Do Shias say Abu Talib died a Muslim?

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind

Short Answer

According to many leading Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah it is a Shia position to say Abu Talib died Muslim. The recognised position of Sunni Muslims is that Abu Talib died Kafir. However, we do not like to speak about this matter unless there is a need. This is due to the great love and affection Abu Talib expressed towards our beloved Prophet ﷺ.

عَنِ ابْنِ المُسَيِّبِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ أَبَا طَالِبٍ لَمَّا حَضَرَتْهُ الوَفَاةُ، دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَعِنْدَهُ أَبُو جَهْلٍ، فَقَالَ: «أَيْ عَمِّ، قُلْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، كَلِمَةً أُحَاجُّ لَكَ بِهَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ» فَقَالَ أَبُو جَهْلٍ وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي أُمَيَّةَ: يَا أَبَا طَالِبٍ، تَرْغَبُ عَنْ مِلَّةِ عَبْدِ المُطَّلِبِ، فَلَمْ يَزَالاَ يُكَلِّمَانِهِ، حَتَّى قَالَ آخِرَ شَيْءٍ كَلَّمَهُمْ بِهِ: عَلَى مِلَّةِ عَبْدِ المُطَّلِبِ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَأَسْتَغْفِرَنَّ لَكَ، مَا لَمْ أُنْهَ عَنْهُ» فَنَزَلَتْ: {مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُوا لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا أُولِي قُرْبَى مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَابُ الجَحِيمِ} [التوبة: 113] . وَنَزَلَتْ: {إِنَّكَ لاَ تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ} [القصص: 56]

(Sayidina) al-Musayib narrated: When Abu Talib was close to death, the Prophet ﷺ came to him. Abu Jahl was present too. The Prophet ﷺ said, “O uncle, say there is no god except Allah, an expression through which I will defend your case before Allah (Most High).” Abu Jahl and Abdullah bin Abi Umayyah said, “O Abu Talib, will you leave the religion of Abd al-Muttalib?” They kept on addressing him until the last statement he made to them was: “(I am) upon the religion of Abd al-Muttalib.”

The Prophet said, “I will continue to seek forgiveness for you until I am forbidden to do so.” Then (the following) was revealed: It is not fitting for the Prophet and the believers to seek forgiveness for the pagans, even if they were close relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are the people of the Fire. (Quran: 9, 113). (The following) was also revealed: Indeed, you do not guide whom you like. (Quran: 28, 56). (Sahih al-Bukhari, 3884).

It is due to the abundance of clear evidence, as seen in the narration above, that Sunni Muslims believe Abu Talib died Kafir. As much as we would like the opposite to be true, we cannot ignore the evidence from Quran and Sunnah. It is more so a trait of the Shia to allow emotion rather than proof to dictate belief. Whereas the Sunni tradition is to follow the evidence present in Quran and Sunnah.

Weak narrations 

بل قيل إِنَّه صنف فِي إِسْلَام أبي طَالب جُزْءا كَمَا هُوَ مَذْهَب بعض الرافضة. (الضوء اللامع لأهل القرن التاسع)

Rather, it was said that he (Muhammad bin Abdillah al-Maghribi al-Maliki) authored a work regarding the Islam of Abu Talib, as is the doctrine of some of the Shia. (Imam al-Sakhaawi, al-Dow al-Lami).

وقد ذهب بعض الشيعة إلى أنه مات مسلما، واستدلوا بقول العباس- رضي الله عنه- في حديث طويل، أخرجه ابن إسحاق، عن العباس بن عبد الله، عن بعض أهله، عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنه: يا ابن أخي والله لقد قال أخي الكلمة التي أمرته أن يقولها، يعنى لا إله إلا الله. قلت: في سند هذا الحديث مبهم لا يعرف حاله. (شرح سنن أبي داود)

Some of the Shia held that he (Abu Talib) died a Muslim. They cited, as evidence, the words of al-Abbas (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) in a long Hadith. Ibn Ishaq narrated it from al-Abbas bin Abdullah, from a person of his family, from Ibn Abbas. He said: O son of my brother, by Allah, my brother said the words you commanded him to say. Namely, there is no god but Allah. I (al-Ayni) say: In the chain of transmission (Sanad) of this Hadith is an unknown person. His state (as a narrator) is not known. (Imam Badr al-Deen al-Ayni, Sharh Sunan Abi Dawood).

