In The Heart Of The Holy Prophet

The situations of Hazrat Abu Talib (as) would never be away from the Prophet’s mind nor would his image leave his sight. He didn’t forget his uncle for a while. He still remembered him, praised him and prayed to him for his eternal deeds and his glorious situations in order to be grateful to that man, who had done him many favors.

One day a nomad, with signs of sorrow and sadness appeared on his face, came to Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) hoping to get something that might relieve some of his sorrow. He said to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.): “O Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.)! We have come to you and we have no any camel nor can any of our children find anything to eat.”

The Merciful Prophet (s.a.w.a.) stood up deeply affected by this tragic scene dragging his feet towards the minbar. After praising Allah (s.w.t.), he began to pray Him: “O Allah! Send us abundant rain pouring plentifully to produce the plants, to fill the udders and to give life to the earth after its death ... and thus shall you be brought forth.”

As soon as the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) finished his praying, the sky began to lighten and the ground began to receive the abundant rain.The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) became delighted and his lips smiled but he remembered the near past and sighed: “What a man Hazrat Abu Talib (as) was! If he is alive, he will be delighted. Who will recite us his poetry?”

His cousin Imam Ali (a.s.) stood up and said: “O Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.)! You may mean his saying:

 

And a white-faced, with whose face it is prayed,

so that the clouds bring goodness.

He is the shelter of the orphans and the guardian of the widows.

As the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said: “Yes” Ali (a.s.) kept on reciting other verses of his father’s poem and the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) from above the mimbar kept on praying Allah (s.w.t.) to forgive his sincere uncle.

Would we stop here with the Prophet when praying Allah (s.w.t.) to forgive his uncle after his death? The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) mentioned his uncle when every occasion passed by him because his mind was always busy with his good deeds and he always remembered his great situations.

Quite often the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) praised his uncle with worthy words and it was definitely that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) wouldn’t praise any one, who didn’t deserve that.

He kept on praying Allah (s.w.t.) to forgive his uncle when Ali was reciting his father’s poetry and it was definitely that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) would never pray Allah (s.w.t.) to forgive anyone, who was not faithful.

Once he said to Imam Ali (a.s.): “No one is worthier than you of my position; you are the first in being a Muslim, you are my cousin and may son-in-law. You have Fatima, the head lady of the believing women. Before that, your father was my guardian and supporter when the Holy Quran was revealed and I am so careful to keep that for him by taking much care of his offspring after him.”

Once again he said to Aqeel: “O Abu Yazeed, I love you twice; once for your kinship with me and the other for I know how much my uncle had loved you.”

What great love the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) had for his uncle! He loved Aqeel for the kinship between them and the other love because he knew that Hazrat Abu Talib (as) had loved Aqeel too much. He thought that his uncle’s love for someone imposed upon him to love that one too.

On the day of Badr while the battle was at its peak Obayda’s leg, was cut and was bleeding, said to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) in a quivering voice: “O Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.)! If Hazrat Abu Talib (as) was alive, he would know that he had been truthful when he had said (addressing the polytheists):

 

I swear by the House of Allah that you have told lies!

We never give up Muhammad; we struggle and fight for him,

we support him until we are killed around him.

For him we ignore our wives and children.

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) was affected by the mention of his uncle and began praying Allah (s.w.t.) to forgive him and Abu Obayda.

Once al-Abbas asked the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), “O Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.), do you pray for Hazrat Abu Talib (as)?” The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) answered him: “Every good I hope for him from my God.”

If the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) praised his uncle and prayed Allah (s.w.t.) to forgive him whereas his uncle had been not a Muslim -which was far away from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)- then the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) would disobey Allah (s.w.t.) – Allah forbid! – According to many Holy Quranic verses as:

You shall not find a people who believe in Allah and the latter day befriending those who act in opposition to Allah and His Messenger, even though they were their (own) fathers, or their sons, or their brother, or their kinsfolk; these are they into whose hearts He has impressed faith (58:22)

Allah (s.w.t.) confirmed that it was impossible for believing in Him and loving the unbelievers to be in one heart.

‘O you who believe! do not take My enemy and your enemy for friends: would you offer them love while they deny what has come to you of the truth.’ (60:1)

In this verse Allah (s.w.t.) had forbidden the believers from taking the unbelievers as friends, loving them, supporting them or asking them for support.

‘O you who believe! do not take your father and your brother for guardians if they love unbelief more than belief; and whoever of you takes them for a guardian, these it is that are the unjust Say: If your fathers and your sons and your brethren and your mates and your kinsfolk and property which you have acquired, and the slackness of trade which you fear and dwellings which you like, are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His way, then wait till Allah brings about His command: and Allah does not guide the transgressing people.’ (9: 23-24)

In these verses Allah (s.w.t.) had forbidden the believers from taking their fathers and brothers as guardians if they were unbelievers. Faith would be the cause of preventing the sentiment between the believer and the unbeliever even if the unbeliever was the believer’s father or brother, who were be the closest relatives of him.

Then Allah (s.w.t.) said that loving the unbelievers or regarding them as guardians would bring the believer out of the sphere of faith and join him to the unjust people. Then Allah (s.w.t.) threatened the unbelievers of waiting for His punishment because they were not but transgressing people.

‘And had they believed in Allah and the Prophet and what was revealed to him, they would not have taken them for friends but! most of them are transgressors.’(5:81)

In this verse Allah (s.w.t.) denied the faith of those, who took the unbelievers as friends and hence they deserved rage and wrath of Allah (s.w.t.). They would remain in Hell for ever.

‘Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those with him are firm of heart against the unbelievers, compassionate among themselves.’(48:29)

All the above verses of Quran states that Love for Allah (s.w.t.) and love for the unbelievers cannot stay in the same heart. Allah (s.w.t.) prohibits the believers from taking unbelievers as guardians even if they are their close relatives, their brothers and fathers and has infact made staying away from them a condition of faith.

It is redicilious to say that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) did not know these aayats of the Holy Quran or (naauzubillah) he went against them.

Leaving the entire discussion aside only the fact that the Holy Prophet loved Hazrat Abu Talib (as) and remembered him throughout his life and prayed for his forgiveness itself is a proof of the deep faith of Hazrat Abu Talib (as) and his belief in the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.).

Holy Prophet said: "Gabriel came to me and said 'Allah sends greetings to you and says verily He has exempted from the fire the loins which gave you shelter, the womb which sustained your weight, and the lap which supported you.'"

(Ref :Mir Seyyed Ali Hamadani in his Mawaddatu'l-Qurba, Sheikh Sulayman Balkhi Hanafi in Yanabiu'l-Mawadda, Qazi Shukani in his Hadith-e-Qudsi)

One one more ocassion 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 where he says 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.

Sharh-e-Nahju'l-Balagha, vol.IV, p.312

Your Supporter Has Died.

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), who was the highest example of loyalty, fealty and fairness, would never deny a favour of any one; therefore the death of Hazrat Abu Talib (as) had left a deep effect upon him. He became so distressed and felt the great gap the absence of his uncle caused.

As soon as Imam Ali (a.s.) told him of the bad news of the disaster, his eyes began to flow with tears. After he wiped off his tears, he ordered Ali (a.s.) in a sad voice saying: “Go to wash him, enshroud him and bury him! May Allah forgive him and have mercy upon him.”

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) ordered Ali, and no one at all would think that Ali was not a Muslim, to wash his father (to do the ghussl). Islam wouldn’t permit a Muslim to wash an unbeliever.

After Ali (a.s.) had washed his dead father and the body of the supporter of Islam had been carried on the shoulders of the men, Ali (a.s.) came back to tell the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) stood up in front of the body of his uncle to escort him with signs of praise and glorification and to be sincere to his favours he had done to Islam.

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said: “O uncle! Mercy may be upon you and you may be rewarded with good. You brought me up and adopted me when I was a child and you assisted and supported me when I became a man.”

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) participated in the funeral until his uncle was buried then he said: “By Allah, I will pray Allah to forgive you and I will intercede for you that the mankind and the jinn will be surprised.”

Then the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) added to his word this lament: “Ah father! Ah Hazrat Abu Talib (as)! O uncle, how bitter my sorrow is! How can I forget you! You brought me up when I was a child, responded to me when I was a man and I was for you as the pupil for the eye and as the soul for the body.”

This was evidence by the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) proving the faith of Hazrat Abu Talib (as) when saying: “... responded to me when I was a man ...”

But now as the fortress, which protected the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) from the evils of the Quraysh, was ruined when the defending lion was put in the grave, the beasts of the Quraysh found the way empty and guard less. 

So they began to harm the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) with all kinds of harm, torment, mockery and bitter insult; therefore the image of Hazrat Abu Talib (as) would have never left the mind of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) especially at this moment when he felt that he was in extreme need of him.

Once he came into his house and his hair was stained with dust that some of the impudent of Quraysh had poured upon his head. His daughter became sad and began to cry. She tried to remove the dust from her father’s head. He calmed her down saying: “Don’t cry my daughter! Allah (s.w.t.) protects your father.”

