Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib was the Prophet ﷺ's uncle, full brother of his father Abdullah, and chief of Banu Hashim. Entrusted with the orphaned Muhammad ﷺ by his father, he raised him with more love than his own children, among them Ja'far RA and Ali RA. When the Prophet ﷺ began to preach, Abu Talib protected him from the Quraysh for over a decade and endured the boycott with Banu Hashim, though he never accepted Islam. His death around three years before the Hijrah, in the same year as Khadijah RA's, left the Prophet ﷺ exposed and deeply grieved.
All 14 events
Order within 614 isn’t recorded · listed A–Z
Order within 615 isn’t recorded · listed A–Z
Entrusted with Muhammad ﷺ's care by Abdul Muttalib on his deathbed, raising him in his own household.
مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَن يَسْتَغْفِرُوا لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا أُولِي قُرْبَىٰ
“It's not befitting for the prophet and the believers to seek forgiveness for pagans even if they are close relatives”
This is the well-known asbab al-nuzul: revealed after the Prophet ﷺ wished to seek forgiveness for Abu Talib following his death, since he had not accepted Islam before dying.
إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ
“You are not able to guide those whom you love, but Allah guides those whom He pleases”
This is the other well-known asbab al-nuzul tied to Abu Talib's death: revealed after the Prophet ﷺ grieved that the uncle who protected him for decades died without ever accepting Islam.