Kullo na Mohammed

The world recently saw the passing away of legendary Steve Jobs - the father of digital revolution. At the helm of Apple computers he created innovative products that revolutionized the way we listen to songs, music and much more. 

He had a very interesting association with Apple computers. He started this company in his parents’ garage along-with couple of friends in the year 1976. In 1985 Jobs was asked to resign from the company and thus left Apple computers. Without him the company could not do anything worthwhile and he was called back as advisor in 1996; made  interim CEO in 1997 and eventually CEO of the company in 2000. He straight away justified his re-joining the company by revolutionizing the music industry with innovative products like iMac, iTunes, iPod, iPhone, iPad and even company’s Apple Retail Stores. Thus he perfected the company and made it one of the most successful companies of the modern day during his lifetime.

Now, when he is no more the biggest challenge Apple faces is whether it can grow at the same pace as it used to under Steve’s leadership.

**Point to ponder is that Apple Computers needed Steve Jobs for its growth and perfection. Hence Steve jobs himself or only another worthy leader and inheritor of his skills, vision and character can guarantee its future growth, in absence of which some skeptics doubt the very survival of the company amidst the stiff competition that it faces. 

True, an inspirational leader can make a difference to any organization and lead it to perfection. Islam is the greatest religion and like a great organization has spread across various continents. In this article let us try to find out those leaders under whose able leadership the religion has grown and remained perfect. 

So let us first see how the religion got perfected:

• "Aaj Maine tumhare deen ko kaamil kardiya aur tum per apni ne’mat poori kardi aur tumhare iss Deen-e-Islam ko pasand kiya.” – (Surah-e-Maida, ayah 3)

• “(This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.)

 The above ayah was revealed after the announcement of “Man Kunto Mawla ho fa hazaa Ali un Mawla….” by the holy Prophet (SAW) after returning from his last pilgrimage at Ghadir-e-Khum. (Ref: Tafseer Ibn Katheer, volume 2, page 14, published in Egypt, Tafseer Durr e Mansoor, Vol 2, P 259, Egypt). 

The holy Prophet (SAW) gave us tauheed and Kalema and after he announced the leadership of Mawla Ali (A.S) the religion got perfected. Thus to have a perfect religion we need to understand the Apostleship of the holy Prophet (SAW) along with the leadership and Imamat of Mawla Ali (A.S). 

Now almost 1400 years after them who would guarantee that the faith which we follow is perfect? Thus after the era of Mawla Ali (A.S) in every subsequent era the Islamic world was in need of an able representative and inheritor of his skills, knowledge and character to guide the Ummah to perfection of faith. This makes it important for the Ummah to find and recognize these successors and follow them. 

**But before we proceed with it let us first confirm whether the Quran quotes any incidences that prove the inheritance of Prophets? For this purpose we will see the following ayahs:

• “Aur (ilm, hikmat, jaedaad sab mein) Suleman Dawood ke waaris hue aur kaha ki logo hum ko (Khuda ke fazal se) parindon ki boli bhi sikhayee gayee hai aur (duniya ki) har cheez ataa ki gayee hai iss main shak nahin ki yeh yaqini (Khuda ka) sarihi fazal wa karam hai.” – (Surah-e-An Namal, ayah 16)

• “(And Sulaiman was Dawood's heir, and he said: O men! we have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given all things; most surely this is manifest grace.)”

• “Pus Tu mujhko Apni bargaah se ek janashin farzand ataa farma jo meri aur Yaqub ki nasal ki miraas ka malik ho ae mere Parwardigar aur ussko Apna pasandida banda bana.” – (Surah-e-Maryam, ayah 5-6)

• “(Therefore grant me from Thyself an heir, Who should inherit me and inherit from the children of Yaqoub, and make him, my Lord, one in whom Thou art well pleased.)”

The above ayahs prove that Prophets do have inheritors of their knowledge, character, property and whatever Allah (SWT) has bestowed upon them. Inheritor of the legacy of Dawood (A.S) was his son Suleman (A.S), while Zakariya (A.S) prayed to have an heir who inherits him and the legacy of his forefathers.

**It seems logical to conclude then that the inheritors of the legacy of the holy Prophet (SAW) and Mawla Ali (A.S) should be their children. But what is the legacy of the holy Prophet (SAW) and Mawla Ali (A.S) as per Quran?:

• “Aur Ae Rasool (SAW) Quran se pehle na to tum koi kitab hi padhte the aur na apne haath se tum likha karte the aisa hota to ye jhoothe zaroor tumhari nabuwwat main shak karte.” – (Surah-e-Ankabut, ayah 48)

•  “(You were neither reading any book before this, nor did you write one down with your hand. If you had done so, the followers of falsehood would have had cause to doubt it.)”

Before Quran was revealed the world neither saw the holy Prophet (SAW) write anything nor read any book. That means his knowledge was the divine knowledge of Quran which was given to him. And how did he get this knowledge?

• “(Aur Ae Rasool (SAW)) beshak yeh (Quran) saari Khudai ke paalne wale (Khuda) ka utara hua hai jise Rooh al amin (Jibraeel (A.S)) saaf Arabi zabaan main lekar tumhare dil per naazil hue hain taake tum bhi aur paighambaron ki tarah logon ko azab e Khuda se darao.” – (Surah-e-Shaura, ayah 192-195)

• “(And indeed this Qur’an has been sent down by the Lord Of The Creation.  The Trustworthy Spirit (Jibraeel (A.S)) brought it down. Upon your heart, for you to convey warning. In plain Arabic language.)

This Divine Knowledge was brought down upon the heart of the holy Prophet (SAW) by Jibraeel (A.S). This is how Allah (SWT)’s knowledge was delivered to the holy Prophet (SAW). Allah thus was a teacher and our beloved Prophet (SAW) was His worthy student. As Allah (SWT) further says in the following ayahs: 

• “Qasam hai sitare ki jis waqt ke woh utra. Tumhara rafeeq na bhatak gaya hai aur na behka hai. Aur wo khwahishe nafasani  se kuch nahin kehta. Jo kuch woh kehta hai woh nahin hai magar Wahi hai jo uski taraf bheji jaati hai. Usko badi quwwaton waale aur badi aqal waale ne taalim kiya.”  - (Surah-e-Najam, ayah,1-5 )

• (“I swear by the star when it goes down.  Your companion does not err, nor does he go astray;  Nor does he speak out of desire.  It is naught but revelation that is revealed, The Lord of Mighty Power has taught him”)

Allah (SWT) granted His Divine Knowledge to the holy Prophet (SAW) and he became the first inheritor of it. Hence this Divine Knowledge is the legacy of the holy Prophet (SAW).

Apart from this Allah (SWT) also granted the following to the holy Prophet (SAW) as a part of His legacy: 

• " Aur Ae Rasool (SAW) Hum ne tum ko tamam alamon ke liye rehmat hi karke bheja hai". – (Surah-e-Ambiya, ayah 107)

• (“And We have not sent you but as a mercy to the worlds.”)

 Hence the legacy of the holy Prophet (SAW) included Allah’s Mercy along with His Divine Knowledge.

