Vol-7, Special Issue-Number2-April, 2016, pp938-943 http://www.bipublication.com
Case Report
Ahl al-Bayt's Characteristics from Nahjol Balagheh's viewpoint
Mansour Darvishi Tafvizi1, Navid kalani1,
HosseinKargarJahromi2 and Mohammad Hossein Modabber1*
1Medical Ethics Research Center, Jahrom
University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran
2
Research center for non.Communicable Diseases, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran Corresponding Author: Mohammad HosseinModabber, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, IR Iran. Email: mhm3733@yahoo.com Tel: (+98) 9177923733
ABSTRACT
The biggest challenge between Sunni and Shia has been the issue of Imamate throughout the history. Meanwhile the true meaning of Ahl al-Bayt has always been a disagreement between these two sects. The Shiite scholars claim that the term Ahl al-Bayt is truly applicable to Kasa companions whereas, the Sunni scholars have more than ten various ideas and narrations. Studying NahjolBalagheh viewpoint that is noticed by both Shiite and Sunni scholars can show the way to those who seek the truth. After examining what Imam Ali says about Ahl al-Bayt, we come across characteristics that do not deserve anybody else but Kasa companions and chaste Imams (peace be upon them). Characteristics such as Ahl al-Bayt are the basis of religion and the criteria of truth and justice, the angles are repeatedly sent to them, they are the resources of God on earth, the pillars of science and Imam Mahdi is among them. Neither the whole BaniHashim nor the wives of the prophet (God bless him and his family) possess these features. And of course they themselves didn’t have such a claim and the claim was later alleged by some scholars who tried to create virtues for them.
Key terms:Ahl al-Bayt, NahjolBalagheh, Characteristics of Ahl al-Bayt, Imamate
1. INTRODUCTION
In the area of intra-religious knowledge and discussions of Islam, the biggest challenge among Muslims especially between Sunni and Shia has always been the issue of Imamate. The concept, meaning and the true example of the phrase "Ahl al-Bayt" that exists in holy Quran and narratives, is included in the topics of Imamate. As stated in holy Quran, one of the characteristics of Ahl al-Bayt, according to God's Providence, is that they are free from any sin, guilt, vice, and deviation or in the other words they are innocent. This is a great valuable honor and as stated by Islam's holy prophet the title (Ahl al-Bayt) which is one of the
book's point of view which is called "the brother of Quran" and includes the speech of speaking Quran can lead us to the truth more than ever. 2. Who is the real Ahl al-Bayt?
In answering the above questions, there are 12 ideas that have been offered by Sunni scholars because the Shiite scholars' standpoint is clear. These ideas and sayings are as follows:
1. Only the prophet's wivse and nobody else; this is claimed by Akrameh (10, V. 2, p. 7 and 7, V. 5, p. 195).
2. The prophet's wife and Kasa companions, but not the prophet; this is stated by FakhrRazi and KhatibBagdadi (12, V. 14, p. 183).
3. Only the holy prophet (God bless him and him family) and nobody else (5, p. 141).
4. BaniHashim's men (8, V. 16, p. 310 and 12). 5. Anybody who is relatively or casually related to
the holy prophet (God bless him and him family) (11, p. 21).
6. Anybody who is relatively related to the holy prophet (God bless him and him family) (ibid) 7. The prophet's wives and the whole BaniHashim
(5, ibid).
8. Kasa companions the prophet excluded (13, V. 2, pp. 193-194, and 6, V. 3, 538).
9. All of the Kasa companions (the purified five); this idea has been attributed to Ins IbnMalek, VasilIbnAsghaa, AbuSaeedKhidri, Aisha, and Om al-Salma. Tahavi, Kanji, Shafii, Zahibi and Qumi have insisted on this belief and it's accepted by Mojahid, Ghetadi, Kalbi, Jomhur and most of the commentators. And some of them have stated that it is the commentator's consensus. It has been narrated from Jomhur that the Tathir verse was descended for Kasa companions (11, p. 22).
