Ahlul Bayt

Ahlul Bayt, Ahl al-Bayt, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Noble Qur'an, Ayat Al-Tathir, Mubahalah, and other names for the Ahlul Bayt.

Ahlul Bayt (Ahl al-Bayt) is an Arabic term that means "People of the House" or "Family." It refers to the household of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in Islamic tradition.

In simple terms, Ahlul Bayt (Ahle Bait) is the trusting of guidance to Aal-e-Muhammad [descendants of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)] through Fatima Zahra (pbuh) and Imam Ali (pbuh) and their descendants. Bayt must swear allegiance to Imam Ali (pbuh) and accept his leadership.

Ahlul Bayt (Ahl al-Bayt) or Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) household members include his daughter Fatima Zahra (pbuh), his successor and son-in-law, Imam Ali (pbuh), their two sons Imam Hasan (pbuh) and Imam Hussain (pbuh), and the nine Imams from Imam Hussain's (pbuh) lineage.

In the Noble Qur'an, Ahlul Bayt (Ahl-e-Bait)

The Purified: The highest degree of purity entails staying away from all sources of impurity at all times. This is referred to as infallibility in knowledge, character, and conduct. It could have been applied generally to the whole mankind who are keeping aloof from all the impurities as the word of Allah (SWT) commands; but, Allah (SWT) expressively has confined His order to certain group of individuals by excluding the rest of the mankind from it in His divine will by declaring Ahlul Bayt (Ahl al-Bayt) as the persons purified by Him to be constantly in touch with the Noble Qur'an in its original, hidden, well protected, exalted and purified form. Allah's (SWT) desire was to eliminate all defects from the world. They are mentioned in the Noble Qur'an's Verse of Purity (Ayat Al-Tathir):

The Purity Verse (Ayat Al-Tathir): "... Allah only wishes to keep uncleanness away from you, O people of the House!" And a (thorough) purification to you." (33:33) Noble Qur'an

The above Noble Qur'an verse, known as Ayat Al-Tathir, relates to the members of Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) household, which includes only Prophet Muhammad, Imam Ali, Fatima Zahra, Imam Hasan, and Imam Hussain (peace be upon them all). As a result, Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) other offspring, spouses, sons of paternal uncles, and home residents are not to be referred to as Prophet Muhammad's Ahlul Bayt (Ahl al-Bayt).

The argument is founded on genuine and legitimate traditions related by Sahaba, Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) companions, as documented in both Sunni and Shia sources.

In Hadith, Ahlul Bayt (Ahle Bait)

1. Hadith-e-Kisa (Cloak Hadith):

According to Umm al-Momineen, Umm Salamah, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was laying on a mattress in her house, covered with a cloak from Khaibar, when his beloved daughter Fatima Zahra (pbuh) entered with a dish called al-Khazira (a type of cuisine). Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) instructed her to contact her husband, Imam Ali, as well as her two sons, Imam Hasan and Imam Hussain. Fatima Zahra (pbuh) summoned them, and when they sat down to eat, Allah (SWT) revealed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) the following purity verse (Ayat Al-Tathir). "... Allah only wishes to keep uncleanness away from you, O people of the House!" And a (thorough) purification to you." (33:33) Noble Qur'an

Covering them all with his cloak, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) lifted his hands to the heavens and cried, "O Allah (SWT)! This is my family and the nearest of my kin; keep them clean and pure as pure can be." Umm al-Momineen, Umm Salamah adds that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) repeated these remarks three times, and when she stuck her head beneath the cloak and questioned him, "Am I with you?" he replied, "Yes, I am." Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) remarked twice in a restraining motion, "You are (also) among the righteous."

As a result of the preceding explanation, it is obvious that Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) regular custom of stopping at his daughter Fatima Zahra's (pbuh) house and calling her household as Ahlul Bayt (Ahl al-Bayt) was not without purpose. In reality, he was expounding on the meaning of the phrase Ahlul Bayt (Ahl al-Bayt) and practically clarifying to Muslims the verse of purity (Ayat Al-Tathir) and the specific individuals it referred to. To be more specific, he was directing the Muslim nation's attention to the significance of his Ahlul Bayt (Ahl al-Bayt) and their leadership after him, in order for Muslims to love, obey, and follow them.

Mubahala Tradition or Mubahila Incident (Imprecation):

Najran is located in the southern part of Arabia. There was a Christian tribe in Najran that was adamant that Prophet Isa (pbuh), or Jesus, was God's son. They were invited to adopt Islam by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). As a result, a group of their priests and elders traveled to Madina. They wished to speak with Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) about religion.

Their reasoning was that because Jesus was born without a father through the Virgin Mary, he was God's son. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) told them that just as Allah (SWT) created Prophet Adam (pbuh) without a father or even a mother, He also created Prophet Jesus (pbuh) without a father.

As a result, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and Prophet Adam (pbuh) were both servants of Allah (SWT). This simple truth did not sit well with the Christians. Christians maintained their faith in Jesus as God's son. They were urged to wait by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Then the following Revelation (message from Allah (SWT)) appeared:

But whosoever disagrees with you in this matter after what has come to you of knowledge, say: Come, let us call our boys and your sons, our women and your women, our souls and your souls, and let us be earnest in prayer, and ask for Allah's curse on the liars. The Noble Qur'an (3:61).

