Ahlul Bayt in Quran
Ahl al-Bayt (Arabic: أهل البيت) is a phrase meaning People of the House, or family. In the Islamic tradition it refers to the household of Muhammad.
Contents
[hide]
1 Ahl al-Bayt family
2 Ahl al-Bayt in Quran
3 Ahl al-Bayt in hadiths
3.1 1. Kisa tradition:
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[edit] Ahl al-Bayt family.
To Shia Muslims, the Ahl al-Bayt or household of Muhammad refers to his daughter Fatima al-Zahra, his successor, son-in-law, and cousin Ali, their two sons Hasan ibn Ali and Husayn ibn Ali, and the nine Imams from the lineage of Husayn. The term "Ahl" signifies the members of a household of a man, including his fellow tribesmen, kin, relatives, wife (or wives), children, and all those who share a family background, religion, housing, city, and country with him. "Ahl" and "al" are both the same term with the exception that "al" is exclusively used for human beings and should come before the family name, but such a condition is not existent in the case of "ahl". "Bayt" refers to habitation and dwelling, including tents and buildings both. The "Ahl-Al-Bayt" of any person refers to his family members and all those who live in his house (c.f. "Mufradat al-Qur'an" by Raghib Isfahani; "Qamus" by Firoozabadi; "Majm`a al-Bahrayn". Ahlul Bayt is the polite form of addressing the members and wife of the family.
[edit] Ahl al-Bayt in Quran
They said: Do you wonder at Allah's bidding? The mercy of Allah and His blessings are on you, O people of the house, surely He is Praised, Glorious. (11:73)"
Contents
[hide]
1 Ahl al-Bayt family
2 Ahl al-Bayt in Quran
3 Ahl al-Bayt in hadiths
3.1 1. Kisa tradition:
//
[edit] Ahl al-Bayt family.
To Shia Muslims, the Ahl al-Bayt or household of Muhammad refers to his daughter Fatima al-Zahra, his successor, son-in-law, and cousin Ali, their two sons Hasan ibn Ali and Husayn ibn Ali, and the nine Imams from the lineage of Husayn. The term "Ahl" signifies the members of a household of a man, including his fellow tribesmen, kin, relatives, wife (or wives), children, and all those who share a family background, religion, housing, city, and country with him. "Ahl" and "al" are both the same term with the exception that "al" is exclusively used for human beings and should come before the family name, but such a condition is not existent in the case of "ahl". "Bayt" refers to habitation and dwelling, including tents and buildings both. The "Ahl-Al-Bayt" of any person refers to his family members and all those who live in his house (c.f. "Mufradat al-Qur'an" by Raghib Isfahani; "Qamus" by Firoozabadi; "Majm`a al-Bahrayn". Ahlul Bayt is the polite form of addressing the members and wife of the family.
[edit] Ahl al-Bayt in Quran
They said: Do you wonder at Allah's bidding? The mercy of Allah and His blessings are on you, O people of the house, surely He is Praised, Glorious. (11:73)"
Aqa Mahdi Puya says: Sarah was included in the Ahl ul Bayt because firstly she was a cousin of Ibrahim and secondly she was going to give birth to Is-haq, in addition to her own merits, otherwise a wife (particularly one who does not possess required merits) cannot be included into the Ahl ul Bayt, a divinly chosen term to praise and glorify certain persons, because a wife can be divorced, after which she ceases to be a member of the house. Some of the Holy Prophet's wives had been censured by the Quran for their unbecoming conduct. The event of mubahila (Ali Imran: 61) has confirmed that the wives of the Holy Prophet were not chosen as nisa-ana, because none of them were among the Ahl ul Bayt. The term Ahl ul Bayt has been used exclusively for the family of Ibrahim, including both the Israelite and the Ismailite branches. As the chosen party of Allah, since time immemorial, they strived to establish "houses of prayer and worship" to serve Allah, and kept these houses purified, because they themselves had been thoroughly purified by Allah.
2. The Verse of Purity (Tathir). "...Allah desires to keep away uncleanness from you people of the House and make you pure as pure can be". qur'an (33:33)
Shia Muslims believe that this verse, known as the "Tathir verse", refers to the Members of the Household of Muhammad. Shi'ite scholars of hadith and fiqh consider the "ahl-al-bayt" cited in the "tathir verse" to include exclusively Muhammad, `Ali, Fatimah, Hasan, and Husayn (peace be upon them all). They do not consider Muhammad's other offspring, wives, sons of paternal uncles, and dwellers of his house as Ahl al-Bayt.
