Ahl al-Bayt (a): Difference between revisions

'''Ahl al-Bayt (a)''' (Arabic: {{iarabic|أهل البیت}}) is a special title for some members of the family of the noble [[Prophet (s)]] who are referred to in the [[al-Tathir verse|al-Tathir]] and [[al-Mawadda verse|al-Mubahala]] verses and include [[Imam 'Ali (a)]], [[Lady Fatima (a)]], [[Imam al-Hasan (a)]] and [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] and the nine [[infallible Imams (a)]] who were the children of Imam al-Husayn (a).

From the [[Shi'a]] viewpoint, Ahl al-Bayt (a) are [[infallible]] and superior to all other [[sahaba|companion]]s of the Prophet (s) in regards to [[taqwa]] (God-wariness) and divine supports and loving them is mandatory upon all Muslims. According to Shi'a teachings, Ahl al-Bayt (a) have [[wilaya|guardianship]] and [[Imamate|leadership]] upon Muslims and Muslims must regard them as their own authorities and refer to them in their religious issues.

In Arabic lexical references, the word "ahl" ({{iarabic|أهل}}) implies a kind of relation and connection between a person with another. For example, in Arabic, wife is known as the "ahl" of her husband, people of every prophet is known as his "ahl" or the residents of a city are the "ahl" of that city. Also, followers of a religion are the "ahl" of that religion.<ref>Ibn Faris, ''Mu'jam maqayis'', vol.1 p.93; Al-Fayyumi, ''al-Misbah al-munir'', vol.1 p.37; Ibn Manzur, ''Lisan al-'Arab'', vol.1 p.186</ref> Ahl al-Bayt (a) means the people of the house of [[the Prophet (s)]]; however, this title has a special meaning among Muslims.<ref>Al-Raghib, ''al-Mufradat'', p.29</ref>

The word "{{ia|آل}}" (Āl) has also been "{{ia|أهل}}" (ahl) the letter "ha" ({{ia|ه}}) in it has first turned to hamza and then to alif.<ref>Ibn Manzur, ''Lisan al-'Arab'', vol.1 p.186</ref> The usage of the word "āl ({{ia|آل}})" is narrower than the usage of "ahl" because "آل" has never been added to an adverb of place, time, etc. and collocates only with human being, and even to certain people such as [[Ibrahim (a)]] in Al Ibrahim (a), 'Imran in Al 'Imran, and to [[Fir'awn]] (Pharaoh) in Al Fir'awn.<ref>Al-Raghib, ''al-Mufradat'', p.30</ref>

# [[Verse]] 73 of [[Sura Hud]], where it refers to [[prophet Abraham (a)]] and his wife, "They said, 'Are you amazed at [[Allah]]'s dispensation? [That is] Allah's mercy and His blessings upon you, members of the household. Indeed He is all-laudable, all-glorious.'" (Qur'an 11:73){{enote|{{ia|قالُوا أَ تَعْجَبینَ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ رَحْمَتُ اللَّهِ وَ بَرَكاتُهُ عَلَیكُمْ أَهْلَ الْبَیتِ إِنَّهُ حَمیدٌ مَجیدٌ}}}}

# Verse 12 of [[Sura al-Qasas]] which refers to the people of [[prophet Moses (a)]], "We had forbidden him to be suckled by any nurse since before. So she (Moses' sister) said, 'Shall I show you a household that will take care of him for you and will be his well-wishers?'" (Qur'an 28:12){{enote|{{ia|فَقالَتْ هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلی‏ أَهْلِ بَیتٍ یكْفُلُونَهُ لَكُمْ وَ هُمْ لَهُ ناصِحُونَ}}}}

# Its '''overly general''' usage which includes those who have no kinship with the Prophet (s). Those are the Muslims who have been resolute and sincere in following the Prophet (s). [[Salman al-Farsi]],<ref>Ibn al-Maghazili, ''Manaqib'', vol.1 p.85; Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, ''al-Sawa'iq'', p.281</ref> and [[Abu Dhar]]<ref>Al-Tabrisi, ''Makarim al-akhlaq'', p.459</ref> have been mentioned among the Ahl al-Bayt, as examples of its overly general usage . Also, in some other traditions, other people have also been referred to as Ahl al-Bayt, such as [[Usama b. Zayd]]<ref>Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, ''al-Sawa'iq'', p.281</ref> and Wathila b. Asqa'.<ref>Al-Tabari, ''Tafsir'', vol.22 p.12</ref>

# The '''general usage''' which include all relatives of the Prophet (s), to whom giving [[zakat]] is prohibited.<ref>Al-Naysaburi, ''Sahih'', vol.4 p.1873</ref> In another hadith, [[al-'Abbas b. 'Abd al-Muttalib|al-'Abbas]], the uncle of the Prophet (s) and his children have been Ahl al-Bayt.<ref>Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, ''al-Sawa'iq'', p.281</ref>

# The '''special usage''' of Ahl al-Bayt is about the [[wives of the Prophet (s)]]. Undoubtedly, the Prophet's (s) wives are the Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet (a) according to the lexical and common meaning of the Ahl al-Bayt and here "Bayt" refers to the house, not kinship, or prophethood.

# The very special usage of Ahl al-Bayt in Imams' (a) [[hadith]] refers to those relatives of the Prophet (s) who had special position and their speech and behavior makes the standard and guide to the truth. Imam 'Ali (a) says, "Look at the Ahl al-Bayt (a) of the Prophet (s) and adhere to their direction and follow them, since they never distract you from the path of guidance nor lead you back to ignorance. Do not walk ahead of them lest you may go astray, and do not stay far behind them so that you would perish."<ref>''Nahj al-balagha'', sermon. 97</ref> Imam al-Hasan al-Mujtaba (a) addressed the people of Iraq and said, "We are the Ahl al-Bayt (a) about whom God revealed the al-Tathir verse."<ref>Ibn Kathir, ''Tafsir'', vol.5 p.458</ref> There are many traditions about this.

From the two last meanings, the latter meaning is more common in [[Shi'a]] references and whenever "Ahl al-Bayt" is mentioned without any reference, its very special meaning which is that latter meaning is intended.

[[Hadith al-Thaqalayn]] is also among [[mutawatir]] [frequently narrated] hadiths which has no doubt in its reference<ref>Milani, ''Nafahat'', vol.1</ref> and it proves the infallibility of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) of [[the Prophet (s)]] (in its very special usage), because in this hadith, Ahl al-Bayt (a) have come as al-Thiql al-Asghar [the smaller weight] together with the Qur'an which is al-Thiql al-Akbar [the greater weight] and they have been considered as the two legacies of the Prophet (s) which would never be separate from each other; and if Muslims adhere to them, they will never be misguided. Indeed the noble [[Qur'an]] is the word of God and no error is in it, "falsehood cannot approach it, from before it nor from behind it." (Q 41:42){{enote|{{ia|لا يَأتيهِ الباطِلُ مِن بَينِ يَدَيهِ وَلا مِن خَلفِهِ}}}} Therefore, the Ahl al-Bayt (a) of the Prophet (s) who are with the Qur'an, and adhering to them prevents going astray from the right path.