{"_id":"668da0390b76658b4c23317a","title":"Is the Prophet's uncle, Abu Talib, in Jannah?","question":"What is the Sunni opinion regarding the uncle of the Prophet SAW, Abu Talib, in terms of being a person of Jannah or Jahannam? I've heard various things that I've had a hard time coming to terms with, and I'm not sure if this is even a question that I should be asking necessarily if it isn't beneficial for me so I understand if the response is not concrete.","answer":"If your heart is not at ease with what you've heard, then there is certainly benefit in asking to lay the issue to rest and put your heart at peace. That said, there are two opinions about the iman of Abu Talib amongst Sunni scholars. The first opinion says that he died as a kafir and therefore is destined to Hell. The second opinion says that he died as a believer, and is therefore destined for Paradise. Additionally, amongst those who ascribe to the second opinion, there are some who also hold that Abu Talib not only died as a believer but also as a Muslim based on a report that the uncle of the prophet (ﷺ) al-Abbas told the prophet (ﷺ) afterwards that he heard Abu Talib say the kalima right before he died.\n\nThe most well-known book on the subject is one written by the Mufti of Makkah, shaykh al-Islam in the Hejaz, Ahmad Zayni Dahlan (d.1886). This book is actually a summary of a book by al-Barzanji. In this book, the sheikh lays out several proofs for the iman of Abu Talib, as well as the hadith of al-Abbas that he uttered the kalima. Amongst the proofs for his iman:\n1. Abu Talib's prediction that Muhammad (ﷺ) would become a prophet. He mentioned this in his speech during the wedding of the prophet Muhammad to Khadija.\n2. Abu Talib seeking rain through the prophet (ﷺ) when he was a child. This happened twice.\n3. Abu Talib's insistence to Quraish that his nephew has never lied about anything.\n4. Statements in his poetry such as one where he said,\n\"Do you not know that we have found Muhammad to be, \nA messenger like Musa, that's what the books have said with surety.\"\n\"And I have come to know that the religion of Muhammad,\nIs one of the best religions of all humanity.\n\"Allah has given him a name that is split from His to elevate him,\nThe Owner of the Arsh is Mahmud, and this one is Muhammad.\"\n5. All of the miracles that Abu Talib witnessed from the prophet Muhammad as a child such as Abu Talib's kids never able to fill their stomachs, because Abu Talib was poor, except when they ate with the prophet (ﷺ). Abu Talib would not let them eat without him. He would also have the prophet (ﷺ) drink from the milk first, then his kids. Whenever he did this, all his kids would drink to their fill and there would still be milk left over. Same thing with food.\n6. Abu Talib encouraged his kids to follow prophet (ﷺ). Hence, Jafar and Ali were Muslims.\n7. Abu Talib advised Bani Hashim and Quraish as well to follow the prophet (ﷺ). He also warned them that if they didn't, the rest of the Arabs would do so and the Quraish would be left behind.\n8. Abu Talib loved the prophet (ﷺ) more than his own children. He used to have him sleep next to him and would take him with him everywhere.\n9. When Quraish wanted to assassinate the prophet (ﷺ) Abu Talib would have his own children sleep in the spot where the prophet (ﷺ) used to sleep. So, he would put his own children's life at risk to keep the Prophet safe.\n10. Abu Talib said that he was following the way of Abd al-Muttalib, who was a monotheist.\n11. There is not one single piece of evidence that Abu Talib worshiped idols.\nThere are many other points mentioned in support of Abu Talib being a believer, too many to list here. They also responded to hadiths and verses that some have understood to apply to Abu Talib. They actually took those verses and hadith and showed how, even if we assumed that they were about Abu Talib, they are actually confirming that he is a believer.\n\nHe also mentioned some of the Sunni scholars who have expressed the opinion that Abu Talib was a believer, such as imam al-Suyuti, al-Subki, al-Qurtubi, al-Sharani, as well as several Hanafi scholars. I am also aware of the late al-Sharawi from Egypt expressing this opinion publicly. I've heard it as well from Ali Juma. In fact, the opinion that Abu Talib is a believer is the one that I've heard from every scholar I've studied with and every scholar I've heard speak on the subject. For these reasons, it is also the opinion I would love to meet Allah with on the Day of Judgement.\n\nI have no authority to delve into people's hearts but to ascribe to the opinion that he is a kafir will create some seriously problematic issues and contradictions. Allah knows how those people deal with the implications. But alhamdulillah, I personally have never met or heard of a sunni scholar that holds this opinion. (To not cause any confusion, when I said I've not heard of or met a sunni scholar who held the opinion that Abu Talib died as a disbeliever, I was referring to living scholars.)","tags":[{"_id":"668d9fe50b76658b4c232859","tag":"Aqeedah: Allah ﷻ‎","count":66},{"_id":"668d9feb0b76658b4c23290a","tag":"Seerah: Lineage of the Prophet","count":4}],"createdOn":"2024-07-09T20:40:25.816Z"}