Did Abu Talib Die a Believer or a Disbeliever?

Question:

Did Abu Talib die as a disbeliever or a believer?

Answer:

Abu Talib ibn Abdul-Muttalib ibn Hashim died as a disbeliever. This is based on the statement of Allah, the Exalted, to His Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, regarding Abu Talib: “Verily! You (O Muhammad ﷺ) guide not whom you like…“ (Al-Qasas, 28:56), and due to Allah’s warning to His Messenger against asking forgiveness for him, saying: “It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allah’s Forgiveness for the Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) even though they be of kin, after it has become clear to them that they are the dwellers of the Fire (because they died in a state of disbelief).” (At-Tawbah, 9:113).

Furthermore, it is established in the two Sahihs (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim) that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came to his uncle Abu Talib when death approached him, while Abdullah ibn Abi Umayyah and Abu Jahl were present. He said to him: “O uncle, say: ‘La ilaha illallah’ (There is no deity but Allah), a word by which I will argue for you before Allah.” They (Abu Jahl and Abdullah) said: “O Abu Talib, do you turn away from the religion of Abdul-Muttalib?” The Prophet repeated the request to him, and they repeated their statement. The last thing he said was: “He is upon the religion of Abdul-Muttalib,” and he refused to say: “La ilaha illallah.” Thereupon, the Prophet said: “I will surely seek forgiveness for him unless I am forbidden to do so.” 1 Then Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, revealed: “It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allah’s Forgiveness for the Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah)…“ (At-Tawbah, 9:113) up to the end of the verse, and He revealed: “Verily! You (O Muhammad ﷺ) guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided.” (Al-Qasas, 28:56).

And with Allah is success, and may Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions, and grant them peace.

  1. Al-Bukhari [Fath al-Bari], under number (3884), and [Sahih Muslim with the Explanation of al-Nawawi] (1/214). ↩