AbuTalib is the holy Prophet’s (PBUH & HP) uncle. His original name was “Imran,” and his father was “Abd al-Muttalib.” Abu-Talib was Imam Ali’s (AS) father.
Abu-Talib is one of the most important men in the history of Islam. His help to the Prophet (PBUH & HP) made Islam what it is and he made many efforts to make Islam get successful in Mecca. He was the most important supporter of the Prophet (PBUH & HP), and of course, he was one of the first individuals who believed in the Prophet.
The holy Prophet (PBUH & HP) lost his father, Abdullah, before he was born, and he also lost his mother when he was only 5 years old. After that, his grandfather, Abd al-Muttalib, was the guardian of the Prophet. Unfortunately, he also lost his grandfather when he was 8 years old. Abd al-Muttalib asked his son, Abu-Talib, to take care of the Prophet (PBUH & HP) and be his guardian. Then, the Prophet (PBUH & HP) lived with Abu-Talib, and he raised the Prophet (PBUH & HP). (1)
Abu-Talib was a merchant who was in charge of serving the Hajj pilgrims and looking after them in Mecca. These responsibilities were of considerable importance in Mecca, and consequently, Abu-Talib was highly respected there. He wasn’t so rich but because of his father, his job in Mecca, and his age, Abu-Talib was one of the most important and respected men in Mecca. Regarding his father, Imam Ali (AS) said
“My father was a respected poor person and there was no respected poor person before him.” (2)
He was a poor man who was generous. He provided food for impoverished people when no one else did. (3)
Abu-Talib was one of the most important supporters of the Prophet (PBUH & HP) in Mecca. He negotiated with the elders of Quraysh (the people of Mecca) so that they stop teasing the Prophet (PBUH & HP) and his followers. The elders of Quraysh wouldn’t dare to kill the Prophet (PBUH & HP) because Abu-Talib was with him and his support would have had serious repercussions for them. If they had dangerous plans for the Prophet (PBUH & HP), he would gather them to talk with them so that he could dissuade them and save the Messenger’s (PBUH & HP) life. (4)
When the Quraysh banished the Prophet (PBUH & HP) and his followers from Mecca, Abu-Talib let them live in Shi’b of Abi-Talib (a valley named Abu-Talib). He loved the Prophet (PBUH & HP) so much that he ordered his son, Imam Ali (AS), to sleep in the Prophet’s bed at night as the Polytheists were trying to murder the Prophet. Actually, he was ready to even sacrifice his children to save the Messenger’s (PBUH & HP) life. (5)
One of the most controversial issues that have led to many discussions between Shias and Sunnis is the faith of Abu-Talib. Sunni scholars believe that Abu-Talib helped the Prophet (PBUH & HP) in many ways not due to his faith but because of his relationship with the Prophet (PBUH & HP). They believe that Abu-Talib was a polytheist until his death, and he is now in Hell, but he is punished less than others.
On the other hand, Shiite scholars believe that Abu-Talib was one of the most faithful Muslims but he concealed his faith from the other Arabs so that he could retain his influence on them and help the Prophet (PBUH & HP) in this way. Shiite scholars say that so many poems written by Abu-Talib reflect the fact that he was a faithful person. Some of his poems are mentioned below:
Don’t you know that we have found Muhammad a Prophet just like Moses that his name has been written in the holy books?
Don’t you know that people love him and no one is better than the one that has been given love by God? (6)
Don’t you know that we do not deny our son? (The Messenger) and he doesn’t care about false words?
He is a person with a white face that the clouds rain because of him and he is a supporter of orphans and the shelter of the poor. (7)
The Shiite Imams also have claimed that Abu-Talib was a faithful person. Imam Ali (AS) said
“I swear to Allah that my father never worshiped an idol and neither did my grandfather, Hashim, or Abdi-Manaf (the ancestors of the Prophet).” (8)
Imam Baqir (AS) also said
“If the faith of Abu-Talib was put on one side of a balance and the faith of the other people on the other side, the faith of Abu-Talib would be heavier.” (9)
Abu-Talib died on Rajab 26th, ten years after the Prophet (PBUH & HP) was chosen by Allah. After his death, the Prophet (PBUH & HP) lost one of his most important supporters and because of that he was forced to migrate to Medina. The Prophet (PBUH & HP) was so sad because of that he named that year “The Year of Sorrow”. (10)
Resources
- Sirah ibn Hisham, AbdulMalik ibn Hisham, vol.1, pg.164
- Tarikh al-Yaqubi, Ahmad ibn Abi-Yaqub, vol.2, pg.14
- Ansab al-Ashraf, al-Balazori, vol.2, pg.23
- Sirah ibn Hisham, AbdulMalik ibn Hisham, vol.1, pg.242
- Bihar al-Anvar, Allamah al-Majlesi, vol.35, pg.93
- Sirah ibn Hisham, AbdulMalik ibn Hisham, vol.2, pg.4
- Al-Fosul al-Mukhtarah, Sheikh Mufid, pg.283
- Kamal ad-Din, Sheikh Saduq, vol.1, pg.174&175
- Sharh Nahj al-Balaqa, Ibn Aba al-Hadid, vol.14, pg.68
- Imtah al-Asma, Miqrizi, vol.1, pg.45
Before she was born, both Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) and lady Khadija (AS) went to a spiritual retreat separately for forty days by the command of Allah. During those days, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) and Lady Khadija (AS) prayed Allah sincerely and prepared their pure soul to receive Allah's blessing, their beloved daughter. After those forty days of worship and servitude, angels brought Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) an apple from heaven, and he broke his fast with those gifts from Allah. That night Lady Fatima (AS) was formed [1].
