Hayatus Sahabah - The Lives of the Sahabah - Part 1 of 3

' THE WVES OF THE SAHABAH a,@&3 (Vol-1) 277
could get was so little that it could be hidden in the armpit of Bilaal s ,~."(~)
What Rasulullaah @$%% said to his Uncle when he
Thought that his Uncle would Reduce the Support
f
he Provided
Hadhrat Aqeel bin Abi Taalib 3i$W% narrates that members of the Quraysh
approached Abu Taalib and complained, "Your nephew (Rasulullaah w) comes
to us in our homes and gatherings and tells us things that upset us. So if you feel
that you have the ability t6 stop him, please do so." (Turning to his son,) Abu
Taalib said, "0 Aqeel! Would you please look for your cousin and bring him to
me." Hadhrat Aqeel k!BM?&j says, "I found Rasulullaah @% in one of Abu Taalib's
smaller rooms. As he walked with me, he looked for shade to walk in but was
unable to find any until he reached Abu Taalib."
Abu Taalib said, "Dear nephew! By Allaah! You know well that I am always willing
to obey you. Your people have come with the complaint that you visit them in
their homes and gatherings and tell them things that upset them. Do you not
think that you should stop this?" Raising his eyes to the sky, Rasulullaah k%%
said, "I am unable to forsake the responsibility I have been sent to fulfil just as
any of you is unable to harness a spark of flame from the sun." Abu Taalib said
(to the members of the Quraysh still present there), "I swear by Allaah that my
nephew never lies. You may all return peacefully to your homes." (2)
A narration of Bayhaqi reports that Abu Taalib called for Rasulullaah @@ and
told him that the people had come to him and told him many things about what
Rasulullaah @?3$ was doing. Addressing Rasulullaah w, he said further, "Have
mercy on me and on yourself and do not cast on me a burden that neither of us
can bear. Stop telling the people things that they dislike." Hearing this, it crossed
Rasulullaah m ' s mind that his uncle had changed his opinions, that he would
stop assisting him, that he would now hand him over to the people and that he
had lost courage in supporting him. Rasulullaah &@ said, "0 my uncle! Even if
the sun were placed in my right hand and the moon in my left hand, I would not
forsake this work (of propagation) until Allaah makes it (this Deen) dominant or I
am destroyed in the process." After saying this, the eyes of Rasulullaah @@ filled
with tears and he began weeping. When Rasulullaah turned to leave and
Abu Taalib realised his firm resolve, he called out, "Dear nephew!" When
Rasulullaah @%@ turned to him, Abu Taalib said, "Continue with your message
and do as you please because I swear by Allaah that I shall never desert you." (3)
(1) Ahmad as quoted in A/ Bidaaya wan Nihaaya (Vo1.3 Pg.47). Tirmidhi and Ibn Hibbaan have also
reported the Hadith as mentioned in Targheeb wat Tarheeb (Vo1.5 Pg.159). Ibn Maajah and Abu
Nu'aym have also narrated it.
(2) Tabaani in his Awsat and Kabeer. Haythami (Vo1.6 Pg.14) has commented on the chain of
narrators. Bukhari has reported a similar narration in his Taareekh as quoted in A/ Bidaaya wan
Nihaaya (~01.3 Pg.42).
(3) A1 Bidaaya wan Njhaaya (Vol.3 Pg.42).