WhO ARE THE AHLUL – BAYT?
“Aa’ishah (radiallahuaniah) :The Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam) went out one morning wearing a striped cloak of black camel hair. Al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali came and he enfolded him in the cloak, then al-Husayn came and he enfolded him in it, then Faatimah came and he enfolded her in it, then ‘Ali came and he enfolded him in it, then he said: “Allaah wishes only to remove Ar Rijs (evil deeds and sins) from you, O members of the family (of the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam), and to purify you with a thorough purification”[33:33]. (Muslim).
Amazingly, this hadith is commonly quoted by the shi’as (kufaar) as a proof to restrict definition of ahlul bayt (household of the prophet) to only these 4 people, further amazement is the fact that the same hadith was narrated by ‘Aa’ishah (radiallahuaniah); one of the beloved wives of the prophet, a member of his household and one of the mothers of the believers (Q33:6) who they curse, call a liar, a fornicator etc. How can they present as a proof of argument the narration of one they accuse of all these?
The verse [33:32,33] shows that in-addition to all others that may be included, the wives and daughters of the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam) are definitely included : And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance, And perform As Salaah, and give Zakaah and obey Allaah and His Messenger. Allaah wishes only to remove Ar Rijs (evil deeds and sins) from you, O members of the family (of the Prophet, and to purify you with a thorough purification”.
Allah included and regarded wives of previous prophets as part of their families: And the angels said to Saarah the wife of Ibraaheem (alehimsalam).“The Mercy of Allaah and His Blessings be on you, O the family of Ibraaheem]” [11:73]. “(All) except the family of Loot. Them all we are surely, going to save (from destruction). Except his wife…”.[15:59-60]. See also Q28:12 where ahlul bayt referred to mother of Musa. These indicate that the wives are normally part of the family.
There are several views among the scholars concerning the extent & scope of the definition of Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet Muhammad (sallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam) beyond those stated above. Some said his wives, his children, Banu Haashim, Banu ‘Abd al-Muttalib & their freed slaves. Some said, the pious among his ummah; and some said they are all of the ummah of Muhammad (sallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam).With regard to the family of al-Muttalib, the correct view is that they are among the Ahl al-Bayt. Jubayr ibn Mut’im (radiallahuanihu) said: “ ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan and I went to the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allaah, you have given to Banu’l-Muttalib and not to us, but we and they are the same in status with regard to you.’ The Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam) said: ‘Banu’l-Muttalib & Banu Haashim are the same thing.’” (Bukhaari).
With regard to the freed slaves, it was narrated that Mihraan the freed slave of the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam) said: the Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam) said; “We are the family of Muhammad: the sadaqah is not permissible for us, and the freed slave of a people is one of them.”(Ahmad). Included among the Ahl al-Bayt are Banu Haashim ibn ‘Abd Manaaf, who are the family of ‘Ali, the family of ‘Abbaas, the family of Ja’far, the family of ‘Aqeel & the family of al-Haarith ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib. SO, THE FAMILY OF THE PROPHET (SALLALLAAHU ‘ALAYHIWASALLAM) ARE: HIS WIVES, HIS CHILDREN, BANU HAASHIM, BANU ‘ABD AL-MUTTALIB AND THEIR FREED SLAVES.
Zayd ibn Arqam (radiallahuanihu): “The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam) stood up and addressed us one day at a well called Khum, between Makkah and Madeenah.He praised Allaah and exhorted and reminded us. Then he said: ‘O people, I am a human being; soon the messenger of my Lord [i.e., the Angel of death] will come to me and I will answer his call. I am leaving among you two important things: the first of which is the Book of Allaah, in which there is guidance and light, so adhere to it and follow it’ – and he urged us to adhere to the Book of Allaah, then he said: ‘And the people of my household (ahl bayti). I remind you of Allaah with regard to the people of my household, I remind you of Allaah with regard to the people of my household, I remind you of Allaah with regard to the people of my household.’”
Allaah has bestowed upon the Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam) numerous virtues. Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah are unanimously agreed that it is obligatory to love them & respect their rights BUT NEVER TO WORSHIP THEM.
The family of the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam) have rights which attention must be paid to. Allaah has allocated to them a share of the khums and fay’, and He has enjoined that blessings be sent upon them along with the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam), who said to us: “Say: ‘Allaahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin kamaa salayta ‘ala aali Ibraaheem, innaka Hameedun Majeed, wa baarik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin kamaa baarakta ‘ala aali Ibraaheem innaka Hameedun Majeed ) (O Allaah, send prayer upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. And send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory)’”.
The companions of the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam) paid attention to this commandment; foremost among them were Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq and ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (radiallahuanihumah). Abu Bakr said to ‘Ali (radiallahuanihumah): “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, kinship with the Messenger of Allaah is dearer to me than kinship with my own people.”(Bukhari).
Abu Bakr (radiallahuanihu) said: “Pay attention to the rights of the household of Muhammad.” Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar said: The words “Pay attention to the rights of the household of Muhammad” are addressed to the people, enjoining them to fulfil the rights of Ahl al-Bayt. ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab used to put them ahead of himself or any other people with regard to allocating shares from bayt al-maal. The love and respect for the household of the prophet must never lead to worshipping them directly or indirectly through giving them divine attributes, asking them for intercession or for help, worshipping at their supposed graves etc.
The kufaar (Shias/Raafidis) worship them and claim that intercession is only for the family of the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam). It is also stated in their books of kufr that Ahl al-Bayt are the ones who will admit people to Paradise and to Hell! Anas (radiallahuanihu): a man said: “O Messenger of Allaah, where is my father?” He said: “In Hell.” When he turned away he called him back and said: “My father and your father are in Hell.”
Al-Nawawi said: This shows that whoever dies in a state of kufr will be in Hell. And being related to one who is close to Allaah will not avail him anything.
There is no intercession specifically for the family of the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam), rather the Prophets, the martyrs, the scholars, the righteous and the angels will also join in that whether they are among Ahl al-Bayt or are from previous prophets and among the ordinary people. A man’s righteous deeds may also intercede for him, but the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam) will have the greatest share of intercession.
Credit: IMADAWAH
