Abu Talib (a.s)

Chapter One : the Route of Life a House

In a dark milieu and ignorant environment ... a milieu that fell under obscurity and unenlightenment concerning the religious view where the idols were so many that every tribe had its gods and every family had its gods! In fact every person had his or her god that no one participated him/her with.

In that milieu and in that environment where the feeling was inactive, the sense was lost and the eyes were closed to see every sign showing that God was but one and only with on participant in His rule.

In that milieu where the strong wind invaded to change the divine religion and the true belief of Abraham to the worship of pieces of stone and wood, which didn't hear, see or perceive and didn't benefit or harm. Man hewed his god with his hands to be his intercessor with Allah. In that milieu where the night covered with its darkness and from among those message of people with their closed eyes, locked hearts and dead senses, who lived in that darkness and that abyss of unenlightenment ... from among thousands and thousands of people a man might break the rule and from among millions of houses a house might be different.

Among these and those of the crowded masses of people a man might excel to see with a new eye and a full-blown heart a ray of light, which would light his way through that darkness ... he would read in the divine books to quiet his heart and conscience after long doubting where he passed by a critical stage, which was the worse stage of change and development with all its fears and fatigues.

He read in those books to find that they brought good news about a new prophet. He saw the nature informing of a new prophet to be sent. He found everything around him referring to the necessity of the existence of that prophet and confirming that his expected coming would be soon. He found in the books what defined the land of that prophet. Was it but Mecca, from which that light would shine? His heart frisked and his soul became refreshed. He wished he would be one of those, who would get a bit of that shining ray and to defend that guiding light.

And from among these and those ... and from among those houses, which no one of them was without a piece of stone or wood that every one in the house had to prostrate himself or herself before and to tend to servilely. It was the last thing to be farewelled and the first thing to be received when one was to travel. From this still god they expected help and success. The same hands, which made this god, extended towards it praying, begging and fearing so much. That was the utmost decline of the intellectuality, the human values and the creative mind of man.

From among those houses there was one house that no thread of that darkness entered and the lamp, which Prophet Abraham (s) had lit, was still alight and no wind could put it out. This house still believed in the true belief of Abraham. This house never doubted about the truthfulness of the mission of Abraham, by which he had proved the monotheism of the One and Only God.

This house, which was related to Abraham in two ways; the wasy of progeny and fatherhood and the way of faith and monotheism, was but continuance of the mission of Abraham (s). In this faithful house, which neither ignorance nor polytheism had soiled ... in this honored house Abu Talib opened his eyes towards the route of life. He saw in this house a life different from the life he saw among people and he lived a life different from that people lived. He saw in the chief of this house -his father Abdul Muttalib- a man different from the other man. He didn't see in those people save masses of fleshes and bones or dolls without a bit of reason. He opened his eyes to see as what Di'bil (1) later on would open his eyes to see and to cry: "I open my eyes towards many, but I see none!"

He saw in his father, Abdul Muttalib, the obeyed leader and the respected man, who carried out whatever he said and judged and no one would deny his judgement. He saw so generous. He used to serve banquets that even the rider would get his share from upon his camel. Some food was put on the tops of the mountains that birds and beasts might eat from until he was called (the profluent) and (the feeder of the birds of the sky). He prayed Allah and Allah responded to his prayers. He was pleased with by Allah in the heaven and was praised on the earth; therefore he was called (Shaybatul Hamd; the old man of praise).

He saw in his father many excellences that no one other than his father had. Abdul Muttalib enacted many laws that showed his guidance, sublimity, purity of innerself and the great faith that he compiled with what Abraham (s) had preached at. He forbade himself from

____________ 1 He was a famous poet. He lived during the Abbasid age. He used to defend the Hashemites and to criticize the rulers in his poems.

drinking wine, forbade marrying the mahrams, (1) limited the circumambulation around the Kaaba with seven turns after it was unlimited, forbade circumambulating around the Kaaba nakedly, ordered to cut the stealer's hand, forbade adultery, forbade burying newborn girls alive, forbade gambling, forbade eating from the meat of the animals sacrificed for the idols and enacted carrying out the vow. (2) Islam came and ratified all those rules enacted by Abdul Muttalib.

