The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 1 of 4

IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA?L IBN KATHiR 335
Another uncle, Abn Tzlib b. 'Abd al-Mut@lib, was at variance with Aba
Lahab, for he favoured the Messenger of God (SAAS) above all other men for his
fine qualities. He treated him with the utmost compassion and kindness and gave
him his support and protection. In doing this he was in opposition to his own
people, even though he shared their religion and their friendship. God had, however,
put his heart to the test by making him love the Prophet (SAAS) by natural
disposition rather than for religious reasons.
His persisting in the religion of his people was, in fact, an expression of the
wisdom of Almighty God and a factor in the protection He was affording to His
Messenger. For if Aba Bakr had accepted Islam, he would have no longer held
any weight or leadership among the Quraysh polytheists; they would have held
no respect for or fear of him. They would have penalized him and done him verbal
and actual harm. For your Lord determines and establishes whatever He
wills! And He has divided up His creation into many different types and kids.
Both these uncles, Abn Tdib and Aba Lahab, were infidels. But whereas the
former will be at the very surface of the fire, the latter will be deep down in its
lowest depths. About him God made revelation in one of the chapters of the
Qur'an to be recited from the pulpit and read in sermons and prayers. It contains
information that he will roast in flaming hell-fire, along with his wife, that
"firewood hawker"J7
Imm Ahmad stated that Ibrahim b. Aba al-'Abbas related to him, quoting
'Abd al-wmm b. Abti al-Zinzd, from his father who said that a man named
Rabi'a b. {Abbad of Bana al-Dil, who had been an idol-worshipper and had
accepted Islam, recalled, "I saw the Messenger of God, before the coming of
Islam, at the fair of Dha al-Maja, and he was saying, '0 you people, say, "There
is no God but God", and you will prosper.' There were people gathered all
around him, while behind him stood a mean-looking, squint-eyed man wearing
two plaits who was saying, 'He's a lying Sabian!' This man followed him wherever
he went. I asked who he was and was told it was his uncle, Abn Lahab."
Imm Abad and al-Bayhaqi both also related this anecdote from a hadith in
similar form from 'Abd al-Rahman b. Aba al-Zinad.
Al-Bayhaqi also stated that Aba Tahir al-Faqih related to us, quoting Aba
Bakr Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Qagw, quoting Aba al-Azhar, quoting
Muhammad b. 'Abd All& al-Ansari, quoting Muhammad b. Wmar, !?om
Muhammad b. al-Munkadar, from Rabi'a al-Dili, who said, "I saw the
Messenger of God (SAAS) at Dha al-Maja following people into their dwellings
urging them to believe in God, while behind him went a squint-eyed man with
scarred cheeks who was saying, '0 people, let not this fellow entice you away
from your religion, the religion of your forefathers!'
"I asked, 'Who is he?' And I was told, 'That's Aba Lahab."'
77. A reference to the words of mat Abu Lohab, CXI, 7.4.