تويت
Who is Abu Talib?
Abu Talib is the uncle of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), known as the "Believer of Quraish," and the father of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS). His name was Abd Manaf ibn Abd al-Muttalib ibn Hashim ibn Abd Manaf. Some sources mention that his name was 'Imran', but he is most commonly known by his nickname, Abu Talib, and is rarely recognized by any other name.
His father, Abd al-Muttalib, was the grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and his mother was Fatimah bint Amr ibn Abd ibn Imran. His wife was Fatimah bint Asad ibn Hashim, who was also his cousin.
The Birth and Death of Abu Talib
Abu Talib was born 35 years before the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), around 88 years before the Hijrah. According to most Shia scholars, he passed away on the 26th of Rajab in the 10th year of the Prophet’s mission, three days after the death of Lady Khadijah (AS), the Prophet’s wife. He was 85 years old at the time of his death.
The great scholar al-Majlisi (RA) mentioned that Abu Talib passed away at the end of the 10th year of the Prophet's mission, and Lady Khadijah (RA) passed away three days after him. The Prophet (PBUH) named that year "The Year of Sorrow" due to his immense grief from their deaths.
The Year of Sorrow
The deaths of Abu Talib and Khadijah (RA) deeply affected the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He felt great sorrow and hardship, and he referred to that year as "The Year of Sorrow." The historian al-Fakhar said, "When Abu Talib and Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, the wife of the Prophet (PBUH), passed away, the Prophet (PBUH) named the year of their death 'The Year of Sorrow' due to the immense loss he felt."
The Prophet’s Uncle, Protector, and Defender
Abu Talib played a significant role in the care, protection, and defense of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). After the death of Abd al-Muttalib, the Prophet’s grandfather, Abu Talib took on the responsibility of looking after and defending the Prophet from the hostility of the enemies. He successfully shielded the Prophet from harm during his lifetime. However, after Abu Talib’s death, the Prophet faced many difficulties and suffering, as the enemies of Islam took advantage of the Prophet being left without a strong protector.
The Believer of Quraish
Shia scholars unanimously believe in the faith of Abu Talib, and some Sunni scholars also agree. There are many proofs supporting this belief, which we will explore in detail in another discussion. For now, it suffices to mention the words of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS): "By God, my father and my grandfather, Abd al-Muttalib, Hashim, and Abd Manaf, never worshipped an idol."
When asked, "What did they worship then?" Imam Ali replied, "They prayed towards the Kaaba following the religion of Ibrahim, sticking firmly to it."
Sources:
- Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 19, p. 25, by Allama Majlisi (RA)
- Iman Abu Talib, by al-Fakhar, p. 261
- Al-Khara'ij wa al-Jara'ih, vol. 3, p. 1075, by Qutb al-Din al-Rawandi (RA)