Abdul Muttalib associated with Harb bin Umayya bin Abd Shams -the father of Mo'awiya- for some time. One of the Jews was under the protection of Abdul Muttalib. One day this Jew spoke roughly to Harb in one of the markets of Tehama. Harb became angry. He incited someone to assassinate the Jew. He inherited treachery from his grandfather Abd Shams. Treachery was a characteristic of this family along the ages. When Abdul Muttalib knew about the doing of Harb, he deserted him for he didn't want to associate with a treacherous man. But he didn't let Harb get free. He forced him to pay one hundred she-camels to the killed Jew's cousin as blood-money. (3)

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1 Mahram: the near relative, with whom marriage is not permissible. 2 Refer to as-Seera al-Halabiyya, vol.1 p.5, As-Seera an-Nabawiyya, vol.1 p.21, Biharul Anwar, vol.6 p.38, al-Abbas p.17 and Yanabee'ul Mawadda, vol.2 p.90 3 Ibid p.4 Ibnul Atheer, in his Tareekh p.209, mentioned this event in another way. He said that the Jew was a rich merchant and that made Harb envious and angry. He sent him someone to kill him and seize his wealth. The author added that they prosecuted their suit to an-Najashi the king of Abyssinia but he refused to intervene between them. Then Nufeil bin Abdul Ozza al-Adawi judged between them. He said to Harb: "O Abu Amr! Do you dispute with a man, who is taller than you, more handsome, stronger, less blamable, has more sons, more generous, more able to quarrel than you ... etc." It was mentioned in Haleef Beni Makhzoom p.27 in a way someone different and it was mentioned in al-Bayan wet-Tebyeen, vol.1 p.293.

Besides all that Abdul Muttalib refused to lower his head to prostrate before an idol, to worship a solid stone or a ragged piece of wood where he was of high reason, prudence and acumen. (1)

He was the first to devote himself to God in the cave of Hara'. When the month of Ramadan came, he went up the mountain to worship for some nights and to think about the loftiness and the greatness of Allah. Ebraha, the king of Yemen, came to destroy the Kaaba. He seized some camels of Abdul Muttalib. Abu Talib saw his father when asking Ebraha for his camels but not mentioning anything about the Kaaba, which Ebraha had come to destroy. Abdul Muttalib was about to be lowly before his son but he answered as a certain faithful to Allah: "I am the lord of my camels and the Kaaba has its Lord to guard it."

Abdul Muttalib went to the Kaaba. He held the ferrule of the gate of the Kaaba and began to talk to his god reciting:

O my God! I don't hope but you. O God! Save Your sanctuary from them! The enemy of the House (Kaaba) is YOur enemy, So prevent them from destroying Your courtyard! (2)

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1 Ibn Abul Heed said in his Sharh Nahjol Balagha, vol.1 p.39 when he talked about the nation that Allah had sent Muhammad (s) as prophet for: "Those, who didn't deny the existence of the Creator and the resurrection among the Arabs, were very few. They were God-fearing and pious. They refrained from committing obscenities. Among them were Abdullah (the Prophet's father), Abdul Muttalib and his son Abu Talib ... etc."

2 Refer to al-Kamil by ibnul Atheer, vol.1 p.261, Biharul Anwar, vol.6 p.23 and Murooj ath-Thahab, vol.2 p.128.

Then he recited again in a way that he was certain about the result:

O Allah! Man strives to defend his baggage, So defend Your possession! Let their cross and their cunning not defeat Your cunning. If You do, it will be a doing that You complete Your doings with It is You, Whom we hope when oppressors come. They will flee with disgrace or You will perish them there. I have heard of no more obscene than them at all. They brought all of their people and the elephant to captivate Your people. They intended to plot against your sanctum not heeding Your loftiness. If You will leave them alone with Your Kaaba, it is Your will.

