Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib

| native_name = {{lang|ar|أَبُو طَالِب بن عَبْد ٱلْمُطَّلِب}}

| birth_name = 'Imran ({{lang|ar|عِمْرَان}}) or
'Abd Manaf ({{lang|ar|عَبْد مَنَاف}}){{Cite web |title=Abu-Talib a.s The Greatest Guardian of Islam |url=http://www.duas.org/abutalibas.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217070926/http://www.duas.org/abutalibas.htm |archive-date=17 December 2013 |access-date=27 October 2013 |website=duas.org}}

| birth_date = {{Circa}} 535 CE

| birth_place = Mecca, Hijaz
(present-day Saudi Arabia)

| death_date = {{Circa}} {{Death date and age|619|535|df=yes}}

| death_place = Mecca, Hijaz

| office = Chief of Banu Hashim clan of Quraysh

| term = {{Circa}} 578 - 619 CE

| predecessor = Abd al-Muttalib ibn Hashim

| successor = Abu Lahab

| spouse = Fatima bint Asad

| children = {{plainlist|

}}

| father = Abd al-Muttalib

| mother = Fatima bint Amr

| relations = {{plainlist}}

Al-Harith (half-brother)
Abdullah (full-brother)
Al-Zubayr (full-brother)
Al-Abbas (half-brother)
Hamza (half-brother)
Hajl (half-brother)
Al-Muqawwim (half-brother)
Abū Lahab (half-brother)
Umm Hakim (full-sister)
Umayma (full-sister)
Arwa (full-sister)
Atika (full-sister)
Barra (full-sister)
Safiyya (half-sister)

| resting_place = Jannat al-Mu'alla Mecca

}}

Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib ({{langx|ar|أَبُو طَالِب بن عَبْد ٱلْمُطَّلِب|ʾAbū Ṭālib bin ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib}}; {{circa|535{{spaced ndash}}619}}) was the leader of Banu Hashim, a clan of the Qurayshi tribe of Mecca in the Hejazi region of the Arabian Peninsula. As he was the brother of Abdullah, the father of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad,Ibn Sa'd, Al-Tabaqat al-Kobra, Vol. 1, P. 93 he was the Islamic Prophet Muhammad’s uncle and father of Ali. After the death of his father Abd al-Muttalib ibn Hashim ibn Abd Manaf, he inherited this position as tribal chieftain, and the offices of Siqaya and Rifada.{{EI3|last=Rubin|first=Uri|year=2013}} He was well-respected in Mecca.{{cite book|last=Armstrong|first=Karen|title=Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet|year=1992|publisher=Harper Collins|location=San Francisco|page=77}}

According to general consensus of Sunni Islamic scholars, Abu Talib never converted to Islam.{{cite web | url=https://www.thesunniway.com/articles/item/246-was-abu-talib-a-muslim | title=Was Abu Talib a Muslim? }}{{cite web | url=https://www.thelastdialogue.org/article/abu-talib-the-uncle-of-prophet-muhammad-was-abu-talib-a-muslim/ | title=Abu Talib: The uncle of Prophet Muhammad. Was Abu Talib a Muslim? }}{{cite web | url=https://www.islamweb.net/ar/fatwa/8306/ | title=أبو طالب مات كافراً }}

Early life

Abu Talib was born in the city of Mecca in the Hijaz region in 535 CE. He was the son of the Hashimite chief, Abd al-Muttalib, and a brother of Muhammad's father, Abdullah, who had died before Muhammad's birth. After the death of Muhammad's mother Aminah bint Wahab, Muhammad, a child still, was taken into the care of his grandfather, Abd al-Muttalib. When Muhammad reached eight years of age, Abd al-Muttalib died. One of Muhammad's uncles was to take him in. The oldest, Al-Harith was not wealthy enough to accept guardianship for his nephew. Abu Talib, despite his poverty, took in Muhammad in an act of selfless generosity.{{cite book|last=Haykal|first=Muhammad Husayn|title=The Life of Muhammad|year=1976|publisher=North American Trust Publications|page=54}}

