By Yusuf Badat
“Ahl-Al-Bayt” refers to the household (family) of the Prophet Muḥammad (peace and blessings upon him).
The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) has spoken extensively on the virtue and status of the Ahl Al-Bayt.
He indicated that he will intercede before Judgment Day for the Ahl Al-Bayt. – (See: Kanz Al-‘Ummal)
The Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) said, “The best of you are those who deal good with my family after my passing.” – (See: Kanz Al-‘Ummal)
Imam ʿAla Al-Din Al-Hindy has collected over 250 prophetic reports on the virtues and status of the Ahl Al-Bayt. – (See: Qamus Al-Fiqh)
Status by Affiliation
There is no doubt the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) holds a high rank, awarded by the Almighty. The fact of the matter is, anything associated or affiliated with him also becomes significant and important due to his position, as the beloved of God.
Who can doubt the importance and also the inherit status of the Prophet’s close family and household? A term used for them is, “Ahl Al-Bayt”.
يا أيها الناس إني تركت فيكم ما إن أخذتم به لن تضلوا كتاب الله وعترتي أهل بيتي
“O people, I am leaving with you that which if you hold firmly upon, you will not be misguided, God’s Book and [respecting] my progeny, my household.” – (Trimidhi)
Who Specifically are the Ahl Al-Bayt?
Without getting into the academic views of jurists, in general, the Ahl Al-Bayt are the offspring of Hashim and Muttalib. This includes the children and or progeny of ʿAbbas, ʿAli, Jaʾafar, ʿAqil, Harith Ibn ʿAbd Al Muttalib, the Prophet’s wives and his children. – (See: Sahih Muslim, Tirmidhi, Ruh Al-Maʾaniy, Qamus Al-Fiqh)
وَاصْطَفَىٰ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ وَاصْطَفَانِي مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ
“[God] chose the offspring of Hashim from the Quraysh, and selected me from the progeny of Hashim.” – (Sahih Muslim)
دَعَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلِيًّا وَفَاطِمَةَ وَحَسَنًا وَحُسَينًا فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ هَؤُلَاءِ أَهْلِي
“The Prophet of God (peace and blessings be upon him) called upon ʿAli, Fatimah, Hasan and Husayn, then stated, “This is my household.” – (Al-Tahawi)
Virtues of the Ahl Al-Bayt
We love the Ahl Al-Bayt due to their blood link with the Messenger of God (peace and blessings upon him) and for their belief in God.
The Qurʾanic Reference
إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا
“God wishes to exclusively remove evil deeds [and sins] from you, O members of the family [of the Prophet], and to purify you with a thorough purification.” – (Qurʾan 33:33)
The Prophetic Declaration at Ghadir Khum
On his return journey from the Hajj, the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) and his Companions had halted at a location known as Khum between Makkah and Madinah. There, he had addressed the Companions reminding them that he will not be around forever, therefore they should hold firmly on to God’s book and its injunctions. At that point, he also emphasized and spoke highly of the status of the Ahl Al-Bayt (close family of the Prophet). He specifically stated,
أُذَكِّرُكُمُ اللَّهَ فِي أَهْلِ بَيْتِي
“I remind you of God, regarding [the treatment] of my household.” – (Sahih Muslim)
The Mubahalah Episode with Najran Christians
During the Mubahalah confrontation event with the Christians of Najran, the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) brought forth his household as his close support, namely, ʿAli Ibn Abi Talib, Fatimah, Hasan and Hussayn (may God be pleased with them). – (See: Al-Tahawi)
Salawat Salutations Include the Honorable Household
When the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about how we are to convey prayers of blessings upon him, he responded by instructing, the following must be articulated, “God, convey blessings on Muhammad and his household, wives and children, as you did upon the household of Abraham.” – (See: Sahih Bukhari)
Loving the Grandsons
Regarding his grandsons, Hasan and Husayn, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) declared, “These are my sons, whoever loves them loves me.” – (Ibn Asakir)
The Ahl Al-Bayt, Our Responsibilities
Know and Acknowledge Their Status
ارقُبُوا مُحَمَّدًا صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي أَهلِ بَيتِهِ والمعنى احفظوه فيهم فلا تؤذوهم ولا تسيئوا إليهم
Abu Bakr (may God be please with him) said, “Guard [the honour and legacy of] Muhammad by honouring his household.” – (Sahih Bukhari)
