لطفا منتظر باشید ...
The prophet and Abutalib
If we leave aside the details and cast a glance not
at the apparent conditions but at the reality, it appears
that the conditions and the adventures of life of Ali son of
Abu Talib were similar to those of the prophet Muhammad
and the attitude of his companions towards Mu'awiya and
his associates was similar to that of the prophet and the
Muslims towards Abu Sufyan, Abu Jehl and other Quraysh.
The difference between them was this that the prophet
acquired necessary strength to establish a state and to
subdue the chiefs of Quraysh whereas the circumstances
and conditions had changed in the days of Ali and he did
not succeed in overpowering his opponents.
Although Ali could not rule over the people like
Bani Umayyah he was not deprived of ruling over the pure
hearts of the virtuous people. And he was so well-quipped
with the qualities of a perfect man that he deserved to rule
the hearts.
Before we begin our discourse about Ali it is necessary
to throw some light on the relationship which associated
him with Muhammad son of Abdullah. This relationship
existed in the detailed adventures of their lives as well as in
their spiritual qualities which had come together in one
family. The prophet was the most perfect person and the
son of Abu Talib followed in his footsteps and was the
most perfect person next to him and excelled all others.
When the prophet was deprived of the love of his
parents his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib, who was the
grandfather of Ali as well, assumed his guardianship.
His grandfather was very fond of him. Many times it so
happened that he fixed his eyes on his grandson and said
to those present: "This child is very honourable''.
He accorded Muhammad great respect even though he
was a child yet, and in the general assemblies he made him
sit at a place in the shade of the Ka'bah where even his
brothers could not aspire to sit.
When the prophet's grandfather breathed his last his
guardianship was assumed by his uncle Abu Talib, the
father of Ali. The prophet led a very comfortable life
under the guardianship of his uncle, and benefited from his
love and excellent manners and morals, which he had
inherited from Abd al-Muttalib. The good morals, which
were characteristic of the family of Abd al-Muttalib were
inherent in the soul of Muhammad and were manifest in
his words and actions. It might be said that when God chose
His messenger from the family of Bani Hashim He also
chose his magnanimous uncle to train him. It appears that a
messenger-angel had informed Abu Talib about the mystery
related to his nephew of which others were not aware.
Once during a period of famine and drought this
child was requested by his uncle to pray to God for rains
with his back resting on the wall of the holy Ka'bah.
The child complied with his uncle's wish and pointed to
the sky with his finger. There was no cloud in the sky
at that moment. However, the clouds gathered suddenly
from all sides, and it rained heavily so that the fields
were filled with water and the earth gained a new life.
The people asked Abu Talib, "Who is this boy?''
He replied: "He is my nephew Muhammad about whom
I have said: He is the white-faced one. By means of his
bright face water is sought from the clouds. He is the
refuge for the orphans and the protector of the widows''.
This narrative indicates the fervent mutual love and
affection of the uncle and the nephew. Abu Talib always
attended to the needs of the child very meticulously and
was extremely kind to him.
Once when Abu Talib went to Syria he also took
with him his nephew (Muhammad) who was then about
fourteen years of age. After having crossed Madyan, the
Valley of Oara the land of Samud they came near the
gardens of Syria. They enjoyed different scenes and
observed therein the secrets of nature.
The views of Abu Talib about Muhammad were
confirmed by the monk Bahira when he told him that his
nephew would become a towering personality in the
future. From then onwards he took greater care of his
nephew because he became aware that a mystery was
linked with his person.
When Abu Talib heard the people of Mecca calling
Muhammad with the title of'Amin' (the honest) he was
very much pleased, and the tears of joy began to flow
down from his eyes.
Khadijah, the chief of the woman of Quraysh, herself
proposed marriage to Muhammad although she had already
rejected the suit of rich Qurayshite noblemen. The only
confidant and true adviser of Muhammad was Abu Talib.
He therefore, consulted him in the matter. Abu Talib was
well aware of the nature and morals of Muhammad and
knew that he was not inclined towards anything except
goodness. He supported this alliances because what his
nephew had enquired about was exactly the same thing
which he (Abu Talib) himself had wished from the core
of his heart.
After the Quranic verses were revealed to Muhammad
in the Cave of Hira the first persons to express faith in
him and to offer prayers with him were his wife Khadijah
and his cousin Ali. When Abu Talib came to know about
the embracement of Islam by Ali he said to him: "My son!
What act do you perform?" Ali replied: "Dear father!
I have adopted the religion of the prophet of God, confirm
what he has brought and follow him in offering prayers".
Abu falib said: "Dear son! Be obedient to him always,
because he will never invite you to anything except
goodness and virtue".
When the prophet of Islam ordered the Muslims to
migrate to Ethiopia he made Ja'far son of Abu Talib the
chief of the migrants, and of all those persons he loved his
cousin most.
Abu Talib was the first person in Islam who composed
verses eulogizing Muhammad and exhorted the people to
support him. Once a group of Quraysh came to Abu Talib
and asked him to surrender Muhammad to them. He
replied to them: "So long as all of us are not finished
we shall neither surrender him to you nor withhold
assistance from him".
Throughout his life Abu Talib did not forget even
for one moment that Muhammad was a great person
and his (i.e. Abu Talib's) brother Abdullah and his father
Abd al-Muttalib were also great personalities.
When the time of Abu Talib's death drew near he
called a large number of persons belonging to his family
by his bedside, and said to them: "I exhort you to behave
well with Muhammad because he is known as 'honest'
among Quraysh and is famous among the Arabs for his
truthfulness, and all these qualities are combined in his
person. I can imagine very well that the indigent and the
nomads have gathered round him and have accepted his
invitation and confirmed his words. Their movement has
become strong. The chiefs and elders of Quraysh have been
humiliated. The weak persons have become honourable.
Those who were opposed to him most are most obedient
to him and those who were more apart from him are
profiting more by remaining in his service.
O Quraysh! Support and reverence him. I swear by
God that whoever follows his path will be saved and
whoever acts on his advice will become prosperous. If
I had lived and death had granted me respite I would have
defended him from the calamities of time because he is
truthful and honest. Accept his invitation, co-operate with
one another in supporting him and fight against his enemies,
because so long as the world lasts he is the capital of
dignity and honour for you".
Abu Talib rendered support to the prophet for forty
two years. He opposed Quraysh for his sake and supported
his declaration of prophethood till he breathed his last.
After Abu Talib's death the prophet felt that he had
been deprived of his great supporter who used to defend
him against harm by Quraysh. Abu Talib was the chief of
the family in which the prophet had been brought up, and
was his supporter against his enemies. He loved him
ardently and warded off the mischief of the obstinate
Quraysh against him. The prophet himself said: "So long
as my uncle Abu Talib lived the people could do me
no harm".
As we all know Muhammad was very patient and
self-possessed, and notwithstanding the fact that his enemies
were numerous and his friends were fewer, he believed
firmly that he would succeed in his mission. The question
therefore, arises as to the reason for his being so much
grieved at the death of his uncle. In fact the reason was
their great mutual love, because a person loves one who is
kind to him and supports him. His flowing tears showed
that the prophet was feeling that he had lost something
which was as dear to him as his own life.
