgive them; this is because they disbelieve in Allah and the Apostle, and Allah does not guide the transgressing people. The readers of Islamic History know how the Quraish clans delivered to Abu Talib an ultimatum, to stop his nephew from defaming their fathers and belittling their gods and ridiculing their minds; otherwise, they would confront him and the Prophet (PBUH&HF) on a battlefield untill one of the two parties perished. Abu Talib had no doubt that his acceptance of the Quraishite challenge meant his death and total annihilation of his clan; yet he did not pressure his nephew to stop his campaign. He only informed him of the Qurashite ultimatum, and he told him kindly Save me and yourself, my nephew, and burden me not with what I cannot bear. When the messenger rejected the ultimatum, declaring to his uncle that he would not exchange his message with the possesion of the whole universe, Abu Talib immediately reversed his attitude and decided to go along with the Messenger to the end. This is evident from the statement he made to the prophet (PBUH&HF). Come back, my nephew, go on, say what ever you like. I shall never let you down at any time. Ibn Husham, Biography of the Prophet, v 1 p Tabaqat of Ibn Sa'ad, v 1 p History of Tabari, v 2 p 218 Abu Talib fulfilled this huge promise with distinction. When a Meccan threw some dirt on the Messenger while he was prostrating, Abu Talib went on brandishing his sword and holding the hand of his nephew untill he came to the sacred mosque. A group of the enemies were sitting there, and when some of them tried to stand for Abu Talib, he said to them "By the One in whom Muhammad (PBUH&HF) believes, if any one from you stands up I will hit him with my sword." 3

4 When a person wants to swear, he swears by something that has sanctity for him, and not something that he does not believe in it. The above diplomatic/political statement proves for those who have intelligience that he believed in the God of Muhammad (PBUH&HF), The One, The Great. Then Abu Talib asked the Prophet (PBUH&HF) who was the person responsible for the shameful act, and upon his ( Prophet's ) answer, Hamza as instructed by Abu Talib smeared the dust on the individuals who showed animosity towards the Prophet (PBUH&HF). It was on this occasion that Abu Talib said : I believe that Mohammed's faith is the best of all the religions of the Universe. Khazanatal Adaab by Khateeb Baghdadi, v 1 p Tareekh of Ibn Katheer, v 3 p 42 - Sharh of Ibn al Hadid, v 3 p History of Abul Fida, v 1 p 120 The Quraish could see that despite their obstructive efforts the progress of Islam had continued. They now decided to put an end to the Prophet and his family in a state of siege and excommunication till they were all done away with. With this end in view a pact was drawn, to which each tribe was a party and it was to the effect that none should have marital ties with Banu Hashim or do any buying or selling with them; and none was to associate with them or allow any provision to them. This was to continue till the Prophet's family handed him over for execution. This pact was then hung on the door of the Kaaba. Thus forced Abu Talib with the whole family moved to a mountain cave known as ' Shi'b Abi Talib '. Now the Hashmites were entirely alienated from the rest of the town dewelers. The fortress was also beleagured at times by the Quraish to enforce the ban in all its rigour, and to prevent the possibility of supplies. They found themselves sometimes reduced to starvation for want of supplies. Under constant surveillance by the Quraish, Abu Talib even feared night attacks and for this reason he was on guard for the safety of Muhammad (PBUH&HF), and often chaged room as a precaution aganist sudden violence. At the close of the third year of the Interdict, Mohammad (PBUH&HF) told his uncle Abu Talib, that Allah had shown His disapproval of the convention against him, and had sent out worms to eat every word of the document placed in the Kaaba, except His own name written thereon. Abu Talib believing his nephew (PBUH&HF) as the receiver of the revelations from heavens, unhesitantly went to the Quraish and told them what Muhammad (PBUH&HF) had spoken. The discussion is recorded as follows: Muhammad has informed us and I ask you to confirm it for yourselves. For if it is true then I ask you to rethink, instead of troubling Muhammad or putting our patience to the test. Believe us, we would prefer to lay down our lives; rather hand over Muhammad to you. And if Muhammad proves to be wrong in his words, then we would hand over Muhammad to you unconditionally. Then you have the liberty of treating him any way you like; kill him or keep him alive. To these proposals of Abu Talib, the Quraish agreed upon to inspect the document, and to their ashtonishment they found it worm eaten; only the name of Allah was still there and no more, and they said that it was an enchantment of Muhammad (PBUH&HF). Abu Talib enraged upon the Quraish and demanded that the document be declared void and the ban be removed. Then he clutched to one end of the cloth of the Kaaba, as he raised the second hand in the air and prayed O Lord! Help us against those, who have subjugated us to torture... Once during the childhood of the Prophet (PBUH&HF) on the occasion of a scarcity of rains Abu Talib took him (PBUH&HF) to the Holy Kaaba and standing with his back touching the wall of the sanctuary lifted up the Prophet (PBUH&HF) in his lap and sought medium in his prayers to the Almighty for the rains. The Prophet (PBUH&HF) also joined him in his prayers with his face upturned. The prayers were not finished when the clouds began to appear and the rain fell in torrents. This