Virtues of the Ahl al-Bayt: A means unto the revival of the dead soul

All praise is to Allah, the Lord Of The Creation. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Owner of the Day of Recompense. Who blessed us being the Ummah of His Beloved Rasool Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam. Who sanctified our hearts with the Love and Affection towards His Beloved Rasool Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam. Who blessed us with the most precious treasure of Iman (Faith). Countless Salutations, Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon the Cream of the Creation; Mercy for all Worlds; Seal of the Prophets Sayyiduna wa Mawlana MuHammadur Rasoolullah Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam, His Blessed Parents, His entire Family, His Progeny, His Companions and all those who Follow Him!!

Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala says in the Holy Qur'an: 
 

قل لا أسألكم عليه أجرا إلا المودة في القربى
say (O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him) "I do not ask any fee from you upon this, except the love between close ones" [Surah al-Shoora, Verse 23]

Sa'eed bin Mansur in his Sunan narrates from Sa'eed bin Jubayr Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu, He said:
 

قربى رسول الله صلى الله تعالىٰ عليه وسلم
In this verse close ones refers to the relatives of the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam. [Jami' al-Bayan, Vol. 11, Page 144 | Zakhair al-'Uqba, Page 33, Durr al-Manthur, Vol. 5, Page 701 | Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 3, Page 288]

This reveals that love for the Muslim relatives of the beloved Prophet through either blood or marriage is obligatory (Fard) upon each and every Muslim, neglect of which will prompt questioning by Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala.

Following are the few out of many sacred and blessed Ahadith containing the virtues of the Ahl al-Bait al-Kiraam Alaihim ar-Ridwan and thereby reveal the rank of the beloved Prophet's Ahl al-Bait and relatives.

Virtues of the Ahl al-Bait al-Kiraam
— may Allah be well pleased with them all —
 

 

♥ Imam Ahmad; Tirmidhi who denoted it sahih; Nisa'i and Haakim narrated it from Muttalib bin Rabee'a that the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam said to Sayyiduna Abbas Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu

والله لا يدخل قلب امرئ مسلم إيمان، حتى يحبكم لله ولقرابتي
'By Allah, Imaan (faith) will not enter the heart of a Muslim until he loves you for Allah and for my relationship.' [Musnad Ahmad, Vol. 1, Page 342, Hadith 1780 | Sunan Tirmidhi, Vol. 5, Page 610, Hadith 3758 | Sunan Nisa'i, Vol. 5, Page 51, Hadith 8175 | Mustadrak al-Hakim, Vol. 4, Page 85, Hadith 6960]

The Love of the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam and his family is proven from this hadith because without it no Imaan is acceptable. Loving them because of Allah means that the love be based on faith and which one must have for another Muslim because of his faith whilst love because of their relationship with the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam means that the love be based on their relationship with the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam.  This reveals that one should have double love for the Muslim relatives of the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam; firsly because of their Imaan and secondly because of their relationship with the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam.

♥ Muslim, Tirmidhi and Nisai narrated from Zaid bin Arqam that the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam said

أذكركم الله في اهل بيتي
'I remind you of Allah (to fear Him) about my Ahl al-Bait.' [Sahih Muslim, Vol. 4, Page 36, Hadith 1837 | Musnad Ahmad, Vol. 5, Page 492, Hadith 18780 | Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, Vol. 4, Page 62, Hadith 2357]

♥ Tirmidhi, denoting it Hasan, and Tabarani narrated from Ibn Abbas the the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam said
 

أحبوا الله لم يغذوكم به من نعمه وأحبوني لحب الله وأحبوا أهل بيتي لحبي
'Love Allah because of what He gave you from His blessings; Love me because of the Love of Allah and Love my Ahl al-Bait because of my Love.' [Sunan Tirmidhi, Vol. 5, Page 622, Hadith 3789 | Mustadrak al-Hakim, Vol. 3, Page 162, Hadith 4716 | Tabarani in Al-Kabir, Vol. 3, Page 46, Hadith 2638 | Bayhaqi in Shau'ab al-Iman, Vol. 2, Page 13, Hadith 1378]

The reason and causes of love have been described in this hadith. Love of Allah should be because He is our Creator and Nourisher; Love for the Prophet should be because he is Allah's Prophet and Beloved and Love for the Prophet's family should be because it is his family.

♥ Tabarani and Haakim narrated from Ibn Abbaas that the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam said
 

يا ابن عبد المطلب: اني سالت الله لكم تلاثاً ان يثبت قلوبكم وان يعلم جاهلكم ويهدي ضالكم وسالته ان يجعلكم جودآء نجدآء رحمآء فلو ان رجلاً صفن بين الركن والمقام فصلى وصام ثم مات وهو مبغض لاهل بيت محمد دخل النار
'O Children of Abdul Muttalib, I asked Allah three things for you; that He keeps your hearts steadfast (upon Islam); that He teaches the Deen to your ignorant and illiterate and guides your astray, and that He make you kind, generous and affectionate to one another. So if a man prays, standing between the Rukn and Maqaam, and fasts but dies with malice for the Household of Muhammad he has entered Hell.' [Tabarani in Al-Kabir, Vol. 11, Page 142, Hadith 11412 | Mustadrak al-Hakim, Vol. 3, Page 162, Hadith 4712]

♥ Tirmidhi, denoting it Hassan, and Haakim narrated from Zaid bin Arqam that the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam said
 

إني تارك فيكم ما إن تمسكتم به لن تضلو بعدي: كتاب الله وعترتي أهل بيتي ولن يفترقا حتى يردا علي الحوض، فأنظروا كيف تخلفوني فيهما
'Verily I am leaving in you that to which if you firmly hold onto you will not go astray after me; The Book of Allah and my family the Ahl al-Bait. These two will not be separated until they meet me at the Fountain (of Kawthar), so look (take care) at how you deal with them after me.' [Sunan Tirmidhi, Vol. 5, Page 626, Hadith 3788 | Mustadrak al-Hakim, Vol. 3, Page 160, Hadith 4711]

Imam Torpashti Alaihir raHmah states that family here refers to the Prophet's Pure wives and very closest relatives. Holding onto them means loving and respecting them, acting upon their narrated ahadith and trusting and relying upon their statements. This is also the station of the Prophet's companions, it is important to love them, act upon their narrated ahadith and trust and rely upon their statements.  The Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said 'My companions are like the stars, whichever of them you follow you will find guidance' (Mirqaat).

 

♥ Tabarani narrates from Ibn Abbas that the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam said
 

بغض بني هاشم والانصار كفر وبغض العرب نفاق
'Malice for the Bani Haashim (migrants) and Ansaar is kufr (heresy) whilst malice for the Arabs is hypocrisy.' [Tabarani in Al-Kabir, Vol. 11, Page 118, Hadith 11312]

♥ Ibn Adee in Al-Kaleel narrates from Abu Sa'eed Khudri Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu that the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam said
 

من ابغضنا اهل البيت فهو منافق
'He is a hypocrite who has malice for our Ahl al-Bait.' [Jawahir al-Aqdain, Vol. 2, Page 25]

Imam Samhoodi narrates this in Jawaahir ul Aqdain and related it to the musnad of Imam Delmi and reported that Sayyiduna Jaabir stated 'We would recognise the hypocrites by their malice for Sayyiduna Ali'. This has been narrated by Imam Tirmidhi and Ahmad with his sanad.

♥ Tabarani narrates from Imam Hasan bin Ali that he said to Muaawiyya bin Khudayj:
 

يا معاوية بن خديج اياك وبغضنا فان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: لا يبغضنا احد ولا يحسدنا احد الا زيل يوم القيامة عن الحوض بسياط من نار
'O Muaawiya Ibn Khudayj guard yourself from having malice for us because undoubtedly the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam said 'No one has malice for us and no one is envious of us except on the day of Qiyaamah he will be kept away from the fountain by whips of fire.' [Tabarani in Al-Kabir, Vol. 3, Page 81, Hadith 2726 and Al-Awsat, Vol 3. Page 203, Hadith 4426]

 
♥ Ibn Adee and Bayhaqi, in Shau'ab ul Imaan, narrated from Sayyiduna Ali the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam said

 

من لم يعرف حق عترتي والانصار فهو لاحدى ثلاث اما منافق واما لدينه واما لغير طهرو يعني حملته امه على غير طهر
'Whosoever did not recognise the right of my family and Ansaar is one of three; either a hypocrite, born illegitimate or conceived by his mother whilst she was impure.' [Ibn Adee in Al-Kaamil, Vol. 3, Page 106 | Shau'ab al-Iman, Vol. 2, Page 232, Hadith 1614, Daylami in Al-Firdaws, Vol. 3, Page 662, Hadith 5955]

♥ Tabarani in Awsat narrates from Hassan bin Ali that the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam said

 

الزموا مودتنا أهل البيت فانه من لقي الله وهو يودنا دخل الجنة بشفاعتنا والذي نفسى بيده لا ينفع عبداً عمل عمله الا بمعرفة حقنا
'Make the love of our Ahl al-Bait compulsory for whoever meets Allah having love for us shall enter paradise with our intercession and By He in whose Hand is my life no deed will benefit a servant except by recognizing our right.' [Tabarani in Al-Awsat, Vol. 3, Page 122, Hadith 2251 | Al-Shifa, Vol. 2, Page 48]

 

♥ Ibn Shayba and Musadad in their respective Musnads; Hakeem Tirmidhi in 'Nawaadir Al Usool', Abu Ya'laa and Tabarani narrated from Salama bin Aku' that the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam said
 

الندم أمان لأهل السماء وأهل بيتي أمان لأمتي
'The stars are the refuge for the people of the Heavans and my Ahl al-Bait is the refuge for my Ummah.' [Ibn Hajar in Matalib al-Aaliya, Vol. 4, Page 262, Hadith 3972 | Tabarani in Al-Kabir, Vol. 7, Page 22, Hadith 6260 | Kanz al-Ummal, Vol. 12, Page 101]

♥ Tabarani narrates from Abu Dhar, who said: I heard the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam say:
 

مثل أهل بيتي فيكم كمثل سفينة نوح في قوم نوح من ركبها نجا ومن تخلف عنها هلك ومثل باب حطة في بني اسرائيل
'The example of my Ahl al-Bait within you is the example of the Ark of Nuh within the nation of Nuh; whoever boarded it was saved and whoever stayed behind was destroyed. It is also the example of the 'Hitha' of the Bani Isra'eel.' [Tabarani in Al-Awsat, Vol. 4, Page 283, Hadith 3506 | Mustadrak al-Hakim, Vol. 2, Page 427, Hadith 3312]

The Hitha is mentioned in Surah Baqarah. The Bani Israil were ordered to enter through the door of Bait al-Muqaddas proclaiming Hitha, meaning Oh Allah, forgive our sins. But instead of reciting Hitha some of them proclaimed 'Hinta' and so Allah destroyed those who proclaimed that. The relevance of this example is that the one who loves the Ahl al-Bait is (saved like those) proclaiming Hitha whilst those who do not will be destroyed like those proclaiming 'Hinta'.

♥ Tabarani narrates from Ibn Abbas that the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam said
 

لا تزول قدما عبد حتى يسأل عن أربع عن عمره فيم أفناه وعن جسده فيم أبلاه وعن ماله فيم أنفقه ومن ابن اكتسبه وعن محبتنا أهل البيت
'On the day of Judgement the feet of the servant will not move from the grave until he is asked about four matters; His age, the matters in which he spent it; His body, how he expended it's strength; His wealth, where he spent and how he earned it and about the love of the Ahl al-Bait.' [Tabarani in Al-Kabir, Vol. 11, Page 83, Hadith 11177 | Haytami in Majma' al-Zawa'id, Vol. 10, Page 346]

♥ Ibn Najjaar in his 'Taarikh' narrates from Hasan bin Ali that the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam said
 

لكل شيء أساس وأساس الإسلام حب أصحاب رسول الله وحب أهل بيته
'Everything has a base and the base of Islam is the love of the Prophet's companions and love of his Ahl al-Bait.' [Jami' al-Ahadith, Vol. 3, Page 457, Hadith 9778 | Kanz al-Ummal, Vol. 11, Page 2319, Hadith 32523 | Al-Musannaf]

♥ Tabarani in Al-Awsat narrates from Sayyiduna Jaabir who heard Sayyiduna Umar saying at the time of his marriage to Sayyiduna Ali's daughter (Sayyida Umm Kulthoom):
 

إلا تهنئوني سمعت رسول الله صلى الله علي وسلم يقول: ينقطع يوم القيامة كل سبب ونسب إلا سببي ونسبي
'Do you not congratulate me! I heard the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam say 'On the Day of Qiyaamah all Sabab (relations through marriage) and Nasab (relations by blood) will break except my Sabab and Nasab.' [Tabarani in Al-Awsat, Vol. 6, Page 282, Hadith 5602 | Bayhaqi in Sunan al-Kubra, Vol. 7, Page 107, Hadith 13393]

♥ Daylami narrates from Sayyiduna Ali Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu that the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam said
 

أدبوا أولادكم على ثلاث خصال حب نبيكم وحب أهل بيته وعلى قراءة القرآن فان حملة القرآن في ظل الله يوم لا ظل إلا ظله مع أنبيائه وأصفيائه
'Teach your children three things; Love of your Prophet; Love of his Ahl al-Bait and the recitation of the Quran. Verily the learned of the Quran will be with the Prophets and the pious (Awliyaa) in the shade of Allah's mercy on the day (of Qiyaamah) when there will be no shade but His.' [Kanz al-Ummal, Vol. 16, Page 456, Hadith 45409 | Kash al-Khifa, Vol. 11, Page 74, Hadith 34157]

The learned of the Quran are those of Correct Aqeedah (belief) who sought the knowledge of the Quran and taught it to others and also includes all those who helped them in this.

♥ Daylami narrates from Sayyiduna Ali Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu that the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam said
 

أثبتكم على الصراط أشدكم حباً لأهل بيتي وأصحابي
'The most steadfast of you on the Bridge (on the day of Qiyaamah) will be the one with the most love for my Ahl al-Bait and my companions.' [Ibn Adee in Al-Kaamil, Vol. 2, Page 2304 | Kanz al-Ummal, Vol. 12, Page 96, Hadith 34157]

This hadith proves that the most steadfast on the bridge will be the one who combines in his heart the love of the Ahl al-Bait and the love of the Prophet's Noble Companions. Praise be to Allah, this characteristic belongs to the Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah.

♥ Daylmi narrates from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'eed that the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam said
 

اشتد غضب الله على من آذاني في عترتي
'Allah's most severe wrath (punishment) will be upon the one who pains me regarding my family.' [Kanz al-Ummal, Vol. 12, Page 93, Hadith 34143]

Based on this hadith the corrupt Yazeed and his aids, Ubaidullah bin Ziyaad, Shimar etc, who martyred and tormented Sayyiduna Imam Hussayn and the leading lights of his family, are worthy of Allah's wrath'. In Zakhair ul 'Uqba, Page 83 Imam Tabarani narrates from Sayyiduna Ali 'Allah's most severe wrath, the wrath of the Prophet and the wrath of the Angels is upon the one who shed the blood of the Prophet and pained him over his household'

♥ Ibn Asakir narrates from Sayyiduna Ali that the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam said
 

