Abū Ṭālib’s behavior toward the Prophet (ṣ) is indicative of his faith

When a just and fair person considers all these eloquent literary works, which bespeak with utmost explicitness of the conviction and belief of Abū Ṭālib in the One God and the prophethood of the Holy Prophet (ṣ), he will realize the soundness of the Shī‘ah’s view concerning Abū Ṭālib’s true faith, and feel regret about the groundless accusations made by some writers for political reasons against the true believer of Quraysh, the Prophet of God’s uncle and great defender of the religion in the difficult conditions of the early period of Islam.

2. Abū Ṭālib’s behavior toward the Prophet (ṣ) is indicative of his faith

All renowned Muslim historians mention Abū Ṭālib’s self-sacrifice to defend the Messenger of Allah (ṣ) as an indicative sign of his firm faith.

With the aim of protecting Islam and guarding the Prophet (ṣ), Abū Ṭālib preferred remaining with the Messenger of Allah (ṣ) in isolation for three years of life in the Valley of Abū Ṭālib [Sha‘b Abū Ṭālib] to being the head of the Quraysh. He remained with the Prophet (ṣ) till the termination of the economic (and social) boycott against the Muslims, enduring all kinds of tribulations and intolerable circumstances.[1]

In addition to this, Abū Ṭālib urged his own beloved son, ‘Alī (‘a), to always accompany and assist the Messenger of Allah (ṣ), asking him to attend to the Prophet (ṣ) in the pressing circumstances of the early period of Islam.

In his Sharḥ Nahj al-Balāghah, Ibn Abī’l-Ḥadīd al-Mu‘tazilī narrates that Abū Ṭālib said to his son, ‘Alī (‘a): “The Messenger of Allah invites you to nothing but goodness. So, be always at his side.”[2]

It is clear that Abū Ṭālib’s service to the Prophet (ṣ) and his sincere self-sacrifice in defending the holy sanctity of Islam confirm the idea of Abū Ṭālib’s faith.

For this reason, the great Muslim scholar, Ibn Abī’l-Ḥadīd refers in his verses to Abū Ṭālib’s major role in protecting and guarding the Messenger of Allah (ṣ) and his pure creed, and says:

فقاما شخصًا الدّين مثل لما               ابنه و أبوطالب ولولا

الحماما جسّ بيثربّ وهٰذا           حامىٰ و آوىٰ بمكّة فذاك

تعامىٰ بصير أو لغىٰ جهول            طالب أبي مجد ضرّ وما

Had it not been for Abū Ṭālib and his son, the religion (of Islam) would have never been established.

One (Abū Ṭālib) gave refuge and protection to him (Prophet) and the other (his son ‘Alī) put himself in the whirlpool of death in Yathrib.[3]

The splendor of Abū Ṭālib will not be undermined by a nonsense-talking ignorant or an informed one who is unwilling to see the truth.[4]