incident is alluded in the following verses composed by Abu Talib: "Don't you see that we have found Mohammed a prophet like Moses; he is already predicted in the previous Scriptures. He is the illumined face which is the medium for the rains; he is the spring for the orphan and a protector for the widow." Sharah of Bukhari by Qastalani, v 2 p Al Seerah Al Halebeyah, v 1 p 125 Abu Talib was a man of great faith and had strong belief in the truthfulness of Mohammed (PBUH&HF). He lived with that mission for about eleven years, and the difficulties for Muhammad and him increased in size by the passage of time. This was especially noticeable after his death, since the Quraish subjected him to more sufferings; sufferings that were not imaginable during the life time of Abu Talib. Ibn Abbas narrates a tradition that when a person from the Quraish put dirt on his head, he went home. It was on this 4

5 occasion that the Prophet remarked :... The Quraish never met me with such treatment during the life time of Abu Talib, since they were cowards. History of Ibn Asakeer, v 1 p Mustadrak of Al Hakim, v 2 p 622 Abu Talib addresses the men of Quraysh, who were present at the marriage ceremony of his nephew, Muhammad, as follows: Praise be to Allah Who made us from the seed of Abraham and progeny of Ishmael. He granted as a Sacred house and a place of pilgrimage. He made us to dwell in a secure sanctuary (haram), to which the fruits of everything are brought. He made us, moreover, arbiters in men's affairs, and blessed for us this land in which we dwell. Were Muhammad (PBUH&HF), the son of my brother 'Abdullah son of Abdul Muttalib ', to be weighed any man among the Arabs, he would excel him. Nor would any man be comparable to him. He is peerless among men, even though he is a man of little welath. Yet riches are only transient possesions, and an epheramel security. He has expressed a desire for Khadijah, and she likewise has shown interest in him. As for any bride gift (mahr) you demand, both the part to be presented now and the one presented at a later date - it will be of my own wealth. Seerah al-halabiyyah, vol 1 p 139 In spite of his concealing his faith, Abu Talib, on more than one occasion made his belief in Islam clearly known (as already mentioned above) long before his death. But it would be interesting to quote his saying at his deathbed. While on his death bed, Abu Talib said to the Hashimites : I command you to be good to Mohammed. He is the most trustworthy of the Quraish and the ever truthful of the Arabs. He brought a message which is accepted by the heart and denied by the tongue for fear of hostility. By God whoever walks in the way of Mohammed shall be on the right road and whoever follows his guidance shall have the happy future. And you Hashimites, respond to Muhammaed's invitation and believe him. You will succeed and be well guided; certainly he is the guide to the right path. Al Muhabil Dunya, v 1 p 72 It is reported in the book of al-bayhaqi (Dalail al-nubuwwah) that when Abu Talib was at the point of death, he was seen moving his lips. al Abbas (the Prophet's uncle) bent down to listen to what he was saying. he then lifted his head and said: By Allah, he has uttered the word which you requested, O Messenger of Allah!. Dalail al-nubuwwah by al-bayhaqi, vol 2 p Ibn Hisham, Cairo Edition, p146, v1, pp Imam Jafer al-sadiq (AS) said: While Imam Ali (AS) was sitting with Ruhbah in Kufa, surrounded by a group, a man stood up and said : ' Commander of the Believers, you are in this great position at which God has placed you while your father is suffering in hell. ' The Imam replied, saying : Be silent. May God disfigure your mouth. By the One Who sent Mohammed (PBUH&HF) with the truth, if my father intercedes for every sinner on the face of the earth, God would accept his intercession. al-ihtijaj, by al- Tabarsi, v1, p341 - Why is it that we accuse Abu Talib of paganism, when he chose to believe in the Prophet's (PBUH&HF) message and declared it by political statements and sometimes by frank declarations? - What benefit does it have for us to daclare him Kafir when there are strong proofs to the contrary? Do we get any other benefit except to make ourselves Kafir by pronouncing one of the early Muslim as Kafir? - Why do we accuse him of paganism when he defended the Prophet (PBUH&HF) by all of what he had of men and means? Why do we attribute paganism to such a personality who was so benevolent to all the Muslims by guarding the life of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF) for 11 years? - Why do we attribute paganism to the man who read the Nikah for the Prophet (PBUH&HF)? How can your mind comprehend the notion of a pagan/disbeliever carrying out the ceremony of the marriage for a Prophet? (1) The Holy Prophet says in a hadith (joining his two fingers): "I and the supporter of the orphan are together in Paradise like these two fingers." Ibn Abi'l-Hadid also has reported this hadith in his Sharh-e-Nahju'l-Balagha, vol.iv, p.312, where he says 5