 The holy Prophet (SAW) passed this Divine Legacy then to his successor and brother Mawla Ali (A.S) in the following manner:

• The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:"O Ali! You are the owner of my stream (Al-Hawd), the holder of my banner, my beloved, my custodian, the inheritor of my knowledge, my successor and the holder of the prophets' inheritances before me. You are the guardian of Allah in His land, the argument of Allah for His creations, the basis of faith and the pillar of Islam. You are the Light in darkness, the guiding light and the raised flag for the people of this world. O Ali! He who follows you shall be saved and who leaves you shall be doomed. You are the apparent path and the right way (Al-Sirat). You are the leader of those who shine with light and the King of believers. You are the master of those who I am a master of; I am the master of every believer (men and women). Only those of pure births love you and only those of births of adultery detest you.” Then he further added that: “Not once did my Lord raise me to the sky and speak to me without telling me:" O Mohammad, send my greetings (Peace) to Ali and inform him that he is the Imam of my saints and the Light of the obedient ones. Congratulations for this virtue of yours , O Ali! ""

(Ref: Amali Al-Sadouq p.382, Al-Bihar vol.38 p.100, Ghayat Al-Maram vol.3 p.78, Bisharat Al-Mostafa p.95, Al-Bihar vol.40 p.53, Yanabe'a Al-Mawadda vol.1 p.39) 

Thus firstly the holy Prophet (SAW) and then Mawla Ali (A.S) inherited Allah’s Divine Legacy. The way in which Suleman (A.S) inherited the legacy of Dawood (A.S) and Yahya (A.S) of Zakariya (A.S), the Divine Legacy of the holy Prophet (SAW) and Mawla Ali (A.S) should have been inherited by their children after them.

**Let us now see what Quran has to say about the children of the holy Prophet (SAW):

• “Ae Rasool (SAW) Hum ne tum ko Kausar ataa kiya, to tum apne Parvardigar ki namaz padha karo aur qurbani diya karo beshak tumhara dushman be-aulad rahega.” – (Surah-al Kausar, ayah 1-3)

• “(Surely We have given you Kausar, Therefore pray to your Lord and make a sacrifice.  Surely your enemy is the one who shall be without posterity)

Most of the Islamic scholars while mentioning the above ayahs have explained that the word ‘Kausar’ refers to Janabe Fatema (S.A), as it was through her that the lineage of the holy Prophet (SAW) proceeded.  

While commenting on the time of revelation of above Surah-al-Kausar, the scholars have explained that an infidel denounced the Prophet (SAW) when one of his children died and said that he (pbuh) is now without offspring, therefore when he dies his name will die with him. In order to negate them and give assurance to the holy Propet (SAW) Allah (SWT) revealed this Surah. It is as if to tell the holy Prophet (SAW) that his descendants would remain even after all other lineages are ended.

In Majma’ al Bayan, Tabarsi has commented on the Surah in the following manner:

·         “It was said that Kausar means abundant benevolence, it has also been said that it means the multiplicity of a given person; and the descendants of Fatema (S.A) have enormously multiplied in a way that they will exist until the Day of Resurrection. 

Even the prominent scholar like Fakhruddin Razi has quoted comments of some scholars while referring to the Surah al Kausar. According to him some scholars have commented in the following manner:

• “Since this chapter was revealed to refute the claim of an infidel who attempted to denounce the Prophet (SAW) for not having sons, it becomes clear that the meaning given here is that Allah (SWT) gave the Prophet (SAW) offspring, which will be everlasting. We must keep in mind that numerous massacres have been committed against Ahl-ul-bait (A.S), yet still the world is full of them; while the Umayyads have vanished save a few who are worthless. Besides this, prominent scholars have descended from Fatema (S.A)’s sons such as Al-Baqir (A.S), Al-Sadiq (A.S), Al-Kazim (A.S), Al-Reza (A.S), Al Nafs Al-Zakyyah and others.”

Thus from the above explanation we can infer that it is Allah (SWT)’s Will that the lineage of Fatema (S.A) and Mawla Ali (A.S) be the lineage of the holy Prophet (SAW). This makes the Imams – the children of Mawla Ali (A.S), as the true inheritor of this Divine Legacy of the holy Prophet (SAW). This inference can be further proved by the following ayah: 

• “Phir jab tumhare paas ilm (Quran) aa chuuka us ke baad bhi agar tum se koi (Nasrani) Isa (a.s) ke baare main hujjat kare to kaho ki achha maidaan main aao Hum apne beton ko bulaaen tum apne beton ko, Hum apni aurton ko bulaaen tum apni aurton ko, Hum apni jaanon ko bulaaen tum apni jaanon ko, uske baad Hum sab milkar Khuda ki baargaah main gid gidaaen aur jhooton per Khuda ki la’anat karein..” – (Surah-e-Aale-Imran, ayah 61)

• “(…If any one disputes in this matter with thee, now after (full) knowledge hath come to thee say: “Come! Let us gather together, - our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves. Then let us earnestly pray and invoke the curse of God on those who lie.)”

 

When the Christians of Najran contested the Prophethood of holy Prophet (SAW), Allah (SWT) instructed the holy Prophet (SAW) to call both the parties to the event for a ‘Mubahela. 

As instructed in the verse, each party was to bring their women, their sons and themselves. While the Christians brought a great delegation of learned scholars, the holy Prophet (SAW) summoned Hasan (A.S) and Hussain (A.S) in place of his sons. Janabe Fatema (A.S) represented women of his house and Mawla Ali (A.S) represented part of his soul. Both the parties then were needed to pray and invoke curse of Allah on the liars.

This event further substantiates our inference of Imams being children of the holy Prophet (SAW). We will see few more references of prominent scholars in this regard now:

·         Khawarazmi in Manaqib, p 229 has narrated the declaration of the holy Prophet (SAW) in the following words: “Surely Allah made every Prophet’s progeny proceed from his own loins and made my progeny proceed from Ali’s loins.”

(Ref: This narration was also reported by the following writers: Muhib Ad-Din-Tabari in Dhakhaer al-Uqbi, Hamueeni in Faraed As-Semtain, Dhahabi in Mizan al-Etedal, Ibn Hajar in al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqa p.74, Mirza Hindi in Muntakhab Kanz al-Umal, Zarqani in Sharh Mawahib Ladonyyah, and Qandouzi in Yanabi’ al-Mawaddah p.138.)

·         Nisaee also mentioned in Khasaes Amir Al-Momineen on the authority of Mohammed Ibn Usama Ibn Zaid that his father said that the holy Prophet (SAW) has said: “As for you Ali, you are my son-in-law and the father of my offspring; you are from me and I am from you.”

**Thus Hasan (A.S) and Hussain (A.S) inherited their Divine Legacy and after them it was inherited by Imams from the lineage of Hussain (A.S).

By contemplating on various ayahs we were able to establish that the true inheritors of legacy of the holy Prophet (SAW) and Mawla Ali (A.S) are their children. Our inference was backed by Quranic evidences, logic and few references; let us now further establish the fact by contemplating on the following ayah which directly supports our inference. As the ayah says:

• “Aur jin logon ne imaan qubool kiya aur unki aulaad ne bhi imaan main unka saath diya to Hum unki aulaad ko bhi unke darje tak pahoncha denge aur Hum unki kaarguzariyon main se kuch bhi kam na karenge, har shakhs apne a’maal ke badle main girvi hai.” – ( Surah-e-Tur, ayah 21)

• “(And those who accepted faith, and whose descendants followed them with faith – We have joined their descendants with them, and have not reduced anything for them from their deeds; every soul is trapped in its own deeds.)”

In the above ayah Allah (SWT) promises to unite the descendants, who have accepted faith and followed the path taken by their believer forefathers with them.  In the light of the above ayah it means that they will hold the same divine position as their forefathers and will be considered similar.

