The Virtues of Honoring the Ahl al-Bayt of the Holy Prophet ﷺ
Respect, reverence, and honor for the Ahl al-Bayt of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, is a part of faith, indeed it is faith itself. The pleasure of the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, can be attained through love for his Ahl al-Bayt. Thus, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
ارقبوا محمدا صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم فى أهل بيته .
“Seek the pleasure of Muhammad, peace be upon him, through love for his Ahl al-Bayt.”
Allah Almighty also loves his Ahl al-Bayt, and the Prophet himself also loves them, so by following this Sunnah, we too should love them and honor them.
Sayyiduna Bara, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
رأيت النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم والحسن بن على على عاتقه، يقول: اللهم إني أحبه فأحبه .
“I saw Sayyiduna Hasan bin Ali, may Allah be pleased with them both, riding on the shoulders of the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, and he made this supplication: O Allah! I love him, so love him too.”
Love for the Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet, peace be upon him, is love for the Prophet himself, and enmity towards his Ahl al-Bayt is equivalent to enmity towards him. The Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, said to Umm al-Mu’minin Sayyida Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her:
لا تؤذيني فى عائشة، فإن الوحي لم يأتني وأنا فى ثوب امرأة إلا عائشة قالت: فقلت أتوب إلى الله من أذاك يا رسول الله ، ثم إنهن دعون فاطمة بنت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فأرسلت إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم تقول: إن نسانك ينشدنك الله العدل فى بنت أبى بكر فكلمته فقال: يا بنية ألا تحين ما أحب؟ قالت: بلى ، فرجعت إليهن وفي رواية مسلم قال: فاحبى هذه
“Do not cause me distress regarding Aisha Siddiqah, may Allah be pleased with her! Revelation does not come to me on the bed of any wife except Aisha.” Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: O Messenger of Allah! I seek forgiveness from Allah for causing you distress. Then she called Sayyida Fatimah, may Allah be pleased with her, and sent her to the Prophet, peace be upon him. When she spoke to him, he said: Daughter, do you not love whom I love? She replied: Yes, I do. She returned with this message to the Mothers of the Believers. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: Love Aisha.”