10. Kasa companions and the inoocent Imams descended from Hussein ibn Ali (peace be upon him); this idea is mentioned in some of the Shiite narrative sources (ibid, 21).
11. The Prophet Mohammad's whole nation (4, V. 4, p. 21).
12. The pious people in Mohammad's nation (8, V. 16, p. 310 and 9, V. 8, p. 356).
3. Ahl al-Bayt's characteristics from NahjolBalagheh's viewpoint
The second Sermon:
»
فﻮﮭﮐ و ﮫﻤﮑﺣ ﻞﺋﻮﻣ و ﮫﻤﻠﻋ ﮫﺒﯿﻋ و هﺮﻣا ﺄﺠﻟ و هﺮﺳ ﻊﺿﻮﻣ ﻢھ مﺎﻗا ﻢﮭﺑ ﮫﻨﯾد لﺎﺒﺟ و ﮫﺒﺘﮐ ﮫﺼﺋاﺮﻓ دﺎﻌﺗرا ﺐھذا و هﺮﮭﻇ
...
سﺎﻘﯾﻻ
ﺪﻤﺤﻣ لﺂﺑ
)
ص
(
ﺪﺣا ﮫﻣﻻا هﺬھ ﻦﻣ
...
ﻦﯿﻘﯿﻟا دﺎﻤﻋ و ﻦﯾﺪﻟا سﺎﺳا ﻢھ
و ﮫﯾﻻﻮﻟا ﻖﺣ ﺺﺋﺎﺼﺧ ﻢﮭﻟ و ﯽﻟﺎﺘﻟا ﻖﺤﻠﯾ ﻢﮭﺑ و ﯽﻟﺎﻐﻟا ءﯽﻔﯾ ﻢﮭﯿﻟا ﮫﺛارﻮﻟا و ﮫﯿﺻﻮﻟا ﻢﮭﯿﻓ
« ) 2 (
؛
The prophet's Ahl al-Bayt are the house of divine secrets, the havens of God's verdicts, the treasures of divine science, the sources of Islamic laws, the guardians of holy books, and the firm pillars of God's religion. God stabilized the religion by them and removed the anxiety and quivering among them… . Nobody can be compared to the prophet's household…. The prophet's Ahl al-Bayt is the basis of religion and the steady pillars of certainty. Whoever outruns them must return to them and whoever drops behind must catch up because the right of vellayat is allocated to them and they are the heir of prophesy.
Noticing the sentences above, we come to know the characteristics of Ahl al-Bayt:
1. Aware of the prophet's secrets (هﺮﺳ ﻊﺿﻮﻣ ﻢھ); 2. Supporters of prophesy (هﺮﻣا ﺄﺠﻟ);
3. They are the containers of prophet's science )
ﮫﺒﯿﻋ ﮫﻤﻠﻋ
( ;
4. The source of Islam's laws (ﮫﻤﻠﻋ ﻞﺋﻮﻣ); 5. They cover the prophets' books (ﮫﺒﺘﮐ فﻮﮭﮐ); 6. They are the stable mountains of God's religion
)
ﮫﻨﯾد لﺎﺒﺟ
( ;
7. The prophet stabilized the religion by them and changed their anxiety and quivering into repose and calmness; it means they keep the balance in religion دﺎﻌﺗرا ﺐھذا و هﺮﮭﻇ ءﺎﻨﺤﻧا مﺎﻗا ﻢﮭﺑ)
ﮫﺼﺋاﺮﻓ
( ;
8. Nobody in the nation can be compared to them )
ﺪﺣا ﮫﻣﻻا هﺬھ ﻦﻣ ﮫﻟآ و ﮫﯿﻠﻋ ﷲا ﯽﻠﺻ ﺪﻤﺤﻣ لﺂﺑ سﺎﻘﯾﻻ
( ;
9. They are the basic pillars of religion and the establishers of certainty دﺎﻤﻋ و ﻦﯾﺪﻟا سﺎﺳا ﻢھ)
ﻦﯿﻘﯿﻟا
( ;
