Aug 29
Death of Abu Talib ibn Abdul Muttalib (RA)
Sunday 26 Rabi Al Awwal, 1449
Aug 29
Sunday 26 Rabi Al Awwal, 1449
Abu Talib Ibn Abdul Muttalib was one of the uncles of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. He was the most beloved uncle, who raised him right from his very young age, when he was just 8 years old. The Prophet's father had already died a few months before his birth. He lost his mother when he was around six years of age. Then his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, took his responsibilities, but soon he also left this world when the Prophet was just 8 years old. When at his deathbed, Abdul Muttalib entrusted the responsibility of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ to Abu Talib, who took great care of his nephew even in the most difficult and testing times.
Even though Abu Talib was not financially sound and stable, he raised the Prophet with deep love and responsibility. More importantly, Abu Talib had been the main protector of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, against the aggressions of the Quraysh of Mecca, especially after the declaration of his Prophethood. His status as the most respected leader of the Hashim Clan made it possible for him to safeguard the Prophet from all potential threats.
Hence, the death of Abu Talib was one of the most sorrowful moments of the life of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, who often remembered this year as "the year of sorrow". Simultaneously, this was also a turning point in the history of Islam. The Prophet was left alone, as his beloved wife Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا had also died a few months earlier in the same year. The persecutions of the Quraysh increased manifold after that, which eventually led to the historic migration (Hijrah) of the Prophet from Mecca to Medina.
Abu Talib Ibn Abdul Muttalib (أَبُو طَالِب بن عَبْد ٱلْمُطَّلِب) was the most respected leader of the Banu Hashim Clan. The year of his birth is reported to be 535 CE, whereas the exact date is not available. He lived for around 84 years and died in 619 CE. He was buried in Jannat Al-Mualla cemetery in Mecca. He was the son of the chief of the Hashim Clan of the Quraysh tribe, Abdul Muttalib. The name of his mother was Fatima Bint Amr. His actual name is reported as Abd Manaf. Some reports also mention his name as Imran. However, he is popularly known in history as Abu Talib, after the name of his eldest son, Talib. One of his brothers, namely Abdullah, was the father of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. Abu Talib was the father of the fourth Rashidun Caliph, Hazrat Ali رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ.
After the death of his father, Abdul Muttalib, he assumed the responsibilities as the chief of the Banu Hashim clan. In this capacity, he was also responsible for providing food and water (Siqaya and Rifada) to the Pilgrims. Due to his financial conditions, this responsibility was later shifted to his brother Al-Abbas, another uncle of the Prophet.
As per the tribal traditions, the guardianship of the orphaned child had to be shifted to one of the uncles. Accordingly, at the time of the death of Abdul Muttalib, the grandfather and the guardian of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, Abu Talib accepted to take his full responsibility, despite his poor financial conditions. Over the years, the relationship between the uncle and the nephew grew deep. Both loved each other. Abu Talib not only raised the Prophet in his early age but also became his main protector when the Prophet started spreading the Message of Islam, and the Quraysh became deadly against him. All the attempts of the Quraysh to harm the Prophet were foiled by his uncle, Abu Talib. Though he did not embrace Islam, he stood firm with his nephew, the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, against every potential threat from the Quraysh.
At a later stage, the Hashim clan had to face a complete social and financial boycott by the Meccans. Even at this most crucial time, Abu Talib remained firmly attached to the Prophet and his family. During this period, they were confined to a limited area known as the “Valley of Abu Talib” (Shi'b Abi Talib, شِعب أبي طالب). The boycott lasted for almost three years. This was a historic event in the history of Islam, which speaks about the loyalty, sense of responsibility, and love of Abu Talib for his nephew, the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. Overall, the role of Abu Talib in protecting the Prophet and his followers from the potential threats of Quraysh of Mecca is remarkable.
