Talib ibn Abi Talib

Talib ibn Abi Talib (Arabic: طالب بن أبي طالب‎) (571–624) was a first cousin of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and a brother of Ali.

Abu Talib

He was born in Mecca, the eldest son of Abu Talib ibn Abdul Muttalib and of Fatimah bint Asad.[1] The young Muhammad lived in their house from the time he and Talib were both eight years old.[2]

He was childless.[3]

In 624 Talib set out with the Meccan army to rescue the merchant-caravan that was threatened with a Muslim attack.[4] When word came from Abu Sufyan that the caravan had arrived safely home so there was no need to continue the march, some of the Quraysh nevertheless wanted to continue as far as Badr. They said to Talib: "We know, O Son of Hashim, that if you have come out with us, your heart is with Muhammad." After some discussion, Talib decided not to accompany them. A poem about his decision to return to Mecca is attributed to him.

O God, if Talib goes forth to war unwillingly with one of these squadrons,
Let him be the plundered not the plunderer, the vanquished not the victor.[5]

Talib never arrived in Mecca. He was never seen again and his body was never found.[6]

References
  1. Muhammad ibn Saad. Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir. Translated by Haq, S. M. (1967). Ibn Sa'd's Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir, Volume I Parts I & II, p. 135. Delhi: Kitab Bhavan.
  2. Muhammad ibn Ishaq. Sirat Rasul Allah. Translated by Guillaume, A. (1955). The Life of Muhammad, p. 79. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  3. Ibn Sa'd/Haq p. 135.
  4. Ibn Ishaq/Guillaume p. 291.
  5. Ibn Ishaq/Guillaume p. 296.
  6. Ibn Sa'd/Haq p. 135.
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