[edit] Ahl al-Bayt in hadiths
[edit] 1. Kisa tradition:
A : When the Tathir verse (33:33) was revealed in her house. At that time, `Ali, Fatimah, Hasan, and Husayn were in her house. Muhammad spread his cloak over them and stated "These are the members of my Household, and Allah has purified them of all (sins and faults and uncleanness)."
Narrated by Tirmidhi in Manaqib Ahlul-Bayt, Vol. 2, p.308, citing Umar ibn Abi Salama, Muhammad's adopted son, who said "The verse, 'Allah only wants to remove uncleanness far from you, O people of Ahlul-Bait, and purify you a thorough purifying' was revealed in the house of Umm Salamah. Then Muhammad called Fatima, Hasan, Husain and Ali, behind himself,covered them with a cover and said: 'O Allah! This is my household, so remove uncleanness from them and purify them a thorough purifying. Umm Salamah said:' Am I with them, O Messenger of Allah?' He said: You are at your place. You are all right.'".,
al-Tirmidhi, al-Sahih, volume 5, pages 351 and 663
al-Hakim al-Naysaburi, alMustadrak `ala al-Sahihayn, volume 2, page 416. He states that it is sahih in accordance with the criteria of al-Bukhari
al-Suyuti, al-Durr al-Manthur, volume 5, page 197
Jalaluddin `Abdul-Rahman bin Abi Bakr Suyuti (d 911 A.H.) in his commentary "Al-Dur al-Manthur", 198/5-199, Muhammad ibn `Isa Tirmidhi (3 279 A.H.) the author of "Jami' Sahih", Hakim Nishaburi (d 405 A.H.) in "Al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihayn", Ahmad ibn Husayn Bayhaqi (d 458 A.H.) in "Sunan" (all three of whom have considered the Kisa' tradition as authentic), Muhammad ibn Jarir Tabari (d 315 A.H.), Ibn Munzir Muhammad ibn Ibrahim (d 319 A.H.), Ibn Mardawayh Isfahani, and Ahmad ibn Musa (d 410 A.H.) have quoted Ummu Salamah, the wife of the Holy Prophet (s) as saying that the verse "... Allah only desires to keep away the uncleanness from you, O people of the House! And to purify you a thorough purifying (33:33)" was revealed in her house. At that time, `Ali, Fatimah, Hasan, and Husayn (peace be upon them all) were in her house. The Holy Prophet (s) spread his cloak over them and stated: "These are the members of my Household, and Allah has purified them of all (sins and faults and uncleanness)."
B : Another narration from Umm Salama says that once Muhammad was in her house lying on a mattress, covered with a cloak from Khaibar when his beloved daughter Fatima (a.s.) entered with a dish called aI-Khazira (a kind of food). The Prophet asked her to call her husband (Ali) and her two sons, Hasan and Husain. She called them and as they all sat together to eat, Allah revealed the following verse to Muhammad. "...Allah desires to keep away uncleanness from you, o' people of the House and make you pure as pure can be . Qur'an (33:33)
Upon this Muhammad covered them all with his cloak and lifting his hands towards the sky said: "0 Allah! this is my family and the nearest of my kin, keep away from them uncleanness and keep them pure as pure can be'. Umm Salama adds that thrice Muhammad repeated these words and when she poked her head under the cloak and asked him Am I with you? In a refraining gesture, he said twice: "You are (also) among the righteous.
Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Hanbal, the Hanbali Imam, (d 241 A.H.), in "Musnad" 229/2.
This is also stated in Ghayat al-Maram,quoting Abdullah ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal, through three narrators quoting Umm Salamah, also as in al-Tha'labi's Tafseer, whenever ibn Mardawaya and Khatib, citing Abi Sa'di Khidri, relate the same afore-mentioned meaning, with some verbal differences. The same was also narrated in 'Ghayat al-Maram' quoting Abdullah ibn Ahmad, on the authority of his father who cited Umm Salamah (see Tabataba`i's al-Mizan fi Tafseer al-Qur`an, al-Tathir verse).
