Unawareness

Unawareness

1989 11 November 11 Unawareness (336) When Mohammad, May peace be upon him, announced his prophethood in Mecca, the first person to declare his belief in it was his ten-year-old cousin, Ali ibn Abu Talib. At that time the environment in Mecca was so hostile that even prayers had to be performed in hiding. The Prophet would, therefore, set off for the mountains along with Ali so that none should see them pray. One day, while he was saying his prayer with Ali in the mountains, the Prophet’s uncle, Abu Talib, came upon them. The form their prayer took seemed strange to him, so he asked “My cousin, what is this religion you have adopted?”

The Prophet then explained to his uncle that God had chosen him as His Prophet and that He had revealed to him the form of worship which best pleased Him. Then the Prophet requested his uncle to accept the same religion. Abu Talib replied, “O my cousin, it is not possible for me to renounce the religion of my forefathers.”

Another tradition has it that when Abu Talib saw Ali saying his prayers and enquired what religion he followed, Ali replied, “O my father, I have believed in Allah and His messenger and testify to the truth he brings.” In answer to this, his father said, “The Prophet has not called upon you to do anything other than good. Adhere to it.”*

Just following the religion of his forefather did not require Abu Talib to make any new decisions. But to believe in a contemporary Prophet meant that he would have to discover the truth anew. There is no doubt that in this world the former task is the easier and the latter very hard indeed. Abu Talib was just one more individual who lived in the time of the Prophet. But in terms of his character, he is typical of all ages. The Abu Talibs of this world are to be found everywhere, in one guise or another.

* Ibn Hisham, Seerah, vol. I. p. 225.