Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib
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Abi Tlib ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib (Arabic: ابي طالب بن عبدالمطلب) (549 – 619)]. He was the head of Bani Hashim (Arabic: بنو هاشم) clan of Quraysh tribe of Mecca in Arabia. He was married to Fatima bint Asad and was an uncle of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It is said that after the death his elder brother Az-Zubayr ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib supported Muhammad, when he was about 20 years old.
Biography
Pre-Islamic era
He was a brother of the Prophet Mohammad's father, 'Abdullah ibn 'Abdul Muttalib, who became severely ill and died before Mohammad's birth. He was a scion of the noble Bani Hashem clan, after the death of his elder brother Az-Zubayr ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib. became the head of Bani Hashem. By physical appearance he was disable from one leg[1] and used to make and sell Perfume at home.[2]
After the death of Muhammad's mother Aminah bint Wahab, Muhammad was taken into the care of Abdul Muttalib (grandfather to Muhammad). When Muhammad reached 8 years of age, he went under the care of Abu Talib as a result of the death of Abdul Muttalib. When Muhammad grew older, he began to work for his uncle, and he took responsibility for Abu Talib's son Ali ibn Abu Talib.[3]
When an economic crisis struck Mecca, Abu Talib was heavily affected, and so Muhammad asked his uncles Hamza and Al-Abbas to help his uncle Abu Talib by adopting some of his children, either Ja'far, Aqeel, or Ali. They discussed this matter with Abu Talib, who said to them "Leave Aqeel to me and take whoever you want!" Abu Talib loved Aqeel greatly. Al-Abbas chose Talib and Hamza chose Jafar and Muhammad chose Ali. Muhammad then said to them "I have chosen who Allah has chosen".
Abu Talib and the Spread of Islam
Three years had passed since Mohammad receive the first revelation before he claimed Allah ordered him to publicize it by revealing to him the verse "And warn your nearest kin"[4]. Mohammad claimed to have received this order and was determined to invite people to Islam. He asked his cousin Ali to invite the Hashimites, the children of Abdul Muttalib, the children of Nawfal, and other children of Abd Manaf, and asked him to serve a meal of a sheep leg, about one kilo of wheat, and three litres of yogurt. The invitees, who were forty men among whom were Al-Abbas, Abu Lahab etc., came. Mohammad offered the food and said to them, "Eat in the name of Allah". They had food and yogurt until they were full. Even though the food was not much, they all became full, and they were astonished at that fact. Mohammad wanted to start speaking, Everyone was silent except Ali who said passionately, "I, Oh Prophet of Allah, will be your vizier on it." But Abu Lahab quickly interrupted by saying "We have not seen magic like this of today. Let us leave!" All of them parted, some of them mocking and making fun of Mohammad. Mohammad did not get a chance to speak. The next day, Mohammad once again invited them for a meal. They ate and drank and then Mohammad stood up and made a speech before them saying: "O children of Abdul Muttalib, by Allah, I do not know that a young man amongst the Arabs has brought to his people a thing better than what I have brought you. (i.e. Islam) I have brought to you the good of this life and of the afterlife, and Allah the Almighty has ordered me to invite you to it. Which of you shall support me in this matter to be my brother, guardian and successor among you?"
Everyone was silent again except Ali who said passionately, "I, Oh Prophet of Allah, will be your vizier on it." The people lent Mohammad deaf ears and none of them responded to him except his uncle Abu Talib, and Abu Talib's son, Ali.[5]
Protecting Muhammad
After Muhammad began preaching the message of Islam, members of the other Quraishite clans increasingly came to feel threatened by Muhammad. In attempts to quiet him, they would lean on Abu Talib to silence his nephew or control him. Despite these pressures, Abu Talib did nothing but support Muhammad and defend him from the other heads of the Quraysh. He sacrificed a lot to protect his nephew, Muhammad, therefore Islam, as well.
Death
Abu Talib was on his death-bed when the Quraish leaders of Mecca came to visit him and Mohammad to ask them to stop preaching the Islamic message or to settle a religious agreement. The death of Abu Talib happened in year 619 or 623 [6], at around the same time as Mohammad's wife Khadijah. This year was known as the saddest year of the life of Mohammad, the Year of Sorrow. With the death of his uncle and wife, Muhammad had then lost his very dear ones.
Shortly after the death of both his uncle and wife, Muhammad left Mecca and went to Yathrib (Medina) following an attempt by the Quraish leaders of Mecca to kill him and his companions for preaching the Islamic message. And so, Muhammad and his Muslim followers performed the first year of Hijra, which was the year of Muslims to migrate to Yathrib.
Family
Abu Talib had three sons
and two daughters:
- Fakhitah bint Abi Talib (Umm e Hani)
- Jumanah bint Abi Talib
See also
References
- ^ Al-Ma'arif, Ibn Qutai'ba, p.252
- ^ Ibid, p.252
- ^ Sahih al-Tirmidhi (vol 2 p.301), At-Tabaqat Al-Kubra - ibn Sa'd (vol 3 kklkp.12), Usd Al-Ghabah (vol 4 p.17), Kanzol Ummal (vol 6 p.400), Tareekh Al-Tabari (vol 2 p.55), Tareekh Baghdad (vol 2 p.18), to name a few...
- ^ Qur'an, 26:214
- ^ Tareekh Al-Tabari (vol 2 p.63), Tareekh ibn Al-Atheer (vol 2 p.24), Musnad of Ahmed ibn Hanbal (vol 1 p.159), As-Seera An-Nabawiyyah by ibn Katheer (vol 1 p.457-459).
- ^ Wife of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWAS)