The disagreement between the contents of Ḥadīth aḍ-Ḍuḥḍāḥ, and the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (ṣ)
In the aforementioned ḥadīth, it is assumed that the Messenger of Allah (ṣ) will transfer Abū Ṭālib from the lowest part of the Fire to a shallow place in it, and in doing so, the alleged punishment for him will be mitigated; or, that the Prophet (ṣ) wishes to intercede for him on the Day of Resurrection. This is while the Glorious Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (ṣ) acknowledge that the mitigation of punishment and intercession of the Prophet (ṣ) can be granted only to the faithful and Muslims. Therefore, if Abū Ṭālib had been an infidel, the Prophet would never have been able to minimize the chastisement or interceded for him.
This confirms that the contents of Ḥadīth aḍ-Ḍuḥḍāḥ—based on the assumption that Abū Ṭālib is an infidel—are not reliable.
Now, we shall examine this question and introduce clear proofs from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (ṣ):
a. The Holy Qur’an thus says:
﴿ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَهُمْ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ لَا يُقْضَى عَلَيْهِمْ فَيَمُوتُوا وَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُم مِّنْ عَذَابِهَا كَذَلِكَ نَجْزِي كُلَّ كَفُورٍ ﴾
“As for the faithless there is for them the fire of hell: they will neither be done away with so that they may die, nor shall its punishment be lightened for them. Thus do We requite every ingrate”[1]
b. The Sunnah of the Prophet (ṣ) also negates intercession for infidels. Abū Dharr al-Ghaffārī has thus narrated from the Messenger of Allah (ṣ):
“.شيئًا بالله لايشرك من أُمّتي من نائلة هي و الشّفاعة أُعطِيتُ”
“My intercession is granted to those of my ummah who do not associate others with Allah.”
Therefore, the content of the Ḥadīth aḍ-Ḍuḥḍāḥ, based on the assumption that Abū Ṭālib was an infidel, is baseless and unfounded, as well as contradictory to the Book (of Allah) and the Sunnah.
Conclusion
In the light of what have been stated so far, it is clear that the Ḥadīth aḍ-Ḍuḥḍāḥ is devoid of any credibility both in regard to its chain of transmission and its content, and so, it cannot be relied.
As such, the most formidable fortress in which some seek asylum for besmirching the sincere faith of Abū Ṭālib has crumbled, and the radiant face of the believer of the Quraysh and the Prophet’s persistent helper will continue to shine forever.
