But if Abu Talib would be rewarded with entering Paradise...

But if Abu Talib would be rewarded with entering Paradise for his virtues and good deeds, hence the intercession of the Prophet (S) would be further than entering Paradise and this would surprise man and the jinn.

The Prophet (S), besides being loyal to his uncle’s favors, wanted by saying this to refute those who wrongly thought that Abu Talib hadn’t believed in the mission just because that he sometimes concealed his faith when the circumstances were not suitable for him to announce his faith openly in order to be able to carry out his tasks in the interest of the mission without obstacles. Then the Prophet (S) added to his word this lament: “Ah father! Ah Abu Talib! O uncle, how bitter my sorrow is!

How can I forget you! You brought me up when I was a child, responded to me when I was a man and I was for you as the pupil for the eye and as the soul for the body.”[^5] This was evidence by the Prophet (S) proving the faith of Abu Talib when saying: “… responded to me when I was a man…” Let us ponder about this delicate expression of the Prophet (S): he said that his position in his uncle’s heart was like the eye and the soul.

What an accurate imaging showing how much Abu Talib had loved the Prophet (S) and what a great position he had in his uncle’s heart. Would such a man, who had all that love and that respect to the Prophet (S), not believe in the Prophet’s mission? Certainly not! It would be beyond impossibility! But now as the fortress, which protected the Prophet (S) from the evils of Quraysh, was ruined when the defending lion was put in the grave, the beasts of Quraysh found the way empty and guardless.

So they began to harm the Prophet (S) with all kinds of harm, torment, mockery and bitter insult; therefore the image of Abu Talib would have never left the mind of the Prophet (S) especially at this moment when he felt that he was in extreme need of him. Once he came into his house and his hair was stained with dust that some of the impudents of Quraysh had poured upon his head. His daughter became sad and began to cry. She tried to remove the dust from her father’s head.