Sadd al-Abwab: Difference between revisions

'''Sadd al-Abwab''' (Arabic:{{iarabic| سدّ الابواب}}, lit: Closing the Doors) refers to the event that the [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] order that all doors which were opened to [[Masjid al-Nabi]] be closed  except for the door of [['Ali b. Abi Talib]]'s (a) house. This [[hadith]] is frequently narrated ([[Mutawatir]]) in [[Shi'a]] and [[Sunni]] sources. The event of Sadd al-Abwab is regarded as one of the [[:Category:Excellences of Imam Ali (a)|excellences of Imam Ali (a)]]. He referred to this event in the [[six-member council]] for assigning caliph after [['Umar b. al-Khattab]].

Sadd means closing, and Abwāb means doors; then Sadd al-Abwab means "closing of doors."

[[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] planned to build a mosque in [[Medina]] when he entered the city, which later was called [[Masjid al-Nabawi]] (The mosque of Prophet Muhammad (s)). Afterwards a number of houses were built around the mosque for Prophet Muhammad (s) and a number of his wives. Then several [[companions]] of Prophet Muhammad (s) built their houses around the mosque. All these houses had an exit door and an extra door leading to this mosque. They used it for entering Masjid al-Nabawi in [[praying]] time. However, God ordered Prophet Muhammad (s) to close all of the doors of houses which could be opened to the Masjid, except for [['Ali b. Abi Talib]]'s house.

[[Ibn al-Bitriq]] has mentioned eleven hadiths from different sources on this incident in the twentieth chapter named ''Fi sadd al-abwab min al-masjid illa bab 'Ali'' (about the closing of the doors from the mosque except the door of 'Ali), of his book ''al-Umda''. [[Al-Qanduzi]] has mentioned numerous hadiths with different sources in the seventeenth chapter of the book ''[[Yanabi' al-mawadda]]'' called "Fi sadd al-abwab min al-masjid illa bab 'Ali". [[Ibn 'Asakir]] has allocated thirty pages of his book, ''Tarjumat Imam 'Ali b. Abi Talib'' on this hadith.

:# Marrying [[Lady Fatima (a)]],

In addition, according to a narration from [['Abd Allah b. 'Umar]]: "'Ali b. Abi Talib (a) was given three privileges, which I strongly desired: 1) He was married to Lady Fatima (a), and then they were the parents of [[Hasan (a)]] and [[Husayn (a)]] 2) In the battle of Khaybar, Prophet Muhammad (s) said: "I will give the flag of Muslims' army to a person who is loved by God and his Prophet." and it was given to 'Ali b. Abi Talib (a); 3) God ordered to close all the doors of houses leading to Masjid al-Nabi except for 'Ali's house."

A [[six-member council]] was held after the death of [['Umar]] in order to choose his successor. In the meeting 'Ali b. Abi Talib (a) mentioned the incident of Sadd al-Abwab and the others acknowledged it: "Is there anyone who is regarded privileged by the Holy book of God, so as Prophet Muhammad (s) closed all the doors of the [[Immigrants]]' houses leading to Masjid al-Nabi, but mine?"