Al An‘ām

وَهُمْ يَنْهَوْنَ عَنْهُ وَيَنْأَوْنَ عَنْهُ وَإِن يُهْلِكُونَ إِلاَّ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ

26. "And they prohibit people from it, and themselves they keep afar from it, and they destroy none save themselves, while they are not aware."

The Arabic term /yan'aun/, mentioned in the verse, is derived from /na'ya/ with the sense of 'to avoid'. Some of the commentators of the Sunnite schooled have considered this verse about Abu-talib. They have said that he prohibited people from hurting Muhammad while he himself did not believe in Islam and avoided becoming Muslim. They similarly have considered some other verses of the Qur'an concerning this matter, such as Surah At- Taubah. No.9. verse 115, and Surah Al-Qasas, No. 25. Verse 57

But, from the view Point of Shi'ah School, Abutalib was one of the best Muslims whose belief has been reflected in his poems. Moreover, a Muslim believing woman like Fatimah Bent-i-Asad lived as a wife with him until the end of his life. This is also another evidence for this idea³. However, pagans and polytheists always try to hinder people and keep them afar from the path of benevolence and good deeds.

Keeping afar from the acceptance of truth by a person is paving the way of annihilation upon his own self. The real awareness is finding the path of truth, while losing the path of truth and leader of truth, from whoever it maybe, is foolishness.