Abu Talib a
disbeliever?
By Ali
Khalfan
I once saw a thread in one
of the Islamic Forums on the net titled “Abu Talib” started by a Shi'ah
sister and her intent of starting the thread was to confirm if the
ahlul-Sunnah do believe that Abu Talib, the uncle of the Prophet
(s.a.w.) was a disbeliever and from the discussion that ensued, the
Sunnis who posted in the thread confirmed their belief without a doubt.
In short, some very good references and
arguments were presented by the Shia'hs to show that Abu Talib was a
believer but they were not accepted by the Sunnis. For example, there
was this Sunni brother who contended that the Prophet was sent to the
polytheists of Arabia and thus he proves that there were no believers at
that time. One can counter that argument by saying that only the sick
need medicine and not the healthy. So if a doctor is sent to cure the
sick in a community it does not prove that everyone in the community is
sick. The other flaw in his argument is that he does not realize
that our Prophet was sent to mankind and not only to the polytheists of
Arabia. His shari’ah is the only one binding for the whole
mankind! At one point, this brother claimed that there was no Islam
before the prophetic mission of the Prophet. Later, he was kind enough
to admit his misquotations. But little does he realize that if he admits
that there was Islam, then obviously there were Muslims too!
Since both sides believe in the Qur'an,
I thought of producing some verses from the Qur'an to prove that when
the Prophet started his call, there were people who used to believe in
One God. Therefore, these people don’t need the medicine but need
encouragement, good news and further guidance. Such people were called
Monotheists. Those who are sick and are ready to accept the medicine
will eventually qualify to receive the encouragement. Some historical
references were provided to this fact but there were no responses. If we
can prove this inference from the Qur'an, then obviously the claim that
Abu Talib was not a believer on the grounds that there were no believers
present at the time of the Prophetic call is rejected.
So the aim of this article is only to
prove that there were some monotheists during the beginning of the
Prophet’s call and this will serve to disprove the Sunni arguments.
Mankind was in the beginning one
single group; so Allah raised prophets as bearers of good news and as
warners… (2:213)
Say: I do not control any benefit or
harm for my own soul except as Allah please; and had I known the unseen
I would have had much of good and no evil would have touched me; I am
nothing but a warner and the giver of good news to a people who believe.
(7:188)
What! is it a wonder to the people
that We revealed to a man from among themselves, saying: Warn the people
and give good news to those who believe that theirs is a footing of
firmness with their Lord. The unbelievers say: This is most surely a
manifest enchanter. (1O:2)
Rightly directing, that he might
give warning of severe punishment from Him and give good news to the
believers who do good that they shall have a goodly reward,
(18:2)
And with truth have We revealed it,
and with truth did it come; and We have not sent you but as the giver of
good news and as a warner.
(17:105)
So We have only made it easy in your
tongue that you may give good news thereby to those who guard (against
evil) and warn thereby a vehemently contentious people.
(19:97)
O Prophet! surely We have sent you
as a witness, and as a bearer of good news and as a warner,
(33:45)
And We do not send messengers but as
givers of good news and warning, and those who disbelieve make a false
contention that they may render null thereby the truth, and they take My
communications and that with which they are warned for a mockery.
(18:56)
And We have not sent you but as a
giver of good news and as a warner.
(25:56)
And We have not sent you but to all
the men as a bearer of good news and as a warner, but most men do not
know. (34:28)
Surely We have sent you with the
truth as a bearer of good news and a warner; and there is not a people
but a warner has gone among them.
(35:24)
These verses clearly show that two
aspects are involved in raising or sending prophets and Messengers i.e.
the aspect of “good news” and the aspect of “warning”. In other words
whenever the Qur’an mentions the reason for raising Prophets and sending
Messengers, it always mentions good news first and then the warning
next. Obviously the warning is not for the believing people and the
good news or glad tidings is not for the disbelieving people. This
is evident by the sentences giver of good news to a people who
believe. (7:188) and warn thereby a vehemently contentious people.
(19:97) And the reason for mentioning good news first is probably to
show that there is always a group of people who are already believers in
the One God like for example when the Prophet Nuh (a.s.) is sent to the
people obviously there are some of them who were following the message
brought by Prophet Adam (a.s.). If there were no believers at the time
of sending any prophet then the sequence would have been to warn first
and then to give the good news to those who pay heed to the warning.
Most of the time a Prophet is sent to warn the transgressors like in the
case of Prophet ‘Isa (a.s.). ‘Isa (a.s.) came to lead the transgressors
back to the shari’ah given to Prophet Musa (a.s.) and likewise, Muhammad
(s.a.) is sent to awaken the majority of the people of Arabia and warn
the transgressors of the shari’ah given to ‘Isa (a.s.).
The prophets brought the good news of
the Mercy of Allah, and His pleasure and paradise for those who believe
in Him and guard themselves against evil. And they gave the warning of
the punishment from Allah and His displeasure and Fire, to those who
reject the truth and the transgressors.
In conclusion to claim that at the time
of the prophetic mission there was not a single believer, is like
shooting in the dark. The possibility that there were at least a few
believers is more than the possibility that there were none because
the prophet himself was a
believer and during his orphanage he came under the umbrella of another
believer – Abu Talib!!! |