Then he said: "O people of Quraysh, he can never destroy the house (the Kaaba). It has a Lord, Who will protect it." Then he prayed Allah and Allah sent flocks of birds throwing stones upon Ebraha and his soldiers' heads. Those stones were quicker in killing than the atomic bombs but they only killed the criminals without harming any innocent one not like the atomic bombs when annihilating the innocent nations for these were made by man while those were made by the Creator. ***

Abu Talib was among his nine brothers when his father Abdul Muttalib taught them his valuable lessons, ordered them to obey the divine orders, forbade them from committing bad doings, ordered them to avoid injustice and oppression, encouraged them to keep to the nobilities of character and warned them of a day where everyone would get one's reward according to what one had done whether good or bad. Abu Talib often heard his father saying like this: "No unjust one leaves this life unless he is revenged on and is afflicted with punishment."

Someone defied Abdul Muttalib when an unjust man of Sham died without facing any evil throughout his life. Abdul Muttalib answered: "By Allah, there is another world after this world, in which the benevolent will be rewarded for their benevolence and the evil doers will be punished for their evil doing." (1)

Abu Talib saw his father Abdul Muttalib when he was newsed that his son Abdullah (Abdul Muttalib's son) had begot a newborn baby ... this newborn baby, which the universe had been waiting for to receive the shine of its brightness. As soon as this baby faced the universe, the grandfather was newsed. He came to the baby's mother asking her to tell him of all what she saw during the giving birth to her baby. Then he took the baby to the Kaaba to pray Allah and to thank Him for this great favor. He began to recite:

Praise be to Allah, Who granted me this good boy He masters over all the boys although he is yet in cradle I pray Allah to protect him until I see him be a man I pray Allah to protect him from the evil of every spiteful and every envier. (2)

Abdul Muttalib took much care of this orphan (Muhammad) and tried his best to bring him up. He looked at this boy with a deep inspective look piercing through the future and seeing that this orphan would make the earth; east or west, submit to his greatness and would make the hearts pulse with his love and follow his mission and the tongues speak of him and praise him with the signs of honoring constantly. A carpet was spread for Abdul Muttalib, the respected leader, the glorified man among Quraysh and the obeyed chief among the Arabs, around the Kaaba and he was

____________ 1 Refer to As-Seera an-Nabawiyya, vol.2 p.21, as-Seera al-Halabiyya, vol.1 p.4, al-Abbas p.17 and al-Ghadeer, vol.7 p.352. 2 Refer to A'yan ash-Shia, vol.2 p.6-7, Murooj ath-Thahab, vol.2 p.281 and Biharul Anwar, vol.6 p.79,91.

surrounded by the chiefs of Quraysh but no one of them could tread on an end of his carpet rather than to sit with him upon it. But this orphan child came, with his ambition and determination, overstepping all of the people to sit beside his grandfather or sometimes he might precede and sit in his grandfather's place and when his grandfather came and they wanted to make this orphan away from his place, Abdul Muttalib would scold whoever dared to put this great child aside! Once he said: "Leave him alone! He will be of great importance." Abdul Muttalib seated this orphan child beside him and patted on his back and the signs of cheer, contentment and happiness appeared on his face. He would never disappoint the fresh hope in this child's heart! Once again he said to the one, who wanted to prevent Muhammad from sitting on his grandfather's carpet: "Let my son sit! He feels that he will be an important man. I hope that he will reach a high glory that no one of the Arabs had reached before him no any one will reach after him."