6 that it is obvious that the Holy Prophets statement does not mean all supporters of orphans, since most of the supporters of orphans are sinners. So the Holy Prophet meant by it Abu Talib and his distinguished grandfather, Abdu'l-Muttalib, who looked after the Holy Prophet. The Holy Prophet was known in Mecca as the yatim (orphan) of Abu Talib because after the passing away of Abdu'l-Muttalib, the Prophet, from the age of eight, had been in the care of Abu Talib. (2) There is a well known hadith which both the Shia and Sunni sects have narrated in different ways. Some of them say that the Holy Prophet said: "Gabriel came to me and gave me good news in these words: 'Allah has definitely exempted from the fire the loins through which you appeared, the womb which sustained you, the breasts which suckled you, and the lap which supported you.'" These reports and hadith clearly prove the faith of the Prophet's supporters, namely, Abdu'l-Muttalib, Abu Talib and his wife Fatima Bint Asad, and also the Holy Prophet's father, Abdullah, and mother, Amina Bint Wahhab, and his wet nurse, Halima. A net friend asked me that Why did Abu Talib Conceal his Faith? If Abu Talib had revealed his faith, all of the Quraish and the entire Arab nation would have united against the Bani Hashim. Abu Talib understood the expedience of concealing his Islam. He pretended to be loyal to the Quraish in order to thwart the activities of the enemy. So long as Abu Talib remained alive the same condition continued, and the Holy Prophet was protected. But at the death of Abu Talib, the Angel Gabriel appeared before the Holy Prophet and said: "Now you should leave Mecca. After Abu Talib, you have no helper here." The Faith Of Abu Talib II Just a passing thought... Isnt it weird how the man who protected the Prophet Muhammad with all his strength since he was a child and helped propogate the religion of Islam in its infancy (I talk about Abu Talib ) can be labeled as a kafir, while those who ran away from the Battle of Uhud and numerous ather conforntations are labeled as the champions of the faith and the caliphs of Islam. Its weird how Sunnis call Abu Talib a Kafir, simply on the basis that history does not provide any legal document of Abu Talib reciting the Kalimah. For 40 years the Prophet SAW ate at Abu Talibs house, so does that mean that the food our Prophet ate for the majority of his blessed life was haraam? Did he or did he not read the Prophets SAW Nikah? Does that also mean that his weddding was invalidated? Common Sense should prevail...it obviously doesnt! I implore them to reflect upon the following. 1. Hadrat Abu Talib A.S. raised up two of the greatest dignitaries of Islam, one was the Seal of the Prophets Muhammad Mustafaa SAWW. and the other was Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib A.S. the first and foremost of the Imams A.S. What a blessed personality was Hadrat Abu Talib A.S. to have received such an honour. 2. History tell us that Hadrat Abu Talib A.S. read the Nikkah of Prophet Muhammad SAWW. and Ummulmomineen Khadeejah binte Khuwaylid A.S. Is it possible for a kafir to conduct the marriage of the Prophet of Islam SAWW? 3. Hadrat Abu Talib A.S. was the one who offered protection to Prophet Muhammad SAWW. and the early Companions at the Shibb-e-Abi Talib when the Quraishis of Makka boycotted Prophet Muhammad SAWW. and the early Muslims. The early Muslims were besieged by the kafirs. If Hadrat Abu Talib A.S. was a kafir why would he want to shelter the Muslims? 4. Hadrat Abu Talib A.S. gave his Son Imam Ali A.S. into the care of Prophet Muhammad SAWW. at a very early age. Why would he need to do this if he was a kafir? What did he have to gain from this? 5. All the direct Ancestors of Prophet Muhammad SAWW. and Imam Ali A.S. were pure Muwahhids, ie, they were the followers of the concept of Tawhid, the Oneness of ALLAH SWT. The Holy Quran refers to them as Hanifs. Please note that the Barelawi sect of the Sunni Bretheren, and those like them believe that 6

7 Hadrat Abu Talib A.S. was a Muslim. Furthermore, was Abu Talib a kaafir only because history fails to testify that he did not read the kalimah??? Actions are judged by intentions and his actions were as if he feared Allah more than anyone would and he believed in his last prophet more than anyone else could have believed : Seest thou not that to Allah bow down in worship all things that are in the heavens and on earth,- the sun, the moon, the stars; the hills, the trees, the animals; and a great number among mankind? But a great number are (also) such as are fit for Punishment: and such as Allah shall disgrace,- None can raise to honour: for Allah carries out all that He wills. This verse testifies that even the sun and the moon are muslims who believe in Allah, they are believers. And I challenge anyone to give me an authenticated report if the sun and the moon ever recited the kalimah? Did anyone hear their kalimah or see their prostration? Yet they are believers... And pitty, Hz Abu Talib is a kaafir... A Brief biogaraphy of Abu Talib Abu-Talib The Supporter of the Prophet (s) The Year of the Elephant In 570 A.D, the Abyssinian Armies under the leadership of Abraha attacked the Holy Mecca to demolish the Kaaba. Abdul-Muttalib, our Master Muhammad's grandfather, the Master of Mecca, went round the Kaaba praying for Allah, the Almighty, to prevent the invaders from demolishing the House which Ibraheem al-khalil and his son Ishmael built for people to worship Allah only. Allah, the Almighty, accepted Abdul-Muttalib's prayer. So, when the elephants and the soldiers advanced to demolish the Kaaba, Ababil birds carrying stones in their beaks appeared in the horizon. They began dropping the stones. So, the invaders around the Kaaba were defeated. Consequently, Allah's power and Abdul-Muttalib's importance appeared! That year was named the Year of the Elephant. Our Master Muhammad (s) was born in that year. Abu-Talib was thirty years of age. Allah, the Almighty, has mentioned this event in the Holy Koran: "In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with the possessors of the elephant? Did He not cause their war to end in confusion? And send down (to prey) upon them birds in docks, Casting them against stones of backed clay So, he rendered them like straw eaten up?" Abdul-Muttalib Abdul-Muttalib, who dug the Zamzam well, had ten sons. Abdullah, the Prophets father, was one of them. Abu-Talib, the Prophet's uncle, was one of them, too. Our Master Muhammad (s), was an orphan. His father Abdullah died while he was a baby. When his mother died, he was six years of age. So, his grandfather Abdul-Muttalib took care of him. He liked him very much. He thought that Muhammad would be a Prophet. Abdul-Muttalib was righteous. He followed Ibraheem and Ishmael's religion. He advised his sons to follow good manners. In the bed of death, Abdul-Muttalib said to his sons: "A grandson of mine will be a Prophet. So, he who will be present at his time must believe in him." Then he turned to his son, Abu-Talib, and whispered in his ear: 7

