Islam of Abu Talib (Part 3 of 4)
Quran and the unbelievers
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It is not ( fit ) for the Prophet and those who believe that
they should ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even though
they should be near relatives, after it has become clear to
them that they are inmates of the flaiming fire. [ 9 : 113 ]
Now since we have already proved that the above verse was not revealed for
Abu Talib, where the Prophet and the Muslims have been advised not to pray
for the polytheists, it would help us to look at those verses that asked
the Prophet and the Believers not to eshtablish relations for the
polytheists, let alone pray for them, out of love and respect !
Surah 58 - The Pleading One (Mujadilah) - Verse 22
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You shall not find a people who believe in Allah and the latter
day befriending those who act in opposition to Allah and His
Apostle, even though they were their own fathers, or their sons,
or their brothers, or their kinsfolk; these are they into whose
hearts He has impressed faith, and whom He has strengthened with
an inspiration from Him: and He will cause them to enter gardens
beneath which rivers flow, abiding therein; Allah is well
pleased with them and they are well pleased with Him; these are
Allah's party: Surely the party of Allah are the successful ones.
This was revealed in the Battle of Badr and this event occured in the 2
year of the Hijra. However there are some commentators that relate its
revelation with The Battle of the Uhud, that occured in the 3 year of the
Hijra. How ever, the verse advises us not to make friends with the non
believers or even love them. This Chapter was revealed well before Surah
Baarat ( Chapter 9, for the verse cited in the beginning )
Sunni references
- Tafseer Ibn Katheer, v 4 p 329
- Tafseer Sho Kafi, v 5 p 189
- Tafseer Aloosi, v 28 p 37
Surah IV - Women (Surah Al Nisa)- Verses 139 and 144
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Those who take the unbelievers for guardians rather than believers.
Do they seek honor for them ? Then surely all honor is for Allah.
O you who believe ! do not take the unbelievers as protectors
instead of than believers; do you desire that you should give to
Allah a manifest proof against yourselves ?
This is a Mecci Surah, where the above verses advise the believers not to
take unbelievers as helpers or protectors. How could the Prophet get help
from an unbeliever if we assume Abu Talib is unbeliever?! Ofcourse, this
verse was revealed well before Chapter 9, that has been the focus our
attention!
Sunni reference :
- Tafseer Qurtubi, v 5 p 1
Surah III - The Family Of Imran (Surah Ale Imran) - Verse 28
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Let not the believers take the unbelievers for friends rather
than the believers; and whoever does this, he shall have
nothing of ( the guardianship ) Allah, but you should guard
yourselves against them, guarding carefully; and Allah makes you
cautious of ( retribition from ) Himself; and to Allah is the
eventual journey.
According to reference ( 1 ) the first eighty ( 80 ) verses of this Chapter
were revealed during the beginning of the Hijra. The latter references
indicate that the above verse ( verse 28 ) was revealed during the Battle
of Ihzab ( 5 Hijra ). The last reference indicates that Surah Ale Imran and
Surah Baarat were revealed with a difference of four Surahs.
Sunni references
- Seera of Ibn Hisham, v 2 p 207
- Tafseer Qurtubi, v 4 p 58
- Tafseer Khazan, v 1 p 235
- Tafseer Itqan, v 1 p 17
Surah IX - Repentance - Verses 23 and 80 ( Surah Baarat )
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O you who believe ! do not take your fathers and your brothers
for guardians if they love unbelief more than belief; and who
ever of you takes them for a guardian, these it is that are the
unjust.
Ask forgiveness for them or do not ask forgiveness for them;
even if you ask forgiveness for them seventy times, Allah will
not forgive them; this is because they disbelieve in Allah and
the Apostle, and Allah does not guide the transgressing people.
These two verses were revealed before Verse 9:113 (the verse used against
Abu Talib), and as I conclude this discussion, let me pose a question to
these accusers:
- Is it possible that the Prophet ( saw ) would ask for forgiveness
for Abu Talib ( May Allah bless his soul ), especially when these two
verses declare that it is futile to do so, assuming that Abu Talib
died as an unbeliever? If your answer is yes, then isn't it against
the text of the Holy Book and the Will of Allah, the Almighty?!!
- The fact is that the verse 9:113 is just a command to Prophets in
general, and not apprehension for what Prophet Muhammad did not! This
will become clear when one looks at the next verse that (i.e., 9:114)
which shows this is the command of Allah to Prophet Abraham who prayed
for his uncle Azar (not to be confused with his father whose name was
Tarokh. This needs a separate discussion) before it was known to him
that he is the enemy of Allah. Quran states:
.. But when it became clear to him that he (Azar) was an enemy to
Allah he dissociated himself from him; for Abraham was most tender-
hearted forbearing. [9:114]