Although Abu Talib was responsible for providing Siqaya and Rifada (Food and Beverages) of Hajj pilgrims, he lived in poverty. In order to fulfill his obligations towards the pilgrims, he had to borrow money from his brother Abbas, which he failed to return, thus being forced to letting Abbas take over the duty. Nevertheless, his social position did not take any harm from this failure.{{Citation |title= Abu Talib, the Faithful of Quraysh |author= Abdullah Al Khunayzi |chapter= The Route of Life |date= 4 June 2015 |chapter-url=https://www.al-islam.org/abu-talib-faithful-quraysh-abdullah-al-khunayzi/chapter-1-route-life#personality}}

Muhammad loved his uncle, and Abu Talib loved him in return.{{cite book|last=Rubin|first=Uri|title=The Eye of the Beholder|year=1995|publisher=Darwin Press, Inc.|location=Princeton, New Jersey|page=93}} Abu Talib is remembered as a gifted poet, and many poetic verses in support of Muhammad are attributed to him.{{cite book|last=Lings|first=Martin|title=Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources|year=2006|publisher=Inner Traditions|location=Rochester, Vermont|page=33}} Once, as Abu Talib was about to leave for a trading expedition, Muhammad wept and could not bear being separated from him. To this Abu Talib responded, "By God I will take him with me, and we shall never part from each other."{{cite book|title=The History of al-Tabari|year=1988|publisher=State University of New York Press|location=Albany|page=44}}

Later in life, as an adult, Muhammad saw that Abu Talib was struggling financially after a severe drought. Muhammad decided to take charge of one of Abu Talib's children and he convinced Al-'Abbas to do the same. They discussed this matter with Abū Ṭālib, who asked that his favorite child 'Aqīl be left with him. Al-'Abbās chose Ja'far, and Muhammad chose 'Alī.Ibn Hisham, al-Sirah, Vol. I, p.162.Tārīkh Al-Tabarī (vol 2 p.63), Tārīkh ibn Al-Athīr (vol 2 p.24), Musnad of Aḥmed ibn Ḥanbal (vol 1 p.159), Al-Sīrat al-Nabawīyah by ibn Kathīr (vol 1 p.457-459).Sunan al-Tirmidhī (vol 2 p.301), Al-Ṭabaqāt Al-Kubrā - ibn Sa'd (vol 3 p.12), Usd Al-Ghābah (vol 4 p.17), Kanz al-'Ummāl (vol 6 p.400), Tārīkh Al-Ṭabarī (vol 2 p.55), Tārīkh Baghdād (vol 2 p.18){{cite book|last=Armstrong|first=Karen|title=Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet|year=1993|publisher=Harper Collins|location=San Francisco|page=81}}

Protecting Muhammad

In tribal society, a tribal affiliation is important, otherwise a man can be killed with impunity.{{cite book|last=Armstrong|first=Karen|title=Islam: A Short History|year=2000|publisher=Modern Library|location=New York|page=13}} As leader of the Banu Hashim, Abu Talib acted as a protector to Muhammad. After Muhammad began preaching the message of Islam, members of the other Qurayshite clans increasingly came to feel threatened by Muḥammad. In attempts to quiet him, they pressured Abū Ṭālib to silence his nephew or control him. Despite these pressures, Abu Talib maintained his support of Muḥammad, defending him from the other leaders of the Quraysh. Leaders of the Quraysh directly confronted Abu Talib several times. Abu Talib brushed them off and continued to support Muhammad even when it put a rift between him and the Quraysh. In one account, the Quraysh even threatened to fight the Banu Hashim over this conflict.{{cite book|last=Rubin|first=Uri|title=The Eye of the Beholder|year=1995|publisher=Darwin Press, Inc.|location=Princeton, New Jersey|page=150}} In a particular narration of one such confrontation, Abu Talib summoned Muhammad to speak with the Quraysh. Muhammad asked the Quraysh leaders to say the shahada and they were astounded.{{cite book|title=The History of al-Tabari|year=1985|publisher=State University Press|location=New York|page=95}}