من صنع إلى احد من أهل بيتي يداً كافأته يوم القيامة
'Whoever does a good to one of my Ahl ul Bait (pure wives and respected children) I will return the favour on the day of Qiyaamah.' [Kanz al-Ummal, Vol. 12, Page 95, Hadith 34152]

♥ Tabrani narrates from Sayyiduna Umar that the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam said
 

كل بني أنثى فان عصبتهم لأبيهم ما خلا ولد فاطمة فاني عصبتهم فانا أبوهم
'The Asba' (tribe) of all the children of women is from the father except the children of Fatima because I am their Asba (tribe) for I am their father.' [Tabarani in Al-Kabir, Vol. 3, Page 44, Hadith 6631 | Haytami in Majma' al-Zawa'id, Vol. 4, Page 224]

 

♥ Daylmi narrates from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'eed that the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam said
 

أهل بيتي والأنصار كٌرشي وعيبتي وصحابي وموضع مسرتي وأمانتي فاقبلوا من محسنهم وتجاوزوا عن مسيئهم
'My Ahl ul Bait and the Ansaar are my wealth, my body, my household and my family, the locus of my happiness and my trust. So accept the good deeds of their good and overlook the mistakes of any of them (not from the Hudood of Allah).' [Daylami in Al-Firdaws, Vol. 1, Page 407, Hadith 1645]

♥ Haakim, in his Taarkh, and Daylami narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'eed that the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam said
 

ثلاث من حفظهن حفظ الله له دينه ودنياه ومن ضيعهن لم يحفظ الله له شيئاً حرمة الإسلام وحرمتي وحرمة رحمي
'Whoever safeguards three matters Allah will safeguard his Deen and Duniya and whoever loses them Allah will not protect anything for him; the sanctity (not openly opposing) of Islam (its commandments); my sanctity and the sanctity of my (muslim) relatives.' [Tabarani in Al-Kabir, Vol. 3, Page 162, Hadith 2881 and Al-Awsat, Vol 1. Page 126, Hadith 205]

♥ Ibn Hibban, in his sahih, and Haakim narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'eed Khudri that the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam said
 

والذي نفسي بيده لا يبغضنا اهل البيت رجل الا ادخله الله النار
'By He in whose Hand is my Life no man will have malice for my Ahl ul Bait except that Allah will put him in Hell.' [Mustadrak al-Hakim, Vol. 3, Page 126, Hadith 4717 | Sahih Ibn Hibban, Vol. 15, Page 435, Hadith 6978]

After mentioning this hadith Imam Haakim said that it is upon the conditions of Bukhari and Muslim but that they did not narrate it in their sahih.

♥ Daylami narrates from Sayyiduna Ali Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu that the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam said
 

أربعة أنالهم شفيع يوم القيامة المكرم لذريتي والقاضي لهم الحوائج والساعي لهم في أمورهم عند ما اضطروا إليه والمحب لهم بقلبه ولسانه
'I will intercede (specifically) for four people on the day of Judgement 'The one who respected my family; the one who fulfilled their needs; the one who ran and came to their aid when they were helpless and the one who loved them (my family) with (both) his heart and his tongue.' [Kanz al-Ummal, Vol. 12, Page 100, Hadith 34180 | Zakhair al-'Uqba, Page 50]

♥ Daylami narrates from Sayyiduna Ali Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu that the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Baaraka wa Sallam said
 

خير الناس العرب وخير العرب قريش وخير قريش بنو هاشم
'The best of the people are the Arabs; the best of the Arabs are the Quraysh and the best of the Quraysh are the Banu Hashim.' [Daylami in Al-Firdaws, Vol. 1, Page 178, Hadith 2892]

— Extracted from —
Ihya al-Mayyit bi Fadhai'l Ahl al-Bayt Alaihim ar-Ridwan
by Imam Abd ar-RaHman Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti Alaihir raHmah
Urdu: Mufti Gulam Sarwar Qadiri | English: Muhammad Sajid Younus