In Karbala, Imam Hussain (A.S) sacrificed his entire family for the sake of Islam and thus helped the cause of holy Prophet (SAW). It is because of this that the holy Prophet (SAW) had said for Imam Hussain (A.S):

·         "I am from Hussain and Hussain is from me" (Ref: Sahih Tirmizi, vol 6, P 307, Kanzul Ammal, vol 4, P 221,  Masnad Ahmed, vol 4 P 972)

In the battlefield of Karbala Imam Hussain (A.S) was ably supported by his son Imam Zainul Abedin (A.S) during this Jihad and after his martyrdom Imam Zainul Abedin (A.S) took over the mantle of this divine cause. This lineage continued till the 12^th and the last Imam Mohammed Mehdi (A.S) who has inherited this legacy and is currently in occultation. When the occultation ends following the Divine Orders, he will hold similar authority as his preceding Imams and the holy Prophet (SAW) and hence Mawla Ali (A.S) has said that:

•  “The first one of us is Mohammed, the last one of us is Mohammed, the middle one of us is Mohammed and all of us are Mohammed. So do not differentiate between us. If we will be doing a matter, Allah Wills it and if we dislike it Allah dislikes it. The Wayl (deepest layer of Hell) and all its torment is for those who reject our virtues, private matters and what Allah has given us, because whoever rejects anything Allah gave us has rejected Allah’s might and will within us.”  (Ref: Bihar ul Anwar, vol 26, p 1, Mashareeq Anwarul Yaqeen, p 255, Ilzan al Nasib, vol 1 P 32)

In his beautiful work “Stairway to Heaven”, Yousuf N Lalljee, the author has mentioned the following hadith of the holy Prophet (SAW), where he had said that:

• “I am the Prince of Apostles, Ali is the Prince of Successors; after me there will be 12 successors, the last shall be Al-Mahdi.”

In the same section Lalljee has quoted the holy Prophet (SAW) mentioning the position of Imams succeeding him in the following manner: 

• “Awwalona Mohammed – The First of us is Mohammed 

            Ausatona Mohammed – The Middle of us is Mohammed

Aakhirona Mohammed – The Last one of us is Mohammed

Kullona Mohammed – Everyone of us is Mohammed

 

(Ref: Stairway to Heaven, Yousuf.N.Lalljee, December 1975, Bombay Edition, Page 79-80)

**With the above references and in the light of ayahs which we contemplated in this article, we need to understand the rights of 12 Imams - the true successors of the Divine Legacy of the holy Prophet (SAW). By knowing them and understanding their position we guarantee perfection of faith and remain true believers till we live. And later, about our queries to the happenings after death the Quran replies: 

• "Uss din ko yaad karo jab Hum tamam logon ko unke Imamon ke saath bulayenge, to jiska naama-e-aamaal un ke dahine haath main diya jayega to woh log khush khush apna naama-e-aamaal padhne lagenge aur un per resha barabar zulm nahin kiya jayega.” – (Surah-e-Bani Israel, ayah 71)

• "(One day We shall call together all human beings with their Imams: those who are given their record in their right hand will read it (with pleasure), and they will not be dealt with unjustly in the least.)"

**The above ayah clarifies that if we have followed true Imams we will get the naama-e-aamaal (record of our deeds) under their leadership in our right hands guaranteeing salvation. But in case if we have followed wrong Imams, we have faltered in our faiths in this world and salvation cannot be guaranteed. Hence recognizing the true Imams and understanding their position is important for us to have a perfect faith which is a certificate for salvation.

Divine Association

One day while returning from my office I saw a newly opened fast-food restaurant in an adjacent complex. I remembered visiting the restaurant in Mumbai and hence I went inside to have a look at the menu. I found everything to be similar to their Mumbai outlet right from the ambience to the prices and the quality of food. 

A gentleman came forward and provided me with all the details.  And he proudly announced that he was the owner of the shop and it was the franchise of the fast-food company, which he had started. Had he not told me, it would have been difficult to make out that it was not a company owned outlet but a franchisee. 

A franchise is a right granted to an individual or a group by the company to market its product and services in the specified territory. Thus within this territory the franchise owner is the ultimate authority appointed by the company. 

**This franchisee-franchisor association has helped various companies promote and trade their products and services across the world successfully. Let us try to find out through this article that Divine Association which has benefitted Islam and made it a successful religion the world over. 

We start with Almighty Allah’s following instruction to the holy Prophet (SAW) in Surah-e-Jinn:

• “(Ye bhi) kehdo ki main tumhare haq main na burayee ka hi ikhtiyar rakhta hoon aur na bhalayee ka – (Surah-e-Jinn, ayah 21) 

• “(Say, "It is not in my power to cause you either harm or good")

It is only Allah (SWT) – the Most Powerful, the Most Beneficent who can help the mankind and even harm them if needed. Does it mean that the presence of holy Prophet (SAW) in our lives has not done any good to us? 

• “Khuda ne to imaandaron per bada ehsaan kiya ke unn ke waaste unheen ki qawm ka ek Rasool (SAW) bheja jo unhain Khuda ki aayatein padh padh ke sunata hai aur unn ki tabiyat ko pakizah karta hai aur unhain Kitab (Kitab-e-Khuda) aur aqal ki baatein sikhaata hai agarche wo pehle khuli hui gumrahi main pade the.” - (Surah-e-Aale Imran, ayah 164) 

• “(Allah did confer a great favour on the believers when He sent among them a messenger from among themselves, rehearsing unto them the Signs of Allah, sanctifying them, and instructing them in Scripture and Wisdom, while, before that, they had been in manifest error.)” 

When we observe the above ayah we find that there are so many benefits Allah (SWT) has made us count while referring to the holy Prophet (SAW). In fact in the above ayah He says that the holy Prophet’s presence amongst us is His Great Favour. So if there are multiple benefits because of the holy Prophet (SAW) why did the first ayah say that it is not in his power to do any good to us? This needs to be further pondered upon. 

• “Qasam hai sitare ki jis waqt ke woh utra. Tumhara rafeeq na bhatak gaya hai aur na bahka hai. Aur woh khwahishe nafsaani se kuch nahin kehta. Jo kuch woh kehta hai woh nahin hai magar Wahi hai jo uski taraf bheji jaati hai. Usko badi quwwaton waale aur badi aqal waale ne taalim kiya.”  - (Surah-e-Najam, ayah,1-5) 

• “(I swear by the star when it goes down. Your companion does not err, nor does he go astray; Nor does he speak out of desire. It is naught but revelation that is revealed, The Lord of Mighty Power has taught him)”

The above ayahs give us various results and provide us clarity on the above point which we were contemplating. The holy Prophet (SAW) never errs; hence he is without any flaw. He never goes astray hence he is always steadfast on the straight path. He does not speak anything out of his will and desire. He only speaks whatever has been revealed to him. It means whatever he has said in his life is a revelation of Allah. These revelations are called ayahs in Quran and outside Quran they are called ahadith of the holy Prophet (SAW). This is the Divine Association our holy Prophet (SAW) has with the Almighty Allah. And this association provides him all the power to benefit us. 

And with the following ayah Allah (SWT) has further informed us on the importance of the presence of holy Prophet (SAW) in our lives:

•   "Aur Ae Rasool (SAW) Hum ne tum ko tamam alamon ke liye rehmat hi karke bheja hai". – (Surah-e-Ambiya, ayah 107)

• (“And We have not sent you but as a mercy to the worlds.”)

