86 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMADIf, however, we accepted the argument for the authenticity of the afore-
mentioned statement of Abn Talib, we would, none the less, aver that he only
said what he did upon seeing the angel after the death-rattle, when expression of
faith cannot be of use to a soul.
But God knows best.Aba D2ad at-Tayzlisi stated, "Shu'ba related to us, that Aha Ishaq said, 'I heard
Najiyya b. Ka'b say, "I heard 'Ali say, 'When my father died, I went to the
Messenger of God (SAAS), and told him, "Your uncle has died." He replied,
"Go and bury him." I said, "He died a polytheist." So he replied, "Go and bury
him and do not cause (a scene), then return to me."
"'"'I did so, returned to him and he told me to wash.'"'"
Al-Nasa)i related this from Muhammad h. al-Muthanna, from Ghundar, from
Shu'ba.
Aha Da'ad and al-Nasz'i related it from a hadith of Sufyan, from Ahii Ishaq,
from Najiyya, from 'Ali who said, "When Aba Talib died, I said, '0 Messenger
of God, that misguided old man your uncle has died. Who will bury him?'
"He replied, 'Go and bury your father. Do nothing to cause (a scene), then
return to me.'
"When I returned to him he told me to wash, and I did so. He then said some
prayers for me that gave me more pleasure than would have anything else on
earth."
The hzjx al-Bayhaqi said, "Aha Sacd al-Malini informed us, Ahn Ahmad
h. 'Adi related to us, quoting Muhammad b. Haran b. Humayd, quoting
Muhammad h. 'Abd al-'Aziz h. Abii Razma, quoting d-Fadl, from Ibrahim h.
'Abd al-Rahman, from Ibn Jurayj, from 'At%', from Ibn 'Abbs, who said, 'The
Prophet (SAAS) returned after attending the funeral for Ahn Talib and said,
"May your family ties be secure, and you be well rewarded, uncle.""'
He (al-Bayhaqi) went on to say that it was related from the Prophet (SAAS),
though with an incomplete chain, with the addition " ... and he did not stand
at his grave."
He (al-Bayhaqi) also said, "This man, Ibrzhim b. 'Ahd al-Rahm~n, who is
mentioned in the context of the chain of authorities for this account, is that same
al-Khawarizmi about whom there has been some controversy.
I note that several persons have related traditions from hi, including al-Fadl
b. Mnsa at-Sinmi and Muhammad b. Sallam d-Bikandi. Nevertheless Ibn 'Adi
said, "He is not well known. And the traditions others have quoted from him are
not sound."
We have already given accounts of the support and protection given by Abii
Titlib to the Messenger of God (SAAS), how he defended him and his followers.
We also quoted from the verses he spoke in their praise and of the love and
sympathy for them these verses express, as well as the criticism and blame they
contain for those who opposed and ridiculed them. These verses exemplify the