CHAPTER 26: THE DEATH OF ABU TALIB
The death of Abu Talib, the uncle of Allah’s messenger and soon after, khadeejah bint khuwaiylid, the wife of Allah’s messenger
Ibn Ishaq said: Then Khadeejah and Abu Talib died the same year. With the death of Khadeejah, calamities befell Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in quick succession. She had been to him a solace to which he took recourse in times of trial. Coupled with that was the death of his uncle, Abu Talib. He had been to him a prop and a fortress in his affairs, a protection and a helper against his people. These deaths occurred three years before his migration to Madinah. When Abu Talib died, the Quraish were able to inflict such harm on Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, which they were not able in the lifetime of Abu
Talib. One of the foolish ones among the Quraish once stood in his way and threw dust on his head.
Hisham Ibn ‘Urwah narrated to me from his father who said: “Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, returned to his house with sand on his head. One of his daughters rose to wash it while she wept. Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessing of Allah be upon him, said: “Do not weep my daughter for Allah will protect your father.” Meanwhile, he was also saying as well: “The Quraish were not able to inflict anything detestable to me until Abu Talib died.”
Ibn Ishaq related that Ibn ‘Abbas said: when some noblemen of the Quraish went to Abu Talib, among whom were ‘Utbah Ibn Rabee‘ah, Shaibah Ibn Rabee‘ah, Abu Jahl Ibn Hisham, Umayyah Ibn Khalaf, Abu Sufyan Ibn Harb, they said to him: “O Abu Talib! You know your position among us and now in your current situation, we are deeply concerned about you. You know the problems between us and your nephew. Summon him and let us make a bargain that he will leave us alone and we will leave him alone; let him have his religion and we will have ours.”
When he came, Abu Talib said: “O my nephew, here are notables of your people who have gathered so as to give and take from you.” “Yes,” he began, “let you (all) give me one word by which you can rule the Arabs and subject the non-Arabs to you.” “Yes, by your father, and ten words,” Abu Jahl said. “Say none deserves to be worshipped except Allah and renounce what you worship besides Him.” They clapped their hands in disbelief and said: “Do you want to make all the gods into one, O Muhammad? That is an extraordinary matter!” Then they said to one another: “This man will not give you anything that you want, so go and be with the religion of your ancestors until Allah judges between you and him.” So they left.
Abu Talib said to the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: “By Allah, O nephew, I do not think you have asked them something too much.” On hearing this, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, wished that he would embrace Islam, and he said at once, “O uncle, say it, and I shall ask (my Lord) to make it lawful (for me) because of it to intercede for you on the Day of Resurrection.” Seeing the Prophet’s enthusiasm, he said: “Were it not that I am afraid that you and your family would be disgraced after my death and that the Quraish would think that I had only said it in fear of death, I would say it. I am not saying it but for pleasing you with it.” As his death was approaching, Al-‘Abbas found Abu Talib moving his lips, so he put his ear close to him and said, “O nephew, by Allah, my brother has spoken the word you ordered him to say.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him, said: “I did not hear it.”
Allah (SWT) revealed concerning the group (of Quraish noblemen) that met Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessing of Allah be upon him: “Saad [These letters (sad, etc.) are one of the miracles of the Qur’an, and none but Allah (Alone) Knows their meanings]. By the Qur’an full of reminding (explanations and honor for the one who believes in it).
Nay, those who disbeliever are in false pride and opposition.” (Surah Saad 88:1-2)
By Ibn Katheer
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