Muslim narrates from Ubaidullah Bin Umar Qawariri from...

Muslim narrates from Ubaidullah Bin Umar Qawariri from Muhammad Bin Abu Bakr Muqaddami and Muhammad Bin Abd Al-Malik Amavi from Abu 'Awana, from Abd Al-Malik Bin Umair from Abdullah Bin Harith Bin Nawfal who said that Abbas Bin Abd Al-Mutallib, addressing Prophet (S) said: 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."[^5] Fabricated tradition rejected All such traditions found in Bukhari or Muslim are false and untrue, fabricated in order to distort the image of Imam Ali (a.s), dwindle his position in the eyes of others and magnify [on the contrary] the position of his opponent, Abu Bakr.

To reject Sunni traditions that proclaim Abu Talib as disbeliever, it is enough to refer to Al-Tabaqat Al-Kubra and see what its author says in regard with Abu Talib: Waqidi quotes Ali as saying: لما توفى ابو طالب اخبرت رسول الله ص فبكى بكاء شديدا ثم فال اذهب فاغسله و كفنه و واره غفرالله له و رحمه When Abu Talib died, I informed the Holy Prophet (S) [of this death]. He wept very much and said: Go, wash his body and shroud and bury him. May Allah forgive him and have mercy upon him.

Abbas then said: O Allah's Apostle! Do you wish he was forgiven? The Holy Prophet (S) said: Yes by Allah I wish he was forgiven. [After this happening] Allah's Apostle kept staying indoor for a few days asking Allah's forgiveness for him. وصلت رحمک و جزاک الله خیرا You did good to your relatives of kin. May Allah give you a good reward.[^6] All these aside, the family of the Holy Prophet (S) are unanimous that he was a believer and it is a proven fact that their consensus is a solid argument.

Sunni scholars have also alluded to the consensus made by the family of Prophet (S). Quoting Ibn Athir in his Jami'a Al-Ususl, the author of Rawda Al-Ahbab says: زعم اهل البيت ان ابا طالب مات مسلما والله اعلم بصحته The family of the Holy Prophet (S) thought that Abu Talib died as a Muslim but Allah alone knows whether or not this is correct.

It has to be reminded that Sunnis are of the view that it is their duty to follow the family of the Holy Prophet (S), while elaborating on Thaqalayn and Safina traditions.