3. Abū Ṭālib’s will and testament is a clear testimony to his true faith
Renowned historians of the Muslim world such as Al-Ḥalabī ash-Shāfi‘ī in his Sīrah, and Muḥammad ad-Diyār al-Bakrī in Tārīkh al-Khamīs, mentions Abū Ṭālib in which he calls upon his people to assist the Messenger of Allah (ṣ):
منكم أحد لايسلك والله حماةً، ولحزبه ولاة، له كونوا قريش يامعشر
مدّة لنفسي كان ولو سعد، إلاّ بهديه أحد يأخذ ولا رشد إلاّ سبيله
.هلك ثمّ .الدّواهي عنه لدفعت و الهزائز عنه لكففت تأخّر ولأجلي
O my kinsmen! Be his friends and the supporters of his party. By Allah! Whoever follows him becomes prosperous. If death would delay, I would have warded off all the dangers that come up against him. (Then, he made his last breath.)[1]
4. The Messenger of Allah’s love and affection to Abū Ṭālib testifies to the latter’s faith
On various occasions, the Messenger of Allah (ṣ) praised his uncle Abū Ṭālib and expressed his love and affection to him, of which we shall cite two instances:
a. A group of historians have narrated that the Holy Prophet (ṣ) has said to ‘Aqīl ibn Abī Ṭālib:
“.إيّاك عمّي حبّ من أعلم كنت لما حبّا و منّي لقرابتك حبًّا حبّين أحبّك إنّي”
“Indeed, I love you for two reasons: the first is your kinship to me and the second is that which I know of the love of my uncle (Abū Ṭālib) to you.”[2]
b. Also, Ḥalabī narrates in his Sīrah that the Messenger of Allah (ṣ) has said in praise of his uncle Abū Ṭālib:
“.أبوطالب مات حتّى (الكراهة اشدّ أي) أكرهه شيئا منّي قريش مانالت”
“Throughout Abū Ṭālib’s life, the Quraysh [infidels] had not caused me serious trouble.”[3]
It is evident that the love and great respect of the Holy Prophet (ṣ) for Abū Ṭālib is a clear indication of the latter’s sincere faith; for, the Messenger of Allah (ṣ), abiding by the Qur’anic verses, loves the believers and is hard against the infidels and idolaters. The Glorious Qur’an states in this regard:
﴾ بَيْنَهُمْ رُحَمَاءُ الْكُفَّارِ عَلَى أَشِدَّاءُ مَعَهُ وَالَّذِينَ اللهِ رَّسُولُ مُّحَمَّدٌ ﴿
“Muḥammad, the Apostle of Allah, and those who are with him are hard against the faithless and merciful among themselves.”[4]
And it also states:
﴿ ﻻ تَجِدُ قَوْمًا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ يُوَادُّونَ مَنْ حَادَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَوْ كَانُوا آبَاءهُمْ أَوْ أَبْنَاءهُمْ أَوْ إِخْوَانَهُمْ أَوْ عَشِيرَتَهُمْ أُوْلَئِكَ كَتَبَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ الْإِيمَانَ ﴾
“You will not find a people believing in Allah and the Last Day endearing those who oppose Allah and His Apostle even though they were their own parents, or children, or brothers, or kinsfolk. [For] such, He has written faith into their hearts.”[5]
Taking into account the quoted verses and comparing them with the Holy Prophet’s (ṣ) affection and exceptional respect toward Abū Ṭālib shown on various occasions, no doubt will remain concerning the fact that Abū Ṭālib had strong faith in God and the Prophet (ṣ).