وكان عمر يقدمهم في العطاء على جميع الناس ويفضلهم في العطاء على جميع الناس حتى إنه لما وضع الديوان للعطاء كتب أسماء الناس، قالوا نبدأ بك؟ قال لا ابدؤوا بأقارب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وضعوا عمر حيث وضعه الله فبدأ ببني هاشم وضم إليهم بني المطلب
ʿOmar Ibn Khattab (may God be pleased with him) would give preference to the Ahl Al-Bayt in gifts and distribution, to the point that when the databases were formalized and the list of everyone’s names were being entered, the secretaries asked, “Shall we start with your name?” He instructed, “No, start with the relatives of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and thereafter place ʿOmar where God has placed him.” – (See: Tarikh Al-Tabariy, Musnad Ahmad)
Abu Muhazzim says, “Once we attended a woman’s funeral, and Abu Hurayrah (may God be pleased with him) was also with us. The funeral prayer was performed. As we were returning, Husayn (may God be pleased with him) got tired and sat down on the side of the road. Abu Hurayrah (may God be pleased with him) saw him and began to wipe away the dust from Ḥusayn (may God be pleased with him) and so he (may God be pleased with him) remarked, ‘O Abu Hurayrah, a person of your status, and you are doing this?’ Abu Hurayrah (may God be pleased with him) replied, ‘Allow me to dust you, by God, if people knew what I know about you, they would carry you on their shoulders.’” – (Tarikh Dimashq)
Love and Respect Them
وَالَّذِي نَفسِي بِيَدِهِ لَقَرَابَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ أَن أَصِلَ مِن قَرَابَتِي
Abū Bakr (may God be pleased with him) stated, “By God! The close family of the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) are more beloved to me than my relatives [due to their status and affiliation with the Prophet]. – (Sahih Bukhari)
عن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم والذي نفسي بيده لا يُبغضنا – أهلَ البيت – رجل إلا أدخله الله النار رواه ابن حبان في صحيحه
“By God, the Almighty will enter in the hellfire any individual despising us, the Ahl Al-Bayt.” – (Sahih Ibn Hibban)
اللهم والِ من والاه وعادِ من عاداه
“God, honour the one who honours ʿAli, be an enemy to the one who despises ʿAli!” – (Musnad Ahmad)
Learn from Them and Follow Their Righteous Legacy
Once Husayn (may God be pleased with him) passed by some impoverished people who were sharing a single loaf of bread among themselves, so they said to him, “Would you like some food O Husayn, Abu ʿAbdullah?” He then dismounted from his horse, sat with them and said, “He (God) does not love the arrogant ones.” After they finished eating, he stated, “Indeed I accepted your invitation, now it is time for you to accept mine!” So they accompanied him home, He gave them ample food and drink and provided them with their necessities, after which they all left. – (See: Tafsir al-Qurtubi)
Include Them in Your Salawat Supplications
The Prophet of God (peace and blessings be upon him) instructed that we should say, “God, bless Muhammad, his wives and his descendants the same way as You blessed the family of Ibrahim, and grant blessings to Muhammad, his wives and his descendants as you gave blessings to the family of Ibrahim. You are worthy of praise and Glorious.’” – (Muwatta)
Charity is Forbidden for Them Due to Their Honourable Status
أَمَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ آلَ مُحَمَّدٍ لَا يَأْكُلُونَ الصَّدَقَةَ؟ وفي رواية لاَ تَحِلُّ لَنَا الصَّدَقَةُ
“Muhammad’s household does not consume charity.” – (Sahih Bukhari)
Do Not Engage in Excess When Honouring Them
فمن تلك الحقوق محبتهم وتقديرهم وموالاتهم تنفيذًا لوصية النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم عندما قال أُذَكِّرُكُمُ اللَّهَ فِي أَهْلِ بَيْتِي ولا ينزلونهم فوق منزلتهم بل يتبرؤون ممن يغلون فيهم حتى يوصلوهم إلى حد الألوهية كما فعل عبد الله بن سبأ في علي بن أبي طالب حين قال له أنت الله
“The correct creed related to the Ahl Al-Bayt is that we love them, guard the Prophet’s advises about them regarding acknowledging and honouring them. However, we do not exaggerate them beyond their status to the point where we appoint godship to them as ʿAbd Allah Ibn Saba did, regarding ʿAli Ibn Abi Talib, wherein he claimed, “You are God”” – (Fatawa Al-Aqidah)
إياكم والغلو في الدين فإنما أهلك من كان قبلكم الغلو في الدين رواه أحمد والنسائي وابن ماجه
“Refrain from excess in religion, excess [and exaggeration] in religious matters destroyed the people before you.” – (Ibn Majah, Musnad Ahmad, Nasaʾi)
May we all be blessed to acknowledge, love, honour and guard the Ahl Al-Bayt. May we be true slaves of God, as prescribed by Muḥammad (peace and blessings be with him).
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