Then he added after remembering the past of his uncle Hazrat Abu Talib (as) when no one could dare to touch a hair of him: “Quraysh couldn’t hurt me until Hazrat Abu Talib (as) died!”

On every occasion such words came out of his mouth expressing his longing to his uncle and his need of him and of his glorious past: “O uncle! How sudden I felt your absence!”

Allah (s.w.t.) willed to try his Messenger. It was fated that he had to face two disasters each of them was bitterer that the other. Nearly in the same days he lost two supporters, who so often assisted and supported him in his distresses; Hazrat Abu Talib (as), with his powerfulness and strength, who had prevented the Quraysh from daring to do any harm to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and Khadeeja, with her money, kindness, emotion, loyalty and devotedness, who so often assisted him against the distresses, eased his pains and nursed his wounds.

He lost both of them in a very critical time. The wide space would be narrow and the existence would be dark to him, unless he didn’t trust in Allah (s.w.t.) and depend upon Him besides the full mercy of Allah (s.w.t.).

He lost them after those hard years they had spent in the She’b when his uncle was more than eighty years old. Those years were full of strife and struggle and therefore they gave good fruits and left a great glory, which became greater and greater later on.

After Hazrat Abu Talib (as) no shelter remained for the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) to resort to in Mecca. That defensive fortress, which protected him from the disasters, was demolished and the supporter, who sacrificed everything for him, was no longer alive.

In the midst of his distress and pain, the Angel revealed to him this divine order: “Go out of it (Mecca)! Your supporter has died.”

His Will

The tall tree, which shadowed Islam and protected the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.). from the midday heat, began to wither little by little, its branches began to dangle faintly and its leaves began to yellow until the  yellowness of death crept into all of its parts.

Even when he was to depart from this world Hazrat Abu Talib (as) didn’t forget to recommend of his nephew. He ordered his sons and family around him to undertake this important task, which he had undertaken along.

Hazrat Abu Talib (as) turned his eyes here and there at the last moment before he would leave for the better world. Then he uttered with a faint voice overcome with awe of truth and the weakness of old age to say his last will, which he wanted the notable men of Quraysh, whom he had called for to hear, that Allah may guide them to His religion. 

After recommending them to glorify the Kaaba , to keep contact with their relatives to avoid injustice and impiety, to help the needy and to pay deposites he recommended the people to follow the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) telling them that he was the most trustworthy, the most truthful and had all the qualities which he had recommended to them. 

He told them to be good followers of him and good defenders of his party. He told them that those who follow his (Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.)'s ) guidance will be pleased and that had he lived longer he woulded have defended him against every disaster.

Even if Hazrat Abu Talib (as) had nothing save this will, it would be sufficient evidence showing his deep faith. It showed his religion and belief very clearly. Every word in his will cleared his firm faith.

It was a piece of faith that wouldn’t accept any doubt or suspect. It refuted every lie fabricated by the liars against this man.  It exposed the evil wills of the opponents, who tried their best to distort the bright past of this man.

The he addressed four men of the hashemites to support and to sacrifice themselves for the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) :

He recited:

I recommend four to support the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) of goodness

My son Ali, the good uncle Abbas, Hamza the lion,

Whose attack has no like, and Ja’far

You have to protect him against people

Be for Ahmad as armors before people

Defend him with every shining sharp sword,

That it may be thought as a lightening in the darkness of the night.

It is far away from reason that such a man, who spent years of his life inviting people to believe in Mohammed (s) to follow his mission and to support him devotedly because as he thought, that his mission was a source of success, guidance and goodness, wouldn’t be a believer himself.

With these shining lines, which were full of flaming faith and brighting belief, Hazrat Abu Talib (as) folded the page of his shiny life. With these lines he ended his life, which was full of jihad and sacrifice in the  way of the true religion. With words full of faith calling for supporting the great Prophet he left for the better world.

What a faithful man he was!

And what a loyal guardian he was!

In the Shib.....Days Of Sever Hardship

The polytheists became very angry when the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) became so powerful and his mission spread widely that many people of different classes and countries believed in it sincerely to a degree that they preferred dying to give up their new belief when they were punished with severest kinds of torture. In fact they tolerated pain as if they enjoyed pleasures.

Quraysh began to think and think create tricks and look for new plots that might be of use to restrain the spreading mission and to suppress its voice, which entered the hearts without asking permission. The Quraysh tried to put out this flame, to silence this voice and to cut this twig but  returned empty-handed because Mohammed (s.a.w.w.) was safeguarded by his uncle and his men. He was in a strong fortress that no storm could shake.