10. The extremists must return to them and those lagging behind must catch up with them.
)
ﯽﻟﺎﺘﻟا ﻖﺤﻠﯾ ﻢﮭﺑ و ﯽﻟﺎﻐﻟا ءﯽﻔﯾ ﻢﮭﯿﻟا
11. Velayat is their dedicated and specific right )
ﮫﯾﻻﻮﻟا ﻖﺣ ﺺﺋﺎﺼﺧ ﻢﮭﻟ
( ;
12. They are the heirs of prophet and his leadership (ﮫﺛارﻮﻟا و ﮫﯿﺻﻮﻟا ﻢﮭﯿﻓ).
The forth Sermon:
»
ﻦﻋ ﻢﺗﺮﺠﻓا ﺎﻨﺑ و ءﺎﯿﻠﻌﻟا هورذ ﻢﺘﻤﻨﺴﺗ و ءﺎﻤﻠﻈﻟا ﯽﻓ ﻢﺘﯾﺪﺘھا ﺎﻨﺑ راﺮﺴﻟا
... « (ibid) .
You were saved from the darkness of ignorance and were leaded by us Ahl al-Bayt. The dawn of your shinned by our light.
1. They are the saviors of nation from the darkness of aberration (ءﺎﻤﻠﻈﻟا ﯽﻓ ﻢﺘﯾﺪھا ﺎﻨﺑ);
2. The luminous sun of the nation's prosperity ﺎﻨﺑ)
راﺮﺴﻟا ﻦﻋ ﻢﺗﺮﺠﻓا
( .
The eighty-seventh Sermon:
»
قﺪﺼﻟا ﮫﻨﺴﻟا و ﻦﯾﺪﻟا مﻼﻋا و ﻖﺤﻟا ﮫﻣزا ﻢھ
.. « (ibid) .
They (Ahl al-Bayt) are the rulers of truth and certitude and the leaders of religion and right languages.
1. They are the rulers of truth and certitude ﮫﻣزا ﻢھ)
ﻖﺤﻟا
( ;
2. They are the leaders of religion (ﻦﯾﺪﻟا مﻼﻋا و); 3. They are the language and the right
interpretation of religion (قﺪﺼﻟا ﮫﻨﺴﻟاو ).
The ninety-third Sermon:
»
هﺎﻋﺪﺑ ﺎﮭﯿﻓ ﺎﻨﺴﻟ و هﺎﺠﻨﻤﺑ ﺎﮭﻨﻣ ﺖﯿﺒﻟا ﻞھا ﻦﺤﻧ
... « (ibid) .
We, the prophet's Ahl al-Bayt, are secure from those seductions and do not bid people to them. They don't get trapped in seductions (like that of BaniUmayya) and do not invite people to them
)
ﺎﮭﻨﻣ ،ﺖﯿﺒﻟا ﻞھا ﻦﺤﻧ
)
ﻦﺘﻔﻟا یا
(
هﺎﻋﺪﺑ ﺎﮭﯿﻓ ﺎﻨﺴﻟ و هﺎﺠﻨﻤﺑ
.(
The ninety-seventh Sermon:
»
ﻦﻠﻓ ﻢھﺮﺛا اﻮﻌﺒﺗا و ﻢﮭﺘﻤﺳ اﻮﻣﺰﻟﺎﻓ ﻢﮑﯿﺒﻧ ﺖﯿﺑ ﻞھا اوﺮﻈﻧا نا و اوﺪﺒﻟﺎﻓ اوﺪﺒﻟ نﺎﻓ یدر ﯽﻓ ﻢﮐوﺪﯿﻌﯾ ﻦﻟ و یﺪھ ﻦﻣ ﻢﮐﻮﺟﺮﺨﯾ
اﻮﮑﻠﮭﺘﻓ ﻢﮭﻨﻋ اوﺮﺧﺄﺘﺗﻻ و اﻮﻠﻀﺘﻓ ﻢھﻮﻘﺒﺴﺗﻻ و اﻮﻀﮭﻧﺎﻓ اﻮﻀﮭﻧ
«
(ibid) . People! Look at your prophet's Ahl al-Bayt, walk the way they do, step on their footprints, they never distract you from the way of guidance and lead you back to the death and debasement. If they remained silent, you too keep silent. If they stood up, you too stand up. Do not outrun them, or you
will get lost and do not lag behind them, or you will be doomed.
