1. Effulgence of guidance in the breast of the uncle of Mustafa, though it was concealed, is absolute clear. 2. In this consciousness was breathed the spirit of faith; and this concealment of faith is a secret beyond our understanding. 3. His faith describes the Necessary Being (Wajibul Wujud) in the concealed position of being and a hidden treasure.1 4. Inner faith had placed him in a position, which none, but the purified can access it. 5. His faith in unseen, that is the unseen being of God, manifestation of perfection is a proof of his faith. 6. Its (faith of Abu Talib) for the seeing is clearer than the sun at noon. 7. And he was the guardian of seal of prophets and he supported him with all his energies. 8. He was his only supporter during his time and was the strongest refuge. 9. Refuge of his people, guardian of his family and the greatest refuge during hardships. 10. He was the invincible hurdle before his enemies and stable entrenchment of his statements. 11. How lofty is the rank of one, who was the refuge of Yasin and Taha. 12. He rose up to support Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) so that the bases of Islam may be established. 13. He remained as the greatest defense till the mission of Prophet gained momentum. 14. He supported the Prophet against persecutions of the infidels of Quraish with such resolve and severity that the oppressors were humiliated. 15. He was patient before every hardship and severity, while great crowds were dispersed by them. 16. How noble is the supporter, defender and guardian of the chief of creatures. 17. This much excellence is sufficient for him that he was given the honor of guardianship of the owner of the call and prophethood. 18. In praising him, his eloquent tongue was sharper than the drawn swords of the enemies. 19. He composed numerous verses and prose, which fill the world with effulgence. 20. And these verses and prose tell us about his true beliefs about God. 21. And the mother of the cities (Mecca) became illuminated with his effulgence and every effulgence is the effulgence of Mt. Tur of his being. 22. How it should not be so, while he was the father of effulgences and place of the rising of the suns and moons? 23. Source of every effulgence giver and illuminator; and why it should not be so, while he is the giver of effulgence of two easts. 24. On the contrary, he is the luminous star of the sky of nobility and through the generations, is the owner of its throne. 25. He possesses loftiness and greatness, which he gave in inheritance to others; thus his inheritance gathered in him from his ancestors 26. Purest branches of the great tree is Khalil and what an original nobility he possesses! 27. On the contrary, the nobility of all ancestors is from Adnan (ancestor of Prophet) and he is their refuge during times of distress. 28. He possesses such lofty rank that is higher than forts and the skies. 29. Why it should not be so, whereas he was the guardian of Mustafa and ancestor of the blessed and guiding personages and Caliphs of Prophet. 30. He is the father of the successor and Ja’far Tayyar, and by my life this is the greatest nobility. 31. The land of Mecca became illuminated with his effulgence; no, on the contrary the heavens lit up through his effulgence. 32. And the sun in his sky before the effulgence of his countenance is like Suha star. 33. Why it should not be so, whereas effulgence of Ali manifested from his face for those worthy of it. 34. He was a great personage in holy Mecca and by his leadership, he obtained every nobility. 35. On the contrary, he is the source of pride for the protected city (Mecca), on the contrary, the source of pride of all holy places (Mecca, Arafat and Mina etc). 36. And he is the source of hopes and aspirations; on the contrary he is the spout (Mustajar)2 of the Kaaba of faith. 37. And under the umbrella of the Lord and his awe, the assignment of the caller to truth was completed [and reached its conclusion]. 38. If he had not been there, the call of the chosen one would not have been completed. Thus, he is the source and root of the religion of God. 39. And how it should not be as such, whereas the shade of God is among the creatures called to Islam under the shade of his support. 40. And because of him Islam spread. And this is an excellence that no one other than him received. 41. The standard of Islam was waved due to his great valor and this is sufficient for his lofty rank. 42. These are matters of pride, which impart great excellence to him; it is a precedence, through which he gets the sign of embellishments. 43. And that is Abu Talib to describe whom all descriptions fail. 44. His worth is greater than the praise of every praiser but his remembrance makes the hearts alive.
Such is Abu Talib, the great one of Mecca and these were some aspects of his untainted faith.
مَا كَتَبْهَا عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَّا ابْتِغَاءَ رِضْوَانِ اللَّهِ
“We did not prescribe it to them – only to seek Allah’s pleasure…”3
لِيَسْتَيْقِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَبَ وَيَزْدَادَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِيْمَانًا وَلَا يَرْتَابَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَبَ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ
“That those who have been given the book may be certain and
those who believe may increase in faith, and those who have
been given the book and the believers…”4
وَٱلَّذِينَ جَآءُو مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَٰنِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِى قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّۭا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌۭ رَّحِيمٌ (١٠)
“And those who come after them say: Our Lord! forgive us and
those of our brethren who had precedence of us in faith, and do
not allow any spite to remain in our hearts towards those who
believe, our Lord! surely Thou art Kind, Merciful.”5
Returning to our discussion…Traditions exaggerating Abu Bakr’s merits.