Ahl al-Bayt (a): Difference between revisions

'''Ahl al-Bayt (a)''' (Arabic: {{iarabic|أهل البیت}}) means members of a household or a family. In Islamic terminology it applied for some members of the family of the [[Holy Prophet (s)]]. The term Ahl al-Bayt have appeared in hadiths in different senses, however, in Shi'a literature, it is used to refer to [[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). The Holy Qur'an has used this term in the [[al-Tathir verse|al-Tathir]] and [[al-Mawadda verse|al-Mawadda]] verses. The Holy Prophet (s) has stated the high position of Ahl al-Bayt in Islam in such hadiths as [[Hadith al-Safina]] and [[Hadith al-Thaqalayn]].

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)]]; The famous lexicographer, Ibn Hayyan, has defined Ahl al-Bayt as :"The family of a man: his wife and closely related people to him." This title has a special meaning among Muslims.<ref>Al-Raghib, ''al-Mufradat'', p.29</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 family 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}}}}

# Verse 33 of [[Sura al-Ahzab]] which is known as the [[al-Tathir verse]], where God addresses [[the Prophet (s)]] and his family, "Indeed Allah desires to repel all impurity from you, O Ahl al-Bayt, and purify you with a thorough purification." (Qur'an 33:33){{enote|{{ia|إِنَّما یریدُ اللَّهُ لِیذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَیتِ وَ یطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهیراً}}}}

Ahl al-Bayt (a) is mentioned in the [[hadith]]s of [[the Prophet (s)]] with four different usages:

# 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 by the Holy Prophet (s). 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 special usage of that is about the family of [[the Prophet (s)]] as Imam 'Ali (a) said, "whenever the war with enemies of [[Islam]] became difficult and people avoided fighting, the Prophet (s) would send his Ahl al-Bayt (a) to battle, so that [['Ubayda b. Harith]] was martyred in the [[Battle of Badr]], [[Hamza]] was martyred in the [[Battle of Uhud]], and [[Ja'far al-Tayyar]] was martyred in the [[Battle of Mu'ta]]."<ref>''Nahj al-balagha'', letter. 9</ref>

The word "{{ia|إنما}}" ["Innama"] in this verse [al-Tathir] and the narrations about the [[occasion of revelation|cause of its revelation]] shows that this [being free from all impurities] is among the merits of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) and it is unique to them.

[[Hadith al-Thaqalayn]] is also among [[mutawatir]] [frequently narrated] hadiths which there is 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 precious 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 [[Holy 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 positioned alongside the Qur'an, are free from error and adhering to them prevents going astray from the right path.

According to some [[Sunni]] scholars, there is no doubt in the moral and practical infallibility of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) who include [[lady Fatima (a)]] and the twelve Imams (a) of Shi'a, and only an ignorant person who rejects [[Islam]] would have doubt in it's truth. Instead, what is disagreed upon is their infallibility in knowledge;<ref>Al-Hafiz Muhammad, ''al-Nibras'', p.532</ref> however because the hadith al-Thaqalayn regards adherence to the Ahl al-Bayt (a) in religion as keeping one safe from ignorance and going astray, their Infallibility in knowledge can easily be understood, per the Shia view.

From the hadith al-Thaqalayn, superiority of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) over others can easily be understood, because [[the Prophet (s)]] put them beside the [[Qur'an]], called the Qur'an as "al-Thiql al-Akbar" and Ahl al-Bayt (a) as "al-Thiql al-Asghar" and never put another person beside the Qur'an. Therefore, the Ahl al-Bayt (a) are superior to others the same way as the Holy Qur'an is superior over other books.

The al-Mubahala verse implies the superiority of [[Ahl al-Kisa']] over other [[sahaba|companion]]s of the Prophet (s) as well; since, according to this verse, [[God]] has given the Prophet (s) mission to choose some people from among children, Muslim men and women to accompany him in [[Mubahala]] with the Christians of [[Najran]]; and the Prophet (s) chose [[Imam 'Ali (a)]], [[Lady Fatima (a)]] and [[al-Hasan (a)]] and [[al-Husayn (a)]].