1. They never distract you from the way of guidance and lead you back to the death and debasement;
2. They are the criteria of truth and justice. The one-hundredth sermon:
»
ﺪﻤﺤﻣ لآ ﻞﺜﻣ نا ﻻا
)
ص
(
اذا ءﺎﻤﺴﻟا مﻮﺠﻧ ﻞﺜﻤﮐ ﻊﻠﻃ ﻢﺠﻧ یﻮﺧ
ﻢﺘﻨﮐ ﺎﻣ ﻢﮐارا و ﻊﺋﺎﻨﺼﻟا ﻢﮑﯿﻓ ﷲا ﻦﻣ ﺖﻠﻣﺎﮑﺗﺪﻗ ﻢﮑﻧﺎﮑﻓ ﻢﺠﻧ نﻮﻠﻣﺄﺗ
« (ibid) .
Be aware! Mohammad's dynasty is like the stars in the sky. If a star sets, another one will rise. It is as if in the light of the prophet's household you were totally blessed and you got what you wished for.Mahdi of nation, who fulfills the humanity's wishes, is from them.
The one hundred and ninth Sermon:
»
ندﺎﻌﻣ و ﮫﮑﺋﻼﻤﻟا ﻒﻠﺘﺨﻣ و ﮫﻟﺎﺳﺮﻟا ﻂﺤﻣ و هﻮﺒﻨﻟا هﺮﺠﺷ ﻦﺤﻧ و ﺎﻧوﺪﻋ و ﮫﻤﺣﺮﻟا ﺮﻈﺘﻨﯾ ﺎﻨﺒﺤﻣ و ﺎﻧﺮﺻﺎﻧ ﻢﮑﺤﻟا ﻊﯿﺑﺎﻨﯾ و ﻢﻠﻌﻟا
ﻐﺒﻣ هﻮﻄﺴﻟا ﺮﻈﺘﻨﯾ ﺎﻨﻀ
« (ibid) .
We are from the green tree of prophesy and rose from where the angles ply, we are the mines of knowledge and the springs of divine wisdom. Our friends and companions are waiting for God's mercy and our enemies are waiting for God's curse and penalty.
1. They are the purified tree of prophesy; 2. They are station of prophesy;
3. The angles are often descended to them; 4. They are the mines of knowledge; 5. They are the springs of divine wisdom;
6. Their friends are blessed and their enemies are cursed.
The one hundred and twentieth Sermon: »
ﺮﻣﻻا ءﺎﯿﺿ و ﻢﮑﺤﻟا باﻮﺑا ـ ﺖﯿﺒﻟا ﻞھا ـ ﺎﻧﺪﻨﻋو
« (ibid) .
The gates of knowledge and the light of humanity's affairs are with us, the prophet's Ahl al-Bayt.
1. They are the gates of wisdom and doors of cognition;
2. The affairs of God's servants are clear to them. The one hundred and forty-fourth Sermon:
»
ﺎﯿﻐﺑ و ﺎﺑﺬﮐ ،ﺎﻨﻧود ﻢﻠﻌﻟا ﯽﻓ نﻮﺨﺳاﺮﻟا ﻢﮭﻧا اﻮﻤﻋز ﻦﯾﺬﻟا ﻦﯾا ﺎﻨﯿﻠﻋ
Where are those who thought they are aware of Quran's knowledge? This a claim based on lie anf oppression. God elevated us, the prophet's Ahl al-Bayt, and disgraced them....
