A section of self-proclaimed Muslims who are hostile towards Ameerul Momineen Ali b. Abi Talib (a.s.) invent lies and misinformation to mislead the Muslims about his excellence and position in Islam as the best of creation and the Holy Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) chosen successor. Since they are unable to find fault with Ameerul Momineen Ali b. Abi Talib (a.s.), they attempt to malign him by making false and baseless allegations against his parents – particularly his father and the Noble Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) uncle – Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.). These Muslims claim that Abu Talib (a.s.) was not a Muslim.
First and foremost, we must understand the mindset and circumstances behind such traditions. These traditions did not form part of early Islam. Otherwise, we would not find other traditions which outnumber these false traditions. Simply put, more traditions are in favour of Abu Talib (a.s.) backed by the most reliable of sources compared to the reports advanced by these so-called Muslims against Abu Talib (a.s.).
The variation in reports shows there is no consensus (ijma) in the books of Ahle Tasannun on the matter of Abu Talib (a.s.).
If Abu Talib’s (a.s.) faith was indeed questionable, this matter should have been clear as daylight from all reports. For instance, no one doubts the apostasy of Abu Sufyan or Abu Lahab as all reports are unanimous in this regard.
If Abu Talib (a.s.) was also like Abu Sufyan and Abu Lahab (we seek refuge in Allah) then the reports about his (Abu Talib’s) apostasy should also be conclusive like the reports about Abu Sufyan and Abu Lahab.
A study of the reports documented by the famous scholars of the Ahle Tasannun reveals that Abu Talib (a.s.) was a believer whose faith and service in the way of Islam was an example for Muslims of all times.
The study also reveals that the reports doubting Abu Talib’s (a.s.) faith surfaced after a certain point. This was in the period of Muawiyah’s reign after he usurped the caliphate. To cement his own position and to malign the Ahle Bait (a.s.) of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), he fabricated thousands of traditions. This is how we find reports maligning Abu Talib (a.s.) and praising the caliphs and companions and even personalities like Abu Sufyan only because he was Muawiyah’s father.
Then the Bani Abbas too promoted these suspect traditions vilifying the Ahle Bait (a.s.) as it was also in their best interest to show the Ahle Bait (a.s.) as ordinary mortals subject to committing errors like others (God forbid) and therefore had no special claim to caliphate.
But the clear and unambiguous reports on the Ahle Bait (a.s.) are a sign for the Muslims. With such reports, there is no excuse for Muslims to conclude otherwise when it comes to the excellence of the Ahle Bait (a.s.) and their claim to caliphate.
After all, there are ambiguous verses in the Holy Quran but that is no excuse for Muslims to become polytheists with beliefs like ascribing a body to Allah. The clear verses are sufficient to guide the Muslims to correct beliefs suggesting that the ambiguous verses must be interpreted in a different manner in the light of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah as narrated by the Ahle Bait (a.s.).
In a series of articles, we have proved that Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.) was in fact a Muslim, a believer and an extraordinary one at that. The proofs are sourced from the books of Ahle Tasannun. These reports clearly establish that Hazrat Abu Talib’s (a.s.) Islam can only be doubted by those with no Islam of their own.
Be the first to comment