The Ahl al-Bayt
It is a distinguishing quality of Ahl al-Sunnah that they turn wherever the truth turns them. Allah Almighty has granted them moderation and has kept them safe from excess and negligence, and from exaggeration and shortcoming. Their way is to accept the station and rank of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) on the foundations of how things actually were. The collections of Islam are perfumed with fragrant mentions of the Ahl al-Bayt of the Messenger ﷺ. Ahl al-Sunnah have been kept safe from excess and negligence regarding the Ahl al-Bayt. It cannot be that we deny their virtues, or else raise them above their true rank, placing them above Siddiq and Faruq, and at times even setting them up against Allah. With Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah, love of the Ahl al-Bayt is the very essence of faith, hatred of them is a sign of hypocrisy, and respecting them is obligatory. Allah the Generous says:
إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا
“O Ahl al-Bayt! Allah has resolved to remove impurity from you and has purified you.”
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) says:
نزلت فى نساء النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم خاصة.
“This verse was revealed specifically about the wives of the Prophet ﷺ.”
Ikrimah (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
من شاء باهلته أنها نزلت فى أزواج النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم.
“I am ready to engage in mubahala (mutual imprecation) over this: that this verse was revealed about the wives of the Prophet ﷺ.”
Hafiz Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) (774 AH) says:
هذا نص فى دخول أزواج النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فى أهل البيت هاهنا؛ لأنهن سبب نزول هذه الآية.
“This verse is an explicit text that the wives of the Messenger ﷺ are included among the Ahl al-Bayt, because the Mothers of the Believers are the cause of this verse’s revelation.”
This noble verse was revealed about the wives of the Prophet ﷺ, the context of the verse indicates this, and the testimony of the Companions and the Tabi’un is also to the same effect.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) (728 AH) says:
إن هذه الآية تدل على أنهن من أهل بيته، وإلا لم يكن لذكر ذلك فى الكلام معنى.
“This noble verse is evidence that the wives of the Prophet ﷺ are among his Ahl al-Bayt; otherwise the word Ahl al-Bayt in the verse would have no meaning.”
What is meant by the Al (family) of the Messenger or the Ahl al-Bayt is the wives and the children of the Prophet ﷺ.
Sayyiduna Abu Humayd al-Sa’idi (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) said: O Messenger of Allah! How should we send blessings upon you? He said:
اللهم صل على محمد وأزواجه وذريته، كما صليت على آل إبراهيم، وبارك على محمد وأزواجه وذريته، كما باركت على آل إبراهيم إنك حميد مجيد.
“O Allah! Send mercy upon Muhammad ﷺ, his wives and his offspring, as You sent mercy upon the family of Ibrahim (peace be upon him). Bless Muhammad ﷺ, his wives and his offspring, as You blessed the family of Ibrahim (peace be upon him). Indeed You are Praiseworthy, Majestic.”
However, along with his wives and daughters, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ also granted this honour to some of his relatives and included them among his Ahl al-Bayt, among whom are Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib, Sayyiduna Hasan and Sayyiduna Husayn (may Allah be pleased with them). This is established in many hadiths. Therefore, what is meant by the Ahl al-Bayt in the verse is, in the true sense, the wives, and in a figurative, appended and honorary sense, Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib, Sayyiduna Hasan and Sayyiduna Husayn (may Allah be pleased with them) also enter among the Ahl al-Bayt.