The Quraysh even tried to bribe Abu Talib. They told Abu Talib that if he let them get hold of Muhammad, then he could adopt 'Umarah ibn al Walid ibn al Mughirah, the most handsome youth in Quraysh.{{cite book|title=The History of al-Tabari|year=1985|publisher=State University Press|location=New York|page=97}}{{cite book|last=Haykal|first=Muhammad Husayn|title=The Life of Muhammad|year=1976|publisher=North American Trust Publications|page=88}} When this also failed, the Quraysh elicited the support of other tribes to boycott trading with or marrying members of the Banu Hashim lineage. This boycott started seven years after Muhammad first received revelation and lasted for three years. The goal was to put pressure on the Hashimites and even starve them into submission.{{cite book|last=Armstrong|first=Karen|title=Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet|year=1993|publisher=Harper Collins|location=San Francisco|page=129}} For the sake of security, many members of the Banu Hashim moved near to Abu Talib, and the place became like a ghetto. This didn't cause undue hardship{{cite book|title=The History of al-Tabari|year=1985|publisher=State University Press|location=New York|page=xliv}} because many had family members in other tribes that would smuggle goods to them. Abu Talib's brother, Abu Lahab, sided with the Quraysh on this issue; he moved to a house in the district of Abd Shams to demonstrate support for the Quraysh.{{cite book|last=Lings|first=Martin|title=Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources|year=2006|publisher=Inner Traditions|location=Rochester, Vermont|page=90}} He thought Muhammad was either mad or an impostor.{{cite book|last=Lings|first=Martin|title=Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources|year=2006|publisher=Inner Traditions|location=Rochester, Vermont|page=52}}

Protecting Muhammad put considerable pressure on Abu Talib and the Banu Hashim. In one instance Abu Talib exclaimed to Muhammad, "Save me and yourself, and do not put a greater burden on me than I cannot bear." Muhammad responded, "Oh uncle! By God Almighty I swear, even if they should put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left that I abjure this cause, I shall not do so until God has vindicated it or caused me to perish in the process."{{cite book|last=Haykal|first=Muhammad Husayn|title=The Life of Muhammad|year=1976|publisher=North American Trust Publications|page=89}} Seeing his nephew's emotion, Abu Talib responded, "Go, nephew, and say what you like. By God, I will never hand you over for any reason."{{cite book|title=The History of al-Tabari|year=1985|publisher=State University Press|location=New York|page=96}}

Death

Abū Ṭālib died around 619 AD, at more than 80 years of age, about 10 years after the start of Muhammad's mission. This year is known as the Year of Sorrow for Muhammad, because not only did his uncle Abu Talib die, but also his wife Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, within a month of Abu Talib.

After Abu Talib's death, Muhammad was left unprotected. Abu Talib's brother and successor as the chief of the family, that is Abu Lahab, did not protect him, as he was an enemy of Muhammad, so Muhammad and his followers faced incredible persecution. Muhammad is quoted as exclaiming, "By God, Quraysh never harmed me so much as after the death of Abu Talib."{{cite book|last=Haykal|first=Muhammad Husayn|title=The Life of Muhammad|year=1976|publisher=North American Trust Publications|page=136}}{{cite book|last=Armstrong|first=Karen|title=Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet|year=1993|publisher=Harper Collins|location=San Francisco|page=135}} The early Muslims relocated to Abyssinia and then to Medina in order to escape persecution by the Quraysh.

