The Muslim majority believes that Abu Talib (a.s.) is in the Fire since their books hint that he died without accepting Islam (Allah forbid).
However, the reality is the exact opposite of this as many other traditions on Abu Talib (a.s.) indicate:
Once Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) was seated while there were people around him.
A man stood up and said O Ameerul Momineen, you are in an elevated position while your father is being punished in the Fire (Allah forbid).
Imam (a.s.) retorted: How can my father be punished in the Fire while his son is the distributor of the Heaven and the Fire!
By the One who raised Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) with the truth surely Abu Talib’s (a.s.) light on the Day of Resurrection will extinguish all lights except the five lights light of Muhammad (s.a.w.a.), light of Fatima (s.a.), light of Hasan (a.s.), light of Husain (a.s.) and light of his infallible sons (a.s.).
Surely Abu Talib’s (a.s.) light is from our light, Allah created it two thousand years before Adam.
- Al-Amaali of Shaikh Toosi (r.a.) p 305
- Kanz (Jaame) al-Fawaid v 1 p 183
- Bashaarah al-Mustafa Le Shiah al-Murtaza v 2 p 202
Traditions like this underline Abu Talib (a.s.) high position and are documented in books of both sects. They prove that he (a.s.) died on Islam and in fact, was at a high level of faith and conviction in Tauheed and Prophethood, next only to the fourteen infallibles (a.s.).