Ahlul Bait a s in the Quran and the Prophets Traditions Sunnah

8/13/2019 Ahlul Bait a s in the Quran and the Prophets Traditions Sunnah

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AhlulBait(a.s.)intheQur'anandTheProphet'sTraditions(sunnah)

Author

:

Al

Balagh

Foundation

Presentation

AhlulBait(a.s.)intheQur'anandtheProphet'sTraditions(sunnah)

TheQur'anintheSchooloftheAhlulBait

Memorizingthe

Qur'an

PrinciplesforUnderstandingtheQur'an

ThePropheticTraditions(Sunnah)intheSchooloftheAhlulBait

MonotheismAccordingtotheSchoolofAhlulBait

DivineJustice

AhlulBait

and

the

Perverted

Groups

TheAhlulBait'sMethodinthePoliticalField

TheAhlulBait'sMethodinEducatingtheirCompanions

ALookattheIslamicSchool,Jurisprudence

Presentation


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"...AllahdesiresonlytokeepawayuncleannessfromyouOpeopleoftheHouse(AhlulBait)

andmakeyouaspureascanbe."

HolyQur'an(33:33)

WhoeverstudiesthelivesoftheAhlulBait(peacebeuponthemall)willatOncerecognize

thepivotal

role

they

played

and

the

great

task

they

shouldered

in

shaping

the

destiny

of

Islam.TheirgloriousliveshavealwaysbeenasourceofinspirationtotheMuslimsineveryera

andplace,interactingwiththeirconsciousness,enrichingtheirprogressandupholdingtheir

Islamicheritage.

TheAhlulBait (theProphet'sholyfamily)haveformedahistoricalmovementandimpulsive

forceinthehistoryofIslamandcausedgreatsocialchanges.

ThisisworthmentioningtounderstandtherightpathoftheImamsofAhlulBait(a.s.)andto

comprehendthefeaturesoftheirschoolwhichcontainsthespiritoforiginalityandmotives.

TheHolyQur'ansinglesoutthisterm'AhlulBait'whereastheMessengerofAllah(s.a.w.)

specifiesitsconfirmation.Ononeside,thisentityisdiagnosedafterthedisappearanceofthe

periodofprophethoodwhichwasledtogrowideologicalandpoliticalallegianceforthe

familymembersoftheHolyProphetandontheotherside,someconfrontationsandconflicts

fromdifferentfrontsandcoalitions,inthearenaofpoliticallifeoftheMuslimsociety,started

toappearagainstthem.Consequently,ideological,politicalandbloodywarwaswaged

againstthem.Therefore,theImams:Ali,HasanandHuseinandtheirgrandsonsbecame

victimsbysuchtragediesinwhichtheMuslimnationlosttheenlightenedpioneersofits

straightpathandwereforbiddenfromthegiftsoftruthandawareness.

AlBalaghFoundation;apartofitsmission,hopes,topresenttoitsdearreaderstheholy

familyoftheProphet,toremovefictionfromluminousfactsinthehistoryofourMuslim

nation,toacquainttheummahwiththeirstraightpathandtomakethemchoosethetrue

guidancewithitsmanyfeaturesandprinciples.

WebeseechAllah,theMostHigh,toaidandgrantussuccesstoaccomplishthisblessedduty.

Heisthebestofhelpers.

AlBalaghFoundation

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AhlulBait(a.s.)intheQur'anandtheProphet'sTraditions(sunnah)

TheQur'an

emphasizes

the

lofty

position

and

significance

of

the

Ahlul

Bait

so

as

to

make

mankind

followtheirrightpath,consultthemwhentheiropiniondiffersortheirfaith,situationand

conceptscontradict.InvestigatingtheverseofRevelation,wewillfindthattheQur'ansometimes

addressesthemas'AhlulBait',liketheAlmighty'ssaying:"..Allahdesiresonlytokeepaway

uncleannessfromyouOpeopleoftheHouse(AhlulBait)andmakeyouaspureascanbe."