The father-daughter relationship between Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) and Lady Fatima (AS) was one of a kind. Here, we are going to exemplify some instances of deep father-daughter love between the two and the formation of an ideal respectful relationship.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) was always affectionate and caring toward Lady Fatima (AS). He used to kiss her throat every time she returned from a trip [2]. In response, she used to hug her dear father and kiss his forehead, between his eyes [3]. He didn't get to sleep before kissing her cheeks and praying for her, which reveal his deep respect and fatherly love toward her [4]. Aisha said she was the most similar person to Muhammad (PBUH&HP) in her speech. Whenever she came to see Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP), he used to take her hand and kiss her and sat next to her, and whenever Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) went to meet Fatima (AS), she used to kiss his hand and sat next to him respectfully [5].
Lady Fatima (AS) lost her mother when she was five. The other five years of her life passed without a mother. As a daughter, she used to take care of her father. Whenever the unbelievers threw him stones and ashes, Fatima (AS) used to take care of him and do what a mother does for her child. That is why when Allah asked Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) to call his wives Umol-Mumenin (Mother of the Believers), she asked him to grant her a title, too, Then Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) called her Umme Abiha, the mother of her father [6].
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) was at home, resting, with his cloak over his body. Fatima (AS) came beside him with some food. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) asked her to call her husband, Ali (AS), and her two sons, Hassan (AS) and Hussain (AS). They started eating together when Allah inspired this verse to his Prophet:
"Stay in your houses and do not flaunt your finery like the former [days of pagan] ignorance. Maintain the prayer and pay the zakat, and obey Allah and His Apostle. Indeed, Allah desires to repel all impurity from you, O People of the Household, and purify you with a thorough purification." Quran (33:33)
Then Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) covered the four of them with the remaining of his cloak and prayed:
O Allah, these are the people of my household and my special ones. Keep them pure and clean and take all evil away from them [7].
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) used to know about the difficulty of Lady Fatima's (AS) life after his death and the cruelty imposed on her and her family, and he cried for that a lot. Once when she was crying, he inspired her with this news: "You will join me in the other world soon after" [8] Lady Fatima (AS) was martyred 95 days after the death of his father!
References:
- Naseri, Muhammad (2011), Prophet Muhammad's Behavior with Fatima, Farhang-e Kothar, vol. 81.
- Bihar al-Invar, Vol.43, p. 6.
- ibid, p 40.
- ibid, p 42.
- Amini, Ibrahim The Model Woman of Islam, Fatima Pp108-109.
- Qa'emi, Ali In Fatima's School p.90.
- Tabatabai, Muhammad Hussain, Tafsir Al-Mizan Vol. 16, P 474
- Qomi, Abbas, Montahal Aamal p164.
The hours of fasting in Ramadan vary based on the geographical position of the city where one lives. In some regions, the fasting hours might be extremely long while in other places it might be too short such that one wonders if the goal of fasting (Sawm) has been accomplished or not. Extended fasting might cause difficulties.
Some might complain that there is no advantage in fasting long days. Others might find excuses to avoid fasting altogether. But, Islam does not want Muslims to suffer. There are, therefore, some rulings on how to fast on very long days and very short days, that we review them all next.
In the case where the days are very short, one should perform fasting in its typical way, from dawn to sunset, according to the prayer times. Hence, short fasting hours does not change the default time rulings on fasting (Swam) [1].
Fasting is not a mere act of depriving oneself of foods or drinks, but it aims at spiritual growth and salvation, inner peace, exercising patience, strengthening the social ties and experiencing how poor people live their lives [2].
Hence, the obligation on fasting is not to make people suffer; as it is stated in Surah Baqarah: “Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship” (2:185). So, there are some rulings on long fasts which make them less difficult.
Long fast (Swam), especially in hot summer days, is tough. In this case, one should fast according to the prayer times of his\her city of residence. But, if it is extremely difficult, whenever during the day he\she feels unable to continue, he\she is allowed to break the fast (Swam) and have to fast (it is obligatory, Wajib) later on for those missing (Qaza) fasts in shorter days of the current year and before the next Ramadan [1]
However, different religious experts (Mujtahids) have different opinions on this matter. We explained one of those views above. There are two other opinions as follows and one of them might be the opinion of your religious expert (Mujtahid):
In any case, one should fast according to the prayer times of the city of residence;
One should fast according to the prayer times in a “moderate region,” with the normal day length, that is on the same meridian as his\her city of residence.
Conclusion
Fasting is obligatory due to its spiritual and physical benefits. It is not to put pressure and make people suffer. If it is tough to fast in very long days, one can fast according to the rulings stated above.
References: