This excerpt is taken from the book Aḥkām wa Masāʾil in the Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah by Shaykh Mubashshir Aḥmad Rabbānī.
Some people claim that Abū Ṭālib was a Muslim at heart but did not openly declare Islam. What is the correct position regarding this matter?
Sayyid al-Tābiʿīn Saʿīd bin al-Musayyib narrates from his father that when the time of Abū Ṭālib’s death drew near, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to him and found Abū Jahl and ʿAbdullāh bin Abī Umayyah bin al-Mughīrah present with him.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then said:
﴿ مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُوا لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ ﴾
“It is not for the Prophet and those who believe to seek forgiveness for the polytheists.”
And regarding Abū Ṭālib, Allah revealed this verse, addressing the Messenger ﷺ:
﴿ إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ ﴾
“Indeed, you do not guide whom you love, but Allah guides whom He wills.”
Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī رحمه الله said:
لم تختلف النقلة في أنها نزلت في أبي طالب
“There is no disagreement among the narrators that this verse was revealed regarding Abū Ṭālib.”
إن عمك الشيخ الضال قد مات
“Indeed, your elderly misguided uncle has passed away.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
انطلق فواره ولا تحدث شيئًا حتى تأتيني
“Go and bury him, and do not say anything until you come back to me.”
Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله further narrates in Fatḥ al-Bārī (7/195), quoting Abū Dāwūd, al-Nasāʾī, Ibn Khuzaymah, and Ibn al-Jārūd, that the wording also includes:
لما مات أبو طالب قلت يا رسول الله إن عمك الشيخ الضال قد مات قال اذهب فواره قلت إنه مات مشركًا قال اذهب فواره
“When Abū Ṭālib died, I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Indeed, your elderly misguided uncle has passed away.’ He said: ‘Go and bury him.’ I said: ‘He died as a polytheist.’ He ﷺ said: ‘Go and bury him.’”
From this authentic ḥadīth, along with the previously mentioned authentic narration of Saʿīd bin al-Musayyib, it becomes clear that Abū Ṭālib died as a polytheist and disbeliever. A Qur’anic verse was revealed concerning him, and ʿAlī رضي الله عنه himself openly testified that his father died as a polytheist.
This narration is weak, contains an unknown narrator, and contradicts authentic aḥādīth. Therefore, it is not admissible as evidence.
For further details regarding Abū Ṭālib, refer to the work of Ibn Ḥajar titled al-Iṣābah.
Conclusion:
Abū Ṭālib died upon disbelief, as established by clear Qur’anic verses, authentic Prophetic narrations, and the unanimous position of the scholars of Islam.
Question
Did Abū Ṭālib pass away upon Islam or upon disbelief?Some people claim that Abū Ṭālib was a Muslim at heart but did not openly declare Islam. What is the correct position regarding this matter?
Answer
There is no difference of opinion among the scholars of Fiqh, Ḥadīth, and research that Abū Ṭālib passed away upon disbelief (kufr).Sayyid al-Tābiʿīn Saʿīd bin al-Musayyib narrates from his father that when the time of Abū Ṭālib’s death drew near, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to him and found Abū Jahl and ʿAbdullāh bin Abī Umayyah bin al-Mughīrah present with him.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
Abū Jahl and ʿAbdullāh bin Abī Umayyah said:“O my uncle! Say Lā ilāha illā Allāh, so that I may present it as proof for you before Allah.”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ continued to offer him the statement, while Abū Jahl and ʿAbdullāh bin Abī Umayyah repeated their words, until Abū Ṭālib finally said that he remained upon the religion of ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib and refused to say Lā ilāha illā Allāh.“Will you turn away from the religion of ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib?”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then said:
Thereupon, Allah revealed this verse:“I will continue to seek forgiveness for you unless I am forbidden from doing so.”
﴿ مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُوا لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ ﴾
“It is not for the Prophet and those who believe to seek forgiveness for the polytheists.”
Reference: at-Tawbah: 113
And regarding Abū Ṭālib, Allah revealed this verse, addressing the Messenger ﷺ:
﴿ إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ ﴾
“Indeed, you do not guide whom you love, but Allah guides whom He wills.”
Reference: al-Qaṣaṣ: 56
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Tafsīr, Sūrat al-Qaṣaṣ, Bāb: Wa innaka lā tahdī… (ḥadīth 4772, 1360)
Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī رحمه الله said:
لم تختلف النقلة في أنها نزلت في أبي طالب
“There is no disagreement among the narrators that this verse was revealed regarding Abū Ṭālib.”
Reference: Fatḥ al-Bārī 8/506
Testimony of Sayyidunā ʿAlī رضي الله عنه
It is narrated from ʿAlī bin Abī Ṭālib رضي الله عنه that when Abū Ṭālib passed away, he came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said:إن عمك الشيخ الضال قد مات
“Indeed, your elderly misguided uncle has passed away.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
انطلق فواره ولا تحدث شيئًا حتى تأتيني
“Go and bury him, and do not say anything until you come back to me.”
Reference: Musnad Aḥmad 1/31, ḥadīth 1093; Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Janāʾiz, Bāb: al-Rajul Yamūtu lahu Qarābah Mushrik, 3214; al-Nasāʾī 9019
Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله further narrates in Fatḥ al-Bārī (7/195), quoting Abū Dāwūd, al-Nasāʾī, Ibn Khuzaymah, and Ibn al-Jārūd, that the wording also includes:
لما مات أبو طالب قلت يا رسول الله إن عمك الشيخ الضال قد مات قال اذهب فواره قلت إنه مات مشركًا قال اذهب فواره
“When Abū Ṭālib died, I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Indeed, your elderly misguided uncle has passed away.’ He said: ‘Go and bury him.’ I said: ‘He died as a polytheist.’ He ﷺ said: ‘Go and bury him.’”
From this authentic ḥadīth, along with the previously mentioned authentic narration of Saʿīd bin al-Musayyib, it becomes clear that Abū Ṭālib died as a polytheist and disbeliever. A Qur’anic verse was revealed concerning him, and ʿAlī رضي الله عنه himself openly testified that his father died as a polytheist.
Refutation of a Weak Narration
Some people attempt to argue using a narration attributed to ʿAbdullāh bin ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما, which contains an ambiguous narrator, stating that when Abū Ṭālib was near death, the Prophet ﷺ presented him with the declaration of faith, which he initially refused. It claims that al-ʿAbbās رضي الله عنه observed his lips moving and said:“O son of my brother! By Allah, my brother has said the statement that you instructed him.”
Reference: Fatḥ al-Bārī 7/190–199
This narration is weak, contains an unknown narrator, and contradicts authentic aḥādīth. Therefore, it is not admissible as evidence.
For further details regarding Abū Ṭālib, refer to the work of Ibn Ḥajar titled al-Iṣābah.
Conclusion:
Abū Ṭālib died upon disbelief, as established by clear Qur’anic verses, authentic Prophetic narrations, and the unanimous position of the scholars of Islam.