HolyQur'an(33:33)

Sometimesas'relative'(Qurba)likeHissaying:

"...Say(O'Muhammaduntomankind):Idonotaskofyouanyrewardforit(preachingthe

message)'but

love

for

my

relatives

(Ahlul

Bait)..."

Holy

Qur'an

(42:23)

TheHolyQur'an,also,focusesontheirmeritsandtheirvirtuesthroughvariousverseswithout

usingthesetwotermsforindicatingthemlikeitsaddressconcerningAli,Fatimah,Hasanand

HuseininChapter(Dahr)andtheMubahalaverseoritsdescriptionofAliinmanyverseslikethe

WilayaandTablighversesandotherverses.Itdescribesthemasbeingthebestamongmankind,

thepiousand...etc.Thecommentatorsandnarratorssingleoutthecausesfortherevelationof

theseversesandacknowledgewhatismeantbythem,thenitwillbeclearedforusthroughsome

samplesoftheinterpretationoftheAlmighty'sversesandexplainthecausesfortheirrevelation:

1.The

Verse

of

Purity

(Tathir):

"..AllahdesiresonlytokeepawayuncleannessfromyouOpeopleoftheHouse(AhlulBait)and

makeyouaspureascanbe."HolyQur'an(33:33)

AllexegistsoftheHolyQur'anandnarratorsoftheProphet'straditions,unanimouslyagreethat

thewordAhlulBait,ortheHouseholdoftheProphet(s.a.w.)asusedbyAlmightyAllahinthe

Qur'an,refersonlytothefollowingpersons:TheProphet'sdaughterFatima,herhusbandAliand

theirtwochildrenHasanandHusein(peacebeuponthemall).ThefamousexegistSuyutiinhis

renownedcommentary'DuralManthur'citesTabarani'snarrationfromUmmSalamathatthe

Messengerof

Allah

(s.a.w.)

once

told

his

beloved

daughter,

Fatima,

to

call

her

husband

Ali

and

twooftheirsons;HasanandHusein.Whentheycame,theMessengerofAllah(s.a.w.)covered

themwithaFadak(aplacenearMadina)cloakandputhishandonthem,andsaid:

"OAllah!thesearetheAhlMuhammad(anotherversionsaysaal(family)Muhammad,so,shower

yourblessingsandfavoursonaalMuhammadasyoushoweredthemonaalAbraham;Youarethe


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Praiseworthy,theGlorious."

UmmSalamasaidthatsheraisedthecloaktojointhem,buttheProphetpulleditoutofherhand

andsaid:"Youare(also)ontheright."(1)OnmanyoccasionsProphetMuhammad(s.a.w.)

explainedthemeaningofthisverse(ofpurity)totheMuslimsanddrewtheirattentiontoits

significancein

order

to

be

enlightened

with

them

(Ahlul

Bait)

by

following

their

straight

path.

Once,ithappenedthattheProphetwhilepassinghisdaughterFatima's(a.s.)houseonhiswayto

themosqueforthe(lawnprayers,usedtocall:"Toprayer,OAhlulBait,toprayer;Allahdesiresto

keepawayuncleannessfromyou,peopleoftheHouseandmakeyoupureaspureascanbe."(2)

AnasbinMaliknarratedthattheProphet(s.a.w.)usedtogotoFatima'shouseforsixmonths

wheneverhewentoutforprayer.Heusedtosay:"Toprayer,OAhlulBait,toprayer;Allahdesires

tokeepawayuncleannessfromyou,peopleoftheHouseandmakeyoupureaspureascan

be."(3)

2.TheVerseofAffection(Mawadah):

"...Say(O'Muhammaduntomankind):Idonotaskofyouanyrewardforit(preachingthe

message),butloveformyrelatives(AhlulBait)..."HolyQur'an(42:23)TheMessengerofAllah

(s.a.w.)explicitlytoldtheMuslimsthatthisblessedversereferstohisAhlulBait,thatis;Ali,

Fatima,HasanandHuseinandurgedthemtoobeyandfollowtheseillustriouspersonalitiesafter

him.Allcommentators,traditionistsandbiographerssaidthattheword'nearrelativesofthe

Prophet'asused,here,refersexclusivelytohisAhlulBaitthatisAli,Fatima,HasanandHusein.