A third time he said: "Return my son to my seat! He forefeels of a great rule. He will be of great importance." (1) Once he recommended Abu Talib to take care of him: Protect him and keep to him. Be as mother to him. Don't let anything bad happen to him." (2) Abdul Muttalib was not of those, who spoke at random, nor would he ramble or rave with what he didn't know. He knew well that his grandson would have a great standing ... and what a standing it would be! There were many evidences showed that Abdul

____________ 1 As-Seera al-Halabiyya, vol.1 p.129, As-Seera an-Nabawiyya, vol.1 p.23, as-Seera al-Hishamiyya, vol.1 p.178, Biharul Anwar, vol.6 p.42, al-Abbas p.18. 2 Al-Maaliss as-Saniyya, vol.4 p.36.

Muttalib had predicted with his sharp insight that his grandson would be of great importance. In fact his own life and honest conduct was one of those evidences of the importance of his grandson. He was certain of what he had predicted for all the surrounding and phenomena certified his feeling.

Some people of Midlaj, (1) who knew about archeology, said to Abdul Muttalib: "Take much care for Muhammad. We haven't seen any foot more similar to the foot (of Abraham) in the shrine." (2) When Sayf bin This Yazn al-Himyari became the king of Abyssinia two years after the birth of Muhammad, the delegations of the Arabs set out to congratulate him after restoring the rule of his ancestors. In the front was the delegation of Quraysh, whose chief was Abdul Muttalib. Abdul Muttalib stood up to do his speech in front of Sayf. His speech was a sign of eloquence that made Sayf bow before this nonesuch personality and glorified leader. Sayf welcomed them warmly and they became his guests.

It happened that their stay lasted somehow long with Sayf as guests until a month passed. Sayf bin Thi Yazn approximated Abdul Muttalib to him. He wanted to tell him about an important secret thinking that Abdul Muttalib hadn't known about it. He wanted to tell him about something that would have the dignity of life and the virtue after death for all of the human beings and that Abdul Muttalib would have the better share and the best luck of it. He said to him: "If a boy is born in Tehama having a mole between his shoulders, he will be of great importance and you will have the leading by virtue of him until the day of punishment." Then he added after saying something to Abdul Muttalib: "His name is Muhammad. His father and mother die. He is adopted by

____________ 1 It was one of the Arab tribes at that time. 2 Refer to as-Seera al-Halabiyya, vol.1 p.129, Biharul Anwar, vol.6 p.48, Tathkhiratul Khawass p.8 and A'yan ash-Shia, vol.2 p.10.

his grandfather and his uncle." Then he removed the cover and disclosed the secret: "I swear by the House (the Kaaba) that you are his grandfather definitely, O Abdul Muttalib!" (1)

Then Abdul Muttalib prostrated himself before his God thanking Him for this great blessing. He raised his head happily and smilingly to tell the king about something of the life of this great prophet: "His father and mother died and I and his uncle have adopted him." (2) Those were some evidences Abdul Muttalib saw besides many others that the life of his grandson was full of. And if there was but one evidence, it would be enough to prove that his grandson Muhammad was the very one, who would be that expected prophet, about whom the divine Book of the previous prophets had talked.

Some barren passed. The rain stopped and the water became rate. The green grass yellowed and that torrential milk of the udders dried. Life became so difficult. Grief overcame the faces. Fear of the unknown darkened the eyes. No one was to intercede for them save Abdul Muttalib. With his great spirit they asked him to intercede with God. The heaven rained heavily and life refreshed again. The prayer of the intercessor was responded by his God to revive those dying souls after the loss of monies and the death of cattle.

A vision in the sleep had led them to this man, who was notable near Allah, to intercede for them and that his intercession wouldn't be denied. It was a vision that talked about honored qualities and amiable descriptions. (1) Abdul Muttalib, surrounded by a halo of cadets and

____________ 1 Refer to A'yan ash-Shia, vol.2 p.9 2 Refer to as-Seera al-Halabiyya, vol.1 p.135-137, As-Seera an-Nabawiyya, vol.1 p.66-68,79 and Biharul Anwar, vol.6 p.28. 3 Ibid p.131-133 and Sharh Nahjol Balagha, vol.2 p.255 to know more about this vision.

groups of phratries of Quraysh, kissed the corner of the Kaaba on their wasy to the top of Mountain Abu Qubays. He took his grandson Muhammad with him. His lips uttered with prayers coming out of a sensitive faithful heart: "O Allah, these are your slaves and sons of your slaves and your bondmaids and daughters of your bondmaids. You see what we are afflicted with. The barren years exhausted us. They did away with all the cattle and they are about to do with the selves. O Allah, take away the barrenness and bring us rain, fertility and revival!" What a truthful prayer it was! As soon as it ascended to the Heaven, the Beneficent God responded to it.

As soon as they left the mountain, the sky was covered with heavy clouds bearing fertility and revival and driving away the barrenness. It began to rain and the valleys were filled with goodness. The lips smiled, the hearts danced and the eyes shined with happiness ... but nevertheless some faces frowned, some lips writhed, some hearts were disgusted and some eyes scattered rays of grudge! The caravan was about to reach Mecca when a sweet sound came out of one of the houses of Mecca expressing joy and happiness after Allah had responded to the prayer of Abdul Muttalib. It was Raqeeqa bint Abu Sayfi bin Sham, whose lips announced her sweet verses:

By Shaybatul Hamd Allah irrigated our country After we lost the means of life and the rain retarded much. The valley flowed with water where cattle and trees revive. It was a blessing of Allah and thanks to this man that Mudhar had never newsed with better than. What a blessed name it was that Allah made the clouds rain for the sake of him, who had no similar among people at all. (1)

____________ 1 The surname of Abdul Muttalib.

When it rained, the valleys were filled with water and the pastures became green but the country of Qayss and Mudhar had no chance of having a share of that. The clouds didn't water their lands.

Their chiefs and notable men met to discuss the matter. They agreed that no one but Abdul Muttalib, whom they would resort to. It was he, to whose prayer Allah had responded and watered Mecca from the heaven and the earth. (2) Allah wouldn't refuse a prayer coming out of the heart of this old man, who had a high position near Him. They said: "We have been in such difficulty of living and barrenness. Allah has watered people according to the prayer of Abdul Muttalib so let's go to him that he may pray to Allah to have mercy upon us!"

They reached Mecca and went to Abdul Muttalib. He welcomed them. Their speaker stood up to inform Abdul Muttalib of their want by saying: "Barren years have afflicted us and we have heard about your effectiveness and about what you have done. We have come to you that you may intercede for us with Him, Who has responded to you and made the clouds water your people." Next day Abdul Muttalib went to achieve his promise

____________ 1 As-Seera al-Halabiyya, vol.1 p.133, As-Seera an-Nabawiyya, vol.1 p.64, Biharul Anwar, vol.6 p.127-128, Sharh Nahjol Balagha, vol.2 p.255. 2 With reference to that when he was ordered to dig the well of Zamzam ... and when water welled from under the hoofs of his horse when he was on his way to the judgement of Quraysh that his companions were about to die of thirst but the people of Quraysh refused to give them even a sip of water. Allah granted him that flowing water, from which he watered the all even those who prevented him, and hence they submitted to him before they reached to the rule. History repeated itself when Mo'awiya prevented Imam Ali and his army from water but when Imam Ali controlled the drinking fountains, he didn't prevent them from it ... and then the same story of Yazeed with Imam Husayn!

to them. He went towards Mountain Arafat surrounded by his sons and people. Among them was his beloved orphan grandson Muhammad. He took his seat and his honored grandson was in his lab. He raised his hands towards the Heaven. His eyes shone with faith; his heart pulsed with sincerity and his tongue prayed submissively: "O Allah, the God of the swift lighting, the God of the pealing thunder, the God of the gods and the Solver of the difficulties! These are Qayss and Mudhar, (1) who are the best among the peoples. Their heads are disheveled and their backs are hunched. They complain to You their weakness and the loss of selves and monies! O Allah, give them thundering clouds and pouring sky to make their land smile and their damage disappear!"

