A group of the Companions of the Prophet (ṣ) have testified to the sincere faith of Abū Ṭālib. Below are some accounts:
a. Once, an ignorant person made unfair accusation against Abū Ṭālib in the presence of the Commander of the Faithful ‘Alī (‘a). So, Imām ‘Alī (‘a) to him with a sign of anger on his face said:
أبي شفع لو نبيًّا بالحقّ محمّدًا بعث والّذي فاكَ، الله فضّ مه،”
“.الله لشفّعه الأرض وجه على مذنب كلّ في
Keep silent! May God disfigure your mouth! By the One Who sent Muḥammad with the truth to be a prophet! If my father intercedes for every sinner on the earth, Allah will accept his intercession.[1]
And he (‘a) also says elsewhere:
مسلمًا مؤمنًا عبدالمطّلب بن مناف عبد أبوطالب والله كانّ”
“.قريش تنابذها أن بني هاشم علىٰ مخافة إيمانه يكتم
By Allah! Abū Ṭālib ‘Abd Manāf ibn ‘Abd al-Muṭṭalib was a true believer and Muslim. He used to hide his faith before the Quraysh [infidels] lest they should be hostile to the Banū Hāshim.[2]
These words of Imām ‘Alī (‘a) not only confirm Abū Ṭālib’s firm faith but also place him in the rank of awliyā’ who can intercede on behalf of others by a divine decree.
b. Abū Dharr al-Ghaffārī thus says about Abū Ṭālib:
.أسلم حتّى عنه الله رضى ابوطالب مات ما هو إلا إله لا الّذى والله
“By Allah other than Whom there is no god! Abū Ṭālib (may Allah be pleased with him) did not depart this life without having accepted Islam.”[3]
c. It has also been narrated and confirmed by many chains of transmission that ‘Abbās ibn ‘Abd al-Muṭṭalib and Abūbakr ibn Abū Qaḥāfah thus said:
“.الله رسول محمّد الله إلاّ إله لا :قال حتّى مات ما طالب أبا إنّ”
Surely, Abū Ṭālib did not depart this life without having uttered, “There is no god but Allah and Muḥammad is the Messenger of Allah” [Lā ilāha illallāh, Muḥammadan rasūlullāh].[4]