The unwavering support of Abu Talib for the Prophet and his Mission continued till his last breath, despite all the tribal and political pressure of the non-believers. Though the Prophet wanted him to accept Islam, he did not do so publicly till his death in 619 CE. It was the 10th year of the Prophethood.
The Prophet had already lost his beloved wife Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ in the same year, a few months ago. The death of both his wife and his beloved uncle in the same year left a profound impact on him. Both of them had played a vital role in his mission, as well as providing moral and physical support. So, the Prophet was deeply grieved at this loss. Hence, he often remembered this year as the "year of sorrow" (Aam al-Huzn, عام الحزن).
Hence, the death of Abu Talib was not only a sad event for the Prophet, being a sort of personal loss, but it also resulted in increased oppression and persecution by the Quraysh. The Prophet and his followers were put to unprecedented mental and physical torture after his death. The Quraysh even conspired to assassinate the Prophet. Eventually, the Prophet was commanded by Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ to migrate to a safer place, where he, along with his followers, may worship freely and live a peaceful life. So, the Prophet migrated to Medina in 622 CE, within a period of 2-3 years after the death of his beloved uncle, Abu Talib, and the most beloved wife, Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ.
The death of Abu Talib was not only a personal and emotional loss for the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, but it also had a deep impact on his Mission of spreading Islam.
The immediate impact of the death of Abu Talib was that he lost the political and physical support, which used to be the major source of strength and protection in the tribal setup of that era. The survival and success of anyone were mainly dependent on the support of their tribe and clan. Abu Talib, being an influential tribal leader, played a pivotal role in providing this essential tribal support and protecting the Prophet, despite the extreme hostile environment, mainly imposed by the Quraysh. After his death, the main pillar of tribal protection and support was lost. So, the Prophet and his followers were left unprotected against the oppressive behavior of the Quraysh. This was a great personal political loss for the Prophet and Islam in a broader perspective.
After the death of Abu Talib, Muslims, especially the weak and poor, were subjected to extreme persecution by the Quraysh because there was no influential and strong tribal personality left to protect them. Their lives and assets were in danger. The oppression by the Quraysh kept on increasing day by day, which made life extremely difficult in Mecca. At this crucial stage, the Prophet, on the Divine Will and Command, instructed his followers to leave Mecca and migrate to Medina quietly.
Gradually, the Muslims started migrating to Medina, secretly. Within a short span of time, almost all the Muslims left their homes in Mecca to settle in Medina. This was the start of the historic Hijrat-e-Medina, which was initiated shortly after the death of Abu Talib, in the wake of intensified persecution by the Quraysh. Only the Prophet himself, his cousin Hazrat Ali رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ, his close friend Hazrat Abu Bakr رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ, and his family were left behind. The Prophet at that stage was waiting for the permission and Command by Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ to leave Mecca. Soon, the Divine Command was received, and the Prophet and his companion also secretly migrated to Medina, completing the historic event of Hijrat-e-Medina. The event of migration took place in the third year after the death of Abu Talib.
Abu Talib was the most beloved uncle of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ
After the death of Abdul Muttalib, the grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, when he was just 8 years old, Abu Talib took him in his custody. He raised him with profound love, affection, and responsibility. When the Quraysh got against his Prophethood and started oppressing him, it was Abu Talib who provided all the political and tribal support to the Prophet. He played the role of a protector for the Prophet and his Mission.
The death of Abu Talib deeply affected the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. It was not only a personal and emotional setback, but it also deprived him of significant political and tribal support. Life for Muslims became tough in Mecca after his death, which eventually led to the historic Hijrat-e-Medina.
No, it is widely believed that he never accepted Islam, despite repeated attempts by the Prophet.
The “year of Sorrow”, also known as “Aam al-Huzn" in the Islamic terminology, refers to the year when the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ lost his most beloved wife Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ and his beloved uncle Abu Talib, one after the other in the same year. The Prophet referred to this year (619 CE) as the year of Sorrow.