Compiled by: Abu Ubaidah Muhammad Saqib
According to Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah, love for the Prophet’s Ahl al-Bayt (May Allah be pleased with them), respecting them, observing their rights, and disassociating from those who oppress them are part of faith and religion. Excessiveness in love for the Ahl al-Bayt is not correct, but belittling their status, ignoring their virtues, or defending those who oppress them is also not the way of Ahl al-Sunnah.
Qur’anic Statement on the Purity of Ahl al-Bayt
Allah Almighty said: [اِنَّمَا یُرِیۡدُ اللّٰہُ لِیُذۡہِبَ عَنۡکُمُ الرِّجۡسَ اَہۡلَ الۡبَیۡتِ وَ یُطَہِّرَکُمۡ تَطۡہِیۡرًا]
Allah only desires to remove defilement from you, O People of the House, and to purify you thoroughly.
Reference: Al-Ahzab: 33
Hadith al-Kisa and the Special Honor of Ahl al-Bayt
Sayyida Aisha رضي الله عنها narrates that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ came in the morning wearing a black-haired cloak. Then Sayyiduna Hasan bin Ali رضي الله عنهما came, and the Prophet ﷺ included him inside the cloak. Then Sayyiduna Husayn رضي الله عنه came, and he was also included inside. Then Sayyida Fatimah رضي الله عنها came, and she was also included inside. Then Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه came, and he was also included inside. Then the Prophet ﷺ recited this verse: [اِنَّمَا یُرِیۡدُ اللّٰہُ لِیُذۡہِبَ عَنۡکُمُ الرِّجۡسَ اَہۡلَ الۡبَیۡتِ وَ یُطَہِّرَکُمۡ تَطۡہِیۡرًا]
Allah only desires to remove impurity from you, O People of the House, and to purify you thoroughly.
Reference: Sahih Muslim: 2424
This hadith explicitly indicates that Sayyiduna Ali, Sayyida Fatimah, Sayyiduna Hasan, and Sayyiduna Husayn رضي الله عنهم are specially included among the Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet.
The Prophetic Will Regarding the Ahl al-Bayt
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Zaid bin Arqam رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: [وأهل بيتي، أذكركم الله في أهل بيتي، أذكركم الله في أهل بيتي، أذكركم الله في أهل بيتي]
And my Ahl al-Bayt; I remind you of Allah regarding my Ahl al-Bayt, I remind you of Allah regarding my Ahl al-Bayt, I remind you of Allah regarding my Ahl al-Bayt.
Reference: Sahih Muslim: 2408
This hadith is a very great proof of the right, respect, and status of the Ahl al-Bayt. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ warned the Ummah three times about the fear of Allah concerning the Ahl al-Bayt.
Lady Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) is a part of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ
It is narrated from Sayyidna Mas'ur bin Makhramah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: [فاطمة بضعة مني، فمن أغضبها أغضبني]
Fatimah is a part of me; whoever angers her has angered me.
Reference: Sahih Bukhari: 3714
And in Sahih Muslim it is: [إنما فاطمة بضعة مني، يؤذيني ما آذاها]
Fatimah is a part of my body; whatever causes her pain causes me pain.
Reference: Sahih Muslim: 2449
This hadith is clear evidence of the great status of Lady Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her). Causing her harm is equivalent to causing harm to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
The status of Sayyidna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him)
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Saad bin Abi Waqqas رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه: [أما ترضى أن تكون مني بمنزلة هارون من موسى، إلا أنه لا نبي بعدي]
Are you not pleased that you are to me as Harun was to Musa (Moses) عليه السلام, except that there is no prophet after me?
Reference: Sahih Bukhari: 3706, Sahih Muslim: 2404
This hadith is a clear proof of Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه's closeness, virtue, and high status with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه is beloved to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Sahl bin Saad رضي الله عنه that on the day of Khaibar, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: [لأعطين هذه الراية غدا رجلا يفتح الله على يديه، يحب الله ورسوله، ويحبه الله ورسوله]
Tomorrow I will give this flag to a man by whose hand Allah will grant victory; he loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love him.
Then the Prophet ﷺ called Sayyiduna Ali bin Abi Talib رضي الله عنه and gave him the flag.
Reference: Sahih Bukhari: 4210, Sahih Muslim: 2406
This hadith is clear evidence of the great virtue of Sayyidina Ali رضي الله عنه that he is beloved to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.
Love of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for Sayyidina Hasan رضي الله عنه
Sayyidina Usama bin Zaid رضي الله عنهما narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to seat me on one thigh and Sayyidina Hasan bin Ali رضي الله عنهما on the other thigh, then hold both close to his chest and say: [اللهم ارحمهما، فإني أرحمهما]
O Allah! Have mercy on these two, for I have mercy on them.
Reference: Sahih Bukhari: 3747
This hadith clarifies the love and affection of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for Sayyidina Hasan رضي الله عنه.
Hasan and Husain رضي الله عنهما are two flowers of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in this world
It is narrated from Sayyidina Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said about Sayyidina Hasan and Sayyidina Husain رضي الله عنهما: [هما ريحانتاي من الدنيا]
These two are my two flowers in this world.
Reference: Sahih Bukhari: 3753, Sahih Bukhari: 5994
This hadith clarifies the intense love of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for Sayyidna Hasan and Husayn رضي الله عنهما and their exalted status.
Hasan and Husayn رضي الله عنهما are the leaders of the youth of Paradise
Narrated by Sayyidna Abu Saeed Khudri رضي الله عنه that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: [الحسن والحسين سيدا شباب أهل الجنة]
Hasan and Husayn are the leaders of the youth of Paradise.
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi: 3768
This hadith is a clear text regarding the great status of Sayyidna Hasan and Husayn رضي الله عنهما.
The command to love Sayyidna Husayn رضي الله عنه
Narrated by Sayyidna Ya'la bin Murrah رضي الله عنه that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: [حسين مني وأنا من حسين، أحب الله من أحب حسينا، حسين سبط من الأسباط]
Husayn is from me and I am from Husayn; may Allah love the one who loves Husayn. Husayn is one of my grandsons.
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi: 3775
This hadith clarifies the greatness of loving Sayyidna Husayn رضي الله عنه. Therefore, whoever loves Sayyidna Husayn رضي الله عنه should also disassociate from his killers, their helpers, and those who are pleased with his killing.
Summary
From these verses and hadiths, it is proven that the status of Ahl al-Bayt (may Allah be pleased with them) is very high. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ instilled the fear of Allah regarding Ahl al-Bayt in his Ummah, described the great virtue of Sayyidina Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), declared Sayyida Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) as his share, and expressed his love for Sayyidina Hasan and Husayn (may Allah be pleased with them). Therefore, love for Ahl al-Bayt, respect for them, acknowledgment of their virtues, and disassociation from those who oppress them are essential parts of the belief and methodology of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah.
