AHLUL BAYT
INTRODUCTION
Allah's mercy is boundless, His love for humanity vast, and His care for His subjects unlimited. For these reasons, Allah wants to direct humanity to
what is best, and to guide it in such a way that people will greatly benefit during their earthly life and after they die.
Allah is the Supreme Being, exalted is His majesty, limitless is His capability. His Will is always fulfilled. This is mentioned for a reason. Because of
Allah's love of humanity and His boundless mercy, He willed something very special for the good of all people, at all times.
What Allah willed was to choose from among people a man of the highest caliber and the best qualities. This man became
Allah's Messenger, or Prophet. Allah gave the details of His guidance to His Messenger who taught the people all about Allah's
religion.
This happened from time to time
throughout history. During the long course of humanity numerous Prophets appeared to guide their communities according to the Revelations they received from
Allah. The last Prophet was Muhammad (pbuh).
WHY IS MUHAMMAD THE LAST PROPHET?
was Allah's last Messenger as Allah has stated in His Holy Book, the .
Muhammad (pbuh) was chosen by Allah to give the final and most detailed and complete Divine Message to mankind. It is the message of Islam, which is the
Message of Allah in its entirety, full detail, and unchangeable finality.
Muhammad (pbuh) is the ideal to mankind, Allah's Choice, Al-Mustafa; he is the perfection, the Messenger of Allah whose responsibility was the heaviest of any that ever fell on a man's
shoulders.
The Message of Islam is so detailed, encompassing, and penetrating that it took 23 years to deliver. It was delivered through steadfast and hard work,
requiring a tremendous degree of patience and understanding, and a brilliance of approach that is unsurpassed. During these 23 years, as Islam penetrated deeper
and deeper into the hearts of the people, the close ones to Muhammad (pbuh) became an ever growing body of learned scholars of Islam. These people are called the Companions of the Prophet.
WHO ARE THE COMPANIONS?
The Companions of the Prophet learned Islam directly from Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The Companions were numerous, and many of them were of luminous
personalities. Their hearts were dignified with the beauty of Islam, and they were esteemed by the people because of their vast Islamic knowledge. They gained
their Islamic knowledge from the Chosen One, Al-Mustafa, Muhammad (pbuh) , and many of them were transformed into dynamic Muslims, of superior qualities, who
dedicated their lives to Islam and worked for it.
Of these distinguished people, some were extremely close to Muhammad (pbuh), but the closest of all was
HOW IS THAT?
As we study the life of Imam Ali we see that from his early childhood he was constantly in the shadow and footsteps of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). Ali
was the beloved cousin of the Prophet and held a share of affection and tender feeling in the heart of the Prophet that was enormous. This was not because of
kinship, no, not at all. It was because of the supreme qualities of goodness, virtue, and purity that Ali was endowed with.
As Ali grew into manhood, he witnessed the growth of Islam and its penetration into the hearts of people. Not only did he take part in almost every
encounter against the disbelievers, but he also was involved in every trial and struggle the early Muslims endured. Ali was brought up in the blessed house of
Muhammad (pbuh) and the continuity of this unique and wonderful closeness continued through adulthood. Ali also had the singular honor of marrying the
marvelous daughter of the Messenger of Allah, Fatima .
We have mentioned some highlights of the life of Imam Ali because they open a window on his unique relationship with Muhammad.
The most demanding aim in the heart of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was to please Allah Almighty and deliver Allah's Message of Islam to the people. To do so
Muhammad's generosity knew no limits, and he taught and educated very many about Islam. His heart was always open and ready to give in a noble way to anyone
seeking the knowledge of Islam.
The Companions of the Prophet (pbuh) benefited the most from this fountain of knowledge. And as Allah's Revelations to Muhammad (pbuh) continued, and as the
knowledge of Islamic injunctions expanded, Allah's Messenger (pbuh) spared no effort in educating the people, especially the Companions. Not only did he
enlighten their hearts with Islam, but he constantly oversaw their actions and deeds, and he was always ready to give decisions regardless of how numerous or
difficult they were.
While we know that people of our times vary in the degree of their intelligence and understanding, in their comprehension and capacities, the same applies
to people at the time of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), including the Companions. Naturally, this was quite obvious to the keen mind of the Prophet and to his
sharp and penetrating insight.
This very point, then, brings us to a fundamental fact: the way in which Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) viewed Ali, and the position Ali occupied in the heart of
Muhammad (pbuh).