The Quraysh resisted the Prophets companions, and tortured them but it found itself in front of iron that couldn’t be notched, rocks that couldn’t be crumble and mountains that couldn’t be shaken. In that critical situation and that difficult distress on of the devils of Quraysh thought of a satanic idea. It would satisfy their furious grudge and get them to their sought aim. They thought of blockade against whoever assisted and protected Mohammed (s.a.w.w.).

The Quraysh wrote down a covenant including some articles to be as one hand against the Hashemites to be in a state of war against them without any truce, nor to marry from them and not to let them marry from them. 

Not to sell or buy from each other, not accept any peace with them at all and carry out these conditions without a bit of mercy or pity.They signed the sheet of the covenant and hanged a copy on the wall of the Kaaba. This was after seven years of the mission.

When Hazrat Abu Talib (as) knew what the Quraysh had decided he criticized it and warned them of bad wars and disasters to take place. He recited a poem about that situation; here are some verses of it:

They expect from us a thing,

They won’t  get without striking and stabbing with sharp swords.

They hope we give them Mohammed to be killed,

Before the heads are dyed with blood!

By the House of Allah (s.w.t.) you have told lies!

It won’t be until your heads are split  and your skulls thrown

In Hateem and Zamzam,

Kinship is perished, a wife forgets her husband and one is killed

After one; that is your hatred, oppression deviation,

Committing sins and wronging a Prophet inviting to guidance

And a matter revealed by the Almighty

Don’t think we hand him over to you,

His likes will never be handed over by any people.

The entire  poem show the commitment of Hazrat Abu Talib (as) towards the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) and his mission but the last few verses (in red) need the readers special attention. These words clearly show the faith of Hazrat Abu Talib (as) and his belief in the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) and his mission being the matter revealed by Allah (s.w.t.).

Wasn’t this but a clear declaration of Hazrat Abu Talib (as) and indication of his true faith in the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.). Would anyone, who accused Hazrat Abu Talib (as) of being an unbeliever, be fair in his judgment? Would the accuser himself express his faith more eloquently than Hazrat Abu Talib (as). 

Hazrat Abu Talib (as) pondered thoughtfully and founded himself in a critical situation and difficult distresses. He had to make up his mind and to take the final decision. He called for the men of the Hashemites. They decided to go to the Shib (mountain pass) to be safe from the Quraysh, who were determined to carry out the unjust covenant.

All the Hashemites submitted to Hazrat Abu Talib (as) thought and they all followed him except his deviated brother Abu Lahab , who supported the Quraysh against his kin.

The days passed without any glow of hope or relief. They were in extreme distress. Hunger left its bad lines upon their bodies. Everyone, who would think of helping them even with a crumb of bread, would be considered as a treacherous criminal by the Quraysh and then he would be punished severely.

So the Hashemites became in a miserable condition. Hunger harmed them extremely until they were obliged to eat the leaves of the trees. In spite  of the Hazrat Abu Talib (as) was very watchful and careful for his nephew that he might be a victim of a secret plot hatched  by the Quraysh.

Whenever night came and it was time for sleeping, he spread the bed of his nephew before the sight of all. He remained awake until all had slept soundly; he took his ephew to the bed of his son Hazrat Ali (as) and took his son to the bed of his nephew that if anyone had an evil will, his son Ali (as) would be the victim and the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.)  would be saved.

What a great sacrifice it was. Let history record it with shiny letters in order to be an eternal example of sacrifice, altruism, love, faith and belief!.

The malevolent justified Hazrat Abu Talib (as) defense and jihad to safeguard his nephew as a mater of kinship. Was his nephew Mohammed loser to him that his son Hazrat Ali (as) ?  So why did he try to sacrifice his son for his nephew?

They ignored that the zealotry of religion was stronger than the zealotry of kingship. Unless Hazrat Abu Talib (as) believed in the prophecy of his nephew, he wouldn’t sacrifice his  dearest son for him.

Whenever Hazrat Abu Talib’s (as) feelings were affected during the period of the blockade, he expressed his bitter pains with poetry:

Didn't you know that we have found Mohammed as prophet,

Like Moses, it was mentioned in the first books

He is to beloved by people,

Allah(s.w.t.) has imposed upon people loving him!

……………………………..

By the House of Allah(s.w.t.)

We will never forsake Ahmad whatever distresses we get.

……………………………..

We wont be tired of war until it becomes tired of us,

And we don’t complain whatever distresses we face!

But we are people of reason and prudence,

When the minds of others fly of terrors.

The first verse of the poem were enough to confirm Hazrat Abu Talib (as) knowledge about the divine religions and his faith in the prophets and the books of Allah (s.w.t.). He had never been a polytheist at all. He had believed in the monotheism since the beginnings of his life.