وَوَقَفْتُ عَلَى جُزْءٍ جَمَعَهُ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الرَّفْضِ أَكْثَرَ فِيهِ مِنَ الْأَحَادِيثِ الْوَاهِيَةِ الدَّالَّةِ عَلَى إِسْلَامِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَلَا يَثْبُتُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ شَيْءٌ وَبِاللَّهِ التَّوْفِيقُ وَقَدْ لَخَّصْتُ ذَلِكَ فِي تَرْجَمَةِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ مِنْ كِتَابِ الْإِصَابَةِ. (فتح الباري شرح صحيح البخاري)

I came across a collection compiled by one of the Rafidah (Shia). He gathered numerous feeble narrations alluding to Abu Talib accepting Islam. They do not establish anything (due to extreme weakness). Success is by Allah. Indeed, I have summarised the issue in Abu Talib’s biography in the book al-Isabah. (Imam Ahmad bin Ali Ibn Hajr al-Asqalani, Fath al-Bari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari).

The proof cited by those people who claim Abu Talib died Muslim is weak, as mentioned by the Imams above. The Shia may consider it to be strong evidence. However, Sunni Muslims are required to cite from our books of Hadith and narration. And we have no sound narration establishing the Islam of Abu Talib.

The poetry

An argument propagated by some is that Abu Talib’s poetry proves that he was Muslim. In the Nass (text) below, Imam al-Aalusi thoroughly dismantles this argument. He explains that the poetry is not soundly attributed to Abu Talib. Even if it were, then it does not include the testimonies of faith (Shahadatayn).

واحتج بهذا ونحوه من أبياته المتضمنة للإقرار بحقية ما جاء به صلّى الله عليه وسلم وشدة حنوه عليه ونصرته له صلّى الله عليه وسلم الشيعة الذاهبون إلى موته مؤمنا وقالوا: إنه المروي عن أهل البيت وأهل البيت أدرى، وأنت تعلم قوة دليل الجماعة فالاعتماد على ما روي عن العباس دونه مما تضحك منه الثكلى، والأبيات على انقطاع أسانيدها ليس فيها النطق بالشهادتين وهو مدار فلك الإيمان، وشدة الحنو والنصرة مما لا ينكره أحد إلا أنها بمعزل عما نحن فيه، وأخبار الشيعة عن أهل البيت أوهن من بيت العنكبوت وإنه لأوهن البيوت. نعم لا ينبغي للمؤمن الخوض فيه كالخوض في سائر كفار قريش من أبي جهل وأضرابه. (روح المعاني في تفسير القرآن العظيم)

The Shia who were of the view that he (Abu Talib) died a believer used this and similar verses (of his poetry) that contained acknowledgment of the truth of what he (the prophet ﷺ) brought. Also the depth of his compassion for him ﷺ and his support ﷺ. They said: It was narrated from the family (Ahl al-Bayt) and the family know better. However, you know the strength of the majority’s evidence. So reliance should be upon what was narrated from (Sayidina) al-Abbas, not on something that the bereaved will laugh at.

The verses (of poetry), despite their weakness (Inqitaa), do not contain the pronunciation of the two testimonies. Which is the focus of the orbit of faith. As for the depth of compassion and support, it is something no one denies. However, it is not our current discussion. The narrations of the Shia from the (Prophet’s ﷺ) family are weaker than a spider’s web. And it is the weakest of houses. Nevertheless, the believer should not delve into it like he delves into the other disbelievers of Quraysh. The likes of Abu Jahl and his ilk. (Imam Mahmood bin Abdillah al-Aalusi, Ruh al-Ma’aani).

Position of Ahl al-Bayt

As seen in the Nass above, Imam al-Aalusi clarified that there are no sound narrations proving that the family of the Prophet (Ahl al-Bayt) were of the view that Abu Talib died Muslim. However, Imam Ibn Katheer does mention that some fanatics as well as the Shia held this belief.

