Written by: Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
The Incident of Aisha's Exoneration:
In the story of the exoneration of Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), it is mentioned that the Prophet (peace be upon him) delivered a sermon, saying:
"O assembly of Muslims, who will take revenge on my behalf from the man who has hurt me regarding my family? By Allah, I know nothing but good about my family."
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 4850, Sahih Muslim: 2770)
Question by Husain bin Sabrah (Tabi'i) to Sayyiduna Zaid bin Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him):
Husain bin Sabrah (may Allah have mercy on him) asked Sayyiduna Zaid bin Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him):
"O Zaid! Who are the members of the Prophet's family? Aren't his wives part of his family?"
Sayyiduna Zaid bin Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) responded:
"Yes, his wives are part of his family."
(Sahih Muslim: 2408)
Narration by Sayyida Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her):
Sayyida Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that when the verse from Surah Al-Ahzab was revealed, the Prophet (peace be upon him) summoned Sayyiduna Ali, Sayyida Fatima, and Sayyiduna Hasan and Husain (may Allah be pleased with them all). He then said:
"O Allah, these are my family."
Sayyida Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) then asked:
"O Messenger of Allah, am I not part of your family?"
The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied:
"You are my family and are indeed good, but these are my family. O Allah, my family has more right (to be included as my family)."
(Al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihayn by Al-Hakim: 2/416, and its chain is Hasan)
Imam Hakim (may Allah have mercy on him) considered this Hadith to be "Sahih according to the conditions of Imam Bukhari," while Hafiz Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him) deemed it "Sahih according to the conditions of Imam Muslim."
In another narration, Sayyida Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) is also reported to have said:
"I asked: O Messenger of Allah, am I not from your family? The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: 'Yes, indeed, enter into the cloak.' Then she entered into the cloak after the Prophet (peace be upon him) had prayed for his cousin Ali, his grandsons Hasan and Husain, and his daughter Fatima (may Allah be pleased with them all)."
(Musnad Imam Ahmad: 6/298, and its chain is Hasan)
It is evident from this that the family of the Prophet (peace be upon him) includes two groups: according to the Quran, his wives are part of his family, and according to the words of the Prophet (peace be upon him), his relatives are also included in his family.
Since the blessed wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) are also part of his family, sending blessings upon them is also prescribed, as indicated in the Hadith:
Narration by Sayyiduna Abu Humaid As-Sa'idi (may Allah be pleased with him):
Sayyiduna Abu Humaid As-Sa'idi (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
"The Companions asked: O Messenger of Allah, how should we send blessings upon you? The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Say, 'O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad, his wives, and his offspring, as You sent Your blessings upon the family of Ibrahim. And bless Muhammad, his wives, and his offspring, as You blessed the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.'"
(Al-Muwatta by Imam Malik: 1/165; Sahih al-Bukhari: 3369; Sahih Muslim: 407)
The Incident of Aisha's Exoneration:
In the story of the exoneration of Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), it is mentioned that the Prophet (peace be upon him) delivered a sermon, saying:
"O assembly of Muslims, who will take revenge on my behalf from the man who has hurt me regarding my family? By Allah, I know nothing but good about my family."
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 4850, Sahih Muslim: 2770)
Question by Husain bin Sabrah (Tabi'i) to Sayyiduna Zaid bin Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him):
Husain bin Sabrah (may Allah have mercy on him) asked Sayyiduna Zaid bin Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him):
"O Zaid! Who are the members of the Prophet's family? Aren't his wives part of his family?"
Sayyiduna Zaid bin Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) responded:
"Yes, his wives are part of his family."
(Sahih Muslim: 2408)
Narration by Sayyida Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her):
Sayyida Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that when the verse from Surah Al-Ahzab was revealed, the Prophet (peace be upon him) summoned Sayyiduna Ali, Sayyida Fatima, and Sayyiduna Hasan and Husain (may Allah be pleased with them all). He then said:
"O Allah, these are my family."
Sayyida Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) then asked:
"O Messenger of Allah, am I not part of your family?"
The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied:
"You are my family and are indeed good, but these are my family. O Allah, my family has more right (to be included as my family)."
(Al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihayn by Al-Hakim: 2/416, and its chain is Hasan)
Imam Hakim (may Allah have mercy on him) considered this Hadith to be "Sahih according to the conditions of Imam Bukhari," while Hafiz Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him) deemed it "Sahih according to the conditions of Imam Muslim."
In another narration, Sayyida Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) is also reported to have said:
"I asked: O Messenger of Allah, am I not from your family? The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: 'Yes, indeed, enter into the cloak.' Then she entered into the cloak after the Prophet (peace be upon him) had prayed for his cousin Ali, his grandsons Hasan and Husain, and his daughter Fatima (may Allah be pleased with them all)."
(Musnad Imam Ahmad: 6/298, and its chain is Hasan)
It is evident from this that the family of the Prophet (peace be upon him) includes two groups: according to the Quran, his wives are part of his family, and according to the words of the Prophet (peace be upon him), his relatives are also included in his family.
Since the blessed wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) are also part of his family, sending blessings upon them is also prescribed, as indicated in the Hadith:
Narration by Sayyiduna Abu Humaid As-Sa'idi (may Allah be pleased with him):
Sayyiduna Abu Humaid As-Sa'idi (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
"The Companions asked: O Messenger of Allah, how should we send blessings upon you? The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Say, 'O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad, his wives, and his offspring, as You sent Your blessings upon the family of Ibrahim. And bless Muhammad, his wives, and his offspring, as You blessed the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.'"
(Al-Muwatta by Imam Malik: 1/165; Sahih al-Bukhari: 3369; Sahih Muslim: 407)