It would be better to quote his passage of one of his poems that he said during the stay in the Shib. We just quote below  the verse that express the deep faith and the clear belief of Hazrat Abu Talib (as).

Don’t  you know that byoctt is a sin,

And a reasonless matter of distress?

The way of guidance will be known tomorrow,

And the ease of life wont last for ever

Don’t mistreat Mohammed (s.a.w.w.),

And don’t follow the deviants.

You wish to kill him; your wishes are like dreams of a sleeper.

By Allah (s.w.t.) you never kill him unless you see picking of the skulls!

You pretend that we give you Mohammed (s.a.w.w.),

Before we compete and attack,.

He is a prophet; revelation comes to him from his God,

And whoever denies, the loss will be great then!

He criticized the Quraysh about the boycott, which would defame and disgrace it and it would bring it lasting distress. Then he warned it of the bad end it was going to face as a result of its bad doings. Hazrat Abu Talib (as) has clearly stated that those who oppose the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) are the deviants and he has asserted his unconditional support to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.). 

The last two lines of the poem are note worthy where Hazrat Abu Talib (as) clearly states that his nephew is a Prophet and revelation comes to him from his God. Now would it be fair to believe that a person who exhorts others to believe in the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) and to follow his path or else they would be in loss in the hereafter would himself not do so.???? 

These words of Hazrat Abu Talib (as) shows nothing but clear faith, submission and acknowledgement of the prophecy of his nephew. Non but a s sick mind a prejudiced thinking and an illegitimate birth would force a person to think otherwise.

Days changed to months and months to years and the suffering of the Hashemites in the Shi’b continued. Three years passed and this extremely miserable life remained as it was until a day came when Allah (s.w.t.) revealed to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) that He had made the termite eat the document of the blockade hanged on the sall of the Kaaba except the Holy name of Allah(s.w.t.), which was left safe.

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) conveyed this to Hazrat Abu Talib (as) who went to the Kaaba surrounded by some of the Hashemites . He told the people that Allah (s.w.t.) had reveled to his nephew that the document which they had prepared has been destroyed by  termites except for the name of Allah (s.w.t.) 

He told them to bring the document and see it for themselves if he is correct and the document has actually been destroyed then they should accept that they were wrong and if he (Hazrat Abu Talib (as) ) is wrong and the document is safe then he would hand over his nephew to them and they would do with him whatever they wished.

When the document was brought truth prevailed and people saw that the entire document except for the name of Allah (s.w.t.) had been destroyed. Then a group of Quraysh annulled the blockade after finding that they were extremely unjust to the Hashemites, who returned to live their ordinary lives after three years of hunger pain and misery.

The fact that Hazrat Abu Talib (as) confidently agreed to what the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) had said and confidently went to challenge the Quraysh, showed his faith and belief in the truthfulness of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) to such an extend that he offered the Quraysh that  he would hand over the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.)  to them and they were free to deal with him as they wished if he was wrong.

Hazrat Abu Talib (as)'s support to the Holy Prophet  (s.a.w.w) and his sever suffering in the Shib along with his entire family for a period of three years in which they were so distressed that they were forced to eat grass could not have simply come out of love for his nephew. It was only and only because of his deep faith in the Prophet hood of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.). A faith so firm and so deep rooted that he was ready to bear the hardships and torture meted out to his entire family rather than giving up his faith and deserting the Holy Prophet.

His Jihad & His Deep Faith

The mission of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) became so active and spread its rays here and there for the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) had a strong fortress saving him from the storms. His uncle Hazrat Abu Talib (as) had promised Allah to support His religion, which his nephew had been entrusted with by his God. 

Hazrat Abu Talib (as) tried his best to save and support his nephew even if he would be to sacrifice his  sons or himself for the sake of the Prophet’s mission.

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) began to announce his mission openly after being surrounded by this guard and support. He set out courageously and bravely without fearing anything as long as he had a fortress he could resort to.

Now a new bright page of Hazrat Abu Talib’s (as) history opened. After the page of believing, the page of jihad and firm defense began its shining lines in the way of the real sacrifice for the true belief. He defended the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) against the arrogants of Quraysh and made the way free for him to spread his mission.

Hazrat Abu Talib (as)  not only defended the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) but he also defended anyone who had believed in the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), against the tormenting of the oppressive polytheists of Quraysh.

It was a page full of sacrifice, true jihad and steadfast defending.

Due to the support of Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.) the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) became so fearless and active in his mission and his voice became so loud that Quraysh began to fear this new mission, which invited the people to profess in the unity of the One and Only God and to discard those idols, which were made of wood and stone by their own hands and which didn’t hear or see and didn’t benefit or harm.