وَقَدِ اسْتَدَلَّ بَعْضُ مَنْ ذَهَبَ مِنَ الشِّيعَةِ وَغَيْرِهِمْ مِنَ الْغُلَاةِ إِلَى أَنَّ أَبَا طَالِبٍ مَاتَ مُسْلِمًا بِقَوْلِ الْعَبَّاسِ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ، يَا ابْنَ أَخِي لَقَدْ قَالَ أخى الْكَلِمَةَ التِي أَمَرْتَهُ أَنْ يَقُولَهَا- يَعْنِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ- وَالْجَوَابُ عَنْ هَذَا مِنْ وُجُوهٍ. أَحَدُهَا أَنَّ فِي السَّنَدِ مُبْهَمًا لَا يُعْرُفُ حَالُهُ وَهُوَ قَوْلُهُ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَهْلِهِ وَهَذَا إِبْهَامٌ فِي الِاسْمِ وَالْحَالِ، وَمِثْلُهُ يُتَوَقَّفُ فِيهِ لَوِ انْفَرَدَ. (البداية والنهاية)

Some of the Shia and other fanatics held that Abu Talib died a Muslim. They cited, as evidence, this Hadith: O son of my brother, indeed my brother said the word you commanded him to say. Namely, there is no god but Allah. There are numerous rebuttals for this view. Firstly, the chain of transmission (Sanad) has an unknown person. His state (as a narrator) is not known. Since he said, ‘from a person of his family.’ This is ambiguity regarding the name and the state. The like of this is not accepted if it is a solitary narration.  (Imam Abu al-Fida Ibn Katheer, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihaayah).

Stronger evidence

Some Sunni Muslims quote a narration in Bayhaqi and elsewhere that mentions Abu Talib said the words of Shahadah at the end of his life. The flaws in this narration were pointed out by Imam al-Bayhaqi himself. Many other scholars pointed out the inherent weakness too. They also pointed out the fact that it contradicts stronger narrations.

وأبو طالب اسمه عبد مناف، وهو أخو عبد الله لأمه، وكان له من الولد: طالب مات كافرا وجعفر وعلي وأم هانئ اسمها فاختة، وقيل هند، وقيل فاطمة، وهو الذي كفل رسول الله – عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ – بعد وفاة جده عبد المطلب، وذهب بعض الشيعة إلى أنه مات مسلما، والذي صح في البخاري يخالفه. (البناية شرح الهداية)

Abu Talib’s name is Abd Manaf. He is Abdullah’s maternal brother. His children were: Talib who died Kafir. Ja’far, Ali, and Umm Hani. Her name was Fakhitah. Although it was said to be Hind or Fatimah. He (Abu Talib) was the one who took care of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ after the death of his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib. Some of the Shia believe that he died a Muslim. However, the authentic narrations of al-Bukhari contradict that. (Imam Badr al-Deen al-Ayni, al-Binayah Sharh al-Hidayah).

Ibn Abideen claiming agreement

So many scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah, many of whom were Hanafi, mentioned that Abu Talib died Kafir. Due to this abundance, Imam Ibn Abideen claimed that there is agreement on this issue. No doubt, he intends the agreement of Ahl al-Sunnah. Since the agreement or lack of it from Shia is not consequential.

وَالْمُصِرُّ عَلَى عَدَمِ الْإِقْرَارِ مَعَ الْمُطَالَبَةِ بِهِ كَافِرٌ وِفَاقًا لِكَوْنِ ذَلِكَ مِنْ أَمَارَاتِ عَدَمِ التَّصْدِيقِ وَلِهَذَا أَطْبَقُوا عَلَى كُفْرِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ. (رد المحتار على الدر المختار)

And the person that persists upon refusing to declare (faith) despite the request to do so, is a disbeliever. Since that is necessarily a sign of the absence of belief. This is why they agreed upon the Kufr of Abu Talib. (Imam Ibn Abideen, Radd al-Muhtaar).

Conclusion

The position of Ahl al-Sunnah can be clearly traced back to leading Sahabah. The likes of Sayidina Ali, son of Abu Talib, and Sayidina Abu Bakr. Both clearly mentioned that Abu Talib did not embrace Islam. Therefore, the position of Sunni Muslims is based upon the abundance of evidence from Quran and Sunnah, the statements of the Sahabah and leading Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah.

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

–Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (14.12.23)