During the renovation of the Ka`bah...

During the renovation of the Ka`bah, it was he who reminded the Quraysh not to involve the ill-gotten wealth for the noble purpose. Prior to the coming of Islam, when floods weakened the walls of the Ka`bah, and the Quraysh contemplated rebuilding the structure, a huge python was noticed near the foundation of the building. People were scared seeing the reptile and the work came to a standstill.

Quraysh were thinking of a way out and Abū-Talib said: This construction has to be done only with pure and legitimately earned funds. Therefore, do not put such money for the work that has been acquired under duress.[2] The people followed his advice and put only legitimately earned money for the project. When they came near the Ka`bah they saw that a huge bird appeared and flew away with the python in its talons. The way was now clear for them to renovate and reconstruct the Ka`bah.

Abū-Talib tried to introduce such practices in the society that were based on the norms of equity and justice. He wanted that none should be deprived of his rights. Therefore, with this spirit, he introduced the practice of al-Qassamah in the matter of blood money for the murder of `Amr ibn `Alqamah.

Al-Qassamah means that when a person is murdered, and his successors claim that a particular person is the murderer, and are unable to produce two witnesses, although the circumstantial evidence is there to prove the crime, then the aggrieved party has to produce fifty persons to take an oath in the support of the prosecution. If they are short of persons to make up the fifty, then some of the witnesses might take the oath twice.

This procedure was put into force to ensure that the blood of the murdered person had not gone in vain. Later on Islam too continued with this practice. Ibn Abil-Hadid writes: During the period of ignorance Abū-Talib introduced the practice of al-Qassamah to give justice in the case of the [1] Al-Sīrah al-Nabawiyyah, Page 80. [2] Tārīkh al-Ya`qūbī, Vol 2, Page 19. murder of `Amr ibn `Alqamah.

Islam too continued with this practice.[1] Be it friendship or enmity, Abū-Talib never abandoned justice and fair play in his dealings. He was not only against tyranny during peaceful days, but also during the times of battles and strife, he did not approve unnecessary shedding of human blood. Therefore, during the period of Ignorance a battle was fought between the Quraysh and the tribe of Qays, which is known as The Battle of al-Fajar.