The pillars of science, praised by God in His book, are them.
The one hundred and forty-seventh Sermon: » ...
ﺮﺒﺨﯾ ﻦﯾﺬﻟا ﻢھ ،ﻞﮭﺠﻟا تﻮﻣ و ﻢﻠﻌﻟا ﺶﯿﻋ ﻢﮭﻧﺎﻓ ﻦﻋ ﻢﮭﻤﮑﺣ ﻢﮐ
نﻮﻔﻟﺎﺨﯾﻻ ﻢﮭﻨﻃﺎﺑ ﻦﻋ ﻢھﺮھﺎﻇ و ﻢﮭﻘﻄﻨﻣ ﻦﻋ ﻢﮭﺘﻤﺻ و ﻢﮭﻤﻠﻋ ﻖﻃﺎﻧ ﺖﻣﺎﺻ و قدﺎﺻ ﺪھﺎﺷ ﻢﮭﻨﯿﺑ ﻮﮭﻓ ،ﮫﯿﻓ نﻮﻔﻠﺘﺨﯾﻻ و ﻦﯾﺪﻟا
«
(ibid) . The prophet's Ahl al-Bayt ate the code of vitalizing knowledge and the secret of destroying folly and ignorance. Their wisdom reveals their knowledge; their silence indicates their logic; and their appearance shows their inside. They neither object to God's religion nor create any disputes in it. God's religion to them is a sincere testimony and a speaking silence.
1. They are the symbol of life and vivification of science and knowledge;
2. They know the secret of how to destroy ignorance and folly;
3. Their wisdom shows you their science; their silence displays their logic; and their outward demonstrates their inward;
4. They have neither any objections to the laws and sentences of religion nor any disagreements about them with each other; 5. God's religion to them is a sincere testimony
and a speaking silence.
The one hundred and fifty-fourth Sermon: »
ﻟا و بﺎﺤﺻﻻا و رﺎﻌﺸﻟا ﻦﺤﻧ تﻮﯿﺒﻟا ﯽﺗﺆﺗﻻ و باﻮﺑﻻا و ﮫﻧﺰﺨ
ﺎﻗرﺎﺳ ﯽﻤﺳ ﺎﮭﺑاﻮﺑا ﺮﯿﻏ ﻦﻣ ﺎھﺎﺗا ﻦﻤﻓ ﺎﮭﺑاﻮﺑا ﻦﻣ ﻻا
.
ﻢﺋاﺮﮐ ﻢﮭﯿﻓ
ﻦﻤﺣﺮﻟا زﻮﻨﮐ ﻢھ و نآﺮﻘﻟا
... « (ibid) .
People! We, the prophet's Ahl al-Bayt, are like the clothes he's wearing, his true companions, the treasurers of science and the revelationlearning’s and the gates to enter them. And nobody can enter these houses from any other ways but the gates and those who broke into the houses are called thieves. People! About the prophet's Ahl al-Bayt, some precious verses in Quran were descended
saying they are the treasures of compassionate God's knowledge.
1. They are the confidents of God's secrets; 2. They are the prophet's true and genuine
companions;
3. They are the treasures and gates of prophet's science;
4. Some precious verses about the prophet's Ahl al-Bayt were descended in Quran;
5. They are the treasures of compassionate God on the earth.
The one hundred and ninetieth Sermon: » ...
و ﮫﺑر ﻖﺣ ﮫﻓﺮﻌﻣ ﯽﻠﻋ ﻮھ و ﮫﺷاﺮﻓ ﯽﻠﻋ ﻢﮑﻨﻣ تﺎﻣ ﻦﻣ ﮫﻧﺎﻓ ﮫﺘﯿﺑ ﻞھا و ﮫﻟﻮﺳر ﻖﺣ اﺪﯿﮭﺷ تﺎﻣ
« (ibid) .
Anyone who dies in their deathbed having a good knowledge of God, His prophet (may him and his family be blessed), and the prophet's Ahl al-Bayt is a martyr and will be rewarded by God.
