If they are right [in their claim that they follow Prophet's progeny]...

If they are right [in their claim that they follow Prophet's progeny], they must accept Abu Talib as a believer for there is a consensus by the family of the Prophet (S) that he was a Muslim. It has to be however mentioned that Muslim's traditions are not devoid of contradictions. The tradition reported by Bukhari states that Prophet interceded for Abu Tablib with Allah before the Day of Resurrection, decreasing his punishment by putting him in a place where fire was shallow.

This is while Abu Sae'd's tradition shows that no intercession is made for the sake of Abu Tablib and his punishment is not decreased. Prophet has accordingly only wished that he would be able to intercede for him on the Day of Judgment, helping him thus to leave the worst place in Hell for a place where fire flames are thin. Thus some traditions are indicative of a decrease in punishment whereas others are not, underlining thus that there is some sort of inconsistency.

Tradition indicative of caliphate of Abu Bakr In Sahih Muslim, there is a tradition that indicates that the Holy Prophet (a.s) appointed Abu Bakr as his successor. This tradition which is totally false has appeared in Sahih Muslim in a chapter on 'excellences'.

It is as under: Ubaidullah Bin Sa'aeed narrated from Yazid Bin Harun from Ibrahim Bin Sa'ad from Salih Bin Kisan from Zuhri from Urwa who says: A'isha reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) in his (last) illness asked her to call Abu Bakr, her father, and her brother too, so that he might write a document, for he feared that someone else might be desirous (of succeeding him) and that some claimant may say: I have better claim to it, whereas Allah and the Faithful do not substantiate the claim of anyone but that of Abu Bakr.[^7] Bukhari has also narrated this tradition in his Sahih in chapter on 'ill people'.

He quotes the Holy Prophet (S) as saying: I wanted to send for Abu Bakr and his son so as to make an agreement on caliphate and disappoint those who desired for caliphate and thought that they were more qualified for the post, but I did not do it telling to myself that Allah did not like such things nor did the believers.

According to another wording, Prophet says that 'believers refrain from it and Allah does not permit it either'.[^8] Sunni scholars on this fabricated tradition Commenting on this tradition, Nawavi says: This tradition is clearly indicative of the excellence and superiority of Abu Bakr.