Allah (SWT) has created the Sun to provide us with light & warmth in day time. If we avoid Sunlight we will have to live in darkness and forego many other benefits of it. Hence it is required to be under the comfort of Sunlight whenever need arises. Our holy Prophet (SAW)’s presence is similar to this. He is mercy to the worlds; hence the seekers of Allah’s Mercy need to approach the holy Prophet (SAW). Without his intercession Allah’s Mercy will never reach us. 

**Allah’s Mercy: In the light of various ayahs we saw divine association our holy Prophet (SAW) has with Allah (SWT) and hence the right to bestow Allah’s Mercy over the mankind has been granted to the holy Prophet (SAW). 

Holy Prophet (SAW) got all his instructions from Allah (SWT) and he obeyed every instruction given to him. His mission was just to convey these instructions to the Ummah and he was not made accountable to ensure whether they were being followed or not, which Quran has clarified on various occasions. Let us see one of such instructions on Jihad in the following ayah:

• “Pus (Ae Rasool (SAW)) tum Khuda ki raah mein jihad karo aur tum apne nafs ke siwa aur kisi ke zimmedar nahin ho aur imaandaron ko jihad ki targhib do.” – (Surah-e-Nisa, ayah 84)

• “(Then fight in Allah's cause - Thou art held responsible only for thyself - and rouse the believers.)”

Allah (SWT) orders holy Prophet (SAW) to perform Jihad. And also requires from him to motivate the believers to do the same, but holds him responsible only for himself (his ‘nafs’) and nobody else; as in Arabic the ayah says ‘Illa Nafsaka’ meaning ‘except your nafs’. What does his nafs include let us try to understand.

Conduct of Mawla Ali (A.S) in various holy wars fought during the time of holy Prophet (SAW) and the time after that is well documented by Islamic scholars and historians and they have vouched for his steadfastness and bravery. He followed the instructions given by holy Prophet (SAW) to perfection.

Also, on different occasions the holy Prophet (SAW) referred to his relation with Mawla Ali (A.S) as similar to the relationship of Musa (A.S) with Haroon (A.S), so let us first see an ayah related to Musa (A.S) and Haroon (A.S)’s relationship and then we will further contemplate on the above point.

• “Tub Musa (A.S) ne arz ki Khuda wanda Tu khuub waqif hai ke apni zaat khaas aur apne bhai ke siwa kisi per mera qaboo nahin buss ab hamare aur nafarman logon ke darmiyan judai daal de. “ – (Surah-e-Maida, ayah 25)

•  “(He (Moses) said: "O my Lord! I have power only over myself and my brother: so separate us from this rebellious people!")” 

The ayah says that Musa (A.S) prayed to Allah (SWT) to protect him and his brother (Haroon (A.S)) from the rebellious people as he acknowledged that he only had the authority over himself and his brother and nobody else. In the light of this ayah and the holy Prophet (SAW)’s  comparison of his relationship with Mawla Ali (A.S) to Musa (A.S)’s relationship with Haroon (A.S) when we observe the ayah of Surah-e-Nisa mentioned above where Allah (SWT) has instructed the holy Prophet (SAW) for ‘Jihad’ and made him responsible only for himself; it seems that the ‘nafs’ or the ‘self’ of holy Prophet (SAW) included Mawla Ali (A.S) as well.

In the battlefield of Ohad, when the holy Prophet (SAW) was deserted by his companions and left alone it was Mawla Ali (A.S) who remained with him and helped him. The holy Prophet (SAW) asked him why he not fled with others to which Ali (A.S) replied that he belonged to the Prophet (SAW). He being a believer would not like to turn a disbeliever or an infidel by resorting to flight.  (Ref: Tabari; Ibn Athir; Madarij-al-Nabowat, Habib-ql-Siyar; Rawdzat-al-Ahbab.)

In the light of ayahs, hadith and Mawla Ali (A.S)’s conduct in ‘Jihad’ we could infer that Mawla Ali (A.S) was ‘nafs’ of the holy Prophet (SAW) to which Allah (SWT) has referred to in the ayah pertaining to Jihad  (ayah no. 84) of Surah-e-Nisa . Let us now see an event mentioned in Quran which will endorse our inference.

When the Christians of Najran contested the Prophethood of holy Prophet (SAW), Allah (SWT) instructed the holy Prophet (SAW) to call both the parties to the event for a ‘Mubahela’. The ayah is also called ayah-e-Mubahela for this reason:

• “Phir jab tumhare paas ilm (Quran) aa chuuka us ke baad bhi agar tum se koi (Nasrani) Isa (a.s) ke baare main hujjat kare to kaho ki achha maindaan main aao Hum apne beton ko bulaae tum apne beton ko, Hum apni aurton ko bulaae tum apni aurton ko, Hum apni jaanon ko bulaae tum apni jaanon ko, uske baad Hum sab milkar Khuda ki baargaah main  gid gidaae aur jhooton per Khuda ki la’anat kare...” – (Surah-e-Aale-Imran, ayah 61) 

•  “(…If any one disputes in this matter with thee, now after (full) knowledge hath come to thee say:“Come! Let us gather together, - our sons and your sons, our women and your women,    ourselves and yourselves. Then let us earnestly pray and invoke the curse of God on those who lie.)”

As instructed in the verse, each party was to bring their women, their sons and Anfosana. While the Christians brought a great delegation of learned scholars, the holy Prophet (SAW) summoned Hazrat Fatima (S.A) in place of women of his house. Hassan (A.S) and Hussain (A.S) in place of his sons and Hazrat Ali (A.S) as ‘Anfosana’ meaning part of his ‘nafs’ or self. Both the parties then were needed to pray and invoke curse of Allah on the liars. 

The Christian delegation looking at these five purified souls and their holy spirits quickly conferred amongst them and called off the Mubahela. They agreed not to question the nobility of the holy Prophet (SAW) and his mission. (Ref: Imam Fakhruddin Razi in Tafseer-e-Kabeer, Vol II, P 73, Allama Zamakhshari in Tafseer-e-Kashshaf)

**The holy Prophet (SAW) neither errs nor he goes astray and he does not speak anything but whatever is revealed to him by the Almighty Allah. While Mawla Ali (A.S) is the part of his ‘nafs’ or ‘soul’, thus even he does not err, neither he goes astray and his conduct during his entire life is the example of how the instructions of the holy Prophet (SAW) needs to be followed. And hence his conduct is Allah’s ‘Wahi’ (revelation) in human form. 

Our above inference shows a strong association Mawla Ali (A.S) has with Almighty Allah. In the light of an ayah that showcases status of Mawla Ali (A.S) with respect to Allah (SWT) and degree of his nearness to the Almighty let us further substantiate this fact:

• “Aur logon mein se Khuda ke bande kuch aise hein jo Khuda ki (khushnudi) haasil karne ki gharaz se apne nafs tak bech daalte hain aur Khuda aise bandon per bada hi shafkat wala hai.” – (Surah-e- Baqra, ayah 207)

•  “(And among men is he who sells himself to seek the pleasure of Allah; and Allah is Affectionate to the servants.)”