8 "Abu-Talib, Mohammed will be of great importance. So, support him with your hand and tongue." The Guardian Our Master Muhammad (s) was 8 years of age when his grandfather Abdul-Muttalib died. So, his uncle, Abu-Talib took care of him. Abu-Talib's name was Abdu-Munaf. His mother's name was Fatima binte Amru. She belonged to bani- Makhzum. Abu-Talib was named Sheikh al-bat-ha. Our Master Muhammad (s) lived with his uncle. His uncle treated him kindly. Fatima binte Asad, his uncle's wife, treated him kindly, too. She preferred him to all of her sons. So, our Master Muhammad (s) grew with a good family. Abu-Talib's love for his nephew increased day by day because of his good manners and great politeness. For example, when the food was ready, the Orphan Boy reached it politely. He said: "In the Name of Allah!" When he finished, he said: "Thank you Allah!" One day, Abu-Talib missed his nephew Muhammad. So, he raised his hand from the food and said: "Till my son comes!" When Muhammad came, Abu-Talib gave him a cup of yogurt. Mohammed drank out of the cup. Abu-Talib's sons drank out of it one by one, too. They were all full. The uncle admired that. So, he said to his nephew: "Muhammad you are blessed!" The Good News Abu-Talib had heard good news from the people of the Book (the Jews and the Christians). The good news was that a Prophet would appear very soon. So, he took care of his nephew very much. He thought that he would be a Prophet. So, he didn't leave him alone. When Abu-Talib wanted to go on a trade journey to Sham (Syria), he took our Master Muhammad (s) with him. Muhammad was nine years of age then. In Basra, a city situated on the road of the trade caravans, there was an abbey. A monk lived in the abbey. The monk's name was Buhaira. He was always looking forward to the appearance of a new Prophet whose time approached. When the monk looked at Muhammad, he realised that he would be the promised Prophet because he had the personality and expression of a Prophet. The monk began looking at the Meccan Boy's face very carefully. Meanwhile, the good news about Jesus Christ sounded in his mind. The monk asked Abu-Talib about the Boy's name. So, Abu-Talib said: "His name's Muhammad." The monk became very humble at his holy name. So, he said to Abu-Talib: "Go back to Mecca. Protect your nephew from the Jews because he will be of great importance!" Abu-Talib came back to Mecca. He adored Muhammad. He was very careful of his safety. The Blessed Boy The years passed. Mecca and its villages dried up because there was no rain. The people came to Sheikh al-bat-ha. They asked him to pray to Allah for rain. They said: "Abu-Talib, the valley's become rainless. Our families are without food So come on and pray to Allah for rain. Abu-Talib went out. He had great confidence in Allah. He took his nephew, Muhammad with him. Abu-Talib and Muhammad stood beside the Kaaba. The boy's heart took a pity on the people. Abu-Talib asked Ibraheem's and Ishmael's Lord to send down heavy rain. Muhammad looked at the sky. Only a little time passed. The sky was full of clouds. Lighting flashed. Thunder sounded. The rain came down heavily. The rainwater flowed in the villages. The people came back pleased thanking Allah for the blessing of the rain. Abu-Talib also came back. His love for his nephew increased very much. The years passed. Muhammad became a young man. He was extremely polite. So, people called him the Truthful, the Trusty One. The Supporter of the Persecuted 8

9 Abu-Talib disliked persecution very much. In the meantime, he liked the persecuted a lot. So, our Master Muhammad (s) liked Abu-Talib very much. One day, a battle took place between the tribe of Kinana and the tribe of Qais. The tribe of Qais was the aggressor. A man from the tribe of Kinana came to Abu-Talib and said: "Son of the bird feeder and pilgrim water-giver, don't be absent from us. We get victory in your presence." Abu-Talib answered: "I don't be absent from you when you avoid persecution, enmity, rudeness, and falsehood." So, they promised him to do that. Our Master Muhammad (s) stood by his uncle against Kinana. The Alliance of Fodhool Some people from Mecca attacked the pilgrims of Allah's House. A man and his daughter belonging to the tribe of Khathaam came to visit Allah's House. A young man from Mecca took the young girl by force. The Khathaamian man shouted: "Help! Help! Help!" A passer-by said to him: "Go to the Alliance of Fodhool The man went to Abu-Talib. Abu-Talib founded the Alliance of Fodhool. It was an agreement signed by the Meccan leaders. According to the agreement they decided to help the persecuted and to punish the unjust. When the Khathaamian man got there and asked them for help, some men took their swords and went to the young man's house. They threatened him and brought back the girl to her father. Our Master Muhammad (s) was a member of the Alliance of Fodhool. The Happy Marriage Abu-Talib had a big family. He spent a lot of money on the poor. So, he