In the "Jami al-Bayan" Muhammad bin Jarir al-Tabari has quoted Shahr bin Hushab Ash'air (d 100 A.H.) as saying: "When Ummu Salamah heard news of the martyrdom of Husayn bin `Ali , she cursed the people of Iraq and said: `May Allah kill the people of Iraq who deceived him and left him alone. May Allah curse them. Verily, I saw Fatimah while bringing a stone bowl of sweet paste for the Holy Prophet (s). The Holy Prophet (s) stated: `Where is your cousin?' She said: `At home.' The Prophet (s) said: `Go bring him here with his two sons.' Fatimah returned while holding the hands of Hasan and Husayn. `Ali also followed them, and they came to the Holy Prophet (s). The Holy Prophet (s) embraced Hasan and Husayn and made `Ali sit on his right and Fatimah on left. He then the cloak as the carpet on which we slept in Medina and placed it over Fatimah, `Ali, Hasan, and Husayn. He held the two sides of the cloak with his left hand. He raised his right hand toward the sky addressing Almighty Allah by saying: `O Allah, purify them of any uncleanness . O Allah, these are the members of my Household. Purify and cleanse them of any vice, wrong, and sin,' (He repeated this twice). I asked: `O Messenger! Am I also a member of your Household?' He said: `You come under the cloak.' I also went under the cloak, but only after the Prophet (s) finished his prayer for his cousin, his two sons, and Fatimah (peace be upon them all)." This tradition has been related by Ahmad bin Muhammad ibn Hanbal in "Musnad" 292/6: Tahwi in "Mushkil al-Athar" 335/1; and Muhib Tabari in "Zakhair al-`Uqba" 22/1. The Kisa' tradition which has been narrated in different forms by the Shias and the Sunnis is very sacred for the entire Imamiyyah, especially the Shia of Iran, the Indian subcontinent, Iraq, and Yemen.
It is recited in "rawdah" sessions (mourning ceremony) to have the wishes fulfilled and problems removed. Some narration provide more details on this tradition. Some say that Jibraeel and Mikaeel were also among the disciples of the Kisa' or were present there. A divine revelation was descended on the Holy Prophet (s) to the effect that the world and whatever is in it is indebted to these five pure ones.
C Another tradition by Aisha: Muhammad went out one morning wearing a striped cloak of the black camel's hair that there came Hasan ibn Ali. He wrapped him under it, then came Husayn and he wrapped him under it along with the other one (Hasan). Then came Fatimah and he took her under it, then came Ali and he also took him under it and then said: Allah only desires to take away any uncleanliness from you, O people of the household, and purify you (thorough purifying) (xxxiii.33).
(MUSLIM 1118)
This tradition has been narrated by Hakim Nishaburi in "Al-Mustadark" 14/3; Bayhaqi in "Sunan" 149/2; Tabari in the "Jami al-Bayan" Siyuti in "al-Durri al-Manthur" under the title of the "tathir verse". In addition, Ibn Abi Shaybah, Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Hanbal, Ibn Abi Hatam have narrated it from `Aishah. Zamakhshari in "Kashshaf" and Fakhr Razi in "Tafsir Kabir" have also related this tradition. It seems that the recorders of traditions are unanimous about the authenticity of this tradition ("Fadail al-Khamsah" 224/1).
D : "These are the members of my Household, and Allah has purified them (of every wrong and sin)." Khatib Baghdadi, Ahmad bin `Ali, (d 463 A.H.) in "The History of Baghdad" 278/10, has quoted Abu Saeed Khidri S`ad bin Malik (d 74 A.H.) as saying that after the revelation of the "tathir verse", the Holy Prophet (s) summoned `Ali, Fatimah, Hasan, and Husayn (peace be upon them all) and covered them with the cloak he had on and said: "These are the members of my Household, and Allah has purified them (of every wrong and sin)." The same tradition has been narrated from Ummu Salamah by Muhammad ibn Jarir Tabari in "Jam`a al-Bayan" 7/22.
Thus it is clear from the above discussions that Muhammad's daily habit of stopping at his daughter Fatima's house and addressing her household as Ahlul-Bait, was not without reason. In fact he was expounding the meaning of the term Ahlul-Bait and practically explaining to the Muslims the purification verse and the particular persons meant by it. To be more precise, he was drawing the attention of the Muslim nation towards the significance of his Ahlul-Bait and their leadership after him so that the Muslims should love, obey and follow them.
