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The paternal uncle and protector of the Prophet; the chief of the clan of Hâshim.
His full name was Abû Tâlib 'Abd Manâf b. 'Abd al-Muttalib b. Hâshim al-Qurashî al-Hâshimî.
His father 'Abd al-Muttalib entrusted to him the care and protection of his grandson Muhammad, then eight years old. The chieftaincy of the Banû Hâshim remained in his charge until his death; he did what he could for his nephew's upbringing.
On a trading journey to Syria the monk Bahîrâ told Abû Tâlib that his nephew was the prophet promised in the Gospel; upon this he returned to Mecca.
When the Prophet began to preach openly, Abû Tâlib stood against the polytheist Quraysh; he said that he would never surrender him to them, and called upon the sons of Hâshim and Muttalib for support. During the boycott the family was obliged to live for a long time in hardship around the quarter of Abû Tâlib.
At the time of his death the Prophet asked his uncle at least to pronounce the profession of faith; Abû Tâlib did not accept, saying that the polytheists might mock him for it.
He died in 619-620 at Mecca. Since this came about a month after the death of Khadîja, that year was called the year of sorrow.
His Poetry and Sufi Line — He is known as a Meccan poet. His Lâmiyya ode, composed to protect the Prophet against Quraysh, consists of ninety-four couplets.
Differing Scholarly Views
🔴 THE DISPUTE ABOUT HIS FAITH. This is one of the longest-running disputes in Islamic history, and it is here that Sunnî and Shî'î sources part. The atlas records both views as the source gives them; it places neither before the other and passes no judgement (rule #9, principles 3 and 5).
The Sunnî view. According to what the source conveys, Abû Tâlib did not accept Islam because of the pride of the Arab tribal chiefs and their weakness for holding to the path of their forefathers. According to the hadith sources the verses al-Qasas 28/56 and al-Tawba 9/113 were revealed in connection with this.
The Shî'î view. The Shî'a, relying on reports coming from the People of the House, hold that Abû Tâlib became a Muslim on his deathbed. The source records that Shî'î scholars have written more than thirty books on this subject.
The part of the dispute on which there is agreement. Neither tradition differs on the fact that Abû Tâlib protected the Prophet until his death, and that this protection was decisive in the Meccan years of Islam. The atlas records this too.
The year of his death is given in two forms. 619 and 620.
Sources
- TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi (DİA) — Ethem Ruhî Fığlalı · vol. 10, pp. 237-238, entry “EBÛ TÂLİB”
The sources for this record are listed below (Mandatory Sources).
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Permanent ID: EA-Z-000165 · this address reaches the same record even if its name changes; use it when citing.
External records: TDV Encyclopedia of Islam article