became poor, too. Our Master Muhammad (s) felt that he had to help his uncle. So, he decided to take Khadijah's goods to Sham (Syria). The task was successful. Our Master Muhammad (s) gave the trusts to their owners. This made Khadijah think of him. So, she asked him to marry her. Abu-Talib was very pleased with that suggestion. So, he, a group of banu-hashim, and Hamza bin Abdul- Muttalib, our Master Muhammad's uncle, went to ask Khadijah's hands from her family. Abu-Talib said: "Praise be to Allah who has made us of Ibraheem's and Ishmael's sons, made a protected house and a safe sanctuary for us, and made our country blessed." Then he added: "My nephew Muhammad bin Abdullah is the best and greatest man of all the Quraysh. Besides, he's better than money because money's perishable. He likes Khadijah and she likes him. By Allah, he will be of great importance. Khadijah's dowry is of my money." Muhammad (s) and Khadijah got married. The years passed. Allah gave Abu-Talib a new baby. The baby's name was Ali. Our Master Muhammad (s) wanted to relieve his uncle's worries. So, he went to his uncle's house to take Ali to his house. Jibreel The years passed. Abu-Talib became seventy years of age. Our Master Muhammad (s) was forty years of age. Muhammad went to Hira Cave every day. In that year, Jibreel came down from the sky. Our Master Muhammad (s) heard him saying: "Read in the name of your Lord who created. He created man from a clot. Read and your Lord is most Honourable, Who taught (to write) with the pen, Taught man what he knew not." Then Jibreel said: "Muhammad, you are Allah's Messenger and I am Jibreel." Muhammad came back from Hira Cave holding the Mission of the Sky. His wife, Khadijah, believed in him. His cousin Ali bin Abu-Talib believed in him, too. 9

10 One day, while our Master Muhammad (s) was praying and Ali was behind him, Abu-Talib came and said kindly: "My nephew, what are you doing?" The Prophet (s) said: "We're praying for Allah according to the religion of Islam." Abu-Talib said happily: "There's no harm in what you are doing." Then he said to his son Ali: "Ali support your cousin. He does nothing but good." In the Prophet's House After a while, Jibreel came down holding Allah's Order: "And warn your nearest relations, and be kind to him who follows you of the believers." Allah's Messenger ordered Ali aged ten to invite his tribe, namely banu-hashim. Abu-Talib, Abu-Lahab, and others came to the Prophet's house. When they all had the food, our Master Muhammad (s) said: "No Arab young man had brought his people like what I've brought you. I've brought you the good of here and of the hereafter." Then, he asked them to believe in Islam. Abu-Lahab stood up and said with spite: "Muhammad's put a spell on you." Abu-Talib said angrily: "Shut up! It's none of your business!" Abu-Talib turned to our Master Muhammad (s) and said: "Get up and say whatever you like. Spread Your Lord's Mission, for you're the Truthful, the Trusty one." So, our Master Muhammad (s) got up and said: "My Lord's ordered me to ask you to believe in Him. So, who will support me in this matter? Who wants to be my brother, my regent, and my successor after me?" They kept silent. So, Ali said eagerly: "Allah's Apostle, I." The Prophet rejoiced and embraced his young cousin while he was weeping. Banu-Hashim stood up. Abu-Lahab was laughing and saying sarcastically to Abu-Talib: "Mohammed's ordered you to hear and obey your son." But Abu-Talib did not pay attention to him. Rather, he looked angrily at him. Abu-Talib kindly said to his nephew: "Go on what Allah's ordered you. By Allah, I will support and protect you." Our Master Muhammad (s) looked at his uncle respectfully. He felt strong as long as the Master of Mecca was with him. The Supporter Although Abu-Talib was an old man, he strongly stood by Muhammad's Mission. He was always protecting him from the Quraysh's polytheists. A big number of the Meccans believed in Allah's religion paying no attention to the worship of the idols and to the threats of the Quraysh's tyrants. One day, the Quraysh leaders came to Abu-Talib though he was confined to bed. They said angrily: "Abu-Talib! Prevent your nephew from us because he's weakened our thoughts and insulted our gods." Abu-Talib became sad because his people did not want to listen to the sound of truth. So, he said to them: "Give me time to speak to him." Abu-Talib told our Master Muhammad (s) the words of the Quraysh leaders. The Prophet (s) said respectfully: "Uncle! I can't disobey, my Lord's Order." Abu-Jahal, the most spiteful man, said: "We'll give him whatever he wants of our money. Rather, well make him king over us if he wants." The Prophet (s) said: "I want nothing but one word." Abu-Jahal said: "What's the word? We will give you as ten times as it!" Our Master Muhammad (s) said: "Say there's no god but Allah." So, Abu-Jahal was filled with anger: "Ask another word instead!" Allah's Apostle (s) said: "If you brought me the sun and put it in my hand I'd not ask a word instead." Tension happened. The polytheists stood up. They were threatening our Master Muhammad (s). Abu-Talib said to our Master Muhammad: "Save your soul and don't overburden me." The Prophets' eyes shed tears when he answered: "Uncle, by Allah, if they put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left hand to leave this matter, I will not leave it till Allah supports it or I perish for it." 10