Shia Muslims believe that this verse, known as the "Tathir verse", refers to the Members of the Household of Muhammad. Shi'ite scholars of hadith and fiqh consider the "ahl-al-bayt" cited in the "tathir verse" to include exclusively Muhammad, `Ali, Fatimah, Hasan, and Husayn (peace be upon them all). They do not consider Muhammad's other offspring, wives, sons of paternal uncles, and dwellers of his house as Ahl al-Bayt.
[edit] Ahl al-Bayt in hadiths
[edit] 1. Kisa tradition:
A : When the Tathir verse (33:33) was revealed in her house. At that time, `Ali, Fatimah, Hasan, and Husayn were in her house. Muhammad spread his cloak over them and stated "These are the members of my Household, and Allah has purified them of all (sins and faults and uncleanness)."
Narrated by Tirmidhi in Manaqib Ahlul-Bayt, Vol. 2, p.308, citing Umar ibn Abi Salama, Muhammad's adopted son, who said "The verse, 'Allah only wants to remove uncleanness far from you, O people of Ahlul-Bait, and purify you a thorough purifying' was revealed in the house of Umm Salamah. Then Muhammad called Fatima, Hasan, Husain and Ali, behind himself,covered them with a cover and said: 'O Allah! This is my household, so remove uncleanness from them and purify them a thorough purifying. Umm Salamah said:' Am I with them, O Messenger of Allah?' He said: You are at your place. You are all right.'".,
al-Tirmidhi, al-Sahih, volume 5, pages 351 and 663
al-Hakim al-Naysaburi, alMustadrak `ala al-Sahihayn, volume 2, page 416. He states that it is sahih in accordance with the criteria of al-Bukhari
al-Suyuti, al-Durr al-Manthur, volume 5, page 197
Jalaluddin `Abdul-Rahman bin Abi Bakr Suyuti (d 911 A.H.) in his commentary "Al-Dur al-Manthur", 198/5-199, Muhammad ibn `Isa Tirmidhi (3 279 A.H.) the author of "Jami' Sahih", Hakim Nishaburi (d 405 A.H.) in "Al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihayn", Ahmad ibn Husayn Bayhaqi (d 458 A.H.) in "Sunan" (all three of whom have considered the Kisa' tradition as authentic), Muhammad ibn Jarir Tabari (d 315 A.H.), Ibn Munzir Muhammad ibn Ibrahim (d 319 A.H.), Ibn Mardawayh Isfahani, and Ahmad ibn Musa (d 410 A.H.) have quoted Ummu Salamah, the wife of the Holy Prophet (s) as saying that the verse "... Allah only desires to keep away the uncleanness from you, O people of the House! And to purify you a thorough purifying (33:33)" was revealed in her house. At that time, `Ali, Fatimah, Hasan, and Husayn (peace be upon them all) were in her house. The Holy Prophet (s) spread his cloak over them and stated: "These are the members of my Household, and Allah has purified them of all (sins and faults and uncleanness)."
B : Another narration from Umm Salama says that once Muhammad was in her house lying on a mattress, covered with a cloak from Khaibar when his beloved daughter Fatima (a.s.) entered with a dish called aI-Khazira (a kind of food). The Prophet asked her to call her husband (Ali) and her two sons, Hasan and Husain. She called them and as they all sat together to eat, Allah revealed the following verse to Muhammad. "...Allah desires to keep away uncleanness from you, o' people of the House and make you pure as pure can be . Qur'an (33:33)
Upon this Muhammad covered them all with his cloak and lifting his hands towards the sky said: "0 Allah! this is my family and the nearest of my kin, keep away from them uncleanness and keep them pure as pure can be'. Umm Salama adds that thrice Muhammad repeated these words and when she poked her head under the cloak and asked him Am I with you? In a refraining gesture, he said twice: "You are (also) among the righteous.
Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Hanbal, the Hanbali Imam, (d 241 A.H.), in "Musnad" 229/2.
This is also stated in Ghayat al-Maram,quoting Abdullah ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal, through three narrators quoting Umm Salamah, also as in al-Tha'labi's Tafseer, whenever ibn Mardawaya and Khatib, citing Abi Sa'di Khidri, relate the same afore-mentioned meaning, with some verbal differences. The same was also narrated in 'Ghayat al-Maram' quoting Abdullah ibn Ahmad, on the authority of his father who cited Umm Salamah (see Tabataba`i's al-Mizan fi Tafseer al-Qur`an, al-Tathir verse).
