This is an old revision of this page, as edited by RiskAficionado (talk | contribs) at 12:55, 10 June 2008 (disagree completely with this change which unduly simplifies the issue and incorrectly applies the verses only to them). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 12:55, 10 June 2008 by RiskAficionado (talk | contribs) (disagree completely with this change which unduly simplifies the issue and incorrectly applies the verses only to them)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) | This article or section is in a state of significant expansion or restructuring. You are welcome to assist in its construction by editing it as well. If this article or section has not been edited in several days, please remove this template. If you are the editor who added this template and you are actively editing, please be sure to replace this template with {{in use}} during the active editing session. Click on the link for template parameters to use.
This article was last edited by RiskAficionado (talk | contribs) 16 years ago. (Update timer) |
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
No issues specified. Please specify issues, or remove this template. (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Ahl al-Bayt (Arabic:أهل البيت) is a phrase meaning People of the House, or family. In the Islamic tradition it refers to the household of Muhammad. Muslims venerate Muhammad's household as it is given a special significance in the Qur'an, the Muslim holy scripture, and the hadith, reports recording the words and actions of Muhammad. The word "ahl al-bayt" was used in pre-Islamic times to refer to one's clan, and would be adopted by the ruling family of a tribe. There are differing opinions over who is included within the Islamic scope of this term. In Sunni thought, Muhammad's household includes his wives, his daughter (Fatimah) and grand-children (Hasan and Husayn), as well as his cousin and son-in-law, Ali. Other interpretations include Muhammad's blood-relatives, such as the Banu Hashim or the Banu Muttalib. Shia restrict the household to Muhammad, Fatimah, Ali, Hasan and Husayn. They also consider Fatimah's descendants, whom they venerate as infallible Imams, to be a part of the household.
Ahl al-Bayt family
 | This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
The term "Ahl" signifies the members of a household of a man, including his fellow tribesmen, kin, relatives, wife (or wives), children, and all those who share a family background, religion, housing, city, and country with him. "Bayt" refers to habitation and dwelling, including tents and buildings both. It can also be roughly translated as a household. The "Ahl-Al-Bayt" of any person refers to his family members and all those who live in his house (cf. Mufradat al-Qur'an by Raghib Isfahani; Qamus by Firoozabadi; Majm'a al-Bahrayn). Ahlul Bayt is the polite form of addressing the members and wife of the family.
The word "ahl al-bayt" was used in pre-Islamic times to refer to one's clan, and would be adopted by the ruling family of a tribe.
Ahl al-Bayt in Quran and Hadith
Mention of the Ahl al-Bayt, Muhammad's household, is present in a verse of the Qur'an as follows:
And stay quietly in your houses, and make not a dazzling display, like that of the former Times of Ignorance; and establish regular Prayer, and give regular Charity; and obey Allah and His Messenger. And Allah only wishes to remove all abomination from you, ye members of the Family, and to make you pure and spotless.
— Quran 33:33
While this verse is among the verses which introduce some especial law for Muhammad's wives with feminine plural pronouns, the pronoun reffering to Ahl al-Bayt is in the maculine plurale. The great majority of the hadiths quoted by Sunnis and Shias such as Hadith of the Event of the Cloak tell that prophet introduced Ali, Fatimah, Hasan and Husayn as the people this verse refers to. However according to Sunnis' Hadith the verse also refer to Prophet's wives.
- "The verse of Mawaddah": Say: "No reward do I ask of you for this except the love of those near of kin."Quran 42:23
Al-Tabari in his Tafsir put forwarded three different interpretations and chose that the demand is for love of the faithful for the Prophet to whom they are related by blood ties. The other interpretation is that everybody love his own kin. Shia interpret the verse as asking the Muslims to love Ahl al-Bayt. There is aother related verse which says The Prophet has a greater claim on the faithful than they have on themselves, and his wives are (as) their mothers.Quran 33:6
- And know that out of all the booty that ye may acquire (in war), a fifth share is assigned to Allah,- and to the Messenger, and to near relatives, orphans, the needy, and the wayfarer,- if ye do believe in Allah and in the revelation We sent down to Our servant on the Day of Testing,- the Day of the meeting of the two forces. For Allah hath power over all things.Quran 8:41
and Whatever Allah has restored to His Messenger from the people of the towns, it is for Allah and for the Messenger, and for the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer...Quran 59:7 According to these verses, Quran reserves a part of the fifth of booty, Khums, and a part of the Fay', that is the property of infidels taken by the Muslims without combat to the kin of Muhammad in association with himself.