11 The Prophet (s) stood up rubbing his tears. So, Abu-Talib called him kindly and said: "Nephew, draw near." Our Master Muhammad (s) drew near. His uncle kissed him and said: "Nephew, go and say whatever you like. By Allah, I'll never leave you alone." Then he began singing to confront the Quraysh might: "By Allah, they all won't reach you. Till a pillow of dust will be put under my head. And till I will be buried." The Light of Islam Our Master Muhammad (s) went on preaching the new religion to bring out people from darkness into fight. Again the Quraysh tyrants came to Abu-Talib. They used another style: "Abu-Talib, this is Amarah bin al- Waleed (Khalid bin Waleed's brother). He's the strongest and the most handsome young man of all the Quraysh. So, take him and give us Muhammad to kill." Abu-Talib was sorry to hear that idea. He answered them angrily: "Do you give me your son to feed him for you, while I give you my son to kill him? Have you ever seen a she-camel take a pity on other than its young?" The polytheists harm became intense. They began torturing them. Abu-Talib thought that their harm would include our Master Muhammad (s). So, he sent for banu-hashim. He asked them to protect and save the Prophet (s). They accepted but Abu-Lahab. Abu-Talib heard that Abu-Jahal and other polytheists tried to kill our Master Muhammad (s), So, he and his son Ja'far went to the hills of Mecca to look for him. They looked for him here and there. Finally, they found him praying to Allah. In the meantime, Ali was praying on his right hand. They were sad to see that there was no one with our Master Muhammad (s) but Ali. Thus Abu-Talib wanted to encourage his nephew. He turned to his son Ja'far and said: "Complete your cousin's wing." Namely, pray on his left hand to feel determination, strength, and confidence. Ja'far stood with our Master Muhammad (s) and his brother Ali to pray to Allah, the Creator of the skies and the earth, the Lord of the Worlds. Again, Abu-Talib missed our Master Muhammad (s). He waited for his return. But he did not come back. So, he went to look for him. He went to the place where our Master Muhammad (s) went frequently. But he did not find him. So, Abu-Talib came back, gathered banu-hashim together and said to them: "Each one of you must take a strong iron bar. Now follow me. When I enter the mosque, each one of you must sit beside a Quraysh leader. He must kill him if we knew that Muhammad had been killed." The young men of Banu Hashim obeyed Abu-Talib. Each one of them sat beside a polytheist. Abu-Talib sat waiting for our Master Muhammad (s). Meanwhile Zaid bin Harith came and told him that the Prophet (s) was safe. Then, Abu-Talib announced his plan to punish those who tried to hurt the Prophet (s). The polytheists were abase. Abu-Jahal kept silent. His face became yellow with fear. Some of the polytheists urged their boys and slaves to hurt our Master Muhammad (s). One day, the Prophet (s) was praying. A young man came and threw the wastes at him. The polytheists began laughing loudly. Our Master Muhammad (s) was very unhappy. So, he went to his uncle and told him about the young man's bad behaviour. Abu-Talib became very angry. He took out his sword and came to the polytheists. He ordered his boy to throw the wastes at their faces. They said: "Abu-Talib, that's enough!" The Ban When the polytheists knew that Abu-Talib would not leave our Master Muhammad (s) alone and that he was ready to die for him, they decide to announce an economic and social ban on banu Hashim. At the same time, they cut off all relations with them. In the month of Muharram, the seventh year after the Prophetic Mission, 40 Quraysh leaders signed the ban and fixed it to the wall in the Kaaba. 11

12 The Quraysh expected Abu-Talib to surrender. But Sheikh al-bat-ha had another attitude. Abu-Talib took his tribe to a valley between two mountains, to protect our Master Muhammad (s) from assassination. He was always visiting the valley to close the openings where the enemies might pass through to kill our Master Muhammad (s) at night. Abu-Talib, though old man, his brother Hamza, and some men of banu-hashim were always guarding the Prophet (s) one by one at night. Abu-Talib was always moving the Prophet's bed from one place to another to keep it a secret. Days and months passed. The besieged were in perfect isolation. They suffered from the pains of hunger and deprivation. When the time of pilgrimage came, they got out to buy some food and clothes. The richest Quraysh tyrants in Mecca were always buying all kinds of food to prevent the besieged from buying it. During that bitter period of time, Abu-Talib was as solid as the mountain. He was always standing by our Master Muhammad (s). He was fearless, resolute believer. Abu-Talib loved our Master Muhammad (s) more than his sons. He was sometimes looking at him, weeping and saying: "When I look at him, I remember my brother Abdullah." One night, Abu-Talib came and woke our Master Muhammad (s). He said to his son Ali aged eighteen: "My son, sleep in his bed." To know his father's loyalty to Muhammad, Ali said: "But, Ill be killed." His father said: "Be patient!" Eagerly Ali said: "I'm not afraid of death. But I want you to know my support." Abu-Talib patted Ali's back. He took our Master Muhammad (s) to a safe place to sleep in. When our Master Muhammad (s) went to bed, Abu-Talib went to bed, too. Months after months passed. The patience and hunger of the besieged increased. They ate the leaves of the trees. The Prophet (s) took a pity on the hungry children. The Good News One day, our Master Muhammad (s) came to his uncle. He was filled with happiness. He said to him: "Uncle, My Lord ordered the white ant to eat the Ban Page. So, it's eaten it all but Allah's Name." Abu-Talib said happily: "Has your Lord told you about that"?" Muhammed (s) answered: "Yes, Uncle." Abu-Talib's heart was filled with belief. So, Abu-Talib stood up and went to Darul-Nadwa, at