WHAT DID MUHAMMAD SEE IN ALI?
Muhammad (pbuh) saw in Ali numerous good qualities assembled in one man.
►
He saw in Ali a nobility of character of the highest level.
►
He saw in Ali goodness of heart, true virtue, excellence and righteousness of an unparalleled degree.
►
He saw in Ali honesty in its strictest sense and integrity of the highest caliber.
►
Muhammad (pbuh) also saw in Ali a penetrating intelligence, a distinctive aptitude, and an agile mind.
►
He saw in Ali a man with an intense faith, an eagerness to produce in the cause of Allah, and a courage that was beyond belief.
►
Muhammad (pbuh) saw in Ali a towering personality, a man of the loftiest nobility, a
unique mind, whose dedication to Islam was unsurpassed.
One may ask, when all these qualities are combined in one person, and this person is almost always in the presence of Muhammad (pbuh), how would Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) feel about imparting to this person all there is to know about Islam? And how would he feel about granting to him all there is about the religion
of Allah in its entirety, all the knowledge to be taught to the future generations, if the time had not yet come to teach it during the lifetime of the Prophet?
The answer is self evident and clear,
The answer is easily visible and obvious,
The answer is a decided Yes.
THIS IS THE ESSENCE, THEN!
It is Ali's qualities then that were the very points which the Prophet valued above all, and he knew of Ali's future influence for the benefit of
Islam. Therefore, of all people around him Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) saw in Ali the very man who was to know all there was about the knowledge of Islam, who was to
carry the torch of Islam forward, and who could shoulder the responsibility of teaching Islam to the people. There had to be
a
continuity of teaching, a prolonged, constant imparting of knowledge aimed at educating the people in the perfect ways and modes of
Islam.
This was the feeling, and this was to be done not only during the life of Imam Ali, but also by his descendants, with Imam Al-Hasan, Imam Al-Husain, down the
line to the last one, the twelfth Imam. This was to be done over a period of three centuries, sufficient time to impart the knowledge of Islam to the people, in
a constant manner, so that the treasure of Islamic knowledge penetrated firmly and in a solid manner the minds and hearts of the entire Muslim society.
A society needs a long time before it can digest detailed religious knowledge in a meaningful manner. This is especially true when it comes to a religion
such as Islam, which reaches out and touches upon every aspect of life, in virtually every detail.
We can easily see then that the Teachings of teachings of Muhammad (pbuh) and his true Sunnah were taught by Ahlul Bayt. These teachings were the authentic
way of teaching Islam. The teaching of Ahlul Bayt, therefore, is the core of Islam, the exact one, the genuine one, the authentic one. The Way of
Muhammad (pbuh) is razor sharp in its clarity and clear in its direction; it is the way Ahlul Bayt guarded it and also imparted it to the Islamic Ummah.
Chain of
Teaching
Islam |
ALLAH
GOD
|
HOLY QURAN
(Divine Revelation) |
MUHAMMAD (pbuh)
Allah's Messenger |
AHLUL BAYT
(The twelve Imams) |
ISLAMIC TEACHINGS
and recommendations |
BUT WHO ARE AHLUL BAYT?
Ahlul Bayt is a loving endearing name mentioned in the Quran. In the Holy Quran, Allah (swt) refers fondly to Ahlul Bayt, and He guarantees their sanctity.
He says in
Surah 33: Ayah 33:
إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ
عَنكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا
VERILY VERILY, ALLAH WANTS TO KEEP AWAY IMPURITY FROM YOU, O' AHLUL BAYT, AND SANCTIFY YOU
IN A PERFECT WAY.
This is truly the greatest honor a person can ever get; this is the pinnacle of eminence a person can ever reach. This honor is unique because Allah (swt)
takes it upon Himself to sanctify and purify Ahlul Bayt in the perfect way.
► But this does not come as an arbitrary choice, nor for any unimportant reason. Allah's decision was made because Allah Almighty
knew the potential of every member of Ahlul Bayt and the role they were going to play for Islam in future generations. He knew well how each of them was going to
contribute to Islam, and how essential he was for that role.
► Thus, Allah Almighty had taken it upon Himself to sanctify these people, to bless them with His heavenly grace, and to safeguard
them in such a unique way.
