WHAT DOES AHL-E- BAIT MEAN ?

Ahlul Bait is an Arabic phrase consisting of two separate Arabic Words.

1. Ahl - Generally means (relatives). _ _ _ _ _ 2. Al Bait - means (the House).

Thus the word translates to “ the household” or “the family members”.

Although this is a general meaning, in Islamic terminology it later on came to signify the family members of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam.

This phrase was used in the Glorious Qur’an with the same meaning: Allah (Exalted be He) only wishes to remove all abomination from you, O members of the family ! Sura Al Ahzaab, Verse 33

WHOM DOES THE CLAUSE INCLUDE ?

The term “ Ahlul Bait” includes:

1. Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam.
2. Ali, the Prophet ( Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam’s) son in law and cousin.
3. Hassan and Hussain, the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam’s grandsons.
4. The wives of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam.

In addition to this, it includes all those who were prohibited from receiving charity. These are the progeny of Ali, Aqeel, Jafar and Abbas.

WHAT IS OUR DUTY TOWARDS THEM ?

We must love them for they are the family members of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam and the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam himself loved them. Imam Bukhari narrated through the authority of Abdullah, son of Omar, that Abu Bakr said “ The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam delivered a sermon and said “ I remind you of Allah (Exalted be He) regarding my family members”, and he repeated it thrice.

To hate the members of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam’s family is prohibited and is considered a sign of hypocrisy.

A brief introduction to the famous family members of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam is as under:

Hazarat Ali (Razi Allahu Tala Anhu), the son in law of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam. He is the fourth caliph of Islam. His father’s name was Abu Taleb, the paternal uncle of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam.

His mother’s name was Fatima, the daughter of Asad. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam used to call her, “O my mother !” Upon her death, the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam shrouded her in his own shirt and descended into her grave and prayed for her thus: “Indeed, you were my mother after my (real mother.)

His nickname was Abul Hasan and Abu Turab. The latter was given to him by Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam. Abu Turab means “ the man with dust”, as it is related that the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam once saw him lying on the earth with his naked body and his body was full of dust. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam called him and humorously told him “ Stand up, O man with dust.”

The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam joined him to his family when Ali was child and brought him up carefully. He was the first child to believe in the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam and had the honour of marrying the beloved daughter of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam (Fatima).

He lived for approximately 30 years after the death of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam. It is narrated that he did not join any other wife with Fatima, although he married several times after her death, in order to increase his progeny. He had 27 male and female children, but his progeny did not continue through any of his children except Hazarat Imam Hassan Raziallahu Tala Anhu, Hazarat Imam Hussain Raziallahu Tlala Anhu and Hazarat Zainab Raziallahu Tala Anhaa.

It goes without saying that Abu Talib, the father of Hazarat Ali (Razi Allahu Tala Anhu), vouched for and cared tremendously for the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam. As a paternal uncle, he was the one who had been entrusted with the responsibility of rearing the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam after the death of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam’s father and his grandfather. So the same way the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam cared for his cousin Ali.

Hazarat Ali (Razi Allahu Tala Anhu) was the fourth Caliph of Islam and his reign lasted for 5 years and 6 months. He was assassinated by Abdul Rahman, the son of Muljim. The funeral proceedings were completed secretly by his sons, Imams Hassan, Hussain and Muhammad, the son of Hanafia. He was burried at night like his wife Fatima, to avoid any disturbances. His grave is in Iraq.

FATIMA AZ-ZAHRA

She was the most beloved daughter of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam. She was born in Mecca, two years after the declaration of the Prophethood of Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam. Her Mother was Hazarat Khadeeja, the daughter of Khuwailed. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam loved her immensely and he used to stand up for her whenever she used to come toward him. He would kiss her and offer her his own seat.

HER TITLES

She was given various titles. These include Az-Zahra, the brightest lady, and Al-Batool, the one isolated from earthly pleasures and occupied solely with her creator.

HER MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN

She was married to Imam Hazarat Ali (Razi Allahu Tala Anhu) and was blessed with the birth of Hazarat Imam Hassan in 3 A.H, Hazarat Imam Hussain was born a year later in 4 A.H

HER DEPARTURE FROM WORLD

She died in 11 A.H a mere 6 months after the departure of her father from this world, the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam. She had been told by the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam that she would be the first amongst his family to follow him after his death. She was buried in Al Baqee.