There is no doubt that those who are chosen for Mubahala have great position in faith and closeness to God.<ref>Al-Hilli, ''Nahj al-haqq'', p.179,215-216; Al-Fadil al-Miqdad, ''al-Lawami' al-ilahiyya'', p.515; Al-Muzaffar, ''Dala'il al-sidq'', vol.2 p.132-133</ref>

Superiority of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) can also be understood from other hadiths and [[verse]]s such as the [[al-Mawadda verse]] (42:23), [[hadith al-Safina]], [[hadith Bab al-Hitta]], [[hadith al-Nujum]], etc.

Most of Shi'as believe that infallible imams are superior to previous prophets except [[the Prophet Muhammad (s)]]. Many [[hadiths]] support this belief. The Qur'an considers [[imamate]] superior to [[prophethood]],<ref>[[Q 2]]:124</ref> as [[Ibrahim (a)]] first was a prophet and then after [[The Trials of Ibrahim (a) Verse|some trials]], God assigned him as Imam.

Hadith al-Thaqalayn implies the authority of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) in knowledge, because [[the Prophet (s)]] asked Muslims to adhere to the [[Qur'an]] and his Ahl al-Bayt (a) so that they do not go astray.

The first and most essential knowledge reference and authority of Muslims is the glorious Qur'an and after that the tradition of the Prophet (s). Regarding this, the role of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) is that they are interpreters of the Qur'an, guardians and transmitters of the tradition of the Prophet (s). Surely, the Prophet (s) explained a great part of the facts and teachings of the Qur'an for people, but he (s) left another part the conditions for explaining which were not provided or it was more appropriate for them to be explained later for his [[infallible]] Ahl al-Bayt (a).<ref>Kashif al-Ghita', ''Asl al-Shi'a'', p.162</ref> Thus, full guardianship of what the Prophet (s) had explained, and explaining what was not explained was given to the Ahl al-Bayt (a).

The [[Sunni]] scholar, Mulla 'Ali al-Qari, said, "Ahl al-Bayt [people of the house] are usually more knowledgeable about the owner of the house and his state; therefore, the Ahl al-Bayt (a) are the most knowledgeable ones to the conduct of the Prophet (s), his manner, his rules and wisdom and that is why they deserve to stand beside the Book of God Almighty."<ref>Al-Qari, ''al-Mirqat'', vol.5 p.600</ref>

Also, Ibn Hajar al-Haytami said, "The Prophet (s) called the Qur'an and 'Itra [Ahl al-Bayt (a)] as al-thiql [weight]; since, a valuable and important thing is called thiql and the Qur'an and the Ahl al-Bayt (a), because both of them are mines of divine knowledge, great secrets and wisdom and religious rulings; therefore, adherence to them and learning knowledge from them has been encouraged and emphasized. This emphasis about the Ahl al-Bayt (a) is about those who know the Book of God and the conduct of the Prophet (s) and they are those who will never separate from the Qur'an until the [[Day of Judgment]]."<ref>Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, ''al-Sawa'iq'', p.189</ref>

In the al-Tathir verse ([[Qur'an: 33|Qur'an 33]]:33), the glorious [[Qur'an]] introduces the Ahl al-Bayt (a) as those whom [[God]] has desired to repel all impurity from and also has mentioned that sublime facts and teachings hidden in the Qur'an cannot be found except by those purified from all impurity. Just the same way that the physical purity is required for touching the text of the Qur'an, purity of the soul from vices is required for understanding the teachings of the Qur'an and the more delicate and deeper the teachings of the Qur'an are, the higher purity of souls are needed to understand them and the greatest of them require [[infallibility]].<ref>Tabataba'i, ''al-Mizan'', vol.19 p.137</ref> Therefore, teachings of the Qur'an are not fully and deeply known by anyone other than the Prophet (s) and the infallible ones (a) and thus to learn them, one needs to refer to them.