Imam Ghizali in his Tareekh-e-Khamees writes that the above ayah of Surah-e-Baqra was revealed mentioning the sacrifice of Mawla Ali (A.S) when he slept on the bed of the holy Prophet (SAW) during the night of Hijrat risking his own life to save the holy Prophet (SAW) and thus helped the cause of Islam. Various prominent Islamic historians, on the authority of Ibn-e-Abbas, have also documented a similar tradition in their work referring to the above ayah with Mawla Ali’s sleep on the bed of the holy Prophet (SAW) at the night of ‘Hijrat’. (Ref: In Mustadrak by Imam Hakim, Volume 3 Page 4)

The ayah highlights the sacrifice of Mawla Ali (A.S) by saying that he sold himself to seek the pleasure of Allah. The ‘nafs’ of Mawla Ali (A.S) was purchased by Allah (SWT) on this night of Hijrat. Imagine if someone helps your cause risking his own life what would you do? Would not you want to help him or reward him to the best of your capacity? I would definitely try to do my best to reward such a helper who is ready to risk his life to help me.

Allah (SWT) is Most Beneficent and Merciful, and the Most Powerful. He is ‘Ala Kulle Shayeen Kadeer’. So what would be the level of His reward? As the ayah says that in return of ‘nafs’ of Mawla Ali (A.S), Allah (SWT) granted him with His Pleasure. So whatever pleases Ali (A.S) pleases Allah (SWT) and whatever displeases Ali (A.S) displeases Allah – The Almighty.

And in one of the sermons which he addressed to Hazrat Salman Farsi (R.A) and Hazrat Abu Zarr Ghaffari (R.A), Hazrat Ali (A.S) has narrated the rewards he got from Allah – The Most High:  

• O Salmán! O Jandáb! Verily, Allah has made me His Trustee over His creations and His Vicegerent on His earth, in His territories, and over His servants. Allah has given me what no artist can depict and no man of understanding can truly comprehend. One, who knows me in this manner, becomes a momin.”  

Then  he further continued in the same sermon:

• “When my name was written on the throne of sky, it attained its calmness. When it was inscribed on the mountains, they were upraised. When written on the earth, it became stable. When it was inscribed on the wind, it started flowing….” (Ref: Excerpts from Sermon of Marefat-e-Nooraniyat of Imam Ali (A.S), Nah jul Israr, hubeali.com)

**Allah’s Pleasure: Allah (SWT) has granted Mawla Ali (A.S) with His Pleasure, hence the seeker of Allah’s pleasure now should approach Mawla Ali (A.S) without his intercession it would not be possible to please Almighty Allah. 

Mosques are built so that we worship our Lord. Hence Allah (SWT) gives strict instructions on our conduct in Mosques:  

• “Aur ye ki masjidein khaas Khuda ki hain to logo Khuda ke saath kisi ki ibadat na karna.”  - (Surah-e-Jinn, ayah 18) 

•  "(And the places of worship” are for Allah (alone): So invoke not any one along with Allah)”

Only Allah (SWT) is to be worshipped and nobody else is worth worshipping along with Him otherwise it would lead to ‘Shirk’. ‘Namaz’ is the highest form of worship and hence Muslims everywhere in the world throng to Mosques to perform ‘Namaz’. Let us try to understand ‘Namaz’ then. 

‘Namaz’ starts with Surah-e-Hamd. It is mandatory to recite this Surah in the beginning of every ‘Namaz’ otherwise Namaz does not start. The ayahs (6 & 7) of this Surah are the prayer to tread the straight path of those who have been bestowed by Allah’s Grace. Sa’labi in his tafseer has mentioned a tradition from Abu Hureira that the ‘straight path’ means the path taken by Mohammed (SAW) and the children of Mohammed (SAW). (Ref: Sa’labi in his Tafseer, Waki ibn-e-Jarrah in his commentary). 

Again, at the end of every ‘Namaz’ it is mandatory to send ‘durood’ and salutations on the holy Prophet (SAW) and his holy Progeny, without which ‘Namaz’ remains incomplete. Thus ‘Namaz’ starts with a prayer to follow the path taken by the holy Prophet (SAW) and his progeny and it ends with ‘durood’ on them.

**It means that sending ‘durood’ and salutations on the holy Prophet (SAW) and his holy Progeny and discussing their virtues amongst ourselves and praying to Allah (SWT) to make us capable enough to follow their path is an integral part of our prayers. Thus Zikr-e-Ahl-ul-bait should not be mistaken as ‘Shirk’ but it is an integral part of Zikr-e-Khuda.

Almighty Allah reveals His Glory through His creations. These creations are His Signs to understand His Greatness. As He says in the following ayah:

• “Kya tumne nahin dekha ke kashtiyan samandar mein Khuda ki ne’mat se chalti hein ke wo apni nishaniyon main se ba’az tum ko dikhlade be-shak har sabr karne wale aur shukr karne wale ke liye uss main bahot si nishaniyan maujood hain.” – (Surah-e-Luqman, ayah 31) 

• ” (Do you not see that the ships sail in the ocean by the grace of God, that He may show you some of His glories. Verily there are signs in this for those who constantly persevere and give thanks.)”

Whatever happens in this world is because of the Grace of Allah (SWT), as the above ayah indicates that ships sail in the ocean by His Grace. So invoking Allah’s Grace is to get all our desires fulfilled. 

Keeping this in mind, let us see following excerpts from Hadeeth-e-Kisa, this hadeeth is a tafseer of ayah-e-tatheer (Surah-e-Ahzab, ayah 33). Jabir Ibn-e-Abdullah Ansari (R.A) narrates from the authority of Lady Fatema (S.A), the beloved daughter of the holy Prophet (SAW) that:

•  “Then the Lord, Almighty Allah said: ‘O My Angels! O inmates of the Heavens! I created this solid firmament, well-stretched earth, well-lighted moon, shinning sun, rotating planets, rippling oceans, floating boats, and all other things for the sake and love of these five persons who are inside the cloak.’
  At this, the Archangel Jibraeel (A.S) said: ‘O Lord! Who are they inside the cloak?’
  
  The Lord said: ‘They are Ahl-ul-Bait of the Prophet and the assets of the Prophethood. They are Fatima (S.A), her father, her husband and her two sons.’ 

The ayah from Surah-e-Luqman says that whatever happens is due to the Grace of Almighty Allah, while in the hadeeth-e-Kisa, Almighty Allah says that He created everything for the sake and love of Fatima (S.A), her father (The holy Prophet (SAW)), her husband (Mawla Ali (A.S)) and her two sons (Hassan and Hussein (A.S)) i.e. family of Fatima (S.A) – The Panjetan Paak (A.S). 

Again if we go back to ayah of Surah-e-Hamd (ayah 6 & 7) which is a prayer for us to tread the straight path taken by Mohammed (SAW) and his children; who were bestowed by Allah’s Grace it seems logical that Allah’s Grace is nothing but in loving them and following them. 

**Allah’s Grace: Thus in the light of ayahs of Surah-e-Hamd and Surah-e-Luqman and Hadeeth-e-Kisa, Allah’s Grace is the love for family of Fatima (S.A). If she and her family is happy with us Allah’s Grace will always be with us. Without the intercession of family of Fatima (S.A), it is not possible to invoke Allah’s Grace.

