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.

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Heart . Ahl al-Bayt

How does one attach their heart to the household of the Prophet (s)? Can I have practical tips other than Duas to achieve it?

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 4 days ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Other than sending copious blessings on the Prophet (saw) and his family, one of the most important ways of building our relationship with them (as) is to educate ourselves about their stations in the eyes of Allah. This can be achieved through studying the scriptural sources as well as philosophy and theoretical mysticism. Through studying history a person can also gain an appreciation of their actions and efforts in transmitting true Islam to their followers.

May you always be successful

76315

Salah (Prayers) . Ahl al-Bayt . Du'a (Supplication)

My Ahlus Sunnah friends say that if we have difficulties in life it is good to do Salatul Hajat (صلاة الحاجة). Does this prayer, or something similar, exist in the teachings of the Ahlulbayt (a)?

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 3 weeks ago

Assalaamu alaykum

Here are some versions of salat al-hajat from Shi'i sources:

https://www.duas.org/hajaat.htm

https://www.duas.org/hajatsalatsr.htm

Best wishes

75220

Ahl al-Bayt

Can you recommend any online books where I can get proper understanding of the 14 Masumeen?

Mahmood Abu Maryam, Trying to make sense of it all... Answered 3 weeks ago

You will find much material on this site on the topic of the Ahl al-bayt (a).

Check out this link to see a list of books, articles and videos:

https://www.al-islam.org/tags/ahl-al-bayt

73551

Ahl al-Bayt

Is it okay if I work, begin a new construction project, or commence a business deal on the death anniversary of a Ma'soom?

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 1 month ago

It is allowed to do so as far as there is no celebration on the day or night of the martyrdom of any Ma'soom.

It is Makrouh to do any business or worldly work on the day or night of Ashura.

Wassalam.

69364

Illegitimacy . Salat al-Jama’at . Ahl al-Bayt

Is it true that someone of illegitimate birth is not allowed to lead congregational prayers even if he is otherwise qualified to do so, and that he would not be a lover of the Ahle Bait (a)? If so, how is it fair on the person who did not commit any sin?

Islamic Shariah contains rules to organize the Muslim society in

all the dimensions starting from the personal life to the family life

to the social life and to the whole humankind relationship. Rules in

Islam do not mean insult but it means organizing the society in the

best way for the interest of everyone.

Illegitimately born child has got rules in Islam which aim to keep

him/her away from the public criticism. As the child did not commit a sin

and he/she should not pay for the sin of his/her parents.

The illegitimate child in Islam is kept away from leading the public

because that will make him a target of criticism and abuse from people

who will say that he was born from illegitimate act.

Islam also does not want to legitimise any illegitimate act. That is

why the child born from an illegitimate relationship cannot be a

leader in the community because that will encourage some people to go

for illegitimate sexual relationships.

An illegitimate child is not allowed to be Marja’ of Taqleed. He can

be a highly educated scholar but he cannot be Marja’ of Taqleed.

That also is not only for him but also for other respected persons in

the community like our respected ladies.

If a pious and highly educated female Islamic scholar becomes a

Mujtahidah, her own son or brother cannot follow her in Taqleed

because one of the conditions of Marja’ of Taqleed is to be a man.

And also for leading the Jamaat prayers, the congregation prayer, one

of the conditions is that the leader of the congregation prayer must

be a man and must be born from a legitimate marriage.

Islam does not allow us to pray behind pious ladies like our own

mothers. So that does not mean any insult to our mothers but it is part of

organisation which must be followed, and that is similar when we are not allowed to pray behind a person who was born from an illegitimate relationship.

That does not mean that we are punishing him but Allah SWT wants the

organisation of the society to go on to avoid pointing the fingers to

such persons and also a way from legitimising an illegitimate sexual

act which took place.

An illegitimate person can be a lover of the Ahlul Bayt (AS) and will

get his full reward for all his good deeds because it is very clear in

the Holy Qur’an that (لا تزر وازرة وزر أخرى) “No one will carry the burden of

the act of others”. So the child who was born from an illegitimate

relationship will never carry the burden of the sinful acts committed

by his parents. He will get the reward of his good deeds like any

other person.

In fact Islam has kept the respect of such persons to keep them away from

the public leadership and observation so that their life can go on like any other person

and they will get the reward of their good deeds like any other

person.

Wassalam.

70410

Ahl al-Bayt

The first part of the Qur'anic verse 33:33 is clearly referring to the wives of the Prophet (s). Does that not show that they are included in the Ahlul Bayt?

Mahmood Abu Maryam, Trying to make sense of it all... Answered 2 months ago

It is widely known that the Qur'an as recorded in writing is not in the order of its revelation. However, a common misunderstanding is that any single numbered verse would have been revealed at the same time as a single unit. That has not always been the case.

Before looking at 33:33 we can examine the famous verse of 5:3 to see an example of this phenomenon.

You are prohibited carrion, blood, the flesh of swine, and what has been offered to other than Allah, and the animal strangled or beaten to death, and that which dies by falling or is gored to death, and that which is mangled by a beast of prey—barring that which you may purify —and what is sacrificed on stone altars [to idols], and that you should divide by raffling with arrows. All that is transgression. Today the faithless have despaired of your religion. So do not fear them, but fear Me. Today I have perfected your religion for you, and I have completed My blessing upon you, and I have approved Islam as your religion. But should anyone be compelled by hunger, without inclining to sin, then Allah is indeed all-forgiving, all-merciful.