HAZARAT IMAM HASSAN R.A

He was the eldest son of Fatima and Hazarat Ali (Razi Allahu Tala Anhu). He was born in Madina, in the middle of Ramadan 3 A.H. When he was born, the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam called Azaan in his right ear and Iqamah in his left ear. This is how the calling of Azaan in the right ear of a newborn and the Iqamah in the left ear, came to become Sunnah.

On the 7th day, the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam sacrificed for him and shaved his head. Gold equal in weight to the hair of the baby was donated and the boy was named Hassan. This was a unique name amongst the Arabs at that time. Imam Hassan resembled the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam in his facial features.

HIS NICKNAME

He was called Az-Zaki, the pure and Al-Mujtaba, the selected.

HIS PROGENY

He had a number of children as he had four wives. The most famous of his children are :-

1. Zaid 2. Hassan Al Musanna 3. Amr 4. Al Qasim 5. Abdullah 6. Abdur Rahman 7. Al Hassan Al Mosallas 8. Talha
He was also blessed with three daughters:

1. Ummul Hassan 2. Ummul Hussain 3. Fatima. His descendants increased through his sons Hassan Al Musanna and Zaid. He was selected as the caliph of the Muslims after the death of his father. However, he soon abandoned leadership to prevent the needless spilling of Muslim blood. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam had prophesized that Hassan would be the one whom Allah would use to reconcile the difference between two large groups of rival Muslims. He died in 49 .A.H and was buried in Al Baqee.

HAZARAT IMAM HUSSAIN R.A

He is the second grandson of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam and was born on the 5th of Sha’baan, 4 A.H. He lived with his grandfather for six years. He was martyred on Friday or Saturday, 10th Muharram in the course of the battle of Karbala in Iraq. His body is buried in Karbala, his blessed head was taken from place to other place, until it found rest in the city of Asqalan near Palestine. It was kept for the next few centuries.

During the Crusades, the Fatimid successor worried for the safety of the blessed head of Imam Hussain and ordered his Minister, Tala’e bin Ruzaiq to transfer it to Egypt. In his manner, it was transferred to its final resting place, the Imam Hussain mosque in Cairo, where it is still buried.

HIS MARRIAGES

He married a number of times in order to increase his offspring and preserve the family of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam through his descendants. His wish to preserve the Prophetic heritage was fulfilled and it’s prosperity and abundance may still be witnessed today.

HIS SHRINE IN EGYPT

There are three famous shrines, each claiming that his blessed head is buried within. The first of these is in Damascus, where the head was initially buried. The second is Asqalan, where the head was transferred after Damascus. Later it was carried to Cairo and buried between Khan al Khalil and the Al Azhar Mosque.

In light of the above mentioned evidence, we may conclude that the last stage in the process of transferring his head was the transfer to Egypt. This is the site of the Imam Hussain mosque in Cairo.

The famous Arab historian Maqraizee states “Indeed, Hussain’s head was shifted from Asqalan to Cairo on 8th Jumada Al Akhir, 548 A.H. and remained in the Al Zumurrad Palace for a year until the current sanctuary was built. It was finally buried in its current position in 549 A.H.

It is interesting to note that some scholars came across a manuscript written by Ibnul Awraq (D. 572 A.H.). It is currently preserved at the British Museum in London, England and registered under Number 5803 in the Oriental section. The author wrote the book 12 years before his death and states that the head was brought to Cairo from Asqalan in 549 A.H. He includes substantial evidence to enable others to verify his claims. The author himself participated in the transferring ceremony along with other Egyptian delegations.

HIS TOMB AT PRESENT

At present, the Egyptian Govt. has given a due concern to reconstruct the auspicious tomb of Imam Hussain. They have used the latest architectural techniques to preserve the original style and structure of the tomb during efforts to renovate the tomb.

The government has renovated the inner walls ceilings and floor of the tomb. The designs and sculptures have been restored to their former glory. The shrine has been decorated with the finest kinds of marble.