► Ahlul Bayt are:
1. Prophet
Muhammad himself,
2. Imam Ali
(a.s.), the greatest supporter of Islam,
3. Fatima,
the Prophet's daughter and Imam Ali's wife (a.s.), and
4. the
Designated Imams, Al-Hasan, Al-Husain, and the nine Imams after Al-Husain.
Ahlul
Bayt are the essential elements of Islam after the Prophet (pbuh) and they were given the greatest role and honor of teaching Islam to all the people, in exactly
the same way Islam was taught by Prophet Muhammad himself. That is the reason why the teaching of Ahlul Bayt is the authentic way, and that is why it is the
essence of Islamic perception and knowledge.
ØImam Ali, his wife Fatima, and their two sons, Al-Hasan and Al-Husain, lived across the street from the house of Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh). Whenever the Prophet (pbuh) went to their house or passed by it he used to affectionately say:
MAY THE BLESSINGS AND PEACE
BE WITH YOU,
O' AHLUL BAYT
ØMuhammad (pbuh) loved them dearly, and he had the most tender feelings for them. He was foretold about them by Allah, so he was
fully informed not only about their future works for Islam but also about their unparalleled sacrifices for Islam. Muhammad (pbuh) therefore knew of the many,
many painful experiences Ahlul Bayt were going to endure, which made him ever so conscious of the weighty task ahead of them.
ØAhlul
Bayt are the very ones who are called Aali Muhammad .
They are the very ones whom every Muslim mentions in each of his or her prayers, every day, and of whom they say: Oh Lord, bless Muhammad and bless Aali Muhammad.
ØAhlul Bayt are the very ones who occupy the loftiest position in Islam after Muhammad (pbuh) because of their vital contributions
for the cause of Islam, not only by Imam Ali, but by each of the eleven Imams after him. The task ahead of them was enormous and the odds against them were very
great, and the sacrifices they made were very painful. The sacrifices were such that almost everyone of them was either killed or poisoned, as we shall see
later.
WHAT DO WE CALL THEIR WAY?
To be specific, their teachings is called the Shi'i Ja'fari way. The term Shi'a has, to some extent, lost its specificity. Through the years the term Shi'a
(or the dedicated followers of Muhammad's teaching as conveyed by Ahlul Bayt) became loosely used, thereby it lost its specificity as originally used.
The Way of Ahlul Bayt is the Ja'fari way, which
means the teachings Muhammad (pbuh) by way of the twelve Imams. Sometimes it is called the Imamiyah
Way or Ja'fari
school of thought in Islam.
The one who follows the teaching of Ahlul Bayt will have followed the teachings of Islam as taught by the Prophet himself, Muhammad (pbuh).
HOW SHALL I VIEW ISLAM, THEN?
Whatever pertains to Islam can come under five separate categories:
-
The knowledge about the Creator,
-
The knowledge about the person who informs us about the Creator,
-
The knowledge and application of ways of worshipping the Creator,
-
Performance of deeds of goodness, and refraining from deeds of evil, and
-
The belief in the Hereafter, and execution of religious injunctions.
Deen means "religion," a way of life according to the Divine Guidelines. Deen is the duties and obligations which we have to our Creator too. Islam is a
"religion" (deen) which is comprehensive and detailed, and touches upon every aspect of life. It is not simply a theology, or theoretical knowledge just to be
learned.
Islam consists of Beliefs, Actions, and Ethics. Under Beliefs
come subjects of the belief in the Oneness of Allah, in the Prophet, the Quran as a Divine Book, faith in the Day of Judgment, etc. Under Actions
comes the legislation of Salat (Prayer), Saum (Fasting), Zakat, Haj, Jihad, etc.
Faith without action is incomplete, and actions without faith are baseless.
Faith consists of certain fundamentals and acts of worship. There are five fundamentals and eight tenets.