The first and last parts of this verse, discussing food law, were revealed a year or so earlier to the highlighted portion that was revealed in 10 AH. It is commonly called the Ikmal verse, which, as you can see, is actually a part of the Qur'anic verse 5:3 rather than the entirety of it.

So in a similar manner 33:33 is also made up of parts that were not all revealed together.

Stay in your houses and do not flaunt your finery like the former [days of pagan] ignorance. Maintain the prayer and pay the zakat, and obey Allah and His Apostle. Indeed Allah desires to repel all impurity from you, O People of the Household, and purify you with a thorough purification.

The Qur'anic commentaries from all schools of thought in Islam demonstrate that the second part, famously called Ayat al-Tathir, was revealed separately and distinctly from the previous portion of 33:33 and also the subsequent verses.

Just like the mention of food law in 5:3 shows the continuity of the food law theme before and after the completion of religion theme, so also here the use of the all-feminine gender in the grammar of the part of 33:33 before the Ayat al-Tathir and afterwards in 33:34 onwards shows that those sentences were on the theme addressing the wives of the Prophet (s).

The Ayat al-Tathir part, on the other hand, uses the masculine gender that is grammatically appropriate when addressing a set of people that contains at least one male.

The reference to the Ahl al-Bayt in 33:33, therefore, is not a continuation of the address towards the wives of the Prophet (s), but an independent theme addressing 'Ali, Fatima, Hasan, and Husayn, on them all be peace, as the chosen Family of the Prophet Muhammad (s).

Ahl al-Bayt

The first part of the Qur'anic verse 33:33 is clearly referring to the wives of the Prophet (s). Does that not show that they are included in the Ahlul Bayt?

There is also a lengthy treatment of this subject in this section of _The Shi'ite Encyclopedia_ (still after all these years a helpful resource!).

https://www.al-islam.org/shiite-encyclopedia/who-are-ahlul-bayt-part-2

Ahl al-Bayt

The first part of the Qur'anic verse 33:33 is clearly referring to the wives of the Prophet (s). Does that not show that they are included in the Ahlul Bayt?

Allah (SWT) has ordered us to take the meanings of Quran from the Prophet (SAWA) as he is responsible to explain to the people what was been revealed to guide them ( 16:44).

The Prophet himself has clearly stated that the purified persons meant in Quran 33:33 are Ahlul Bayt who are Ali, Fatimah, Hasan and Husain (AS). (Saheeh Muslim, Hadeeth 4450, Tirmithi; Hadeeth 3129 and 3719).
'The Prophet (SAWA) did not allow any of his wives to join the purified who are Ahlul Bayt only. (Tirmithi: Hadeeth 3806)

Wassalam.

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Prophets . Barzakh . Ahl al-Bayt

What is the greatest evidence for Muslims in general that we can seek help from the Imams, Prophets and Awliyah after they have passed away? How are they capable of responding to us from Barzakh in a way that affects us in the real world?

The prophets and their successors are infallible and they are the most humble servants of Allah (SWT). Their life is not limited to this world but continues as we read in Quran ( and don't think that those who were martyred in the way of Allah are dead, nay, they are alive with their Lord getting sustenance. (Sura 3, Verse 169). Prophets and their successors are higher in degree than the martyrs, so, they are alive with Allah.

Every Muslim salutes the Prophet in every Salaah ( ASSALAMU ALAYKA AYYUHAN NABIYYU WA RAHMATULLAH WA BARAKATUH) which means that the Prophet is alive.

We have many authentic Hadeeths that the Prophets are alive in their graves. ( الانبياء أحياء في قبورهم يصلون)

Seeking help from them after their demise is just like seeking help from them before their demise, as Allah (SWT) grants them the ability to help sincere believers by His permission.

Wassalam.

68393

Ahl al-Bayt . Fiqh (Jurisprudence)

Did the Ahl al bayt (as) write any Fiqh books?

Ahlul Bayt (AS) taught their sincere students and encouraged them to write in may important subjects including Fiqh. Ali Ibn Ja'far wrote a book in this subject and many other students of Ahlul Bayt (AS) wrote Fiqh books.

Wassalam.

65956

Grave . Ahl al-Bayt . Flower

When we visit the graves of our relatives or those of the Ahl al-Bayt (as), is it permissible to place flowers on the graves for the purpose of showing love? Are there any traditions about such acts?

Yes, it is allowed, although I am not aware of any traditions recommending it.

However, I think it is better not to use plastic flowers (which you see in some places instead of real flowers) for environmental reasons.

Grave . Ahl al-Bayt . Flower

When we visit the graves of our relatives or those of the Ahl al-Bayt (as), is it permissible to place flowers on the graves for the purpose of showing love? Are there any traditions about such acts?

We do not have any Hadeeth or narration or practice of Ulama to place flowers on the grave. It is a habit from non Muslims. It can be waste of money. The deceased will get no benefit from it. It is good to pay the cost of the flowers to poor and needy on behalf of the deceased.

Wassalam.