Abdul-Muttalib - Part 2

In the Prophet's House

After a while, Jibreel came down holding Allah's Order:

"And warn your nearest relations, and be kind to him who follows you of the believers."

Allah's Messenger ordered Ali aged ten to invite his tribe, namely banu-Hashim. Abu-Talib, Abu-Lahab, and others came to the Prophet's house.

When they all had the food, our Master Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) said:

"No Arab young man had brought his people like what I've brought you. I've brought you the good of here and of the hereafter."

Then, he asked them to believe in Islam. Abu-Lahab stood up and said with spite:

"Muhammad's put a spell on you."

Abu-Talib said angrily:

"Shut up! It's none of your business!"

Abu-Talib turned to our Master Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) and said:

"Get up and say whatever you like. Spread Your Lord's Mission, for you're the Truthful, the Trusty one."

So, our Master Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) got up and said:

"My Lord's ordered me to ask you to believe in Him. So, who will support me in this matter? Who wants to be my brother, my regent, and my successor after me?"

They kept silent.

So, Ali said eagerly:

"Allah's Apostle, I."

The Prophet rejoiced and embraced his young cousin while he was weeping.

Banu-Hashim stood up. Abu-Lahab was laughing and saying sarcastically to Abu-Talib:

"Mohammed's ordered you to hear and obey your son."

But Abu-Talib did not pay attention to him. Rather, he looked angrily at him.

Abu-Talib kindly said to his nephew:

"Go on what Allah's ordered you. By Allah, I will support and protect you."

Our Master Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) looked at his uncle respectfully. He felt strong as long as the Master of Mecca was with him.

The Supporter

Although Abu-Talib was an old man, he strongly stood by Muhammad's Mission. He was always protecting him from the Quraysh's polytheists.

A big number of the Meccans believed in Allah's religion paying no attention to the worship of the idols and to the threats of the Quraysh's tyrants.

One day, the Quraysh leaders came to Abu-Talib though he was confined to bed. They said angrily:

"Abu-Talib! Prevent your nephew from us because he's weakened our thoughts and insulted our gods."

Abu-Talib became sad because his people did not want to listen to the sound of truth.

So, he said to them:

"Give me time to speak to him."

Abu-Talib told our Master Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) the words of the Quraysh leaders.

The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) said respectfully:

"Uncle! I can't disobey, my Lord's Order."

Abu-Jahal, the most spiteful man, said:

"We'll give him whatever he wants of our money. Rather, well make him king over us if he wants."

The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) said:

"I want nothing but one word."

Abu-Jahal said:

"What's the word? We will give you as ten times as it!"

Our Master Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) said:

"Say there's no god but Allah."

So, Abu-Jahal was filled with anger:

"Ask another word instead!"

Allah's Apostle (P.B.U.H.) said:

"If you brought me the sun and put it in my hand I'd not ask a word instead."

Tension happened. The polytheists stood up. They were threatening our Master Muhammad (P.B.U.H.).

Abu-Talib said to our Master Muhammad:

"Save your soul and don't overburden me."

The Prophets' eyes shed tears when he answered:

"Uncle, by Allah, if they put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left hand to leave this matter, I will not leave it till Allah supports it or I perish for it."

The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) stood up rubbing his tears. So, Abu-Talib called him kindly and said:

"Nephew, draw near."

Our Master Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) drew near. His uncle kissed him and said:

"Nephew, go and say whatever you like. By Allah, I'll never leave you alone."

Then he began singing to confront the Quraysh might:

"By Allah, they all won't reach you.

Till a pillow of dust will be put under my head.

And till I will be buried."

The Light of Islam

Our Master Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) went on preaching the new religion to bring out people from darkness into fight.

Again the Quraysh tyrants came to Abu-Talib. They used another style:

"Abu-Talib, this is Amarah bin al- Waleed (Khalid bin Waleed's brother). He's the strongest and the most handsome young man of all the Quraysh. So, take him and give us Muhammad to kill."

Abu-Talib was sorry to hear that idea. He answered them angrily:

"Do you give me your son to feed him for you, while I give you my son to kill him? Have you ever seen a she-camel take a pity on other than its young?"

The polytheists harm became intense. They began torturing them. Abu-Talib thought that their harm would include our Master Muhammad (P.B.U.H.). So, he sent for banu-Hashim. He asked them to protect and save the Prophet (P.B.U.H.). They accepted but Abu-Lahab.

Abu-Talib heard that Abu-Jahal and other polytheists tried to kill our Master Muhammad (P.B.U.H.),

So, he and his son Ja'far went to the hills of Mecca to look for him. They looked for him here and there.

Finally, they found him praying to Allah. In the meantime, Ali was praying on his right hand. They were sad to see that there was no one with our Master Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) but Ali. Thus Abu-Talib wanted to encourage his nephew. He turned to his son Ja'far and said:

"Complete your cousin's wing."

Namely, pray on his left hand to feel determination, strength, and confidence. Ja'far stood with our Master Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) and his brother Ali to pray to Allah, the Creator of the skies and the earth, the Lord of the Worlds.

Again, Abu-Talib missed our Master Muharnmad (P.B.U.H.). He waited for his return. But he did not come back. So, he went to look for him. He went to the place where our Master Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) went frequently. But he did not find him.

So, Abu-Talib came back, gathered banu-Hashim together and said to them:

"Each one of you must take a strong iron bar. Now follow me. When I enter the mosque, each one of you must sit beside a Quraysh leader. He must kill him if we knew that Muhammad had been killed."

The young men of Banu Hashim obeyed Abu-Talib. Each one of them sat beside a polytheist.

Abu-Talib sat waiting for our Master Muhammad (PB.U.H.). Meanwhile Zaid bin Harith came and told him that the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) was safe.

Then, Abu-Talib announced his plan to punish those who tried to hurt the Prophet (P.B.U.H.).

The polytheists were abase. Abu-Jahal kept silent. His face became yellow with fear.

Some of the polytheists urged their boys and slaves to hurt our Master Muhammad (P.B.U.H.).

One day, the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) was praying. A young man came and threw the wastes at him. The polytheists began laughing loudly. Our Master Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) was very unhappy. So, he went to his uncle and told him about the young man's bad behaviour.

Abu-Talib became very angry. He took out his sword and came to the polytheists. He ordered his boy to throw the wastes at their faces.

They said: "Abu-Talib, that's enough!"

Adapted from the book: "The Companions of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w)"