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Consequently, Abu Talib
sent for Rasulullah SAW.When Rasulullah SAW arrived, Abu Talib said
to him, "0 my nephew! These prominent leaders of your people
have come to you to give you (some of your requests) and to take from
you (some of their requests)." Rasulullah SAW replied, "Very
well. I require you people to give me a single statement which would
give you control of all the Arabs and which would make the non-Arabs
follow you." Hearing this, Abu Jahal exclaimed, "Certainly!
By the oath of your father! We are prepared to accept then such
statements." Rasulullaah SAW said, 'You should then say, 'Laa
IlaahaIllallaah ("There is none worthy of worship but Allah")
and discard everything that you worship besides Him."
Those present then
started clapping their hands (mockingly) saying, "Do you wish to
make all our gods into one! This is indeed most strange!" They
then said to each other, "By Allah! This man will not give in to
any of your requests. Let us leave and continue practising the
religion of our forefathers until Allah decides between us and him."
They then dispersed. (When they had all left) Abu Talib said to
Rasulullah SAW,"0 my nephew, I don't think that you asked
anything difficult of them."
Hopeful that his uncle
would accept the message of Islam, Rasulullah SAW said to him, "0
uncle! Why don't you say it (the Kalimah) so that 1 may be permitted
to intercede for you on the Day of Qiyaamah." Seeing the
enthusiasm of Rasulullah SAW, Abu Talib said, " 0 nephew! By
Allah! 1 would certainly utter this Kalimah to please you if it were
not for my fear that I and my progeny would become targets of insults
and that the Quraysh would say that I said it only for fear of
death."
Sa'eed bin Musayyab RA
(5) reports from his father that Rasulullaah SAW visited Abu Talib
when he was on his death-bed at a time when Abu Jahal was also
present. Rasulullah SAW "0 uncle! Say 'Laa Ilaaha Illallaah' so
said, my that I could defend you in the court of Allah."
Abu Jahal and Abdullaah
bin Abi Umayyah then said to Abu Talib, "Are you turning away
from the religion of (your father) Abdul Muttalib?" The two of
them continued speaking to Abu Talib in this manner until the final
words he uttered (as he passed away) were, "I remain on the
religion of Abdul Muttalib."
Rasulullah SAW then said, "I shall
continue seeking Allah's forgiveness for you (0my uncle) until I am
forbidden from doing so." Allah SWT then revealed the verses of
the Qur'an which state:
It is not
(permissible for the Nabi SAW ,nor (is it permissible for) the
Mu'mineen
to (ever/ seek forgiveness for the Mushrikeen, even if they
be their
relatives, after it has become clear to them (when these
Mushrikeen
died without Imaan) that they (the Mushrikeen) are to be
residents
of the Blaze Jahannam).{Surah Taubah, verse 1 13)
Verily you
(0 Rasulullah SAW)cannot guide (to Islaam) those whom
you love
(such as Abu Talib),but Allah guides whoever He wills. He is
best aware
of those who are (deserving to be) rightly guided (and who
deserve to
be guided to Imaan). {Surah Qasas, verse 561(~)
Another similar report
states that Rasulullah SAW continued presenting the Kalimah to Abu
Talib as the two Mushrikeen (Abu Jahal and Abdullah bin Abi Umayyah) repeated their words to him. Eventually, Abu Talib passed
away with the words, "I remain on the religion of Abdul
Muttalib" without reciting,
"Laa Ilaaha
Illallaah" Rasulullaah SAW then said, "Behold! I shall
continue seeking Allah's forgiveness for you (0 my uncle) until I am
forbidden from doing so." It was after this that Allah SWT
revealed the two verses (mentioned above). Abu Hurayrah RA ,narrates
that Rasulullah SAW came to see his uncle Abu Talib when he was
about to pass away. Rasulullah SAW said to him, "0 my beloved
uncle! Say 'Laa Ilaaha Illallaah' so that I may be witness to it on
the Day of Qiyaamah." Abu Talib said, "I would have
certainly said it to please you if I did not fear that Quraysh would
ridicule me by saying, 'He said it only because he feared death.' I
would have then definitely said it only to please you." 1t was
on this occasion that Allah SWT revealed the verse:
Verily you
(0 Rasulullah SAW cannot guide (to Islam)those whom
you love
(such as Abu Talib),but Allaah guides whoever He wills. He is
best aware
of those who are (deserving to be) rightly guided (and who
deserve to
beguided to Imaan). {Surah Qasas, verse 56)(2)
(1) This Hadith has
been reported by lmaams Ahrnad, Nasa'ee, Ibn Abi Haatirn and Ibn
Jareer in their
books when discussing
the commentary of Qur'aanic verses. Tirmidhi has also reported the
Hadith and states that
the Hadith reliable. A similar Hadith has been narrated by Ibn
Katheer in his
commentary of the
Qur'aan (Vo1.4 Pg.28), by Bayhaqi (Vo1.9 Pg.188) and by Haakim (Vol.2
Fg.432).
Haakim states that the
chain of narrators is authentic even though the Hadith is no narrated
by
Imaams Bukhari and
Muslim. lmaam Dhahabi also states that the Hadith is authentic.
(1)Ibn Is'haaq, as
quoted in A1 Bidaayah wan Nihaayah (Vo1.3 Pg.123).There is one
unknown narrator
in the chain of
narrators.
(2) Bukhari and Muslim.