Hafiz Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) (774 AH) says:
ثم الذى لا يشك فيه من تدبر القرآن أن نساء النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم داخلات فى قوله تعالى : إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا ، فإن سياق الكلام معهن؛ ولهذا قال تعالى بعد هذا كله : وَاذْكُرْنَ مَا يُتْلَى فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللهِ وَالْحِكْمَةِ ، أى اعملن بما ينزل الله على رسوله فى بيوتكن من الكتاب والسنة، قاله قتادة وغير واحد، واذكرن هذه النعمة التى خصصتن بها من بين الناس؛ أن الوحي ينزل فى بيوتكن دون سائر الناس، وعائشة الصديقة بنت الصديق أولاهن بهذه النعمة، وأحظاهن بهذه الغنيمة، وأخصهن من هذه الرحمة العميمة، فإنه لم ينزل على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم الوحي فى فراش امرأة سواها، كما نص على ذلك صلوات الله وسلامه عليه، قال بعض العلماء رحمه الله: لأنه لم يتزوج بكرا سواها، ولم ينم معها رجل فى فراشها سواه، فناسب أن تخصص بهذه المزية، وأن تفرد بهذه الرتبة العلية، ولكن إذا كان أزواجه من أهل بيته؛ فقرابته أحق بهذه التسمية، كما تقدم فى الحديث: وأهل بيتي أحق، وهذا يشبه ما ثبت فى صحيح مسلم: أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لما سئل عن المسجد الذى أسس على التقوى من أول يوم (التوبة: 108)، فقال: هو مسجدي هذا، فهذا من هذا القبيل؛ فإن الآية إنما نزلت فى مسجد قباء، كما ورد فى الأحاديث الأخر، ولكن إذا كان ذاك أسس على التقوى من أول يوم، فمسجد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أولى بتسميته بذلك.
“The one who reflects upon the noble Qur’an cannot doubt that the wives of the Prophet ﷺ are included in this statement of Allah Almighty:
إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا “O People of the House! Allah only intends to remove sin from you and to purify you thoroughly.” The context of the speech is in line with the meaning that refers to the pure wives (may Allah be pleased with them). After this Allah said: وَاذْكُرْنَ مَا يُتْلَى فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللهِ وَالْحِكْمَةِ “O wives of the Prophet! Give thanks to Allah for the verses of Allah and the wisdom that are recited in your homes.” Act upon the texts of the Book and the Sunnah which Allah sends down upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in your homes. A number of scholars, including Imam Qatadah (may Allah have mercy on him), have given this explanation. The meaning is: O wives of the Prophet! Remember this blessing that was granted specially to you, that revelation is sent down only in your homes. Lady Aisha al-Siddiqah (may Allah be pleased with her) was foremost in this blessing, the one who benefited most from this gain, and the one who received the greatest share of this immeasurable mercy. The reason for this was that revelation did not descend upon the bed of any of the wives of the Messenger ﷺ except Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), as he himself stated. The reason for this distinction was that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not marry any virgin other than Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), and likewise no man other than him ﷺ was ever alone in privacy with Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her); so choosing Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) for this distinction was entirely fitting. According to this verse, the wives of the Prophet ﷺ are among the Ahl al-Bayt, so it is necessary that the relatives of the Prophet ﷺ also be among the Ahl al-Bayt. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “My Ahl al-Bayt are more deserving (of honour and respect).”
An example of this is found in Sahih Muslim
:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked which mosque is the one that the Qur’an says was founded on piety from the first day. He said: “This mosque of mine, the Prophet’s Mosque.” Yet this verse was revealed about the Quba Mosque; but since the Quba Mosque was founded on piety from the first day, the Prophet’s Mosque is even more deserving of that name. The matter of the Ahl al-Bayt is the same.”
The Mother of the Believers, Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), narrates:
خرج النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم غداة وعليه مرط مرحل، من شعر أسود، فجاء الحسن بن على فأدخله، ثم جاء الحسين فدخل معه، ثم جاءت فاطمة فأدخلها، ثم جاء على فأدخله، ثم قال : إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out one morning wearing a black woollen cloak. Hasan ibn Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) came, and he took him into the cloak; then Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) came, and he took him into the cloak as well; Lady Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) came, and he took her into the cloak too; finally Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) came, and after taking him into the cloak, he recited this verse of the Qur’an: إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا “O People of the House! Allah has intended to remove filth from you and has purified you.””
Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
لما نزلت هذه الآية : فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْا نَدْعُ أَبْنَاءَنَا وَأَبْنَاءَكُمْ ، دعا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عليا وفاطمة وحسنا وحسينا فقال: اللهم هؤلاء أهلي.
“When the verse: فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْا نَدْعُ أَبْنَاءَنَا وَأَبْنَاءَكُمْ was revealed, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called Ali, Fatimah, Hasan and Husayn (may Allah be pleased with them) and said: O Allah! These are my Ahl al-Bayt (among my family).”
Lady Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that at the time of the revelation of the verse of purification, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ took Hasan and Husayn (may Allah be pleased with them both), Lady Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) and Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) into the cloak and said:
أللهم هؤلاء أهل بيتي وخاصتي.
“O Allah! These are my Ahl al-Bayt and my special people.”
Ali, Fatimah, Hasan and Husayn (may Allah be pleased with them) have been characterised by an additional attribute, and that is that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ made supplication for them to be included among the Ahl al-Bayt; therefore these personalities are also included among the Ahl al-Bayt. However, the Ahl al-Bayt whom the Noble Qur’an has addressed are only the wives, as is established from the context of the Qur’an.
Similarly, in the tafsir of the statement of Allah, the Exalted: إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَى, Imam Sa’id ibn Jubayr (may Allah have mercy on him) says that the love of kinship mentioned here refers to the Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet ﷺ. Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) used to explain it as follows: there was no clan of Quraysh with which the Prophet ﷺ did not have a kinship tie, but there was a kinship between them and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and concerning it he ﷺ said: “Maintain the kinship that exists between me and you.”
Hafiz Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him), commenting on the statement of Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), writes:
الحق تفسير الآية بما فسرها به الإمام حبر الأمة، وترجمان القرآن، عبد الله بن عباس، كما رواه عنه البخاري رحمه الله، ولا تنكر الوصاة بأهل البيت، والأمر بالإحسان إليهم، واحترامهم وإكرامهم، فإنهم من ذرية طاهرة، من أشرف بيت وجد على وجه الأرض، فخرا وحسبا ونسبا، ولا سيما إذا كانوا متبعين للسنة النبوية الصحيحة الواضحة الجلية، كما كان عليه سلفهم، كالعباس وبنيه، وعلي وأهل بيته وذريته، رضي الله عنهم أجمعين.
“The correct tafsir of the verse is the one given by the scholar of the Ummah and interpreter of the Qur’an, ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), as Imam al-Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated from him. Certainly, no one can deny well-wishing toward the Ahl al-Bayt, good treatment of them, and respect and honour for them, because they are from a pure lineage and are the most honourable of people in terms of descent and lineage; this is their pride, when these people act upon the authentic and clear Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in conformity with their predecessors, just as ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) and his children, and likewise ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and his Ahl al-Bayt used to act, may Allah be pleased with them all.”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say:
أذكركم الله فى أهل بيتي.
“Fear Allah with regard to my Ahl al-Bayt.”
He ﷺ gave this counsel three times, and in this same hadith he also described the honourable Ahl al-Bayt and the Qur’an as the two weighty things (thaqalayn, of lofty status).
The confidant of the Messenger, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), used to say:
ارقبوا محمدا صلى الله عليه وسلم فى أهل بيته.
“Look after the rights of the Ahl al-Bayt of Muhammad ﷺ.”
At times, in describing their greatness, he would speak thus:
“By the One in whose hand is my soul! The kinship of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is far more beloved to me than my own kinship.”
So devotion to the Ahl al-Bayt, love for them and respect for them was a command of the Arabian Messenger ﷺ; there is no way around it. Remember that the Ahl al-Bayt include the Mothers of the Believers, the daughters of the Messenger, the family of ‘Ali, the family of Ja’far, the family of ‘Abbas, and so on. However, today’s sitting is devoted to the names of three noble figures: the conqueror of Khaybar, ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him), and the two noble Hasans, al-Hasan and al-Husayn (may Allah be pleased with them both).
