Our analysis of the narrations from a Qur'anic perspective

 

Introduction

 

Nawasib have from consistently sought to defame the blessed uncle of Rasulullah (saw) who had an undying / unflinching loyalty towards Rasulullah (saw), who raised him when he was orphaned, protected him , through thick and thin when his Prophetic mission commenced, even suffering a crippling social boycott from the Quraysh. History is testament to the sacrifices that Hadhrath Abu Talib (as) in support of Rasulullah (saw).

For Nawasib these efforts are otiose they take immense pleasure citing narrations from Sahih Bukhari that deems him a Hellbound infidel (asthagfirullah).

 

Presenting two shameless narrations

 

The narrations are as follows from Sahih al Bukhari:

From the Book to make the Heart Tender (Ar-Riqaq)

Chapter: The description of Paradise and the Fire

 

باب صِفَةِ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ

حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ حَمْزَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، وَالدَّرَاوَرْدِيُّ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ خَبَّابٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَذُكِرَ عِنْدَهُ عَمُّهُ أَبُو طَالِبٍ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ لَعَلَّهُ تَنْفَعُهُ شَفَاعَتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَيُجْعَلُ فِي ضَحْضَاحٍ مِنَ النَّارِ، يَبْلُغُ كَعْبَيْهِ، يَغْلِي مِنْهُ أُمُّ دِمَاغِهِ ‏"‏‏.‏

 

Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri:

I heard Allah's Messenger ()s when his uncle, Abu Talib had been mentioned in his presence, saying, "May be my intercession will help him (Abu Talib) on the Day of Resurrection so that he may be put in a shallow place in the Fire, with fire reaching his ankles and causing his brain to boil."

 

(Source : Sahih al-Bukhari Vol. 8, Book 76, Hadith 569)

 

The second narration appears in the book "the merits of the Helpers in Madinah (Ansaar) - Chapter: The story of Abu Talib:

 

باب قِصَّةُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ، حَدَّثَنَا الْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَا أَغْنَيْتَ عَنْ عَمِّكَ فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ يَحُوطُكَ وَيَغْضَبُ لَكَ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏ "‏ هُوَ فِي ضَحْضَاحٍ مِنْ نَارٍ، وَلَوْلاَ أَنَا لَكَانَ فِي الدَّرَكِ الأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ ‏"‏‏.‏

 

Narrated Al-Abbas bin `Abdul Muttalib:

That he said to the Prophet () "You have not been of any avail to your uncle (Abu Talib) (though) by Allah, he used to protect you and used to become angry on your behalf." The Prophet () said, "He is in a shallow fire, and had It not been for me, he would have been in the bottom of the (Hell) Fire."

 

(Source: Sahih al-Bukhari Vol. 5, Book 58, Hadith 222)

 

Our Reply -  Both narrations contradict the Qur'an

Both of these atrocious traditions contradict explicit verses wherein that stipulates that there exists no intercession or respite for idol worshippers and kuffar, who will be exposed to the unrelenting torment of Hell-fire:

 

First verse

 

أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ اشْتَرَوُا الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا بِالْآخِرَةِ ۖ فَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ الْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنْصَرُونَ

 

Those are they who bought the present life for the Hereafter, so the punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be helped.

 

(Surah Al-Baqarah verse 86)

 

Second verse

 

خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ لَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ الْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنْظَرُونَ

 

162 They will remain under it forever, and the torment will not be lightened for them, and they will not be reprieved.

 

(Surah Al-Baqarah verse 162)

 

Third verse

خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا لَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ الْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنْظَرُونَ

 

Remaining in it eternally, without their punishment being eased from them, and without being reprieved.

 

(Surah Āl ʿImrān verse 88)

 

Fourth verse

 

وَذَرِ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا دِينَهُمْ لَعِبًا وَلَهْوًا وَغَرَّتْهُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا ۚ وَذَكِّرْ بِهِ أَنْ تُبْسَلَ نَفْسٌ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ لَيْسَ لَهَا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلِيٌّ وَلَا شَفِيعٌ وَإِنْ تَعْدِلْ كُلَّ عَدْلٍ لَا يُؤْخَذْ مِنْهَا ۗ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ أُبْسِلُوا بِمَا كَسَبُوا ۖ لَهُمْ شَرَابٌ مِنْ حَمِيمٍ وَعَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْفُرُونَ

 

So leave alone those who take their religion for play and pastime, and whom the worldly life has deceived. But remind with it, lest a soul becomes damned on account of what it has earned. It has no helper or intercessor besides Allah. Even if it offers every equivalent, none will be accepted from it. These are the ones who are delivered to perdition by their actions. They will have a drink of scalding water, and a painful punishment, because they used to disbelieve.

 

(Surah Al-Anʻām verse 70)

Fifth verse

 

وَإِذَا رَأَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا الْعَذَابَ فَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يُنْظَرُونَ

 

85 When those who did wrong see the punishment, it will not be lightened for them, nor will they be reprieved.

 

(Surah An-Nahl verse 85)

Sixth verse

 

وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَهُمْ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ لَا يُقْضَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ فَيَمُوتُوا وَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمْ مِنْ عَذَابِهَا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي كُلَّ كَفُورٍ

 

As for those who disbelieve, for them is the Fire of Hell, wherein they will never be finished off and die, nor will its punishment be lightened for them. Thus We will repay every ingrate

 

(Surah Fāṭir verse 36)

 

Seventh verse

١٨ وَأَنْذِرْهُمْ يَوْمَ الْآزِفَةِ إِذِ الْقُلُوبُ لَدَى الْحَنَاجِرِ كَاظِمِينَ ۚ مَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ حَمِيمٍ وَلَا شَفِيعٍ يُطَاعُ

 

18 And warn them of the Day of Imminence, when the hearts are at the throats, choking them. The evildoers will have no intimate friend, and no intercessor to be obeyed.

 

(Surah Ghāfir verse 18)

 

Eighth verse

 

فَمَا تَنْفَعُهُمْ شَفَاعَةُ الشَّافِعِينَ

 

But the intercession of intercessors will not help them

 

(Surah Al-Muddaththir verse 48)

 

Conclusion

 

These verses make it clear to all, that there will be lessening of punishment from the flames of Hell, no one can intercede and lessen their suffering. This being the case how can the Ahl-us-Sunnah embrace these two appalling narrations?

 

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