Anybody who knows the right and truth is a martyr when they pass away.
The two hundred and twenty-fourth Sermon: » ...
ﻞھا ﺎﻨﯿﻠﻋ مﺮﺤﻣ ﮏﻟﺬﻓ ؟ﮫﻗﺪﺻ ما هﺎﮐز ما ﮫﻠﺻا ﺖﻠﻘﻓ ؟ﺖﯿﺒﻟا
... « (ibid) .
I told AshaatIbnGhayss: Is it a gift or is it zakat and charity? Since the former is forbidden to us. Giving them zakat and charity or collecting zakat and charity for them is forbidden and religiously unlawful.
The two hundred and thirty-third Sermon: »
ﺖﻟّﺪﮭﺗ ﺎﻨﯿﻠﻋ و ﮫﻗوﺮﻋ ﺖّﺒﺸﻨﺗ ﺎﻨﯿﻓ و مﻼﮑﻟا ءاﺮﻣﻻ ﺎﻧا و ﮫﻧﻮﺼﻏ
« (ibid) .
Surely we are the emirs of speech, the speech tree is rooted among us and its branches have shadowed on us.
They are the rulers of speech and the speech tree is rooted among them and its branches have shadowed on them.
The two hundred and thirty-ninth Sermon: »
ﻢﮭﻤﻠﻋ ﻦﻋ ﻢﮭﻤﻠﺣ ﻢﮐﺮﺒﺨﯾ ،ﻞﮭﺠﻟا تﻮﻣ و ﻢﻠﻌﻟا ﺶﯿﻋ ﻢھ
...
ﻢھ و
ﮫﺗﺎﻋر و ﺮﯿﺜﮐ ﻢﻠﻌﻟا هاور نﺎﻓ ﮫﯾاور و عﺎﻤﺳ ﻞﻘﻋﻻ ﮫﯾﺎﻋر و ﮫﯾﺎﻋ ﻞﯿﻠﻗ
« (ibid) .
The prophet's Ahl al-Bayt is the cause of maintaining knowledge and demolishing ignorance. Their patience indicates their knowledge…. They are the firm pillars of Islam and people's haven. Through them, the truth was taken back to its just position and the vanity was driven away and repulsed and the vanity tongue was eradicated. The prophet's Ahl al-Bayt understood and learned the religion and acted according to it. They neither heard it nor narrated it because the narrators of knowledge are too many, but its keepers and guardians are few. 1. They are the cause of knowledge survival and
ignorance death;
2. Their patience represents the amount of their knowledge;
3. They are the pillars of Islam;
4. They are the secure havens for people;
5. Thanks to them, the truth was taken back to its just position and the vanity was uprooted and the vanity tongue was eradicated;
6. They have totally and comprehensively understood the religion; an understanding accompanied by action not just hearing and narrating.
The ninth Sermon:
»
ﷲا لﻮﺳر نﺎﮐو
)
ص
(
ﻢﺠﺣا و سﺄﺒﻟا ﺮﻤﺣا اذا ﻞھا مﺪﻗ سﺎﻨﻟا
ﻦﺑ هﺪﯿﺒﻋ ﻞﺘﻘﻓ ﮫﻨﺳﻻا و فﻮﯿﺴﻟا ﺮﺣ ﮫﺑﺎﺤﺻا ﻢﮭﺑ ﯽﻗﻮﻓ ﮫﺘﯿﺑ ﮫﺗﻮﻣ مﻮﯾ ﺮﻔﻌﺟ ﻞﺘﻗو ﺪﺣا مﻮﯾ هﺰﻤﺣ ﻞﺘﻗ و رﺪﺑ مﻮﯾ ثرﺎﺤﻟا
... «
(ibid) . Whenever there was a war and the enemies attacked, the prophet of Islam (may God bless him and his family) dispatched his own Ahl al-Bayt to the battlefield before other soldiers in order to protect his fellows and companions from the harm of swords and spears. For instance ObeydIbnHarith was killed in Badr battle, Hamzih in Ohod battle, and Jaafar in Muteh battle were killed. At the peak of disasters and difficulties of fighting for God's cause, Ahl al-Bayt was always present at the frontlines of battles;
ﺮﻈﻨﺘﯾ ﻦﻣ ﻢﮭﻨﻣ و ﮫﺒﺤﻧ ﯽﻀﻗ ﻦﻣ ﻢﮭﻨﻤﻓ
.
