Ahl al-Bayt

Ahl al-Bayt (أهل البيت‎, Persian: اهلِ بیت‎), also Āl al-Bayt or Ahlul Bayt, is a phrase meaning, literally, "People of the House" or "Family of the House". Within the Islamic tradition, the term refers to the family of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.In Shia Islam the Ahl al-Bayt are central to Islam and interpreters of the Quran and Sunnah. Shias believe they are successors of Muhammad and consist of Muhammad, Fatimah, Ali, Hasan, and Husayn (known collectively as the Ahl al-Kisa, "people of the mantle") and the rest of the Imams from The Fourteen Infallibles.

58606

Ahl al-Bayt . Prophet Muhammad . Mawlid

If there is no evidence that our beloved Prophet (PBUH) celebrated the birthday of his grandsons, does it imply that we should also avoid celebrating birthdays of our twelve Imams?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 6 years ago

It is authentic in both Sunni and Shia books that the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) celebrated the birth of his grand children, Hasan, Husain and Zainab.

Celebrating the birth anniversary of the twelve Imams is highly recommended as it reminds us with the great teachings of Islam for which the whole life of the twelve Imams was dedicated and sacrificed.

Wassalam.

57034

Sin . Ahl al-Bayt . Disbelievers

What is the difference in the position of a disbeliever and a Muslim who prays and remembers Allah (swt) and the Ahlul Bayt (as) but commits major sins publicly? Will both of them have the same end?

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 6 years ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. The problem with many questions such as this is that they are not usually framed realistically. Is it really realistic for someone who does not believe in the religion of Islam to perform all of his or her actions according to its dictates? If that is not possible or unrealistic then this question is completely hypothetical. God will ultimately judge every person, but the value of being in the fold of Islam is such that in this hypothetical situation the Muslim will have a better end as the Prophet (saw) will intercede for the major sinners in his community, if they have the capacity to be interceded for.

May you always be successful

May you always be successful.

57053

Hijab . Sayyida Zaynab bt. 'Ali . Ahl al-Bayt

Who specifically took off the veil of Lady Zainab (s.a) and did these men’s wives not wear hijab? Or was it simply to humiliate the Ahlulbayt (a.s)?

Despite all the atrocities committed by the enemies of the Ahlul Bayt (AS) in
Karbala, Allah (SWT) has protected all the members of the family of
the Ahlul Bayt (AS) so that no one can harm their sanctity and
dignity.

This fact was clearly mentioned by Imam Husain (AS) in his last will
to his sister Lady Zainab (SA) when he said that Allah (SWT) will
definitely protect all of you. ان الله حافظكن

The enemies looted whatever they could loot from the tents and even from
the children, but no one could touch any of the noble women from the
Ahlul Bayt (AS). The compulsory Hijab of all the noble women of the
Ahlul Bayt (AS) was always preserved intact.

Some books mention of the veil being snatched away from the noble
women of the Ahlul Bayt (AS). Even if it proves authentic, it does not
mean at all that it was from that garment which formed part of the
compulsory Hijab, but can mean the extra cloth over and above the
compulsory Hijab.

Allah (SWT) did not allow the enemies to be able to expose any noble
women from the Ahlul Bayt (AS) even for a moment without the
compulsory Hijab

Wassalaam.

Hijab . Sayyida Zaynab bt. 'Ali . Ahl al-Bayt

Who specifically took off the veil of Lady Zainab (s.a) and did these men’s wives not wear hijab? Or was it simply to humiliate the Ahlulbayt (a.s)?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answered 6 years ago

There is no clear evidence that this occurred and, in any case, no name of a specific person is mentioned in historical sources. It is simply something that is customarily mentioned.

The text of the sermon by Zaynab (A) to Yazid refers to the captives being bare-faced (i.e. removing face veils), which may have been done as a sort of humiliation because in that time noblewomen would have customarily covered their faces whereas slave women would have been bare-faced. This exposure and portrayal, for instance, lead someone in the court to try to purchase one of the young female captives as a slave-companion although he was stopped from doing so.

God knows best.

55341

Ahl al-Bayt . Shi'a . Sunni . Abu Talib b. Abd al-Muttalib

What line of argument do the Ahlul Sunnah use to support the belief that Abu Talib (ra) died as a disbeliever? How do the Shi'a respond to it?

Sunni view:
(a) He never openly converted
(b) Some quotations from Sunni hadith and history books and interpretations of Qur'an.

Shi'i view:

(a) He was obviously a clear supporter of the Prophet and couldn't have done that if he were openly a Muslim.

(b) Hadith and quotations such as the marriage khutbah he is said to have recited for the Prophet (S) and Khadijah

In my view, the important thing is to maintain respect for him as a human being and not make this into a purely sectarian issue. Often, certain issues are hotly debated between Sunnis and Shi'is not for their own sake, but because they are closet debates aiming to prove "I'm right and you're wrong", which is more about ego or group identity than the actual issue at hand.

Further details can found rather copiously online!

52557

Ahl al-Bayt . Meaning . Salawat

Considering Imam Ali as head of the Ahlul Bayt is part of our belief but not explicitly in the Durood. Does this mean he was part of the Aal Muhammad (s)?