Views of different sects

The memory of Abu Talib is influenced by political aims of the Sunni and Shia Muslims.{{cite book|last=Rubin|first=Uri|title=The Eye of the Beholder|year=1995|publisher=Darwin Press, Inc.|location=Princeton, New Jersey|page=149}}

=Sunni=

It is reported in Sunni Islam that the Quranic verse 28:56 ("O Prophet! Verily, you guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He will") was revealed concerning Abu Talib's embrace of Islam at the hands of his nephew.{{cite book|author1=Diane Morgan|title=Essential Islam: A Comprehensive Guide to Belief and Practice|url=https://archive.org/details/essentialislamco0000morg|url-access=registration|date=2010|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9780313360251|page=[https://archive.org/details/essentialislamco0000morg/page/114 114]}}{{cite book|author1=Muhammad Saed Abdul-Rahman|title=The Meaning and Explanation of the Glorious Qur'an (Vol 7)|date=2009|publisher=MSA Publication Limited|isbn=9781861796615|page=202}} Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum called him a Hellman for not accepting Islam, where Muhammad said, for associating with him and helping him, he would be placed in the shallows of Hellfire, or else he would have sunk into the abyss of Hell.Agreed upon Narrated by al-Bukhari No. 3883 and Muslim No. 209

Family

File:Abu Talib ibn Abdul Muttalib.jpg

Abu Talib was married to Fatima bint Asad. They had four sons:

Talib, He was his father's firstborn child, and Abu Talib received his kunya from him. Little is known about him; he had no children and his body was never discovered after around {{circa}} 624.
'Aqīl ibn Abī Ṭālib (Abu Muslim), married Fatima bint Uqba and had many children: Abu Sa'id, Muslim, Musa, Abd Allah, Ramla, Ja'far, Muhammad and Abd al-Rahman.
Ja'far ibn Abī Ṭālib (Abu Awn), married Asma bint Umays and had 3 sons: Abd Allah, Muhammad and Awn also had a daughter: Na'mi.
'Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (Abu Hasan), married a number of women, including Fatima bint Muhammad. He had many children like Hasan, Husayn, Abbas, Zaynab, Umm Kulthum and Muhammad.

and three daughters:

Fākhita bint Abī Ṭālib (Umm Hani), married Hubayra ibn Abi Wahb and had four sons: Umar, Fulan, Yusuf, Amr and two daughters: Hani and Ja'dah
Jumāna bint Abī Ṭālib (Umm Sufyan), married Abu Sufyan ibn al-Harith and had two sons, Sufyan and Ja'far, Ali
Rayṭa bint Abī Ṭālib (Umm Talib), married Awn ibn Umays and had a son, TalibMuhammad ibn Saad. Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Tabir. Translated by Haq, S. M. (1967). Ibn Sa'd's Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir, Vol. I Parts I & II, pp. 135-136. Delhi: Kitab Bhavan.Muhammad ibn Saad. Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Tabir, vol. 8. Translated by Bewley, A. (1995). The Women of Madina, p. 35. London: Ta-Ha Publishers.

=Education of his children=

Muhammad and his wife, Khadija bint Khuwaylid, educated Ali
Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib and his wife, Lubaba bint al-Harith, educated Talib
Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib and his wife, Salma bint Umays, educated Ja'far
Al-Zubayr ibn Abd al-Muttalib and his wife, Atika bint Abi Wahb, educated Aqil
Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib and his wife, Fatima bint Asad, educated Fakhita, Jumana and Rayta

=Family tree=

{{chart/start|style=font-size:95%;line-height:100%;|align=center}}

{{chart | KiM |y| FbS | | | | | KiM=Kilab ibn Murrah|FbS=Fatimah bint Sa'd}}

{{chart | ZiK | | QiK |y| HbH | ZiK=Zuhrah ibn Kilab
(progenitor of Banu Zuhrah)
maternal great-great-grandfather|QiK=Qusai ibn Kilab
paternal great-great-great-grandfather|HbH=Hubba bint Hulail
paternal great-great-great-grandmother}}

