Do the Prophet’s Relatives Who Died as Disbelievers Abide Eternally in the Fire?

Question:

Narrations have appeared in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim stating that Abu Talib will have the lightest punishment of the people on the Day of Judgment, and other narrations state that the relatives of the Prophet who did not believe are in the Fire, and other narrations state that his father is in the Fire. I hope you can clarify for me: does this indicate that they will abide in the Fire forever?

Answer:

Abu Talib is the one among the people of the Fire who will have the lightest punishment on the Day of Judgment, due to the intercession of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, for him in that regard. Allah only lightens the punishment he is enduring because of the Prophet’s intercession.

This is based on what Muslim narrated from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “The person with the lightest punishment among the people of the Fire is Abu Talib, and he is wearing two sandals of fire that make his brain boil.” 1

And based on what Muslim and others narrated from al-Abbas ibn Abdul-Muttalib, that he said: “O Messenger of Allah, did you benefit Abu Talib with anything, for he used to protect you and become angry for your sake?” He replied: “Yes, and were it not for me, he would have been in the lowest depths of the Fire.” 2

In a narration from al-Abbas: “I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, Abu Talib used to protect and support you, did that benefit him?’ He said: ‘Yes, I found him in the depths of the Fire, so I brought him out to a shallow pool of fire.’“ 3

Muslim also narrated from Abu Sa’id al-Khudri that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was asked about his uncle Abu Talib, and he said: “Perhaps my intercession will benefit him on the Day of Judgment, so he is placed in a shallow pool of fire reaching his ankles, which makes his brain boil.” 4

Furthermore, everyone who dies as a disbeliever will abide eternally in the Fire, whether they are relatives of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, or anyone else. This is due to the generality of the statement of Allah, the Exalted: “But those who disbelieved (in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism) and denied Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), they will be the dwellers of the Fire, to dwell therein forever. And worst indeed is that destination.” [At-Taghabun: 10] and other verses carrying the same meaning.

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

  1. Sahih Muslim, Faith (212); Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal (1/290). ↩

  2. Imam Ahmad (1/206, 207, 210); Al-Bukhari [Fath al-Bari] numbers (3883, 6208, 6572); and [Sahih Muslim with the Explanation of al-Nawawi] (3/83). ↩

  3. Sahih al-Bukhari, Virtues of the Prophet (3883); Sahih Muslim, Faith (209); Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal (1/210). ↩

  4. Al-Bukhari [Fath al-Bari] numbers (3885, 6564); and [Sahih Muslim with the Explanation of al-Nawawi] (3/85). ↩