The Christians were then agreed to seek Mubahila (Imprecation) with Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Mubahala means that both of them ask Allah (SWT) for the survival of whoever speaks the truth and the death of whoever does not say the truth.

On the day of Mubahala, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) replaced his sons with his grandchildren, Imam Hasan and Imam Hussain. He took his daughter Fatima Zahra instead of ladies. He took his cousin and son-in-law Imam Ali in place of his souls. The Christians were terrified when they saw the glowing faces of these sinless members of Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) household. They chose not to pursue Mubahala any further, but instead acknowledged their defeat. They decided to pay their respects and returned home.

This is how Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) demonstrated to the world who his Ahlul Bayt (Ahl-e-Bait) members were.

3. Mawaddat al-Qurba (al-Mawaddah Fil-Qurba), or expressed love for close relatives:

In this Last Word of Allah (Noble Qur'an), Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is instructed to ask the believers to love his Ahlul Bayt (Ahl al-Bayt) and that would be the return of his apostleship. As a result, to Ahlul Bayt (Ahl al-Bayt) has been Allah's mandatory (wajib) requirement on every Muslim.

Say (O Muhammad, to mankind): I don't want anything in return except affection for my relatives. (42:23) Noble Qur'an

According to Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Masood (RA), one day while following the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) on one of his trips, a Bedouin with an orotund voice yelled at us, "Muhammad!"

"What do you want?" the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) asked.

"What is it if an individual loves a people but he does not imitate them in deeds?" said one of the Bedouins.

"One will become attached to the one he loves," the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) answered.

"Muhammad," yelled the Bedouin, "call me to Islam."

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: "You should declare that there is no god but Allah (SWT) and that I am the Messenger of Allah (SWT), offer the prayer (Salat), defray the zakat, fast during the month of Ramadan, and perform the hajj to the Holy House."

"Muhammad," the Bedouin inquired, "do you ask for a wage for so?" "No," the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) answered, "I do not take any wage except that you must regard my relatives." "Whose relatives are these?" "Is it mine or yours?" inquired the Bedouin. "It is my relatives," the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said. "Give me your hand, and I will swear allegiance to you," the Bedouin said. No good may be expected from him who loves you but not your family."(Anwar Bihar)

4. Hadith al-Safinah, also known as the Safinah Tradition:

Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) Ahlul Bayt (Ahl al-Bayt) has been compared to Noah's ark. Those who love and follow them will be saved, while those who breach their sacredness will drown. While holding the Holy Kaaba's door, Abu Dharr reported hearing Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) say, "My family among you is like Noah's ark." He who sails in it will be safe, but he who refuses to sail in it will perish."

In another place, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, "The parable of my Ahlul Bayt (Ahl al-Bayt) is that of Noah's boat; whoever gets on board is saved, and whoever stays away is drowned."

5. Hadith al-Thaqalayn or Saqlain Tradition (Two Weighty Things Hadith):

"Verily, I am leaving behind two precious things (thaqalayn) among you: the Book of Allah and my kindred (itrah), my household Ahlul Bayt (Ahl al-Bayt), for indeed, the two will never separate until they come back to me by the Pond (of al­Kawthar on the Day of Judgement," said Prophet Muhammad, may Allah (SWT) bestow peace and benedictions upon him and his pure Progeny. [Hadith-e-Saqlain]

Because the Ahlul Bayt (Ahl al-Bayt) have the same weight in Allah's (SWT) sight as the Noble Qur'an, the former has the same virtues as the latter. Just as the Noble Qur'an is true from beginning to end, and it is incumbent (obligation) on every Muslim to accept its commandments, the Ahlul Bayt (Ahl al-Bayt) must be entirely true and sincere guides whose orders must be followed by all. As a result, there is no way around embracing their leadership and adhering to their doctrine and religion. The Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) binds Muslims to obey them and no one else.

In one of his famous statements, Imam al-Shafi'i, one of the four Imams of the Sunni school of thought, declares, "Let everybody know that if the love of Prophet Muhammad's descendants means to be a Rafizi, I am a Rafizi."

"O Ahlul Bayt (Ahl al-Bayt)," exclaims Imam al-Shafi'i. In the Noble Qur'an, Allah (SWT) has made it mandatory to love you. It is a source of pride for you that prayer is invalid unless you invoke blessing on yourself." "After seeing that the people have chosen different ways that have led them to the Ocean of deviation and ignorance," he states again in his verses. In the name of Allah (SWT), I have boarded the ship that will take me to safety. We have been told to hold fast the rope of Allah (SWT), and that rope is their devotion, to the Ahlul Bayt of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)."

Conclusion: Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his Ahlul Bayt (Ahl al-Bayt) gave up all earthly comforts, including their life, to teach us the true religion of Islam. Allah (SWT) commands us to love them in exchange for their sacrifices. The goal is to follow in their footsteps via their love. We adhere to the authentic teachings of Islam as taught by them in order to live a good and respectable life in this world and gain Allah's (SWT) pleasure in the life to come.

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