Defining Ahl al-Bayt
Merits of Ahl al-Bayt
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The term “Ahl al-bayt” literally translated would mean the people of the home or the household.
In Islamic terminology, it means the household of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ . More specifically it is used to refer to the immediate family of the Prophet ﷺ . These include:
- The Family of ‘Ali
This includes ‘Ali, Faatimah, Al-Hasan and Al-Husain - The Daughters of the Prophet ﷺ
These are Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthoom, and Zainab. - The Wives of the Prophet ﷺ
- The Families of:
a) Ja’far b) ‘Aqeel c) ‘Abbaas - The Tribes of:
a) Al-Haarith b) ‘Abdul-Muttalib
‘Ahl al-Bayt’ are a very significant group of people, because of their close association with the Prophet ﷺ and their lineage. They have great merit, and we have been clearly instructed, by the Prophet ﷺ , to show them love and respect. Allah ﷻ has also specifically mentioned them in the Qur’aan.
The People of the Household of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ have been granted great merit. Allah ﷻ says in the Holy Qur’aan:
وَقَرْنَ فِى بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِيَّةِ ٱلْأُولَىٰ ۖ وَأَقِمْنَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتِينَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَطِعْنَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ ٱلرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ ٱلْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًۭا ( سورة الأحزاب : ٣٣)
“And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance. And establish prayer and give Zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah intends only to remove from you the impurity [of sin]. O people of the [Prophet’s] household, and to purify you with [extensive] purification.” (Soorat al-Ahzaab : 33)
Their merit and significance is due to their being related to the Prophet ﷺ . However it has to be coupled with their belief in Allah and the principles of Islam. Surely one cannot claim any merit and significance for Aboo Lahab on account of his being the Prophet’s uncle.
In one hadeeth the Prophet ﷺ is reported to have said:
اذْكُرُكُم الله في أهل بيتي “( البخاري )
“I remind you to be kind to my family for the Sake of Allah.” (Muslim & Ahmed)
The Prophet ﷺ repeated this statement three times. It was made when the Prophet was returning from the farewell Hajj. He stopped at a valley that belonged to a man called Khum. The hadeeth clearly establishes the importance of Ahl al-Bayt.
On another occasion, Al-‘Abbaas, the Prophet’s uncle complained that Quraysh despised and looked down on the Family of Haashim. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“والذي نفسي بيده، لا يدخل قلب امريء الايمان حتى يحبهم الله و لقرابتهم مني. ” ( البخاري )
“By the One in whose Hands is my soul! They do not believe unless they love them for Allah’s Sake and for being my relatives.” (Tabarani)
In yet another place it is mentioned that Aboo Bakr’s eyes flowed with tears, and when Aboo Bakr spoke, he said,
” والذي نفسي بيده لقرابة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أحب إلي من أن أصل قرابتي ” ( البخاري )
“By Him in Whose Hand my soul is to keep good relations with the relatives of Alah’s Messenger is dearer to me than keeping good relations with my own relatives.”
People were divided into three groups regarding Ahl Al-Bayt:
- Those who elevate some of them to the level of the Prophet.
- Those who downgrade them and took them as their enemies.
- Ahl as-Sunnah, who loved them and respected them and kept their duties.
Injunctions relating to Ahl al-Bayt
Love for Ahl al-Bayt
Injunctions Relating to Ahl al-Bayt
Ahl al-Bayt were granted merit and virtue over many others. However, together with this virtue and merit, is also one injunction that is special to Ahl al-Bayt. The People of the family of the Prophet ﷺ are not allowed to receive charity or partake of items of charity, whether it be food or anything else, at all. This injunction is clear from the hadeeth of the Prophet ﷺ
He ﷺ said:
إنَّا آل محمد لا تحل لنا الصدقه، (مسلم)
“Indeed, we, the family of Muhammad, sadaqah is not permissible for us” (Muslim)
According to most scholars, this order refers only to zakah, the obligatory charity, meaning that Ahl al-Bayt are allowed to use and consume non-obligatory charity. However, some scholars believe that even the non-obligatory charity is not permissible.
On one occasion:
أن الحسن بن علي أخذ تمرة من تمر الصدقة فجعلها في فيه فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم : ” كخ كخ . ليطرحها ثم قال : أنما شعرت أنا لا نأكل الصدقة “. ( البخاري )
Al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali took a date from the dates given in charity and put it in his mouth. The Prophet said, “Take it out of your mouth. Do you not know that we do not eat anything given in charity?” (Al-Bukhaan)
In another version of the same hadeeth the following words appear.
“Allah’s Messenger ﷺ looked at him and took it out from his mouth and said, “Do you not know that Muhammad’s offspring do not eat what is given in charity?” (Al-Bakhari)
Love for Ahl al-Bayt
When a person loves someone, he shows love towards anything related to him/her. So if Muslims truly love Prophet Muhammad ﷺ , then they should show love and respect to anything connected to him. Muslims are commanded to follow the Prophet’s lifestyle and also to love his family. It is for this reason that Muslims are called upon to show love to Ahl al-Bayt. They are the immediate family of the Prophet ﷺ
The Qur’aan shows us the virtue of Ahl al-Bayt. The hadeeth instructs to show love to Ahl al-Bayt. The pious scholars have written a great deal on the importance of showing love and respect to them. It is an important part of faith to show love to them. Those who show disrespect to any of them would be contradicting the very basis of their faith in Islam. If they debase any member of Ahl al-Bayt, then they would be showing disrespect to the Prophet ﷺ and also openly going contrary to his teachings. The Prophet said to his uncle “I swear by the One Who holds my life in His possession, that these people cannot become true believers unless they love me, and because of my kinship love you, for the pleasure of Allah”. So, Muslims love them for two reasons. First, because of their belief and sacrifices for Islam and second because of their relation to the Prophet ﷺ .
It is important however to note that Islam is a religion of moderation. Any act we do is regulated by the principles in the Qur’aan and Sunnah and there is no extremism or fanaticism in Islam. Neither is any person debased nor is anyone elevated beyond the status allocated to them by Allah So it is with Ahl al-Bayt. Muslims do not denounce any of Ahl al-Bayt, whether it be the daughters, uncles or wives of the Prophet ﷺ . Neither do they grant a position beyond what is allowed to any of Ahl al-Bayt.