Allah (SWT) has created this world with a purpose. In one of the ahadeeth-e-Qudsi Allah (SWT) informs the purpose of this world to his first creation Adam (A.S):

•  “O Adam! Suppose if they (Mohammed (SAW) wa Aale Mohammed (SAW)) had not been there, I would neither have created you, nor would I have given the attire of creation to the Heavens, Hell, Skies and Earth.”  (Ref: Ma’ani Al Akhbar, P 124)

The Purpose of Allah creating this world is His love for Mohammed (SAW) and his children. And in this love He has concealed His Grace. He wanted the ‘Ummah’ to understand His Purpose and in return He wished to shower us with His Grace and hence Allah (SWT) instructed the holy Prophet (SAW) to ask his ‘Ummah’ to reward him for his messengership by loving his Ahl-ul-bait in the following manner:

• "Ae Rasool (SAW) tum kehdo ke main apni tableegh-e-risalat ka apne karabatdaron ki mohabbat ke siwa tumse koi sila nahin maangta” – (Surah-e-Shura, aayat – 23)

•  “(‘Say: I do not ask of you any reward for it but love for my near relatives’)”

 Here the love of relatives of the holy Prophet (SAW) is love for Fatima (S.A), Ali (A.S) and their children Hassan (A.S) and Hussain (A.S). (Ref: Sa’labi, Suyuti, Baidhavi, Bukhari, Muslim, Ahmed ibn Hambal, Allama Zamkhashri Vol 3, P 68).

**Allah’s Purpose: Thus family of Fatima (S.A) is not only Allah’s Grace but they are the Purpose of Allah. And if we remain dedicated to them we ensure that Allah would be pleased with us. This would keep us steadfast on the straight path. Allah’s Mercy would be bestowed upon us and we would always be under His limitless Grace.

So let us along with Almighty Allah send ‘durood’ and salutations to the holy Prophet (SAW) and his holy Progeny, the way Quran says:

• “Ae Ahl-ul-bait (Nabuwwat) tum per Khuda ki rehmat wa Usski barkatein (naazil ho).” – (Surah-e-Hud, ayah 73)

•  “(The Mercy of Allah and His Blessings are on you, O Ahl-ul-bait)”

Salwaat…

Identity of a Momin

A man is hidden behind the following two aspects of his personality:

• His Belief 

• His Conduct 

His beliefs cannot be seen by the human eye but we can recognize them on the basis of his actions. Thus his conduct is the mirror which reflects his beliefs. Consider this, if I consider myself as your friend, unless I help you when you need me the most, you might not come to know about my feelings. But once I came to your rescue you would know me as your true friend even if I did not acknowledge this verbally. My deed spoke what words had not. But if somebody, after making many false promises fails you; you would not consider him to be your friend any more. Thus here again what mattered was his action and not his promises. That is why the English idiom aptly says ‘Actions speak louder than words’. 

 Thus if we wish to know how a person is we need to observe his conduct. It will reveal his true identity. In that sense even in Islam, the parameter of differentiation between a believer (Momin) and a non-believer (Kafir) is the conduct of an individual. His actions speak a great deal about his faith. 

With this article we will try to establish this inference. Let us see what Allah (SWT) says about faith in Quran: 

• “Kya logon ne ye samajh liya hai (sirf) itna keh dene se ke hum imaan laye, chhod diye jayenge aur unnka imtihaan na liya jayega aur Humne to unn logon ka bhi Imtihaan liya jo unn se pehle guzar gaye garaz Khuda unn logon ko jo sacche hain yaqinan alaheda dekhega aur jhoothon ko bhi zaroor dekhega.” – (Surah-e-Ankabut, ayah 2-3) 

“(Do people think that once they say, ‘We believe,’ they will be left alone and not be put to the test? We certainly tried those who have gone before them, so God will certainly distinguish between those who are truthful and those who are lying.)”

Mere verbal acceptance of faith is not considered anything by Allah (SWT) and He puts to test all the people who claim to be believers. He differentiates a believer (Momin) from a non-believer (Kafir) after trying their faiths. Hence Allah (SWT) gives importance to conduct and action instead of words. We will now see the following two ayahs from Surah-e-Tawba:

• “Aur Musalmanon yeh log to Khuda ki qasmein khayenge ke woh tum main hi ke hain halanke woh log tum main ke nahin hain. Magar hain yeh log buuzdil ke agar kahin ye log panah ki jagah (Kila’a) ya chhupne ke liye ghaar ya ghus bhaithne ki koi aur jagah pajayen to usi taraf rassiyan todte hue bhaag jayen.” – (Surah-e-Tawba, ayah 56-57) 

“(They swear by God that they are believers like you; but they are not. They are afraid (to appear in their true colours): if they could find a place of refuge, or a cave or any hiding-place, they would run there with frantic haste.)” 

The above ayah discusses certain hypocrites who claimed to be believers but they were coward and Allah (SWT) detests their actions. It further substantiates our inference that the believer is judged solely on the basis of his deeds and actions. And a believer (Momin) is brave in his conduct and ready to sacrifice everything for the cause of Allah.

Having inferred this now let us see the life of Abu Talib (A.S). There are differences amongst Muslims related to the faith of Abu Talib (A.S); some people conveniently forget what he did for Islam and the holy Prophet (SAW) and they consider him as a non-believer as they cannot find any documented proof of his reciting ‘Kalema’ on the deathbed. Let us see what Quran has to say on this:

• “Aur Hum ne Bani Israel ko dariya ke uss par kardiya phir Firaun aur uss lashkar ne sarkashi ki aur shararat se unn ka peechha kiya yahan tak ke jab woh doobne laga to kehne laga ke jis Khuda per Bani Israel imaan laaye hain main bhi uss per imaan laata hoon. Uss ke siwa koi Ma’abud nahin aur main farmabardar bandon se hoon. Ab (marne ke waqt imaan laata hai) halaanke isse pehle tu nafarmani kar chuka aur tu to fasadiyon main se tha.” - (Surah-e-Yunus, ayah 90-91)

“(So We brought the Children of Israel across the river. Pharaoh and his troops pursued them arrogantly and aggressively. When he was about to drown, [Pharaoh] exclaimed, ‘I believe that there is no deity save Him in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of those who surrender themselves to Him!’ ‘Only now? When you had always been a rebel, and a wrongdoer.)”

In his entire life Firaun did everything to oppose Musa (A.S), the prophet of his time. He created hurdles and harassed the Bani Israel and thus he was rebel and a wrongdoer throughout his life. His showcasing faith in Allah (SWT) on his deathbed did not give him any benefit and he remained a ‘Kafir’ and died so. 

On the contrary Abu Talib (A.S) did everything to protect Mohammed (SAW) - the last prophet, from the pagans of Arab. He helped the Prophet (pbuh) in his mission and was his guardian. After all his efforts do you still feel that Allah (SWT) would have waited for Abu Talib (A.S) to recite a ‘Kalema’ to accept his faith and services? Did not his deeds speak a lot about his love for the Prophet (pbuh) and his belief in the religion of Islam? 

We have understood that Allah (SWT) judges people on the basis of their deeds in the light of various ayahs which we have contemplated upon. Now Let us see those deeds which Allah (SWT) likes the most: 

• “Madina ke rehne walon aur unn ke gardo nawah dehatiyon ko yeh jaaiz na tha ke Rasool-e-Khuda ka saath chhod dein aur na ye (jaaiz tha) ke Rasool (SAW) ki jaan se be-parwah ho kar apni jaanon ke bachane ki fikr karein, ye hukm us sabab se tha ke unn (jihad karne walon) ko Khuda ki raah mein jo taklif pyaas ki mehnat ya bhook ki shiddat ki pahonchti hai ya aisi raah chalte hain jo kuffar ke ghaiz or ghazab ka baais ho ya kisi dushman se kuch yeh log haasil karte hain to buss uske aewaz main (unnke nam’ae amal main) ek nek kaam likh diya jayega. Be-shak Khuda neki karne walon ka ajr (wa sawab) barbaad nahin karta.” – (Surah-e-Tawba, ayah 120) 

“(It was not proper for the people of Madinah and those desert Arabs around them to hold back from following God’s Messenger, and to prefer their own lives to his life. This is because whenever they suffer from thirst or weariness or hunger for God’s cause, and whenever they take any step which provokes those who deny the truth, or inflicts any loss upon the enemy, it shall be counted as a good deed in the sight of God—God will not deny the righteous their reward)”

Allah (SWT) likes those who are ready to sacrifice their own life for the sake of holy Prophet (pbuh) and his mission. For such people Allah (SWT) has promised great rewards and their good deeds would be accepted by Him. Thus protecting the holy Prophet (pbuh) and being there when he needed is the most rewarding and appreciated virtue by Allah (SWT). 

