«MAHDI IS FROM THE PROGENY OF ABU TALIB»

The author of «Eqdud-Durar» in the fourth chapter of section No. 3 narrates from Saif-ibn-Omaira who said: 'I was near Abu Jafar Mansoor. He addressed me as such:-

O Saif! it is inevitable that a caller from the heavens shall call out in the name of a man from the offspring of Abu Talib. I said: 'May I be sacrificed for you 'O Amirul-Momineen. Are you narrating what you just said.' He replied: Yes, I swear by the One in whose Hand is my life. I am narrating exactly what my ears have heard. I said: 'But until now I had not heard such a tradition.' He said: 'O Saif, Indeed he is the truth and at the time when this affair takes place we will be more worthy than others in answering (his call). However Mahdi will be someone from our cousins'. I said: 'Someone from the offspring of Fatemah!' He replied: 'O Saif, if I had heard it from someone other than Abu Jafar (Hazrat Baqir) I would have not narrated it for you and indeed I was told about this matter by the most wise person on earth.

In Saba'ek al-Zahab we read as such: Ibn Ishaaq says: 'Abu-Talib's name was Abd-Munaf while Hakem Abu Abdullah says: 'Abu-Talib's name and agnomen is one and the same.'

The author of «Tazkerat-ul-Aaima» writes:- 'With regards to his lineage we have mentioned that he is the son of Abdul-Muttalib and when the latter was about to die, he recommended Abu Talib about the Holy Prophet (S.A.W A.).

In the book of «Tabaqaat» Muhammad-ibn-Saad narrates from a group of Ulemas (scholars) such as Ibn-Abbass, Mujahida, Atha, Zahri and the like of them that Abdul-Muttalib passed away in the second year of «Aam-ul-Feel» (the Year of the Elephants) and the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.A.) at that time was eight years old. In fact, Abdul-Muttalib passed away at the age of one hundred and twenty and was buried in Hejwan.

Umm-Aiman says: I saw the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.A.) walking and crying under the coffin of Abdul-Muttalib while it was being carried away.

According to another saying, Abdul Muttalib was eighty years when he left this world. However the first saying appears to be more correct. Mujahid has narrated from Ibn-Abbass that when a group of people from the tribe of «Qaafa» from 'BANI-MUZHAQ' saw the footsteps of the Holy Prophet they told Abdul-Muttalib as such: 'O Aba Lebatha, take care of this child, for we have not seen any footsteps which are similar to the holy prophet's footsteps resembling those in position.

Then Abdul-Muttalib turned towards Abu-Talib and said: 'Listen to whatever they have said. Indeed there shall be a kingdom for this son of mine.' From then on, Abu Talib stood up, in the best possible manner, to help the Messenger of Allah and made himself responsible for assisting him in his affairs so much so that he would never get separated from him. He was so much attracted towards him that he would give more preference to him than his own sons and would sleep only when Hazrat was besides him. He would tell him: 'You are well-paced and your future is bright.'

In the book of «Tabaqa'at», Ibn-Sa'ad writes: Once Abu Talib went to «Zil-Mujaaz» along with the Messenger of Allah. When the latter felt thirsty, Abu Talib said: 'O nephew, you have become thirsty and there is no water.' Then the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.A.)came down and striked the ground with his heels. Very soon, water gushed out and Hazrat drank from it. Historians have written that as Abu Talib arose to support Hazrat and would often drive off the enemies from him, the Quraish once approached him and said: «Your nephew has insulted our gods, called our great men as insane and reckoned our fathers to be deviated ones. Therefore, you surrender him to us or else, there shall occur a war between us.»

Abu Talib replied: «May your mouths be shut forever. I swear by Allah that I shall never surrender him to you.»

They said: «Emara-ibn-Walid-ibn-Mughaira is the most handsome and noble young man among the Quraish. You may keep him as your son instead of Muhammad and surrender Muhammad to us so that we can kill him. Let us exchange our man with your man.»

Abu Talib replied: «Woe be upon you people. May Allah turn your face dark and gloomy. I swear by Allah that you have indeed spoken the evil. Do you mean that I should hand over my son to you so that you can kill him and will give me your son in exchange so that I take care of him! I swear by Allah that if I do so, I would be but an evil man.»

Thereafter he said: I would like you to separate the baby-camels from their mother. If the mother camel gets attracted towards the other baby-camels (and not her own ones) then, I shall hand over Muhammad to you. He then recited a poem.

Then, from the eighth year of his birth until the tenth year of his appointment which totally amounts to fourty-two years, Abu Talib stood up in support of Hazrat and prevented the enemies from harming him.

He spared no effort in taking care of him till the end of his life.

In «Nur-ul-Absar», the author mentions the date of demise of Abu Talib to be the first of Zilqada after the removal of economic sanctions which lasted for 8 months and 21 days.

In «Mawaheb-ul-Ladnia», the age of Abu Talib at the time of his demise is mentioned to be eighty-seven. It was in the same year that Umm-ul-Mumineen, Khadija passed away and the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.A.) named that year as the year of sorrow (Aam-ul-Huzn).

For knowing more about Abu Talib please refer to historical books like Seera-ibn-Hisham and Tarikh-e-Tabari and to recent writings, especially the book of «Bagyat at-Talib-Fi-Ahwal-Abi Talib by Zaini Dehlan who is also the author of Al-Fotouhat Islamiah. Also refer to the book of «Shaikh-ul-Abtah» written by our cousin Sayyid Muhammad Ali Sharafuddin Aamali which thought to be the best book in this regard.