False Allegations
One of the greatest accusations levelled against Abu Talib (as) by the non-Shia’h is that he died as a Kafir (Mazallah, Astagfirullah) meaning as ‘a pagan’. They have based their opinion on this narration that:
When Abu Talib was on his deathbed, the Holy Prophet (saww) went to him while Abu Jahl was sitting beside him. The Holy Prophet (saww) said to him:
“O Uncle! Say LAA ILAAHA ILLALLAH – an expression with which I will defend your case before Allah (SWT)”. Abu Jahl and Abdullah bin Umayyah said, “O Abu Talib! Will you leave the religion of Abdul-Muttalib?” They kept saying this till Abu Talib’s last statement was, “I am on the religion of Abdul-Muttalib”.
So the Holy Prophet (saww) said, “I will keep asking Allah for your forgiveness unless I am forbidden to do so”.
Thereupon, verse 113 of Surah al-Tawbah was revealed, in which Allah (s.w.t.) says, “It does not befit the Prophet (s.a.w.w.) and the believers to ask Allah’s (s.w.t.) forgiveness for the pagans, even if they were their near relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are the dwellers of Hellfire”.
(Ref : Galat Bukhari)......A book which speaks such about my Master Hazrat Abutalib (as) can never be Sahi.
“It does not befit the Prophet and the believers to ask Allah’s forgiveness for the pagans, even if they were their near relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are the dwellers of Hellfire”.(9:113)
Proof 1
This verse was not revealed for Abu Talib (as).
Hazrat Abu Talib (as) had passed away in Makkah before Hijrah whereas this verse is of Surah al-Tawbah and it was revealed in the 9th year of Hijrah. The long gap between the two shows that there is no connection between them.
Proof 2
Only one person has reported the narration, which states that this verse was revealed for Abu Talib, and that is Sa’eed bin Musayyab. This man is such that he cannot be relied upon. One account of his life in which Sa’eed himself has declared his affiliation to the worst people is:
[Imam Zaynul-‘Aabideen (as) had passed away. Sa’eed bin Musayyab happened to be alive and he also passed by the place where the funeral of Imam (as) was being attended. Sa’eed did not participate in Imam (as)’s funeral prayer.
When people asked him in sarcasm, “Do you pray behind Hajjaj (the most evil and cruel ruler)?” Sa’eed boastfully replied, “We even pray behind worst people then Hajjaj”.] (Tafseer-e-Namoona)
Proof 3
From a traditionalist point of view, this report of Al Bukhari is not worth taking as reliable because the last narrator is Musaiyyab who embraced Islam after the fall of Mecca and was not himself present at the time of Abu Talib's (as) death. It is on this account that Al Aini, in his commentary has remarked that this tradition is mursal.
(Ref :Sirat-An-Nabi, by Shibli Numani, Volume 1 - "Death of Khadija and Abu Talib" Page 223-224)
Therefore, how can we rely on the authenticity of such a person?
Proof 4
In contrast to the above we find the following in Ahlul Sunnas authentic historical works.
It is reported in the book of the famous Sunni traditionist al-Bayhaqi ("Dalail al-Nubuwwah") that when Abu Talib was at the point of death, he was seen moving his lips, as if reciting the kalimah. Al-Abbas (the Prophet's uncle) bent down to listen to what he was saying. He then lifted his head and said:
"By Allah, he has uttered the word which you requested, O Messenger of Allah!"
Sunni references:
- Dalail al-Nubuwwah by al-Bayhaqi, vol 2 p 101
- Ibn Hisham, Cairo Edition, p146 (as quoted in Siratun Nabi, by Shibli Numani, v1, pp 219-220)
Proof 5
Its really pathetic that those Sunnis who quote as the verse (9:113) citing that it was reveled for Hazrat Abu Talib (as) , though this is not the case as discussed above, over look the following verse:
O you who believe ! do not take the unbelievers as protectors instead of than believers; do you desire that you should give to Allah a manifest proof against yourselves ?Quran [4:144]
This verse clearly states that taking unbelievers as protectors is going against the will of Allah (s.w.t.) would give Allah (s.w.t.) an argument against oneself. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) would never act against the orders and commands of Allah (s.w.t.), thus Hazrat Abu Talib (as) being the caretaker of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) leaves no doubt of him being a believer.