Abu Talib ibn Abdul-Muttalib "Uncle of the Prophet"

Who is Abu Talib ibn Abdul-Muttalib?

Abu Talib was the uncle of the Prophet Muhammad - peace and blessings be upon him. His real name was Abdul Muttalib, but he was known by his nickname, Abu Talib. He was the full brother of the father of the Messenger of Allah - peace and blessings be upon him - Abdullah ibn Abdul Muttalib. His mother was Fatimah bint Amr.

After the death of their grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, when the Prophet Muhammad was eight years old, Abu Talib took care of him. Consequently, he loved him immensely, sheltered him, and supported him.

Abu Talib Family Tree

Abu Talib was a respected leader of the Quraysh and the uncle of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Though he never converted to Islam, he fiercely protected the Prophet throughout his life. His wife was Fatimah bint Asad, a noblewoman from the Banu Hashim. She embraced Islam and was honored by the Prophet at her death.

Children of Abu Talib and Fatimah bint Asad

1. Talib ibn Abu Talib – The eldest son. His role in history is unclear, and it's uncertain if he accepted Islam. He may have died around the Battle of Badr.

2. Aqil ibn Abu Talib – Known for his intelligence and genealogy expertise. He converted to Islam around the time of the conquest of Mecca and lived into the Umayyad period.

3. Jaʿfar ibn Abu Talib – An early Muslim who led the migration to Abyssinia. He was martyred at the Battle of Mu’tah and honored by the Prophet as “Jaʿfar al-Tayyār” (the one with wings in Paradise).

4. Ali ibn Abi Talib – The youngest and most prominent son. First male to accept Islam, fourth Caliph, and husband of Fatimah (the Prophet’s daughter). He is a central figure in both Sunni and Shia Islam.

5. Fakhitah bint Abu Talib (Umm Hani) – A pious Muslim woman, close to the Prophet. She narrated hadith and was present during the Isra and Mi’raj event.

Abu Talib Life Before the Prophethood

Abu Talib ibn Abdul-Muttalib, whose full name was “Abd Manaf ibn Abdul-Muttalib ibn Hashim”, was born in Mecca and was one of the most prominent men of Quraysh and the chief of Banu Hashim. He was born into a highly respected family, though he lived with limited financial means compared to some of his brothers. Despite that, he inherited a leadership position within the tribe after his father, Abdul-Muttalib, passed away and took over the responsibilities of leadership, protection of the Kaaba, and providing for pilgrims.

After the death of Abdullah, the Prophet’s father, and then the Prophet’s grandfather Abdul-Muttalib, Abu Talib took responsibility for caring for the young Muhammad ﷺ when he was around eight years old. He loved him deeply, even more than his own children, and cared for him with exceptional devotion. The Prophet grew up in Abu Talib’s house and accompanied him on trade journeys, including the famous journey to Syria where they met the monk “Bahira”, who predicted the Prophet’s future mission. Abu Talib’s home was filled with values and noble character, greatly shaping the Prophet’s early personality.

Despite his poverty, Abu Talib was known for his generosity and honor. He was deeply respected by his people and held a commanding presence among the Arab tribes. He did not worship idols and was likely a follower of the Abrahamic monotheistic path, though he did not formally convert to Islam later.

Abu Talib Life After the Prophethood & Support for the Prophet

When the revelation came to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and he began calling to Islam, Abu Talib stood by his side in a historic and unwavering manner. Although nearly all of Quraysh opposed the Prophet and fought against him, Abu Talib never abandoned him. Instead, he defended him with all his power, leveraging his status and leadership of Banu Hashim to protect his nephew. Quraysh knew well that Abu Talib was the strongest barrier preventing them from harming the Prophet ﷺ.

Abu Talib faced intense pressure from the leaders of Quraysh to abandon Muhammad ﷺ or hand him over, but he strongly refused. One of his most famous statements during this time was: “By Allah, they will never reach him as long as I live”.

During the years of the harsh boycott imposed on Banu Hashim in the valley known as “Shi'b Abu Talib”, Abu Talib endured extremely difficult conditions of economic and social siege. Yet he remained steadfast and never abandoned the Prophet ﷺ. He used to guard him at night and even change his sleeping place out of fear of assassination.

Despite his deep love for the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Talib did not publicly declare Islam. Some sources suggest he died following the religion of his forefathers, while others believe he secretly believed. He died in the year 619 CE, approximately three years before the Hijrah (Migration), in the same year that Khadijah (RA), the Prophet’s wife, passed away. This year is known as the “Year of Sorrow” because of the profound impact of their deaths on the Prophet ﷺ.

The Prophet ﷺ said about his uncle: “Quraysh did not harm me until after Abu Talib died”. He also prayed for him and wished for his forgiveness, but Allah revealed: “Indeed, you do not guide whom you love”. (Qur'an 28:56)

Abu Talib's Supportive Actions

There were numerous instances where Abu Talib supported the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. One of the most significant was when the persecution by the Quraysh intensified, and they decided to kill the Prophet publicly. Abu Talib did not remain silent. He gathered all the sons of Banu Abdul Muttalib in his household, and they collectively protected Muhammad - peace be upon him - shielding him from the Quraysh. They all lived together in Abu Talib's protection, safeguarding and defending him.

Despite Abu Talib's immense love, care, and defense of the Prophet from an early age, and later defending him after his prophethood and the opposition from the Quraysh, Abu Talib did not embrace Islam. He did not utter the declaration of faith and remained firm in following his father's religion, Abdul Muttalib.

Prophet Muhammad's Grief

The Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him - felt profound sorrow due to Abu Talib's refusal to accept Islam. Allah consoled him by saying, 'Indeed, you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills'.

However, Abu Talib's stance and defense of his nephew acted as intercession, alleviating some of the punishment for him. The Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him - informed us, 'The least punished in the Hellfire is Abu Talib, who will be wearing shoes of fire, causing his brain to boil'.

Religion of Abu Talib

The religion of Abu Talib is a subject of historical and theological discussion. While it is widely accepted that Abu Talib did not publicly declare his faith in Islam, his actions consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to the support of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the protection of the early Muslim community. He was never known to worship idols, and many believe he followed the monotheistic tradition of the Hanifs, those who adhered to the religion of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) before the advent of Islam.

According to most Sunni scholars, Abu Talib died without formally embracing Islam. This view is supported by narrations such as the hadith in Sahih Muslim and Sahih al-Bukhari, where the Prophet ﷺ is reported to have tried to persuade his uncle to say the shahada on his deathbed, but Abu Talib declined out of loyalty to his forefathers. After his death, the Qur'anic verse was revealed: “Indeed, you do not guide whom you love, but Allah guides whom He wills.” (Qur'an 28:56) Based on this, Sunni tradition holds that although Abu Talib performed noble actions, he is not considered a Muslim.

Abu Talib's Death and Its Impact

Abu Talib passed away in the tenth year of the Prophethood. His death caused immense grief to the Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him. Just three days after his passing, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, the wife of the Prophet, also passed away. These were difficult times for the Prophet - peace be upon him - losing those who supported, defended, and stood by him simultaneously.