|
USOOL AL-DEEN
Basics of Faith
|
USOOL AL-DEEN
(Basics of Faith)
|
1. Divine Oneness (Tawhid) |
| 2. Divine Justice (Adl) |
| 3. Prophethood (Nubu’wah) |
| 4. Imamah (Belief in Imams) |
| 5. Hereafter (Ma’ad) |
|
FUROO'
AL-DEEN
The Acts of Worship |
FUROO' AL-DEEN
Acts of Worship
(the Rituals) |
1. Salat (Prayer) |
| 2. Saum (of Ramadhan) (Fasting) |
| 3. Zakat (Poor-due) |
| 4. Khums (Fifth) |
| 5. Haj (Pilgrimage) |
| 6. Jihad (Striving for Islam) |
| 7. Al Amru Bil Ma'ruf (Enjoining to the good) |
| 8. Al Nahiyu unn Al Munkar (Forbidding evil) |
AL-SHAHAADA
THE DECLARATION
أشهد أنْ لا إله إلا
الله
وأشهد أنَّ محمداً رسول
الله
I declare that there is no Deity except Allah
and I declare that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah
AL-SHAHAADA
(Declaration of Faith)
A person declares himself to have become Muslim by saying the Shahaada. The Shahaada consists of two short phrases, but they are of profoundly deep
meaning. The Shahaada represents the admittance of belief in Allah and His Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh); thus, in an indirect way the
Shahaada represents allegiance to Islam in all its instructions and recommendations. A person who says the shahaada and means what he or she says will
have become a Muslim.
The first phrase declares the belief in Allah (God) as the only Deity to be recognized and worshipped:
I DECLARE THAT THERE IS NO DEITY EXCEPT ALLAH
The second phrase declares the belief in the Prophethood of Muhammad (pbuh), as the Messenger of Allah, and as the one chosen by Allah to deliver the Message
of Islam:
I DECLARE THAT MUHAMMAD IS THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH
When a person declares his or her Shahaada and means what he or she says will have admitted and accepted Islam in his heart, and he or she will have
submitted to its teachings and acted upon them. By accepting Islam, such a person will be a Muslim and the better he or she acts upon the guidelines of Islam the
better Muslim he becomes.
THE FIRST PHRASE
When we say:
I DECLARE THAT THERE IS NO DEITY EXCEPT ALLAH
we mean that Allah (God) is the only Deity we worship. Allah is One and the Divine Oneness is the basis of our belief. When we say the phrase we admit
that:
►Allah exists,
►Allah is One,
►Allah is Just,
►Allah is the Creator, and
►Allah is Supreme.
Allah describes Himself as follows: (Surah 2: Ayah 163)
وَإِلَـهُكُمْ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ لاَّ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ
الرَّحْمَنُ الرَّحِيمُ
AND YOUR LORD IS ONE
NO DEITY IS THERE EXCEPT HE,
MOST GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL
Allah also says in Surah 112: Ayah 1-4:
| SAY HE IS ALLAH THE ONE |
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ |
| ALLAH, WHO IS ESSENTIAL TO ALL |
اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ |
| HE BEGETS NOT, NOR IS HE BEGOTTEN |
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ |
| AND THERE IS NONE COMPARABLE TO HIM. |
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ |
By saying the first part of the Shahaada a person will have accepted all the Attributes of Allah, one by one.
THE SECOND PHRASE
When a person says with true intent:
I DECLARE THAT MUHAMMAD IS THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH
he declares the acceptance of the Prophethood of Muhammad (pbuh) and will follow the guidance of the Holy Quran and the sayings of the Prophet (Hadith) .
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had delivered Allah's Message whole and complete. Allah's words were gradually revealed to Muhammad (pbuh) by the Angel Jubra'eel
piece by piece, over a period of 23 years, and comprised the Holy Quran .
WHAT DOES THE SHAHAADA TELL US?
The acceptance and the declaration of the Shahaada mean the acceptance of Islam and the teachings of Islam. This means the acceptance of:
-
the fundamentals of belief,
-
the acts of worship, and
-
the directives and recommendations of the Holy Quran and Hadith.
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THE ISLAMIC FAITH
|
A. Basics of Faith: |
1.Divine Oneness (Tawhid)
2.Divine Justice (Adl)
3.Prophethood (Nubu’wah)
4.Imamah (Belief in Imams)
5.Hereafter (Ma’ad)
|
|
|
B. Acts of Worship
|
1.Salat (Prayer)
2.Saum (Fasting)
3.Zakat (Poor-due)
4.Khums (Fifth)
5.Haj (Pilgrimage)
6.Jihad (Striving for Islam)
7.Al Amru Bil Ma'ruf (Enjoining what is good)
8.Al Nahiyu unn Al Munkar (Forbidding what is evil)
|
|
C. Muslim Character: |
1.Hadith (Muhammad (pbuh) and Imams)
2.Ah'kaam (Rules and Regulations)
3.Ij'tihaad (Religious study and
Deduction)
|