Chief of Prophets (s) and Hazrat Abu Talib (a)

By: Fatima Ali

With the death of Hazrat Abu Talib (as), the Chief of Prophets Hazrat Muhammad (saw) lost a supporter and defender who had been in charge of his protection and safety from the time he was only eight years of age till the day when he was passing through his 50th year. It was he who hovered round his person in the same manner in which a moth hovers round a candle. It was he, who provided the Prophet of Islam with means of his livelihood till he himself became a man of means and gave him priority over himself as well as over his offspring.

The Prophet lost a personality whom Abdul Muttalib (as), the grandfather of the Prophet (saw), while breathing his last, had made his guardian with the following words: “O Abd-i Munaf! I am making you responsible for the protection of one who is the worshipper of One Allah like his father”. Abu Talib said: “Dear father! Muhammad does not stand in need of any recommendation, because he is my own son as well as that of my brother”.

It is reported in Seerah-i Halabi that once a terrible drought befell Quraysh and the earth and the heavens withheld their blessings from them. They came to Abu Talib (as) with tears in their eyes and requested him earnestly to pray to Allah for rains. Abu Talib (as) held the hand of the Prophet (saw), who was then a young boy, and leaned on the wall of the Ka'bah and raising his head towards the sky, said: “O Lord! Send rains for the sake of this young boy (pointing towards the Prophet) and favour us with your unlimited blessings”. The historians write unanimously: “He prayed to Allah for rains when there was not a single patch of cloud on the sky, but a cloud then appeared immediately from the horizon. A part of the cloud spread in the sky above Makkah and the places round it. Thunder and lightening created great noise. All the places were flooded with water and everyone was happy.” [, vol. I, page 125]

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