Da‘wah to Relatives, Abu Ṭālib’s Confrontation, and the Story of Offal ─ A Critical Review of the Reports
Compiled by: Abu Abdul Aziz Muhammad Yusuf Madani
✦ Introduction
In the early period of Prophethood, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called his family and the chiefs of Quraysh to Islam. Books of sīrah narrate several related incidents, but most of them are weak or fabricated in chain. This article analyzes these reports in light of the verdicts of hadith scholars.
✦ Calling Relatives to Islam
➊ Report: The Prophet ﷺ gathered Banū Hāshim and Banū al-Muṭṭalib for da‘wah. Abu Lahab opposed, while Abu Ṭālib supported him.
References: Fiqh as-Sīrah (p. 77–87), Al-Kāmil by Ibn al-Athīr (1/584–585), Ar-Raheeq al-Makhtoom (p. 119–121)
Analysis:– Reported through Ja‘far ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Abī al-Ḥakam, who is majhool.
– Al-Albani: “This is mursal and weak.” (Fiqh as-Sīrah of al-Ghazālī, p. 97)
– Dr. Akram al-‘Umari: “This is a weak report.” (As-Sīrah as-Saḥīḥah 1/142)
Conclusion: Weak report.✦ Quraysh Council Against the Prophet ﷺ
➋ Report: The chiefs of Quraysh consulted about stopping the Prophet ﷺ. Al-Walīd ibn al-Mughīrah spoke, and verses of Surah al-Muddaththir (11–26) were revealed.
References: Fī Ẓilāl al-Qur’ān, Ar-Raheeq al-Makhtoom (p. 125) Analysis:– Narrated by al-Bayhaqi through al-Hākim, but Hammād ibn Zayd reported it mursal.
– Shaykh Muqbil al-Wādi‘ī: “The mursal version is stronger; hence the hadith is weak.” (As-Sahīh al-Musnad min Asbāb an-Nuzūl, p. 251)
– Chain contains ‘Abd al-Razzāq ibn Hammām (mudallis) and Isḥāq ad-Dabrī (weak).
Conclusion: Weak report.✦ Abu Ṭālib Threatened by Quraysh
➌ Report: Quraysh’s chiefs came to Abu Ṭālib and warned him: “Stop your nephew or we will oppose you.” Abu Ṭālib replied: “By Allah, as long as I live I will protect him.”
References: Mukhtaṣar as-Sīrah by Ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhāb (p. 68), Ar-Raheeq al-Makhtoom (p. 150–151), Sīrah Ibn Isḥāq (p. 135–136) Analysis:– From Ibn Isḥāq with a mu‘ḍal chain (two or more narrators missing).
– Al-Albani: “This is weak.” (As-Silsilah ad-Da‘eefah 2/311/909)
– In al-Ṭabarānī, another version: “Just as a spark cannot be separated from the sun, I cannot abandon this da‘wah.” But its chain too is weak.
Conclusion: Weak report, though the meaning is sound.✦ Quraysh Return Again to Abu Ṭālib
➍ Report: Quraysh again complained to Abu Ṭālib, but he firmly declared: “I will never abandon my nephew.”
References: Ibn Hishām (1/266–267), Ar-Raheeq al-Makhtoom (p. 152) Analysis:– Ibn Isḥāq narrated it without chain (mursal).
– Ibn Sa‘d narrated it through al-Wāqidī, who is matrūk.
Conclusion: Mursal and weak.✦ Abu Lahab and Others Throwing Offal
➎ Report: Abu Lahab, ‘Uqbah ibn Abī Mu‘ayṭ, and others threw offal and filth at the Prophet’s ﷺ door. He would remove it and say: “O Banī ‘Abd Manāf! What kind of neighborliness is this?”
References: Ibn Hishām (1/416), Ar-Raheeq al-Makhtoom (p. 134) Analysis:– Ibn Sa‘d narrated it through Muhammad ibn ‘Umar al-Wāqidī, who is kadhdhāb and matrūk.
– Al-Albani: “This narration is fabricated (mawdu‘).” (As-Silsilah ad-Da‘eefah 9/175/4151)
Conclusion: Fabricated; impermissible to attribute to the Prophet ﷺ.✦ Summary and Conclusion
① The famous story of calling the relatives to Islam is weak.
② The council of Quraysh and Walīd ibn al-Mughīrah’s advice is mursal and weak.
③ Abu Ṭālib’s protective statements come only through weak or mu‘ḍal reports.
④ The incident of throwing filth at the Prophet ﷺ’s door is fabricated.
These narrations should not be presented as authentic. If mentioned, it must be clarified that they are popular but weak or fabricated reports.