The necessity of following the Ahl al-Bayt (a) can be inferred from the [[hadith al-Thaqalayn]], because in this hadith, salvation of the Muslim world from ignorance is bound to adherence to the Book of God and the Ahl al-Bayt (a) of [[the Prophet (s)]]. Adherence to the Qur'an is in fact knowing its instructions and following them. Adherence to the Ahl al-Bayt (a) is the same; i.e. first their orders need to be learned and then they need to be obeyed.{{cn}}

In the Uli l-Amr verse, it is made obligatory for anyone to obey [[God]], His messenger, and Uli l-Amr, "O you who have faith! Obey Allah and obey the Apostle and Uli l-Amr (those vested with authority) among you." ([[Qur'an: 4|Qur'an 4]]:59) Since, Uli l-Amr is added to "the Apostle" without repetition of the verb "ati'u" ({{iarabic|أطیعوا}}, obey), it can be understood that the criteria for obligation of obeying Uli l-Amr are the same as the criteria for obligation of obeying the Prophet (s); and obeying the Prophet (s) is because of his God-given leadership and his [[infallibility]] and if he (s) was not infallible, obeying him would not become obligatory without any conditions. The same justification is true about Uli l-Amr, and because of their infallibility, their obedience has been mentioned as absolutely obligatory.{{cn}}

Therefore, the Uli l-Amr verse implies the infallibility of those who take the leadership of the Islamic society after [[the Prophet (s)]] and also the obligation of their obedience.

The hadith al-Safina implies the obligation of following the Ahl al-Bayt (a) as well, since in this hadith, the Prophet (s) has likened his Ahl al-Bayt (a) to the Arc of Noah (a) which anyone who entered it rescued and anyone refused was perished.

the love of the Prophet's (s) relatives is mentioned as the reward for his mission. Qurba [{{iarabic|قربی}}, relatives) in this verse refers to those about whom the [[al-Tathir verse]] has been revealed.{{cn}}

On the other hand, Ahl al-Bayt (a) are infallible, thus imamate and leadership of the Islamic world after [[the Prophet (s)]] is upon them. Moreover, obeying the Ahl al-Bayt (a) is obligatory. The reasons of the obligation of following the Ahl al-Bayt (a) are absolute and includes all obligations and prohibitions of the lives of Muslims and does not make any difference between ritual, economic, political and cultural issues. For example, in the Uli l-Amr verse, obeying the Uli l-Amr has the very same position and wide usage which obeying the Prophet (s) has. As it was explained, Uli l-Amr are infallible as this quality only belongs to the Ahl al-Bayt (a) of the Prophet (s).

In another hadith, after mentioning that the Prophet (s) introduced the Qur'an and the Ahl al-Bayt (a) as the two important legacies he left for the Islamic world, it is mentioned that, "the earth will never be empty of the Ahl al-Bayt (a), otherwise, it will become furious over its dwellers." Then he (s) said "O God! You will never leave the earth empty from Your "hujjas" [proof]. They are few in number and great in position before You."<ref>Al-Qunduzi, ''Yanabi' al-mawadda'', p.27</ref> Therefore, Ahl al-Bayt (a) are the hujjas [proofs] of God on earth, and imamate and leadership belong to them.

Another evidence for the fact that hadith al-Thaqalayn implies the [[imamate]] of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) is that Imam 'Ali (a) has referred to it as proof and evidence in different occasions, one of which was on the [[Day of Shawra]].<ref>Ibn Maghazili, ''Manaqib'', p.112</ref>

* The material for this article is mainly taken from [[:fa:اهل البیت علیهم السلام|اهل البیت علیهم السلام]] in Farsi Wikishia.