the Kaaba, where the Quraysh leaders sat. Abu-Talib addressed the sitting persons: "Quraysh!" They got up for the respectful, old man. They listened to his words. They expected his surrender and defeat because of the ban. But Sheikh al-bat-ha said: "Quraysh, my nephew Mohammed's told me that Allah ordered the white ant to eat your Ban Page. So, it's eaten it all but His Name. If he's right, then end the ban." Abu-Jahal said: "And, if he was a Liar?" The Quraysh leaders said: "Okay." They opened the door of the Kaaba. They found that the white ant had eaten every thing but Allah's Name. The besieged got out of Abu-Talib's valley. Our Master Muhammad (s) and his companions began preaching Islam to the pilgrims of Allah's Holy House. The Demise Abu-Talib was over eighty years of age. He became very invalid. So, he was confined to bed. He thought about nothing but our Master Muhammad (s). He knew that if he died, the Quraysh would fear no one and they would kill his nephew. The Quraysh leaders came to visit Sheikh al-bat-ha. They said: 12

13 "Abu- Talib, you are our Sheikh and Master. You're about to die. So, put an end to the enmity between your nephew and us. Tell him to stop hurting us. We will stop hurting him. Tell him to leave us with our religion and we will leave him with his religion." Abu-Talib looked at Abu-Jahal, Abu-Sufyan, and other Quraysh leaders. He said to them faintly: "If you hear Muhammad's words and obey his orders, you'll be happy. So, obey him and get happiness in here and hereafter." The atheists stood up. Abu-Jahal said with spite: "Do you want us to make the gods one god?" Abu-Talib was sad at the Quraysh stand. He was very anxious about our Master Muhammad's safety. So, he invited banu-hashim and asked them to support our Master Muhammad (s) at any cost. They all obeyed him. Then Abu-Talib closed his eyes to die soundly. Sheikh al-bat'ha kept silent. He became a motionless body. His son Ali wept bitter tears. Sad cries spread all over Mecca. The atheists rejoiced at his death. Abu-Jahal angrily said: "It's time to get my revenge on Muhammad." Our Master Muhammad (s) came to say farewell. He kissed Abu-Talib's bright forehead and murmured sadly: "Uncle, May Allah 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. So may Allah reward you a lot." Then he burst into tears. He began recalling the days of his childhood with his kind uncle. He embraced his cousin Ali. They began weeping together. The Year of Sadness Only a few weeks passed. Khadijah, Muharnmad's wife, died, too. So, our Master Muhammad (s) named that year the Year of Sadness. The Quraysh increased their harm against Muhammad and those who believed in him. One day, a foolish person threw some dust at him. His head was covered with dust. So, he went home. While Fatima, Muhammad's daughter, was washing his head, she began weeping. So, he patted her head and said: "Daughter, don't weep. Allah will save your father. He'll protect your father from the enemies of His religion and Mission." Jibreel came down from the sky holding Allah's Order. He said: "Muhammad, go out of Mecca. Your supporter has died." When the Quraysh plotted to kill our Master Muhammad (s), Ali, Abu-Talib's young son, came to sleep in his bed. He was ready to die for him. Our Master Muhammad (s) went towards Yathrib (al-madina al-monawwara). From there the light of Islam started to illuminate the world. When the Muslims go to visit Allah's Holy House every year, they remember the attitudes of Sheikh al-batha when he was always defending Allah's religion. "Muhammad is Allah's Apostle, and those with him are firm of heart against the unbelievers, compassionate, among each other." Source : Mahjuba Translated : Quds Sharifi Fatima binte Assad Confident in the Realm of Saintliness One of the exemplary women in the history of Islam was Fatima bint Assad, who got many honors in her blessed life. Her father was Assad, son of Hashim. Her life is worthy of note from different aspects, because the virtues that Allah had bestowed on her were so great that no other woman, before or after her, could be her equal in that respect. Allah willed for reasons He alone knew that the Prophet (SAW) should be away from his parents. After Abdul-Mutallib, the Prophet (s.a.w.) became his uncle, Abu Talib's charge and thenceforth he and his wife, Fatima, nurtured him. The Prophet (s.a.w.) always lauded the personality of this great lady and 13

14 appreciated the value of her motherly care for himself. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: "After Abu-Talib she was the best person to care for me. It was a great honor for Fatima bint Assad to be called mother by the Prophet (s.a.w.). Abu talib was the breadwinner and Fatima always left some food for the Prophet (s.a.w.) to be eaten later after the meal was over. When we gave Halima, the hired wet-nurse of the Prophet (s.a.w.), the right to boast about having suckled him for sometime, we should naturally give Fatima such right to take pride in having served the Prophet (s.a.w.) for about 20 years as a mother. Delivering her Child (Imam Ali) inside the Kaaba Many people having read the story of Mary (a.s) marvel at her sublime position before Allah. But when Fatima bint Assad delivered her child inside the Ka'aba, we see that her status in the divine realm was far superior to that of Mary (a.s). Modem scientific discoveries do not negate conception of a virgin without a mortal having touched her and so the birth of Jesus (a.s) might be explained not as a miraculous phenomena. But the birth of Hazrat Ali (a.s.) was nothing but a mere miracle. A companion of the Prophet (s.a.w.) name Yazid ibn Qanab, said: "Abbas ibn Abdulmutallib and