Demise of Hadrat Khadijah (ra) and Abu Ṭalib — Seal of the Prophets Vol. 1
Introduction
In this discourse from The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1), Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) details the historical events and scholarly insights surrounding Demise of Hadrat Khadijah (ra) and Abu Ṭalib.
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)
Section: VII-Days of Struggle
Pages: Book pp. 237–240 (PDF pp. 261–264)
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: [Miracle of the Shaqqul-Qamar] | Next: [Adversity of the Holy Prophet (sa) Intensified] »
Historical Account
regularly bless him with his presence. Thus, on one occasion, when his demise was near, the Holy Prophetsa went to visit him. At that time, Abū Jahl and other idolaters were also present. When the Holy Prophetsa sensed his approaching demise, he said, “Uncle! Merely utter the Kalimah Shahādah and on the Day of Resurrection, I shall intercede on your behalf.” On hearing this, Abū Jahl and the rest became apprehensive, and began to say to Abū Ṭālib, “Will you forsake the religion of ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib?” and continued to persuade him in many ways, the outcome of which was that the last words heard of Abū Ṭālib were that, “I die upon the religion of ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib.” When the Holy Prophetsa heard these words, he said in great anguish, “Alright, I shall continue supplicating in the presence of my Lord for your forgiveness, except that I am prohibited from doing so.” But it was not long before the Holy Prophetsa was forbidden from doing so, and an injunction was revealed that it is unlawful to pray for the forgiveness of idolaters and disbelievers, instead, their matter should be left to God.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābu Manāqibil-Anṣār, Bābu Qiṣṣati Abī Ṭālib, Ḥadīth No. 3884]
There is another narration which might be true and it relates that upon his deathbed, Abū Ṭālib said to the Chieftains of the Quraish that:
“O Party of the Quraish! Among the creation of Allāh, you are a chosen people. God has given you great reverence. I advise that you treat Muḥammad[sa] well, because amongst you, he is a man of the highest morals. He possesses distinction among the Arabs on account of his truthfulness and straightforwardness. If you ask the truth, he has brought a message to us which the tongue rejects but the heart accepts. I have stood by Muḥammad[sa] a lifetime and have stepped forward to protect him in all times of difficulty, and if I receive more time, I shall continue to do so in the future as well. And O Quraish! I also advise you not to insist upon causing him grief, but help him and support him, for your betterment lies in this.”
[Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Muḥammad bin ‘Abdul-Bāqī Az- Zarqānī, Volume 2, pp. 46-48, Bābu Wafāti Khadījata wa Abī Ṭālib, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)]
Shortly thereafter, Abū Ṭālib passed away. The Holy Prophetsa was greatly hurt by his demise and since Abū Ṭālib remained a supporter and protector to the Holy Prophetsa against the Quraish, by his demise, the position of the Holy Prophetsa became even more sensitive. At the time of his demise, which
occurred in 10 Nabawī, Abū Ṭālib was over eighty years of age. Although Abū Ṭālib held fast to polytheism during the whole of his life and also died in the same state, the Holy Prophetsa always considered him his father and demonstrated such a high model of love, loyalty, service, obedience, honour and respect, the likes of which cannot be found. On the other hand, Abū Ṭālib always treated the Holy Prophetsa with an extreme level of protection and loyalty, and preferred putting himself in every type of difficulty, but did not leave the side of the Holy Prophetsa. Where this treatment is evidence of his own graciousness and loyalty, it also proves that although he may have believed the Holy Prophetsa to be mistaken, on account of his polytheistic beliefs, he did not consider the Holy Prophetsa a liar or deceiver at all. He was a heartfelt believer of the excellent morals, truthfulness and sincerity of the Holy Prophetsa. Therefore at this instance, Muir writes:
“The sacrifices to which Abū Ṭālib exposed himself and his family for the sake of his nephew, while yet incredulous of his mission, stamp his character as singularly noble and unselfish. They afford at the same time strong proof of the sincerity of Moḥammad. Abū Ṭālib would not have acted thus for an interested deceiver; and he had ample means of scrutiny.”
[Life of ‘Mahomet’, By Sir William Muir, p. 105, Reprint of the 1894 Ed., Published by Voice of India New Delhi]
A few days after the demise of Abū Ṭālib, Ḥaḍrat Khadījahra also passed away. Khadījahra had stood by the Holy Prophetsa in times of extreme grief and anguish. She loved the Holy Prophetsa and the Holy Prophetsa loved her immensely. For this reason, naturally, the Holy Prophetsa was exceedingly grieved at her demise. After her demise, whenever she was mentioned, the eyes of the Holy Prophetsa would become suffused in tears, and he would praise her often. He would say that, “Khadījah[ra] was among the best of the women in her era.” Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishahra narrates that:
The Holy Prophetsa would praise Ḥaḍrat Khadījahra so often, that I would begin
to feel jealous of her, and I would say, “You mention Khadījah[ra] as if she was the only lady who was ever born in this world.” The Holy Prophetsa would respond, “O ‘Ā’ishah! She possessed great qualities and God gave me children from her as well.”
Hence, the Holy Prophetsa would mention Ḥaḍrat Khadījahra with extreme love. If ever an animal, etc., was slaughtered in his home, the Holy Prophetsa would always send a portion to the friends of Ḥaḍrat Khadījahra. At one occasion, the Holy Prophetsa was sitting in the home of Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishahra, when the sister of Ḥaḍrat Khadījahra, Hāllah bint Khuwailid came to visit the Holy Prophetsa. She asked permission to enter at the door. Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishahra relates, “The Holy Prophetra stood up restlessly saying, ‘the voice of Khadījah[ra], it appears as if her sister Hāllah has come.’” In the Battle of Badr, when Abul-‘Āṣ, the son-in-law of the Holy Prophetsa, who had not yet accepted Islām, was captured, his wife, in other words, Zainabra, the daughter of the Holy Prophetsa, who still resided in Makkah, sent her necklace as a ransom. This was the same necklace which Ḥaḍrat Khadījahra gave to Zainabra in her bride’s paraphernalia. When the Holy Prophetsa saw this necklace, he was reminded of the late Khadījahra and his eyes filled with tears. The Holy Prophetsa said to his companions, “If you wish, return the reminiscence of Khadījahra to her daughter.” They needed a single indication, and the necklace was immediately returned. At the time of her demise, Ḥaḍrat Khadījahra was sixty-five years of age. She was buried in Makkah at a location known as Ḥajūn. The Holy Prophetsa descended into her grave himself, but a funeral prayer was not offered, because at that time, the injunction pertinent to funeral prayer was not yet revealed.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābu Manāqibil-Anṣār, Bābu Tazwījin-Nabīra Khadījatara wa Faḍlihā, Ḥadīth No. 3818, 3821]
[Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Muḥammad bin ‘Abdul-Bāqī Az- Zarqānī, Volume 2, p. 49, Bābu Wafāti Khadījata wa Abī Ṭālib, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)]
Adversity of the Holy Prophetsa Intensified
After the demise of Ḥaḍrat Khadījahra and Abū Ṭālib, the Quraish of Makkah became bolder towards the person of the Holy Prophetsa and began
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1)
Section: VII-Days of Struggle | Navigation: « Previous: [Miracle of the Shaqqul-Qamar] | Next: [Adversity of the Holy Prophet (sa) Intensified] »