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. In the durood (the salawat) Aal Muhammad includes Imam Ali (as) as well as Bibi Fatimah (as) and the other Imams (as).

May you always be successful.

50017

Hadith . Ahl al-Bayt . Caliphate . Quraysh . Banu Hashim . Prophet Muhammad

In the hadith on the 12 caliphs by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), why isn’t the word "imam" used and why does it say they will be from Quraysh rather than Bani Hashim?

Rebecca Masterton, Dr Rebecca Masterton graduated with a BA in Japanese Language and Literature; an MA in Comparative East Asian and African Literature and a PhD in Islamic literature of West Africa. She has been... Answer updated 6 years ago

There does not appear to be much in-depth history on the circumstances of these narrations and who transmitted them. By the time that they were narrated in Bukhari and Muslim the concept of 'Imam' did exist explicitly and was known in wider circles. It certainly would not have been in the interests of Bukhari to cite a narration that mentioned the word 'Imam' and 'Bani Hashim', since that would have clearly overturned the forced legitimacy of Abu Bakr and 'Umar's caliphates. In particular 'Umar held that that the successorship belonged to 'the people' (meaning Quraysh). The Uthmaniyya, being of Quraysh, therefore held that the caliphate belonged to them. One can surmise that perhaps there may have been narrations in circulation predicting twelve Imams, but that the wording had been 'adjusted' to mask the true implication, if not to 'redirect' the meaning of the narration to suit political purposes. It really needs an expert like Suleiman Ali Mourad (who has analysed the 'transferral of authorship' between the Ahl al-Bayt (as) and various figures in the Sufi tradition, i.e. the attribution to Sufi figures of sayings of the Ahl al-Bayt) to do a proper textual, historical analysis of these narrations.

55336

Hadith . Imam al-Mahdi . Ahl al-Bayt

What is the status of the hadith of the Prophet (s), that is being circulated online, that says 'there will be 12 Mahdi's after the 12 Imams'? Does it exist in any book, and is it authentic?

The circulated narration is not authentic at all and it contradicts with the authentic narrations from the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) that his successors will be twelve only.

Those who are behind circulating this false narration are trying to prove a claim of a person in Basra Iraq who is been financed by enemies of Shia to create a rift between the Shia. He claims that he is the son of the Imam Al-Mahdi (AS) while people of his town know his father and family and confirm that he is a liar.

More details about this liar and his false claims and his financiers are available on many Shia websites.

Wassalam.

Hadith . Imam al-Mahdi . Ahl al-Bayt

What is the status of the hadith of the Prophet (s), that is being circulated online, that says 'there will be 12 Mahdi's after the 12 Imams'? Does it exist in any book, and is it authentic?

Yes, the hadith exists. However, some people use it to promote movements or groups that are active today, and that is not correct. The hadith is speaking about the time AFTER the reappearance of the 12th Imam (i.e. the Mahdi), an event that will be accompanied by major signs. We will know when it happens, and it has not happened yet!

The hadith is mentioned in Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 53, p. 148, no. 6 and 7. One says that after the Mahdi (A) appears, the other Imams will be brought back to life and live and die, and then after them, 12 "mahdis". The other just speaks of 12 "mahdis" after the "mahdi".

Since this hadith is about something predicted for the end of time, it isn't possible to say whether it is correct or not. There is consensus on certain general predictions for the end of time - such as the return of the Mahdi, the raj'ah or return to life of those of most intense faith and most intense wickedness, and some major signs. However, details like this may or may not be accurate.

55180

Sunni . Ahl al-Bayt . Shi'a

Sunni's in general have no hatred for the Ahlulbayt (AS) but they do not follow them as the Shi'a do. Does that mean they are condemned to hell?

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 6 years ago

Bismihi ta'ala

This is a theological topic that is vast and extensive. Is it possible for a non-Shi'a to enter heaven.

In general, Shi'a Ulama do not condemn all non-Shi'ah to Hell. There might be some people who were not informed in any way about the true path of Islam and the true path of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.).

If there is someone who hates Ahlul Bayt (a.s.), and shows hostility to them, they are certainly condemned to Hell.

If there is someone who knows the true status of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.), and out of stubbornity refuses to follow the truth, then of course their judgment will be harsh.

The important thing to mention in this topic is that as Muslims we must stay away from the Takfeeri mentality, and treat all Muslims equally in this Dunya. As for what happens in the Akhirah, that is with Allah ta'ala.

And Allah knows best.

Sunni . Ahl al-Bayt . Shi'a

Sunni's in general have no hatred for the Ahlulbayt (AS) but they do not follow them as the Shi'a do. Does that mean they are condemned to hell?

No, they are not condemned to hell.

55179

Ahl al-Bayt . Prophet Muhammad . Hijab . Mother of Believers

Is it true that the wives of the Prophet (s) covered their faces? Do we have any proof that the ladies of Ahlulbayt (a) also used to cover their faces?

There is no evidence that the wives of the Prophet (S) or Fatimah al-Zahra (A) covered their faces.

Face-covering (niqab) became common among Muslims around or after the time of the caliphate of Imam 'Ali in Kufa, and so it seems reasonable that his daughters and those who came after them covered their faces since this was a social norm then at that time, at least for women of certain social classes.

(This is of course based on historical records we have of that time, and God knows best.)