In the "Jami al-Bayan" Muhammad bin Jarir al-Tabari has quoted Shahr bin Hushab Ash'air (d 100 A.H.) as saying: "When Ummu Salamah heard news of the martyrdom of Husayn bin `Ali , she cursed the people of Iraq and said: `May Allah kill the people of Iraq who deceived him and left him alone. May Allah curse them. Verily, I saw Fatimah while bringing a stone bowl of sweet paste for the Holy Prophet (s). The Holy Prophet (s) stated: `Where is your cousin?' She said: `At home.' The Prophet (s) said: `Go bring him here with his two sons.' Fatimah returned while holding the hands of Hasan and Husayn. `Ali also followed them, and they came to the Holy Prophet (s). The Holy Prophet (s) embraced Hasan and Husayn and made `Ali sit on his right and Fatimah on left. He then the cloak as the carpet on which we slept in Medina and placed it over Fatimah, `Ali, Hasan, and Husayn. He held the two sides of the cloak with his left hand. He raised his right hand toward the sky addressing Almighty Allah by saying: `O Allah, purify them of any uncleanness . O Allah, these are the members of my Household. Purify and cleanse them of any vice, wrong, and sin,' (He repeated this twice). I asked: `O Messenger! Am I also a member of your Household?' He said: `You come under the cloak.' I also went under the cloak, but only after the Prophet (s) finished his prayer for his cousin, his two sons, and Fatimah (peace be upon them all)." This tradition has been related by Ahmad bin Muhammad ibn Hanbal in "Musnad" 292/6: Tahwi in "Mushkil al-Athar" 335/1; and Muhib Tabari in "Zakhair al-`Uqba" 22/1. The Kisa' tradition which has been narrated in different forms by the Shias and the Sunnis is very sacred for the entire Imamiyyah, especially the Shia of Iran, the Indian subcontinent, Iraq, and Yemen.
It is recited in "rawdah" sessions (mourning ceremony) to have the wishes fulfilled and problems removed. Some narration provide more details on this tradition. Some say that Jibraeel and Mikaeel were also among the disciples of the Kisa' or were present there. A divine revelation was descended on the Holy Prophet (s) to the effect that the world and whatever is in it is indebted to these five pure ones.
C Another tradition by Aisha: Muhammad went out one morning wearing a striped cloak of the black camel's hair that there came Hasan ibn Ali. He wrapped him under it, then came Husayn and he wrapped him under it along with the other one (Hasan). Then came Fatimah and he took her under it, then came Ali and he also took him under it and then said: Allah only desires to take away any uncleanliness from you, O people of the household, and purify you (thorough purifying) (xxxiii.33).
(MUSLIM 1118)
This tradition has been narrated by Hakim Nishaburi in "Al-Mustadark" 14/3; Bayhaqi in "Sunan" 149/2; Tabari in the "Jami al-Bayan" Siyuti in "al-Durri al-Manthur" under the title of the "tathir verse". In addition, Ibn Abi Shaybah, Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Hanbal, Ibn Abi Hatam have narrated it from `Aishah. Zamakhshari in "Kashshaf" and Fakhr Razi in "Tafsir Kabir" have also related this tradition. It seems that the recorders of traditions are unanimous about the authenticity of this tradition ("Fadail al-Khamsah" 224/1).
D : "These are the members of my Household, and Allah has purified them (of every wrong and sin)." Khatib Baghdadi, Ahmad bin `Ali, (d 463 A.H.) in "The History of Baghdad" 278/10, has quoted Abu Saeed Khidri S`ad bin Malik (d 74 A.H.) as saying that after the revelation of the "tathir verse", the Holy Prophet (s) summoned `Ali, Fatimah, Hasan, and Husayn (peace be upon them all) and covered them with the cloak he had on and said: "These are the members of my Household, and Allah has purified them (of every wrong and sin)." The same tradition has been narrated from Ummu Salamah by Muhammad ibn Jarir Tabari in "Jam`a al-Bayan" 7/22.
Thus it is clear from the above discussions that Muhammad's daily habit of stopping at his daughter Fatima's house and addressing her household as Ahlul-Bait, was not without reason. In fact he was expounding the meaning of the term Ahlul-Bait and practically explaining to the Muslims the purification verse and the particular persons meant by it. To be more precise, he was drawing the attention of the Muslim nation towards the significance of his Ahlul-Bait and their leadership after him so that the Muslims should love, obey and follow them.
