Purified statements
In his Fawaid, Tamam Raazi1 has narrated through his authorities from
Abdullah bin Umar that: The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) said:
“On Judgment Day, I will intercede for my parents, uncle, Abu Talib and my
brother, who was there during the period of Ignorance.”2
Elegy (Marsiya) of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) regarding his respected father
In his Tadhkira, Sibte Ibne Jauzi has mentioned that:3
Ali (a.s.) composed (and recited) these verses in praise of Abu Talib:
“O Abu Talib! O refuge of those, who seek refuge! And O rain of the
droughts! And O effulgence of darknesses! Your absence has shattered the
hearts of the patient, thus the giver of bounties sends blessings on you. And
your Lord grants His pleasure, you were the best uncle for the purified
Prophet.”
Statement of Imam Sajjad (a.s.)
In his Sharh,4 Ibne Abil Hadid writes:
“It is narrated that: Ali bin Husain was asked regarding the faith of Abu Talib. He said: I am amazed, Allah, the Mighty and the High forbid that a
Muslim lady should continue to remain married to a disbeliever man, and Fatima
binte Asad was a lady, who took precedence in Islam and was the wife of Abu
Talib till the time of his death.”
Statement of Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.)
His Eminence was asked regarding what people say about Abu Talib being
in a pit of fire. He said: “If the faith of Abu Talib is placed in one pan of balance
and the faith of these people in the other, his faith would emerge heavier.”
Then he said: “Don’t you know that during his lifetime, Ameerul Momineen
Ali (a.s.) was commanding them to perform Hajj in proxy of Abdullah, his son5
and Abu Talib? Later, in his bequest, he ordered performance of Hajj on their
behalf.”6
Statement of Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.)
It is narrated from Abu Abdullah Ja’far bin Muhammad that: Messenger of
Allah (s.a.w.a.) said:
“Indeed, the folks of the cave concealed their faith and expressed disbelief;
so Almighty Allah gave them two rewards, and indeed Abu Talib, also concealed
his faith and expressed polytheism; thus Allah gave him two rewards (reward of
faith and reward of dissimulation).”7
Allamah Amini says: Thiqatul Islam Kulaini has narrated this traditional
report through his authorities and through proper chains of narrators from Imam
Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) in Usul Kafi,8 in this form:
“Indeed, the matter of Abu Talib is like the issue of the folks of the cave,
who concealed their faith and expressed polytheism; thus Almighty Allah gave
them two rewards.”
In his Al-Hujjat,9 Sayyid Ibne Maad has narrated through chains of Husain
bin Ahmad Maliki, a traditional report, which Ibne Abil Hadid has mentioned and
he adds the following:
“And he did not leave the world till glad tidings of Paradise for him arrived
from Allah, the Mighty and the High.”
Statement of Imam Ali Reza (a.s.)
Aban bin Mahmud wrote to Ali bin Musa Reza (a.s.):
“May I be sacrificed on you, I have doubts about the Islam of Abu Talib.”
Imam (a.s.) wrote in reply:
وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
“And whoever acts hostilely to the Apostle after that guidance
has become manifest to him, and follows other than the way of
the believers.”10
And after this verse, he wrote: “Indeed, if you don’t admit to the faith of Abu Talib, your abode is in Hellfire.”11