The Points:
After studying and reflecting on the issues and characteristics attributed to Ahl al-Bayt, mentioned by Imam Ali (peace be upon him) in NahjolBalagheh, we found the following points and results:
In nearly all cases, the characteristics attributed to Ahl al-Bayt merely include Kasa companions and not any other one. Characteristics such as: they cannot be comparable to any other person in the nation; they maintain the balance in religion; they are the basis of religion and the poles of belief and certainty; they are the criteria of truth and justice; angles are repeatedly sent to them; they are the mines of science and the springs of wisdom; they are the gates of science, learnings, and reason; they are the only pillars of science; they are the symbols of life of science and death of ignorance; they are the treasures of the prophets' sciences; some precious verses about them in holy Quran have been descended; they are the treasures and resources of God on earth; Mahdi of nation is one of them and ….
The above mentioned features is only and only worthy of Kasa companions and the innocent Imams. Any other speech but what was told above is a groundless unreasonable claim. These characteristics are so transcendental and sublime that no one else can possess them.
Can we say that the whole BaniHashim, from the youngest to the oldest or at least their men, can be included in the circle of Ahl al-Bayt as described in NahjolBalagheh? Can it be claimed thet from the point of view of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) the prophet's wives are also included in Ahl al-Bayt? Are the prophet's wives (all of them) are qualified? Have the verses in TahrimSura not been descended to blame and reproach some of the prophet's wives? And did some of them not stand against their contemporary Imam and cause bloodshed among the Muslims?
for us Ahl al-Bayt, is forbidden and religiously unlawful. In other few cases, by Ahl al-Bayt, Imam Ali meant the family closely related to the prophet (may God bless him and his family) such as the sentences in the ninth sermon stating that at the highest point of hardship in battlefields, the prophet sent his Ahl al-Bayt to the frontline and whereby some of them like Hamzih (the prophet's uncle), ObeydIbnHarith and JaafarIbnAboutaleb (the prophet's cousins) were killed in battles.
4. CONCLUSION:
The term "Ahl Bayt" or "the prophet's Ahl al-Bayt" stands for "the prophet's household and family". Although this term has the capacity to include the relative and causative relatives of Islamic prophet especially his wives, in most cases in NahjolBalagheh, it has been described in a way that it merely includes some specific people (Kasa companions or the innocent Imams). Therefore, the term does not stand for the prophet's wives and the rest of BaniHashim tribe, let alone the rest of the Muslims.
A serious question is if the prophet's wives were in the circle of Ahl al-Bayt, would they not cite it? Would some of them such as Aisha not take its advantage in reaching their goals? But, there is no record in history that any one of them ever had made such a claim.
AllamaAmini and a Sunni scholar were talking. The Sunni scholar asked about the Purification verse and the people this verse in Quran was about. Was it about the prophet's wives or anybody else? AllamaAmini responded his question with another question whose gist of meaning is this: Had the Purification verse been about the prophet's wives and they had the least share of it, Aisha would have quitted it? Wouldn't she have written it on the forehead of her camel (Askar), the one she rode in Jamal battle encouraging the Muslims against Imam Ali (peace be upon him)? The Sunni scholar answered yes (11, p. 78).
The fact is that for the Muslims in the early Islam, the true and real meaning of Ahl al-Bayt was quite
clear and the scholars of the sects later fanatically caused doubt and skepticism in what the term truly signified.
REFERENCES 1. The holy Quran. 2. NahjolBalagheh.
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