After the holy Prophet (pbuh) began preaching Islam, members of the other Quraishite clans felt threatened and they started pressurizing Abu Talib (A.S) to stop his nephew and control him. Despite all this, Abu Talib (A.S) remained supportive of the holy Prophet (SAW) and defended him from the other heads of Quraish.

Prominent Islamic historians have documented his noble gestures. Ali b. Burhanuddin Shafei in his book ‘Insanul Oyoon’ has described the benevolence of Hazrat Abu Talib (A.S) towards the Prophet (SAW) as follows:

'Every night Hazrat Abu Talib (A.S) would ask the Prophet (SAW) to go off to bed, and when everybody was asleep, Hazrat Abu Talib (A.S) would make any one of his sons or brothers or cousins to sleep on his (SAW) bed so that people who intended to attack the Prophet (SAW) could not do so.' 

It was during this period that the unbelievers of Mecca tried to trouble the Prophet (SAW) in various ways. All sorts of difficulties and tortures were inflicted upon him. Thinking Abu Talib (A.S) to be old, they threatened him with their plots, but this could neither stop his endeavors nor did it affect his steadfastness. 

Thus the deeds mentioned in the above ayah are in sync with whatever Abu Talib (A.S) did for the sake of holy Prophet (SAW); hence it again establishes him as a Brave and Selfless Momin. 

In order to further understand this we will see his life in the light of Quran. Mentioning ayahs that indicate the virtues of a Momin we would relate them with his conduct during his lifetime. Let Quran give its own verdict on the faith of Abu Talib (A.S). 

As Quran says in the following ayah:

• “Ae Imaandaro agar tum Khuda ke deen ki madad karoge to Woh bhi tumhari madad karega aur tumhain saabit qadam rakhega.” – (Surah-e-Mohammed, ayah 7) 

“(O you who believe! if you help (the cause of) Allah, He will help you and make firm your feet.)” 

Virtue of a believer is to readily help the cause of Allah, and in return Allah (SWT) promises to make him firm on his feet and thus keep him steadfast on the right path. 

Most of the Islamic historians unanimously write that without the help of Abu Talib (A.S) and his son Ali (A.S) it would have been difficult for Islam to get established and gain so much popularity and acceptance among the people. (Ref: Tahzeebul Mateen, Vol 1 P 13, Ibne Abil Hadeed in his work) 

Thus Abu Talib (A.S) contributed a lot in the cause of Allah (SWT) and thus to think that he was an unbeliever is contradicting the above ayah and hence a great sin in itself. 

Another ayah on conduct of a Momin:

• “Ae Rasool (SAW) unn logon se kehdo ke agar tum Khuda ko dost rakhte ho to meri pairvi karo ke Khuda (bhi) tum ko dost rakhega aur tum ko tumhare gunaah bakhsh de ga aur Khuda bada Bakhshnewala Maherbaan hai.” – (Surah-e-Aale Imran, ayah 31) 

“(Say, ‘If you love God, follow me and God will love you and forgive you your sins. God is most forgiving, and most merciful.’)” 

A person who claims to love Allah (SWT) should follow the holy Prophet (SAW). If he does so Allah (SWT) would love him in return and would be forgiving and merciful towards him. Thus the parameter for love and belief in Allah (SWT) is a person’s support to the holy Prophet (SAW). When someone is a constant source of support and comfort to the holy Prophet (SAW) and remains his guardian throughout his life, would not he be one of the greatest believers then? 

In the presence of Abu Talib (A.S) once the holy Prophet (SAW) was preaching his followers. The apostates of Quraish in order to destroy the mission of holy Prophet (SAW) approached Hazrat Abu Talib (A.S) with the demand of surrendering the holy Prophet (SAW) to them right away. Determined Abu Talib (A.S) replied “If a she-camel could surrender its young one to somebody else, then I also will hand over Mohammed (SAW) to you.” (Ref: Minhajun Nabuwwah Muhaddise Dehalvi vol. 2 pg. 77)

In the light of above ayah we can further establish the credentials of Abu Talib (A.S) as a God-fearing, God-loving True Momin. 

Let us see the following ayah now: 

• “Momineen momineen ko chhod ke kafiron ko apna sarparast na banaaye. Aur jo aisa karega to use Khuda se kuch sarokar nahin magar (iss qism ki tadbiron se) kisi tarah unn (ke shar) se bachna ho to (khair) aur Khuda tumko Apne hi se darata hai aur Khuda hi ki taraf laut kar jana hai” – (Surah-e-Aale Imran, 28) 

“(Let not the believers take the non-believers for wali (guardian) rather than believers; and whoever does this, he shall have nothing of (the guardianship of) Allah, but you should guard yourselves against them, guarding carefully; and Allah makes you cautious of (retribution from) Himself; and to Allah is the eventual coming.)” 

Allah (SWT) orders all the believers specifically in the above ayah not to take non-believers as their guardian and if somebody does so he shall not find Allah (SWT) as his guardian. So when an ordinary believer cannot have a non-believer as a guardian, why did Allah (SWT) allow the holy Prophet (SAW) to be guarded by Abu Talib (A.S) had he been a non-believer? Would not it contradict the above ayah? This further confirms that he was a true-believer and Allah (SWT) appointed him as the guardian of the holy Prophet (SAW). 

The following ayah endorses his guardianship:

• “Kya Uss ne tumhain yateem paakar panah na di (zaroor di)?” – (Surah-e-Zoha, ayah 6) 

“(Did He not find you an orphan and give you shelter (and care))?”

In the major tafseer of the holy Quran by Islamic scholars of various sects it is mentioned that the above ayah has been revealed to showcase the protection and shelter provided by Abu Talib (A.S) to the holy Prophet (SAW). Thus his protection to holy Prophet (SAW) was Allah (SWT)’s protection. 

Ibn Hajar in his book writes 'When Abdul Muttalib (A.S) expired he wrote in his last will to Abu Talib (A.S) to raise the Holy Prophet (SAW). Hence Abu Talib (A.S) nurtured him (SAW) with lots of love and affection, not even raising his own son Ali (A.S) in the same manner. 

