Ahl al-Bayt (a): Difference between revisions

In Arabic lexical references, the word "ahl" ({{ia|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, the 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 Fāris, ''Muʿjam maqāyīs al-lugha'', vol. 1, p. 93; Fayyūmī, ''al-Miṣbāḥ al-munīr'', vol. 1, p. 37; Ibn Manẓūr, ''Lisān al-ʿArab'', 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>Rāghib al-Iṣfahānī, ''al-Mufradāt'', p. 29.</ref>  

The word "{{ia|آل}}" (Āl) has also been "{{ia|أهل}}" (ahl) the letter "ha" ({{ia|ه}}) in it has first turned into hamza and then into alif.<ref>Ibn Manẓūr, ''Lisān al-ʿArab'', 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>Rāghib al-Iṣfahānī, ''al-Mufradāt'', p. 30.</ref>