Publisher's Synopsis
Abu Ṭalib, the chief of Batha, was the protective shield of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) from the dawn of the prophetic mission until the day Allah called him back. He stood like an impenetrable barrier between paganism-the dominant force that held sway over the world at the time-and its aims to suffocate the divine message and its advocates.
In this path, he demonstrated countless renowned stances, the summary of which would require a dedicated book. Yet history, with its open pages, lies before you. It suffices to read the accounts of the days when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) and his kin were persecuted, subjected to a comprehensive boycott, and confined in the Valley of Abu Ṭalib. There, you will see that Abu Ṭalib was the sole figure who vowed to protect and guard them, ensuring their sustenance. And enough as a witness to the greatness of his status with Allah and His Messenger, that the greatest Messenger, who does not speak from his own desire, felt a deep sorrow and his grief was stirred after the death of his uncle and supporter, Abu Ṭalib. He named that year "the Year of Sorrow" and could no longer remain in Mecca, compelled instead to migrate to Medina. As for Abu Ṭalib's sayings and poetry, documented in books of biographies, histories, and hadith-narrated by both critics and supporters-they explicitly affirm his recognition of Muhammad's (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) prophethood, trustworthiness, truthfulness, and that he received revelation from his Lord as the Seal of the Prophets. These verses express the perfection of Abu Ṭalib's faith, his sincere devotion to the bearer of the divine message, and his unwavering dedication to defending Islam and safeguarding its nascent community. All These poetic works have been preserved through widespread transmission (tawatur). Even if individual lines are not independently established as mutawatir, their collective weight forms a conclusive proof of one undeniable reality: his belief in and affirmation of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). This is akin to how each individual account of Ali's (peace be upon him) heroic battles, though transmitted singularly, collectively establish definitive knowledge of his bravery. The same applies to narrations about Hatim's generosity or Ahnaf's forbearance... Moreover, narrations from the Prophet's family and descendants-particularly the Commander of the Faithful, Ali (peace be upon him), and his infallible children (peace be upon them all)-explicitly confirm Abu Ṭalib's faith. No contradictory report has been relayed from them. Rather, they emphasized that "If the faith of Abu Ṭalib were placed on one scale and the faith of all creation on the other, Abu Ṭalib's faith would outweigh it."[1] They wrote to some of their trusted companions: "If you doubt Abu Ṭalib's faith, your fate will be the Fire."[2] The Household of the Prophet knows best what lies within it. Despite all this, some with sickness in their hearts-those who missed the chance to harm the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) during his lifetime and to oppose his call-have sought to undermine one of Islam's steadfast pillars by casting doubt on the faith of Abu Ṭalib. This attempt ended in utter failure, for the sun's light cannot be obscured by a sieve. A group of eminent Islamic scholars and luminaries rose to refute them, exposing their schemes and plots and laying bare their base motives. [1] Al-Ḥujjah ?ala al-dhab ila takfir Abi Ṭalib, p. 85; Sharḥ Nahj al-Balaghah, vol. 14, p. 68. [2] Al-Ḥujjah ?ala al-dhab ila takfir Abi Ṭalib, pp. 77 and 82; Kanz al-Fawa?id, vol. 1, p. 183.