And Allah (SWT) confirms that it is He who guides the fathers, forefathers and descendants of his chosen Prophets in the following ayah:

• “Aur Humne Ibrahim ko Ishaq wa Yaqub (saa beta pota) ataa kiya Humne sabki hidayat ki aur unn se pehle Nooh ki bhi Hum hi ne hidayat ki aur unn hi Ibrahim ki aulaad se Dawood wa Sulaiman wa Ayyub wa Yunus wa Musa wa Harun (sabki Hum hi ne hidayat ki) aur nekokaron Hum aisa hi sila ataa farmate hai aur Zakariya wa Yahya wa Isa wa Iliyas (sab ki hidayat ki) aur (ye) sab Khuda ke nek bandon se hain. Aur Ismail wa Yosha wa Yunus wa Lut ki (hidayat ki) aur sabko sare jahan per fazilat ataa ki aur (sirf unhiki nahin balke) unnke baap dadaon, aur unnki aulaad aur unnke bhaibandon main se (bahoteron ko) muntakhab kiya aur unhain sidhi raah ki hidayat ki.” – (Surah-e-An’am, ayah 84-85-86-87) 

“(And We gave to him Ishaq and Yaqoub; each did We guide, and Nuh did We guide before, and of his descendants, Dawood and Sulaiman and Ayub and Yusuf and Musa and Haroun; and thus do We reward those who do good (to others). And Zakariya and Yahya and Isa and Ilyas; every one was of the good; And Ismail and Al-Yasha and Yunus and Lut; and every one We made to excel (in) the worlds: And from among their fathers and their descendants and their brethren, and We chose them and guided them into the right way.)” 

From the above ayah it is clear that Allah (SWT) guides his Prophets to the right path and not only them He also guides their fathers, descendants and their brethren and keeps them steadfast on the true path. Hazrat Abdul Muttalib (A.S) was the grand-father of the holy Prophet (SAW) and father of Abu Talib (A.S) – the guardian and uncle of holy Prophet (SAW).) They were guided descendants of Ibrahim (A.S) and believers of deen-e-Ibrahim before Islam was revealed. And since they were always on the true-path their reciting ‘Kalema’ or not should not be used as a pretext to claim that they were not true Momins. 

Hazrat Abdul Muttalib (A.S) followed the religion of Ibrahim (A.S) and the proof of this is the event of the elephants which Abraha had brought to destroy the Ka’aba. The event also finds mention in Quran in the form of an ayah. Abdul Muttalib (A.S) was the caretaker of Ka’aba and hence prayed to Allah (SWT) to protect the Holy Ka’aba from Abraha. He then approached Abraha and asked him to release his livestock. Abraha got shocked and said “You are the chief of this tribe and I thought you would plead to me to spare the Ka’aba.” To this Abdul Muttalib (A.S) replied “I am the owner of these animals and have therefore come to ask for them. As for the Ka’aba, its Master is there to take care of it.”  

Maqatil narrates that Hazrat Abu Talib (A.S) made a will to Bani Hashim on his death bed in the following manner: 

“O Bani Hashim, if you all obey the holy Prophet (SAW) and if you all believe in his truthfulness you will be guided.”

In Midarajan Nabuwwah (of Mohaddisse Dehalvi) and in Rauzatus Safa vol. 2 the following sermon of Hazrat Abu Talib (A.S) addressing the people, which also served as his will, has been recorded: 

'O Quraish! You are the most pious servants of Allah. I recommend Muhammad (SAW) to you in matters of righteousness and virtue. He is the trusted one of Quraish and the truthful one of Arabia and he possesses all the virtues for which I am making a will to you. He (SAW) has brought such good news, which has been accepted by your hearts, but your tongue has chosen to deny it on account of fear of taunts. On the contrary, I see that the weak and the defenseless have accepted his (SAW)’s invitation and have testified in his Shariat and revere him. Thus they have become the leaders and your chiefs have been humiliated. The proud ones have been humbled and the humble ones have become self-sufficient. Those who distanced themselves from him (SAW) are the unfortunate ones. I can see that the people of Arabia are attached to him (SAW) and have expanded their hearts for his love and have very dutifully and diligently prepared themselves to follow him and serve him. O Quraish! Befriend Muhammad (SAW) and supporters of his group. I swear by Allah those people who do not tread the path shown by him (SAW) will not find guidance, and only they will accept and adhere to his ways and qualities who are virtuous. If death could have been delayed and there would have been some more time left in my life, I would be helping him and as far as possible I would have repelled all dangers from his path.'

Life of Abu Talib (A.S) in the light of Quran has proved that he was a devout Momin committed to protect the holy Prophet (SAW). Let us now see few references about his faith: 

• Abu Talib (A.S) supported the holy Prophet (SAW) since he had a great faith in his message being the last and final message from Allah (SWT). The faith of Abu Talib (A.S) was expressed through his sayings which came in the form of poetry as he used to say ‘I verily know that the religion of Mohammed is the best amongst all religions.” (Ref: Tareekh Ibn Katheer 3:42, Fath al-Baari Fi Shar-h Saheeh al-Bukhari 7:153, Al-Isaabah 4:116 and many more)

 • Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq (A.S) asked Younus Bin Nabatah: “O Younus, what do people say about Abu Talib?” Younus replied: “People say that he is in a shallow in the fire from which his brain is boiling. Imam al-Sadiq (A.S) said: “The enemies of Allah are lying. Abu Talib (in the paradise) is with the prophets, truthful, martyrs and pious people, who are the best to be with. (Ref: Shaikh al-Abtah 32, al-Hujjah 17, al-Ghadeer 7:394 from Kanz al-Fawaa’ed). 

• Imam Ali (A.S) said: “By Allah, Abu Talib was a faithful Muslim (Mo’min), keeping his faith secretly, not to cause to Bani Hashim harm from Quraish boycott. (Ref: Al-Hujjah 24, Al-Ghadeer 7:389, Mo’jam al-Qoboor 1:200).

• Imam Ali (A.S) also said: “By Him who sent Muhammad as a prophet, if my father’s intercession is given to forgive all the sinners on earth, Allah will forgive all of them. (Ref: Tathkirat al-Khawaas 11). 

• The reason of the allegation against Abu Talib is clarified by the Prophet (SAW) when he told Imam Ali: “O Ali, you have an example from my brother Isa (A.S); as the Jews hated him, they accused his mother.” (Ref: Kanz al-Ummal by al-Muttaqi al-Hindi) 

• It is narrated by Hazrat Abu Bakr that Abu Talib (A.S) did not die but after he said: “I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, and Mohammad is His messenger.” (Ref: Sharh al-Nahj by Ibn Abil Hadeed 3:312, Shaikh al-Abtah 71, Al-Bidayah wal-Nihayah 3:123, Al-Isaabah 4:116, Dala’il al-Nobowwah by al-Bayhaqi 1:120, Kash al-Ghummah by Al-Sha’rani, 2:144). 

After seeing the above references on his faith, let us end the article with few words of Abu Talib (A.S) recorded by prominent scholars which showcase his love for our beloved Prophet (SAW). Mohammed b Ishaaq (author of Seeratun Nabuwwat) has recorded more than 80 couplets long poetry of Hazrat Abu Talib (A.S) in praise of holy Prophet (SAW). 

This was composed when Mecca was under a severe famine. People approached Abu Talib (A.S) as he was Shaikh al Bat’ha and their leader. Abu Talib (A.S) requested the holy Prophet (SAW) to pray for rains and when it rained he praised the holy Prophet (SAW) in the following words:  

“O Muhammad! Looking at your luminous face, raindrops fall. Your merciful existence is a refuge for the helpless orphan and a protection for the modesty and chastity of widows.” 

 Abu Talib (A.S) was amongst the greatest of Momins. He was chosen by Allah (SWT) to protect the holy Prophet (SAW), which is a great honour in itself. He was the main support to the holy Prophet (SAW) and laid the foundation of ‘Kalema’ during the formative years of Islam. And Allah (SWT) has accepted his services and rewarded him immensely by making the pious progeny of the holy Prophet (SAW); piety of which is testified by Quran (Surah-e-Ahzab, ayah 33), as the Progeny of Abu Talib (A.S).