{{chart | AMZ | | | | AMQ |y| AbM | AMZ=`Abd Manaf ibn Zuhrah
maternal great-grandfather|AMQ=`Abd Manaf ibn Qusai
paternal great-great-grandfather|AbM=Atikah bint Murrah
paternal great-great-grandmother}}

{{chart | WiA | | | | | | HiA |y| SbA | WiA=Wahb ibn `Abd Manaf
maternal grandfather|HiA=Hashim ibn 'Abd Manaf
(progenitor of Banu Hashim)
paternal great-grandfather|SbA=Salma bint `Amr
paternal great-grandmother}}

{{chart | |!| | | FbA |y|~|~| AuM |~|~|~|~|y| HbW | FbA=Fatimah bint `Amr
paternal grandmother|AuM=`Abdul-Muttalib
paternal grandfather|HbW=Halah bint Wuhayb
paternal step-grandmother}}

{{chart | Ami |y| AiA |!| AZi |!| Har | | Ham | | Ami=Aminah
mother|AiA=`Abdullah
father|AZi=Az-Zubayr
paternal uncle|Har=Harith
paternal half-uncle|Ham=Hamza
paternal half-uncle}}

{{chart | Thu |!| Hal | | ATi | | AAi | | ALa | | oth | Thu=Thuwaybah
first nurse|Hal=Halimah
second nurse|ATi=Abu Talib
paternal uncle|AAi=`Abbas
paternal half-uncle|ALa=Abu Lahab
paternal half-uncle|oth=6 other sons
and 6 daughters}}

{{chart |F|~| Muh |y| KbK |!| | | AAA | Muh=Muhammad|KbK=Khadija
first wife|AAA=`Abd Allah ibn `Abbas
paternal cousin}}

{{chart |:|,|-| Fat |t|~| Ali | | |!| | QiM | | AiM | Fat=Fatimah
daughter|Ali=Ali
paternal cousin and son-in-law
family tree, descendants|QiM=Qasim
son|AiM=`Abd-Allah
son}}

{{chart |:|!| | | | ZbM | | RbM |y| UbA |~| UKM | | ZiH | ZbM=Zainab
daughter|RbM=Ruqayyah
daughter|UbA=Uthman
second cousin and son-in-law
family tree|UKM=Umm Kulthum
daughter|ZiH=Zayd
adopted son}}

{{chart |:|!| | AiZ | | UbZ | | AAU | | | | RbZ |7| UiZ | AiZ=Ali ibn Zainab
grandson|UbZ=Umamah bint Zainab
granddaughter|AAU=`Abd-Allah ibn Uthman
grandson|RbZ=Rayhana bint Zayd
wife|UiZ=Usama ibn Zayd
adoptive grandson}}

{{chart |:| MiA | | Has | | Hus | | UKA | | ZbA |D| SbH | MiA=Muhsin ibn Ali
grandson|Has=Hasan ibn Ali
grandson|Hus=Husayn ibn Ali
grandson
family tree|UKA=Umm Kulthum bint Ali
granddaughter|ZbA=Zaynab bint Ali
granddaughter|SbH=Safiyya
tenth wife}}

{{chart |:| AbB |D| SbZ |:| Uma |D| USa |D| JbH |D| MbH | AbB=Abu Bakr
father-in-law
family tree|SbZ=Sawda
second wife| Uma=Umar
father-in-law
family tree|USa=Umm Salama
sixth wife|JbH=Juwayriya
eighth wife|MbH=Maymuna
eleventh wife}}

{{chart |L| Ais |L| ZbK |L| HbU |L| ZbJ |L| RbA |L| MaQ | Ais=Aisha
third wife
Family tree|ZbK=Zaynab
fifth wife|HbU=Hafsa
fourth wife|ZbJ=Zaynab
seventh wife|RbA=Umm Habiba
ninth wife|MaQ=Maria al-Qibtiyya
wife}}

{{chart | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | IiM |IiM=Ibrahim
son}}