The Greatest Guardian of Islam

Hadhrat Abu Talib (A) supported the Holy Prophet of Islam (SAW) in all difficult situations. He left this world on 26^th Rajab, three years before the Hijrah of the Holy Prophet of Islam (SAW)

The Holy Prophet of Islam (SAW) was deeply grieved and named this year as “The Year of Sadness.”

In 570 AD the Abyssinian Armies under the leadership of Abraha attacked the Holy Mecca to demolish the Kaaba. Hadhrat Abdul-Muttalib (A), the grandfather of our Prophet (saw), who was known as the Master of Makkah, went round the Kaaba praying to Allah the Almighty, to prevent the invaders from demolishing the House which Hadhrat Ibraheem al-Khaleel (A) and his son Hadhrat Ismaeel (A) built for people to worship Allah only.  Allah, the Almighty, accepted Hadhrat Abdul-Muttallib’s prayers.

So, when the elephants and the soldiers advanced to demolish the Kaaba, Ababil birds carrying stones in their beaks appeared in the horizon. They began dropping the stones which destroyed the army of Abraha.  The invaders around the Kaaba were defeated.  That year was named the Year of the Elephant.  H. Abu-Talib a.s. was thirty years of age at the time.

Allah the Almighty, has mentioned this event in the Holy Koran: In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful ‘Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with the possessors of the elephant?  Did He not cause their war to end in confusion and send down (to prey) upon them birds in flocks, casting them against stones of backed clay.  So, he rendered them like straw eaten up?’

From our Prophet’s young age, Hadhrat Abu Talib provided him the shelter and protected him from all the oncoming dangers.  Our Prophet (saw) never felt the loss of his parents and obtained all the love and affection from Hadhrat Abu Talib.  He stood like an iron wall between the enemies and our Prophet and gave him time and freedom to convey the Message of Allah (swt).

When Hadrhat Abu-Talib (A) was over eighty years of age, he became very ill and was confined to bed. He thought about nothing but our Master Muhammad (SAW).  He knew that after his death, the Quraish would fear no one and they would try their best to kill his nephew.  The Quraishi leaders even came to visit Shaikh al-Batha (title given to Hadhrat Abu Talib (A).  They said: Abu-Talib, you’re our Shaikh and Master.  Put an end to the enmity between your nephew and us. Tell him to stop hurting us.  We’ll stop hurting him. Tell him to leave us with our religion. We’ll leave him with his religion.

Hadhrat Abu-Talib (A) looked at Abu-Jahl, Abu-Sufyan, and other Quraishi leaders and said to them faintly: If you listen to Muhammad’s words and obey his orders, you’ll be happy. So, obey him and get happiness in here and hereafter.  The atheists and infidels stood up.  Abu-Jahl said with spite: Do you want us to change all our gods into one god of Muhammad?  This will never happen.

Hadhrat Abu-Talib (A) was sad at the Quraishi stand.  He was very anxious about our Master Muhammad’s safety. So, he invited Bani-Hashim and asked them to support our Master Muhammad (SAW) at any cost. They all agreed.  Then Hadhrat Abu-Talib closed his eyes and left this world.  Shaikh al-Batha became silent, he became motionless.  His son Ali (A) wept bitter tears. Sad cries spread all over Makkah.

The atheists rejoiced at his death. Abu-Jahl angrily said: It’s now time to get our revenge on Muhammad. Our Master Muhammad (SAW) came to say his final farewell to his uncle. He kissed Abu-Talib’s bright forehead and murmured sadly: “Uncle, may Allah have mercy on you. You guided me when I was young, looked after me when I became an orphan, and supported me when I was growing-up. May Allah reward you a lot.” Then he burst into tears. He began recalling the days of his childhood with his kind uncle. He embraced his cousin Ali (A). They began weeping together

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From Imamreza.net