Food For Thought

First

Leaving all the arguments aside it does not appeal to thought that Hazrat Abutalib (as) did not believe in the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.)

I ask you. You are a muslim and you believe in Allah (s.w.t.) and Prophet Muhammad (SAW). You are a staunch follower of your religion. If your nephew, starts to propagate a new religion, which abuses your god Allah as well as his prophet (SAW), (god forbid), what will you do to your own nephew?

Will you protect him from people who are after his life due to his spreading of blasphemous beliefs? Will you support him in his mission to falsify your very own religion, God and prophet?

Will you allow your nephew to insult your Prophet and propagate his new religion and belief? Or will you stop your nephew from doing so, condemn him and make efforts to kill off his blasphemous beliefs?

Furthermore, will you allow your son to assist and accompany your nephew on his blasphemous beliefs just because you love your nephew? Do remember that we don't even tolerate if some one says evil about the companions of Prophet (SAW), save the prophet himself.

If you support this mission of his, you are either a secret follower of his ways or you don't take your own religion seriously, or you are insane.

Abu Talib (AS) has been the supporter of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) since his childhood and has been a staunch protector of the prophet since the start of his mission.

When a Meccan threw some dirt on the Messenger while he was prostrating, Abu Talib went on brandishing his sword and took revenge of the insult

(Ref: Khazanatal Adaab by Khateeb Baghdadi, v 1 p 261,Tareekh of Ibn Katheer, v 3 p 42,Sharh of Ibn al Hadid, v 3 p 306)

The Quraish 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, it was Hazrat Abu Talib (as) who supported the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) whole heartedly.

This clearly shows that Hazrat Abu Talib (as) believed in the mission and the message of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) and was one of his trusted aide and follower.

This  show clear signs of love between the Prophet (SAW) and Abu Talib (AS). Abu Talib (AS) spent his life helping the Prophet (SAW). He would sacrifice his life and his reputation and even his son for this man. 

Why would any man help someone who tries to destroy their pagan beliefs? It is evident that Abu Talib (AS) was religious, whether he was a pagan or a Muslim, therefore, if he was a pagan, then he would not help someone to destroy his Gods. No matter who they were.

These scholars have fought to preserve the truth and respect for this noble character of Islam. Without Abu Talib (AS), the Prophet (SAW) would not have been able to overcome such odds. It is indeed this man (amongst many others) which you need to thank as it is he who has helped Islam become alive. 

It is foolish to say that he helps to create a religion but he believes it to be false.

Second

Lets say Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, a Hindu all his life is on his death bed and I am telling him to recite the Kalimah! Would this sound right! I'll be mad if I tell a Hindu to recite Kalimah when he is about to breath his last.

How can I ask a Hindu to recite Kalimah on his deathbed when he rejected the very religion throughout his life. What made me think that he will accept the same faith in the last moment which he rejected every moment of life he lived. 

If however a Muslim is on his deathbed, I may tell him to recite Kalimah for one final time! makes sense?

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) asking Hazrat Abu Talib (as) to recite the kalimah at time of his death itself is an ideal proof of his being a Muslim.



Third

Another logical argument which goes over here is that Hazrat Abdul Muttalib named his sons Imran & Abdullah, both of which are Muslim names. I ask the reader to locate 1 nonbeliever in the entire world who gives Muslim names to his sons. If  you are a Muslim than would you name your sons Ram & Laxman. Giving Muslim names to ones children proves the faith of Hazrat Abdul Muttalib (as) as well as of his sons.

Now I know that an evil mind would argue that names are decided by parents when children are very small and children do not have any say in it. So the same argument can be applied for Hazrat Imran (as) who named his son Talib which is once again a Muslim name.

If your father had named you Shiva which is not a Muslim name then would you continue with that name on reaching matuarity, or would you change it to some thing more Islamic. In fact it is commonly seen that the first thing which people do after changing their religion is to change their name according to the new religion they have adopted.

Thus Hazrat Imran (as) continuing with the same name and in fact naming his son Talib both of them are a strong proof of his being a believer.