Issue #5 2009

Hazrat Abu Talib Abu-Talib is the father of Imam Ali (AS), uncle of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and son of Abdul Muttalib. Abu-Talib was at the age of thirty when Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) was born. Abu Talib's name was Abdul Munaf. His mother's name was Fatima bint Amru. She belonged to the Bani Makhzum tribe. Abu Talib was named Shaikh al-Bat-ha.

Abdul Muttalib is the one who prayed to Allah to save the kaaba from Abyssinian armies in 570 AD who came to Makkah to demolish Kabba that was build by Ibrahim, al-Khalil, and his son Ismael, that year was named the Year of the Elephant. Allah has mentioned this event in the Holy Qur'an:

Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with the possessors of the elephant? Did He not cause their war to end in confusion? And send down (to prey) upon them birds in flocks, casting them against stones of baked clay. So, he rendered them like straw eaten up?

Abdul Muttalib had ten sons. Abdullah, the Prophet Mohammed’s (PBUH) father, was one of them. Abdullah died a short while after Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) was born and Prophet’s mother died when he was six years old and Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) became

orphan. Abdul Muttalib took care of him and on his death bed addressed to his sons and said: "A grandson of mine will be a Prophet. So, he who will be present at his time must believe in him." Then he turned to his son, Abu Talib, and whispered in his ear: "Abu Talib, Muhammad will be of great importance. So support him with your hand and tongue.” Abdullah Prophet's father died before he was born. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) was at the age of 8 when grandfather passed away.

Abu Talib and his wife treated Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) like their own son. Abu Talib had a big family. He spent his money on the poor and in time, he too became poor. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) felt that he had to help his uncle. So, he decided to take Khadijah's goods to Sham (Syria) and gained the trusts to their owners. This made Khadijah (SA)happy and requested to get married. Abu Talib with few fellow Bani Hashim and Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib, went to ask for Khadijah’s hand from her family. Adu Talib said "Praise is to Allah who put us in the

Hazrat Abu Talib

When the Quraysh plotted to kill our Master Muhammad (s), Ali, Abu-Talib's young son, came to sleep in his bed. He was ready to die for him

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Talib

progeny of Ibrahim and Ismail, made a protected house and a safe sanctuary for us, and made our country blessed." And "My nephew Muhammad bin Abdullah is the best and greatest man of all the Quraish. Besides, he's better than money because money's perishable. He likes Khadijah (SA) and she likes him. By Allah, he'll be of great importance. Khadijah's dowry is of my money."

On the 13th of Rajab, twenty-three years before the migration of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) Imam Ali was born in the family of Abu Talib. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) ordered Imam Ali (AS) at the age of ten to invite his tribe because Allah sends Jibreel for Prophet to address his close relatives and offer Islam to them. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) addressed: My Lord has ordered me to ask you to believe in Him. So, who will support me

in this matter? Who wants to be my brother; my regent, and my successor after me? No one responded except Imam Ali (AS). Abu Talib stopped Abu Lahab from making fun of Prophet’s message and gave him his full support by kindly telling Prophet Mohammed (PBUH): “I’ll support and protect you, Go on what Allah ordered you”.

Abu Talib kept his support for Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) despite the facts of economic and social ban. In the month of Muharram, the seventh year after the Prophetic Mission, forty Quraishi leaders signed the ban and fixed it to the wall in the Ka'aba but Abu Talib did not surrender and suffered from hunger and isolation. Abu Talib took his tribe to a valley between two mountains to protect Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) from assassination. He was always visiting the valley to close the

openings where the enemies might pass through to kill our Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) at night. Abu Talib, though old man, his brother Hamza, and some men of Bani Hashim were always

guarding the Prophet (PBUH) one by one at night. Abu Talib was always moving the Prophet's bed from one place to another to keep it a secret. Abu Talib loved Prophet Mohammed

WORDSEARCH

ABABEEL ABDULLAH ABRAHAABU ELEPHANT HAMZAKAABA KHADIJAH MAKKAHMUTTALIB NEPHEW QURAISHTALIB

F V X A K M I F T B G J J W Q L Z W A B G U I V N I T M I H W A A Z P R A Z M A H L J F P F B S C J Q A H Z C M Y A P T A D P T F J Q H E L D W L T C E U T C P L W Z A D D E D R D J L A I N P J T G U E Q X H K G L Z Y B I R Q N B B I Y H F

J A H M N P C U A A A Z A E V S H S I X L O B Y S H D C S N U Z I K P O A A J F I P P R E Z A A P U P G V I J I L E K P

M K R S M A K K A H L F F L H P X U V U A N H I D P E T I E C Y Q T I G B I L A T T U M W

(PBUH) more then his own sons. One day Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) went to Abu Talib and said “Uncle, my Lord ordered the white ant to eat the Ban Page. So, it's eaten it all but Allah's Name”. Abu Talib stood up and went to Darul-Nadwa, at the Kaaba, where the Quraishi leaders sat. Abu-Talib addressed the sitting persons: Quraish! My nephew Mohammed (PBUH) has told me that Allah ordered the white ant to eat your Ban Page. So it has

eaten it all but His Name. If he is right, the end the ban. Abu-Jahal in return said what about if he is not accurate. Abu Talib said with confidence and belief “I’ll hand you my nephew”. They opened the door of the Ka'aba. They found that the white ant had eaten every thing but Allah's Name. After that Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and the companions began preaching Islam freely.

At the age of eighty, Abu Talib knew

if he died, Quraishi will try to kill his nephew. Quraishi tried to negotiate with Abu Talib to stop Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) from preaching but Abu Talib in return told them to obey the message. Abu Talib invited Bani Hashim and asked them to support Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) at any cost. They all obeyed him and then Abu Talib die soundly. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) kissed Abu Talib's bright forehead and whisper sadly:

Uncle, may Allah have mercy on you. You educated me when I was small, looked after me when I became an orphan, and supported me when I became a grown-up. So, may Allah reward you a lot.”

Few weeks later Khadijah (SA) died as-well. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) named that year the Year of Sadness. Jibreel on Allah’s order came to inform Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) to go out of

That year was named the Year of the Elephant.

Our Master Muhammad [s] was born in that year. Abu-Talib was thirty years of age.

In the month of Muharram, the seventh year after the Prophetic Mission, forty Quraishi leaders signed the ban and fixed it to the wall in the Ka'aba.

One day, our Master Muhammad [s] said to his uncle Abu TalibUncle, my Lord ordered the white ant to eat the Ban Page. So, it's eaten it all but Allah's Name.

Allah

Makkah. Your supporter has died.

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Family Tree of Hazrat Abu Talib