The people of Quraysh became angry when Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) defamed their idols. They didn’t find save Hazrat Abu Talib  (as) to make reparation to them. A group of notable men of Quraysh went to Hazrat  Abu Talib (as) complaining against his nephew. 

They said: “O Abu Talib! Your nephew abused our gods, faulted our beliefs, stultified our traditions and considered our forefathers as deviants. So either you prevent him from doing that or you leave him alone to us.”

Abu Taalib answered them leniently and gently until they left but the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) kept on spreading his mission.

But when they didn’t find any result for their complaint, they decided to go to Hazrat Abu Taalib (as) complaining again: “O Abu Taalib! You  have honour and high position among us. We asked you to prevent your nephew from keeping on his doing but you didn’t. 

By Allah, we won’t tolerate abusing our forefathers, faulting our traditions and defaming our gods. So either you make him refrain from his doings or we will fight him and you until one of the parties will be defeated.”

Hazrat Abu Talib (as) stopped between two difficult situations; each of them was so serious. He was afraid that if he declared the war against his people that it would do away with the young and the old and at the same time he could never fail the divine mission where he had promised to support his nephew, the Apostle of Allah (s.a.w.a.); moreover he had been recommended by his father Hazrat Abdul Muttalib (as)  to support Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) and to believe in him when he would be chosen by the Heaven.

He had to strive as long as the divine will had chosen him to be the guardian of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) since the first day and since the first dawn of the mission.

He told the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.)  “O my nephew, go ahead! Say whatever you like! By Allah, I will never betray you whatever happen.” Then he recited:

By Allah they won’t reach you whatever numerous they were

until I am buried under the ground.

Announce your mission and never mind anything,

and let your eyes be delighted.

You invited me and I knew that you were sincere to me.

You are the most truthful, the most honest.

I have known that the religion of Muhammad

is the best of religions among all of the people.

We don’t have to pass by these verses without paying attention to them. These verses showed clearly the faith of Hazrat Abu Talib (as) in wonderful images and certain concepts that couldn’t be distorted or mis worded.

These verses showed the true faith of Hazrat Abu Talib (as) (a.s.) besides his full knowing about the other religions when saying that the religion of Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) was the best of all religions.

The Quraysh knew the real situation of Hazrat Abu Talib (as)  towards the new mission and towards the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). They became so angry that he had this firm situation and that all their attempts failed. They asked him to prevent his nephew from abusing their gods but he didn’t. They asked him to leave Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) alone to them but they found that he encouraged Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) to spread his mission and that he promised to support and to defend him.

After all of that the polytheists of Quraysh found a new way to conclude a deal with Hazrat Abu Talib (as). They came to Hazrat Abu Talib (as) bringing with them Imara bin al-Waleed. They said to him: “O Abu Talib)! This is Imara bin al-Waleed. He is the best young man and the most handsome of the Quraysh. Take him as your son and give us your nephew, who denied your religion and your forefathers’ religion, separated the unity of your people and mocked their traditions. We kill him and it will be a man for a man.”

If Hazrat Abu Talib (as) didn’t know how to behave in the serious situations, he would send a loud laugh scornfully and slightingly towards this silly word but he said prudently and bravely: “By Allah! What a bad deal it is! Do you give me your son to feed him for you and I give you my son to be killed? By Allah(s.w.t.), this will never be at all!”

Hazrat Abu Talib (as) thought, after declaring his situation towards the Quraysh that he had to armour himself and to be ready for the emergencies he might face from the Quraysh after they knew his situation. He didn’t find save the Hashemites to depend upon in his struggle against the Quraysh.

He invited them to be with him to defend the new religion and to protect the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) against the evil doers of the Quraysh if they would try to do any harm to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). All the Hashemites compiled with his invitation except that deviate brother Abu Lahab, the cursed.

Hazrat Abu Talib (as) became so delighted when he saw the great situation of the Hashemites that he would not worry much about the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). He thanked his kin and praised them for their support and assistance.

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and his mission became so strong and the disagreement increased between the Hashemites and the Quraysh. Hazrat Abu Talib (as) began to fear for the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) from the Quraysh more than before. He began to care much for him and tried not to let him alone so that he might be hurt by anyone of the Quraysh. 

Once, Hazrat Abu Talib (as) missed his nephew. He looked for him but he didn’t find him. He became so worried and upset. He determined to revenge after hearing that the Quraysh intended to assassinate the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) to do away with the new mission.

He called for the young men of the Hashemites and ordered each of them to hide a weapon under his cloths. He ordered each one of them to stay beside a chief of Quraysh and agreed with them upon a certain sign that if he failed to find Muhammad (s.a.w.a.), they would revenge Muhammad’s blood upon those men of the Quraysh at the same moment.