As soon as he uttered these words, a thundering dark cloud was traveling towards him, as a response for his pray, on its way towards the barren country of those people. Then Abdul Muttalib said to them: "O people of Qayss and Mudhar, go back! You are watered." (2)

Abu Talib began to recite:

Our father was the intercessor, by whom people were watered by heavy thundering clouds. Before they were about to leave the place, they saw the rain-clouds coming with goodness. Qayss came to us after distress and disaster ... after it was bitten by a bad time. They didn't leave until Allah rewarded their lands responding to Shayba (3) Rains came to turn their lands green. (4)

The life of Abdul Muttalib went on shiningly with the signs of the expected prophet, about whom he had read in the divine books, and when he knew that it was his

____________ 1 Qayss and Mudhar were two tribes of the Arabia. 2 Refer to as-Seera al-Halabiyya, vol.1 p.133 and As-Seera an-Nabawiyya, vol.1 p.65. 3 Abdul Muttalib. 4 Ithbatul Wasiyya p.87.

grandson, he embraced him to his chest and became his merciful educator. Abdul Muttalib wouldn't forget his orphan, who occupied his heart and became more preferable even to his own sons, for a moment. He wouldn't forget him even in the last moment of his long life, which lasted for one hundred and twenty years according to one saying and more than eighty-five according to another saying.

When he was dying, he turned his eyes towards his sons, who surrounded him, to choose one among them in order to entrust him with a task that busied his mind too much. It was not an ordinary task. He had to choose the most suitable one for the task to die with delighted eyes. His sight roved here and there until it met Abu Talib, whom no one was better than to undertake this heavy task, besides that he had participated in carrying out the task since the light of this shinning lamp had shone:

O Abd Manaf' I entrust you with this alone one after me. (2) Abu Talib accepted this task willingly and delightfully. He recited: You don't need to recommend me to my duty,

I have heard of the most of wonders, from every bishop and scholar. The monk's saying - by the virtue of Allah - became true. (3)

Abdul Muttalib said again to Abu Talib: "O Abu Talib!! Take much care of this alone one, who had neither smelt his father's smell nor tasted his mother's pity. Consider him as the liver to your body! I have left all my sons to trust you with him because you are the son of his

____________ 1 It was the name of Abu Talib. Abu Talib was his surname. 2 Refer to A'yan ash-Shia, vol.3 p.7, vol.39 p.125, Omdat at-Talib p.6, al-Manaqib, vol.1 p.21, Biharul Anwar, vol.6 p.47 and Mo'jamul Quboor, vol.1 p.183. 3 Al-Manaqib, vol.1 p.21, al-Abbas p.19, A'yan sh-Shia, vol. 39 p.125.

father's mother. Know (1) that you are to follow him as possible as you can and to support him with your tongue, hand and money. By Allah, he will be the master over you and he will rule as on one of my ancestors had ever ruled. Do you accept this?" Abu Talib said: "I accept and Allah is the witness of this." He stretched his hand and patted on his son Abu Talib's hand. He said his last word to receive the death with comfortable conscience after being assured about this important task: "Now death becomes easy to me." He began to flood him with kisses of pity and sympathy of a merciful father saying: "Witness that I have never seen among my sons one more beautiful or more sweet-smelling than you." (2) ____________ 1 In al-Majaliss as-Saniyya, vol.4 p.37 and Biharul Anwar, vol.6 p.43 there is an addition after this: "O Abu Talib, if you remain alive until his days, you will know that I am the most discerning and the most knowing about him ... etc." 2 Refer to Biharul Anwar, vol.6 p.43. It was mentioned in another ways in Ithbatul Wasiyya p.107 and Al-Hujja p.77.