I were sitting opposite the House of Allah. We saw Fatima bint Assad making for the Ka'aba. She was in labor. She was communing with her Lord, saying: "0 Lord! I believe in You, in all Your messengers and in the divine Scriptures. I confirm in what Abraham, the one who built the Beit al-atiq (the Ka'aba) had said. So make my labor easy, in the name of Abraham and in the name of the child I have in me." We saw a crack appear in the wall of the Ka'aba. Fatima went through the opening and disappeared into the House. We also made for the crack in the wall, but saw no opening there. We knew it was the will of Allah. Four days later, Fatima came out of the Ka'aba carrying Ali (a.s.). There are enough evidence to support this narrative. In comparing herself with other chosen women, Fatima bint Assad said: "Allah preferred me to all women before me. Assiah (wife of the Pharaoh) performed the acts of worship in seclusion where Allah did not like to be worshipped except in case of necessity. Mary (a.s), daughter of lmran shook the trunk of the palm-tree and ripe dates fell upon her. I entered the House of Allah and ate fruits of Paradise, when I was about to leave the place, I heard the divine call: '0 Fatima! Name your son Ali, because he is high and His Lord Most High. I gave him a name derived from my Own name. I cultured him the way I willed. I made known to him the intricacies of My Own Omniscience. He is the one to crush the idols in My House. He is the one to call people to prayer from the roof of My House. He worships Me. Blessed are those who love him and woe to those who are his enemies."' We know that Mary (a.s) lived in the Masjidul-Aqsa (within the House of Allah), but was not delivered of her child. Fatima bin Assad delivered her child by Allah's leave. Acceptance of Islam by Fatima bint Assad All biographers of the life of Fatima bint Assad said that she was the first woman, after Khadija, that pledged allegiance to the Prophet (s.a.w.) in Mecca. Here we have to mention her noble husband, Abu -Talib, an oppressed figure in history. May it be that his ignorant enemies remember how he who le-heartily and steadfastly stood by his nephew and did not charge him with polytheism. How on earth would a polytheist say: "Verily the religion of Muhammad is the best of all revealed religions for man..." Or, in a poem of eulogy about his nephew: "A saintly figure, a savior of orphans and widows, a blessed saint in whose name people supplicate the Almighty for rain. Apart from all such evidence, how could the Prophet (s.a.w.) ask for support from a polytheist? After the death of Abutalib, Fatima bint Assad, kept pace with the revolution of the Prophet and was present on the scene on different occasions. After three days from the flight of the Prophet (s.a.w.) to Medina, Fatima bint Assad, in company with Hazrat Fatima (a.s), daughter of the Prophet (s.a.w.), and Fatima bint Zubeir, went to Medina, under the auspices of his son, Ali (a.s.). She was the first one who pledged allegiance to the Prophet (s.a.w.) for the second time. 14

15 Fatima bint Assad in the Eyes of the Holy Prophet (SAW) As already said, Fatima bint Assad stood high in the Prophet's favor. One day the Prophet (s.a.w.) said that on the Last day, all the dead will rise naked. Fatima said: "What a disgrace!" The Prophet (s.a.w.) said he would pray to Allah to let her rise clothed. Next day she heard the Prophet (s.a.w.) speak of the pain in the grave. She uttered: "My Lord!" The Prophet (s.a.w.) said he would pray to Allah to make the pain less severe for her. One day the Prophet (s.a.w.) talked to Ammar Yasser about how Fatima bint Assad was kind to him. He said that she had borne Abutalib many sons from whom their parents benefited very much. She satisfied my hunger while her own sons were hungry. She clothed me while they were barely dressed; she kept me neatly dressed, but not her own sons. The Prophet (s.a.w.) respected Fatima bint Assad, and always called on her and took a rest in her house. She had narrated 46 traditions from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.). Her Demise Hazrat Ali (a.s.) said: "When my mother died, the Prophet (s.a.w.) wrapped her body in a shirt of his and said prayer upon her and said: "Allah is the Greatest" - seventy times. The Prophet (s.a.w.) then went into the grave and touched the walls as if he wanted to widen the grave. When he came out of the grave, the Prophet (s.a.w.) wept bitterly and addressed the grave to be kind to her body. When the burial was over, Umar ibn Khattab said to the Prophet (s.a.w.) that he had treated her in an unprecedented way. The Prophet (s.a.w.) replied that he held her in great esteem as one holds his mother. Gabriel told me she was a saintly woman and entered Paradise. Allah had ordered 70,000 angels to say prayers on her dead body. End In the name of God, Most Merciful, Most Kind Abu Talib: Did he die a Muslim or a Kaffir? It would be interesting if we analize the verses that some Sunni commentators have alleged to have revealed for the disbelief of Abu Talib(RA). The first one is: Surah The Cattle (An'aam) (6-26) And they prohibit ( others ) from it and go far away from it, and they only bring destruction upon their own souls while they do not perceive it. (6-26) - Tabari relates from Sufiyan Soori who relates it from Habeeb ibn Abu Sabit who narrated it from somebody saying that Ibn Abbas said 'that this verse came down for Abu Talib, because he used to protect Muhammad from the Kufar but he never recited the Kalima.' Sunni references - Tabaqat of Ibne Sa'ad, v 2 p History of Tabari, v 7 p Tafseer Ibn Katheer, v 2 p Tafseer Kashaf, v 1 p Tafseer Qurtubi, v 6 p and many many more 15