The young men took their places as they were ordered by Hazrat Abu Talib (as). He went to look for his nephew. When he found him safe, he took him by the hand and stood before the people of Quraysh shouting: “O people of Quraysh! Do you know what I have intended to do? ...” He told them about his plan and his young men’s intention and asked his young men to show their weapons. He challenged them by showing them his powerfulness. The defeat appeared upon the faces of Quraysh especially the arrogant Abu Jahl. 

Hazrat Abu Talib (as) said to them: “By Allah (s.w.t.)! If you kill him, I will never let any of you alive. It will be the war until we or you are perished.”

Then Hazrat Abu Talib (as) recited some verses praising his nephew after criticizing the bad situation of the Quraysh. He declared for the Quraysh that he was the guardian of Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) and his family:

Inform Quraysh wherever they are,

even though that everything of them is but haughtiness,

that I am, with swearing by the reciters,

the books and the scientists,

a sincere guardian of Muhammad’s family.

My heart and conscience love them.

I won’t give up my kin and sons,

even if the war brings its disasters.

Do they order their people to kill Muhammad so unfairly?

I swear that Quraysh will gain nothing,

where their reason is lost.

My nephew is my heart-root.

Will the young men drink pure water,

while Ahmad will be in the grave?

O you, the son of the master of Qussay!

As if your face is like the full moon

One day while the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) was offering the prayer, Quraysh wanted to mock at him and to disturb his prayer. They asked Abdullah bin az-Ziba’ra to undertake this mean task. He took some feces and blood of an animal and stained the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) while he was prostrating in his prayer.

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) hadn’t save Hazrat Abu Talib (as) to resort to. He went to his uncle heartbrokenly and his eyes were full of tears. It was a great insult.

His uncle became very angry about what happened to his nephew. He had to revenge him on them and to repay them the insult.

He, holding his sword, rushed towards them with his nephew. His face was overcome with rage and the signs of revenge were talking loudly until he reached the meeting of the people. They were afraid of his angry look. They tried to run away before him but he nailed them in their places with a sudden word: “By Allah, if any of you moves from his place, I will cut him with my sword.”

They stuck to the ground as if they lost their will. He approached to them and asked his nephew: “My son! Who is the doer?”The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) pointed to Abdullah bin az-Ziba’ra. Hazrat Abu Talib (as) approached to him and hit him on his nose. 

Then he stained the people’s faces, beards and cloths with faeces and blood. He scolded and insulted them severely. Then he turned to his nephew saying victoriously: “O my nephew! Are you satisfied now? Do you know who you are? 

You are Muhammad bin Abdullah (he detailed his lineage). By Allah, you have the most honoured ancestry and the highest rank among them all. O people of Quraysh! Whoever of you wants to move, let him do. You know well who I am!”

Then Hazrat Abu Talib (as) recited:

You are Muhammad the Prophet,

a generous master and a son of generous masters.

They are the highborn and so are you.

The best of the origin was the root; Amr (Hasaim)

who crumbled bread in the bowels,

when the life of Mecca was miserable!

How are you wronged while I am still alive?

I am the brave, the powerful!

And your men, as if they are lions!

I have known that you are truthful;

You haven’t said but the truth since you have been a child!

Hazrat Abu Talib (as) began his poem with a clear confession that would let no way for anyone to argue or to object ... so what was the difference between saying the shahada ‘...and I witness that Muhammad is His Apostle’ and Hazrat Abu Talib (as)’s confession ‘You are Muhammad the Prophet?’ 

There was no difference, for both showed confessing the prophecy of Muhammad (s.a.w.a.). But the black hearts and the filthy consciences had their own purposes when distorting the truth and changing the reality.

This was but a clear confession of the Prophet’s mission by Hazrat Abu Talib (as) as a divine mission. It showed the definite faith of Hazrat Abu Talib (as).

It would be better to quote these verses too to show the reader the real thinking of Hazrat Abu Talib (as) towards Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) and his encouraging him to keep on carrying out his task determinedly.

Before these verses ibn AbulHadeed said in his Sharh Nahjul Balagha: “... and from among his (Hazrat Abu Talib (as)’s) famous poetry are these verses, in which he addresses Muhammad (s.a.w.a.), clams his heart and orders him to announce his mission.”

Never let those sinuous hands and cawing voices

Prevent you from the rightful task you carry out.

My hand is yours whenever you face your opponent,

and my soul is sacrificed for yours in the disasters.

