Abu Talib’s Support

It is written in Tarikh al-Tabari that whenever it would be time for prayer, the Holy Prophet (sa) would go towards the valleys of Mecca without letting anyone else know, including his uncle, Abu Talib, or any of his other uncles. Hazrat Ali (ra) would also join him and they would both offer their prayers and would return in the evening. This practice continued until one day, Abu Talib witnessed them both praying and said, “O my nephew, which religion is this which you have adopted?”

The Holy Prophet (sa) replied, “O my Uncle! This is the religion of Allah and that of His angels, messengers and the religion of our father, Abraham (as)” or perhaps something to this effect. The Holy Prophet (sa) also stated, “Allah the Almighty has sent me to mankind with this religion. O my uncle, you have the greatest right that I exhort you about it and invite you towards this guidance and also in regard to the matter pertaining to my acceptance and support.” Or perhaps he said something to this effect. Upon this, Abu Talib replied, “O my nephew, I do not have the strength to abandon my faith and the faith of my ancestor’s. However, until I am alive, I swear by Allah that nothing will happen to you which displeases you.”

(Muhammad Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Tabari, Vol. 2, Dhikr al-Khabar amma kana min Amr Nabi Allah (sa)… [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Fikr, 2002], 225)

Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) relates this incident as follows:

“Once, the Holy Prophet (sa) and Hazrat Ali (ra) were offering their Salat in a valley of Mecca, when suddenly Abu Talib passed by. Until then, Abu Talib was completely unaware of Islam; thus, he stood there and observed this spectacle with great amazement.

“When the Holy Prophet (sa) completed his Salat, he asked, ‘What religion is this, which you have adopted?’ The Holy Prophet (sa) responded, ‘Uncle! This is the religion of God and the religion of Abraham.’ Then, the Holy Prophet (sa) briefly presented an invitation to Islam before Abu Talib, but he brushed it off saying, ‘I cannot forsake the religion of my forefathers.’ But with that, he also addressed his son, Hazrat Ali (ra), and said, ‘My son, you are free to, support Muhammad (sa), for I trust that he shall call you towards nothing but goodness.’”

(Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), p. 127)