List of Ahl al-Bayt according to Shia Islam
| This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Part of a series on Shia Islam |
|---|
 |
| Beliefs and practices |
| Days of remembrance |
| History |
| Branches and sects |
| Ahl al-Kisa |
| Holy women |
 Shia Islam portal |
According to the Twelver and Ismaili Shia, the Ahl al-Bayt are infallible, they have the full understanding of Quran and Hadiths and all Muslims must obey their sayings and teachings.
The Twelve Imams of the Twelver Shii are:
- Ali ibn Abu Talib (600–661), also known as Ali, Amir al-Mo'mineen
- Fatimah also Fatimah al-Zahraa (615–632) daughter of Muhammad, she is infallible but not an imam.
- Hasan ibn Ali (625–669), also known as Hasan al Mujtaba
- Husayn ibn Ali (626–680), also known as Husayn al Shaheed, also known as Sah Hüseyin
- Ali ibn Husayn (658–713), also known as Ali Zainul Abideen
- Muhammad ibn Ali (676–743), also known as Muhammad al Baqir
- Jafar ibn Muhammad (703–765), also known as Jafar as Sadiq
- Musa ibn Jafar (745–799), also known as Musa al Kazim
- Ali ibn Musa (765–818), also known as Ali ar Ridha
- Muhammad ibn Ali (810–835), also known as Muhammad al Jawad (Muhammad at Taqi), also known as Taki
- Ali ibn Muhammad (827–868), also known as Ali al-Hadi, also known as Naki
- Hasan ibn Ali (846–874), also known as Hasan al Askari
- Muhammad ibn Hasan (868– disappeared), also known as Hojjat ibn al Hasan, also known as Mahdi
All the above thirteen & Prophet Muhammad are commonly referred to as 14 infallibles or Chahardah Masoomeen (in Persian) & Chauda Masoomeen (in Urdu).
According to the Ismaili Shia, the Imam after Jafar as-Sadiq was Imam Ismail and his descendants up to Imam Shah Karim al-Husayni (Karim Aga Khan IV)—the current Ismaili Imam—make up the Ahl al-Bayt.
Western scholars interpretation
According to Wilferd Madelung
The ahl al-Bayt of Muhammad meant as was consistent with general usage of the term at the time, primarily his blood relations, the same Banu Hashim who were forbidden to receive Sadaqah in order that their state of purity not be soiled, and in second place, the wives.
See also
- Desposyni
- Hashemite
- Muhammad's wives
- Salaf
- Sayyid
- Sherif
- Succession to Muhammad
- The Fourteen Infallibles
External links
- Ahl al-Bayt by Hamid Algar in Encyclopedia Iranica
- Ahl al-Bayt by I. K. A. Howard in Encyclopedia Iranica
Shi'a Links:
Sunni links:
Notes
- ^ Ahl al-Bayt, Enyclopedia of Islam
- Madelung, 1997, pp. 13-17
- See:
- Madelung (1997), pp.14 and 15
- Tahir-ul-Qadri (2006), pp.15-18
- Ordoni (1992), pp.78-83
- Madelung (1997), p.13
- Madelung (1997) p.15
References
- Madelung, Wilferd (1997). The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521646960.
- Ordoni, Abu Muhammad (1992). Fatima the Gracious. Ansariyan Publications. ISBN B000BWQ7N6.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: invalid character (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Tahir-ul-Qadri, Muhammad (2006). Virtues of Sayyedah Fatimah. Minhaj-ul-Quran Publications. ISBN 9693202252.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - Tritton, A.S; Goldziher, I.; Arendonk, C. van. "Ahl al-Bayt". In P.J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs (ed.). Encyclopaedia of Islam Online. Brill Academic Publishers. ISSN 1573-3912.
{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
| Islam topics | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outline of Islam | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