He supported the very mission, in which he believed, and he supported everyone, who believed in it. He wouldn’t be tranquil if any one of Muhammad’s follower was harmed because of the mission. He had many shining pages of such support that we wouldn't pass by without referring to some of them.

The polytheists of Quraysh tortured Usmaan bin Maz’oon al-Jomahi when he became a Muslim they wanted to deviate him from the right way he had chosen. When Hazrat Abu Talib (as) heard of that, he revenged Usmaan on Quraysh. Then he recited:

Is it because you remember untrustworthy time,

you are sad and you cry with agony?

Or you remember impudent people,

wronging whoever invites to faith?

Didn’t you see, o Quraysh – Allah may degrade you all,

that we revenged for torturing Usmaan bin Maz’oon?

We fight injustice and face whoever wants to harm us

with every sharp weapon in our hands.

Sharp swords, as if they are mixed with salt,

relieve our avengement on the mad’s heads,

until the men of no reason submit,

and become lenient after haughtiness,

or until they believe in a wonderful divine book revealed

to a Prophet like Moses o Jonah.

What did he mean in his last verse by a wonderful book revealed to a Prophet like Moses or Jonah? Would it be but believing in the Holy Quran? It was a divine book revealed to a Prophet among the prophets, whom Almighty Allah had chosen.

After all these things, could any one deny the faith of Hazrat Abu Talib (as) unless that one was a deviate enemy?

Besides the evidence this poetry had that proved the faith of Hazrat Abu Talib (as), it certified what we have said before that Hazrat Abu Talib (as) had known much about the previous religions that preceded the mission of Muhammad (s.a.w.a.), which confirmed the continuity of the Religion of Abraham (a.s.) otherwise Hazrat Abu Talib (as) wouldn’t mention these religions.

The jihad of Hazrat Abu Talib (as) (a.s.) was not limited to defend the Prophet (s.a.w.a.), to resist his enemies, to safeguard him against the plots of the Quraysh or to protect the tortured Muslims, who used to resort to him.

Hazrat Abu Talib (as) was an Islamic propagandist. He revealed every sign or virtue of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) one time, glorified and praised the religion another time, invited people to believe in the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) a third time and warned the Quraysh of the bad end if they persisted in their deviation and indifference and many other doings he did and poetized them in his poetry to be passed from mouth to mouth as a means of media at that time.

When the Muslims met much torment and discrimination from the Quraysh, they decided to emigrate for Abyssinia. Among the emigrants there was Ja’far, the son of Hazrat Abu Talib (as).

But the meanness and the lowness of Quraysh wouldn’t end to a limit. 

They delegated Amr bin al-Aas and Imara bin al-Waleed after the Muslims to Abyssinia in order to plot and to fabricate every lie against the Muslims as possible as they could to make the king of Ayssinia drive them away from his country, but the prudence, the deep insight and the firm faith of Ja’far uncovered the plots of the delegated persons and made them return empty-handed.

When Hazrat Abu Talib (as) heard about this plot of Quraysh, he sent some verses of poetry to the Negus of Abyssinia asking him to treat Ja’far well and not to listen to the fabrication of the lying sinner Amr bin Aas.

When Hazrat Abu Talib (as) knew about the kindness of the Negus to the Muslims, he sent him other verses of poetry, in which he invited him to believe in Islam, which the great Prophet (s.a.w.a.) had been sent with for the peoples all over the world:

You know O king of Abyssinia!

Muhammad is a Prophet like Moses and Jesus, the son

of Blessed Marry.

He came with guidance as they both had come with.

Each -according to the order of Allah- guides and educates.

You recite in your Book as a true speech not a divination.

So don’t make a partner with Allah and let you come to Islam,

the way of the rightness is not dark.

Whatever group of ours comes to you,

it will be back with honour and glory.

These verses were clear evidence confirming the faith of Hazrat Abu Talib (as) and they were a talking proof showing that he was an Islamic propagandist trying his best to spread Islam as a divine belief and inviting people to believe in Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) as a chosen Apostle by the Heaven.

It was also evidence showing his knowledge of the Divine Books and the previous missions and Apostles of Allah as we mentioned before. It was a certification of all what was revealed from Almighty Allah and acknowledgement of the prophecy of all His apostles; Muhammad (s.a.w.a.), Jesus Christ and Moses (a.s.). The guidance that had been received from Allah (s.w.t.) was the same that had been received by Jesus Christ and Moses. It was but the guidance of Almighty Allah.

It would be impudence if we said after all that that Hazrat Abu Talib (as) hadn’t become a Muslim whereas he spent his years inviting people to believe in Islam and that he was certain about the straight way of the rightness, which would save people from deviation and lead them to the light of guidance.