FakhruddinRazi,whileexplainingthisverse,says:"...andwithoutdoubtnoonewassoneartothe

ProphetthanFatima,Ali,HasanandHusein.Thisisawellknownfactofallchainsofnarrations,

andthesearetheywhoarehis'aal'".

Thus,itisanundisputedfactthatthewordsAhlulBaitoraalMuhammad(s.a.w.)referonlytothe

immediatefamilyoftheProphet;hisdaughterFatima,soninlawAliandhistwosonsHasanand

Huseinandnooneelse.First:WehavealreadycitedsomeinstancesoftheProphet'sloveforhis

family.Second:Nodoubtbeinghisonlysurvivingchild,Fatimawasintenselylovedbyherfather.

TheProphet'sfamouswordsareatestimonytothisfact."Fatimaisapartofmeandwhoever

makesherangry,makesmeangry."

ThetraditionsalsoconfirmthisandalsohisnaturalinclinationtowardsAliandhisgrandchildren,

HasanandHusein.Therefore,itbecomesadutyfortheProphet'snationtofollowtheProphet's

traditionsinrespecttohisAhlulBait.TheAlmightysays:"...Say(OMuhammadsayuntomankind)

ifyouloveAllah,thenfollowme,Allahwillloveyou..."HolyQur'an(3:31)

3.TheVerseofMalediction(Mubahala):


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"Butwhoeverdisputeswithyou(O'Muhammad)inthismatterafterwhathascometoyouof

knowledgethensay:Come,letuscalloursonsandyoursonsandourwomenandyourwomen

andourselvesandyourselves,thenletusbeseechAllahandinvokeHiscurseupontheliars."

HolyQur'an(3:61)

Thisversepointstowardsanepochmakingevent,narratedbyallhistoriansandcommentators;

aneventwhichrevealedtotheMuslimsthestatusofthefamilyoftheProphet(AhlulBait)(a.s.)

(Ali,Fatima,HasanandHusein),andhownearanddeartheyaretoAllah,theExalted.Itis

narratedthatadeputation*fromtheChristiansofNajrancametotheProphetofIslamtoargue

themeritsoftheirfaithandalsotodiscusswithhimconcerninghisprophethood.TheHoly

ProphetadvancedtothemargumentsshowingthatJesus,thesonMary,wasahumanbeinganda

Prophet,anditwasblasphemytoregardhimasasonofAllah,becauseAllah,theExalted,ishigh

aboveallsuchhumancharacteristics.ItwaswhentheProphet,havingarguedthepointfullyand

convincingly,foundthemstilldeliberatelypersistingintheirfalsebeliefinthedeityofProphet

Jesus,thatAllahrevealedthisverse.ItwasachallengetotheChristians,toprayandinvokeAllah

thatthecursemayovertakethepartythatinsisteduponfalsehood.

__________________

*ThedeputationwascomprisedofthreeprominantChristianleadersofArabia,AbdulMasih,the

politicalleader;alAyhaminchargeoftheirAgroPastoralaffairs;andAbuHatamibnAlqama,

whowasaBishoporPontiff.

Earlythenextmorningonthe24thofthelunarmonthofDhilhijja,theProphet,inaccordance

withAllah'scommand,cameouttothemeetinggrounds,carryingHuseininhisarmsandleading

Hasan"oursons"byhishand,followedbyhisbeloveddaughterFatima"ourwomen",behind

whomcameAli"ourselves"carryingthebannerofIslam.SeeingtheProphetwasaccompaniedby

hisimmediatefamilyandconvincedthatMuhammad(s.a.w.)wastruthful,otherwisehewould

nothavedaredtobringhisdearestofkinalong,theChristiansbackedawayfromthemaledictory

confrontationandagreedtopayJizyainstead.

Zamakhsharisaysinhisbook'alKashshaf':

That(whenthisversewasrevealed)theProphetaskedtheChristianstoaMubahala(malediction)

toinvokethecurseofAllahontheliars.TheChristiansheldadiscourseamongthemselvesthat

night,inwhichtheirleaderAbdulMassihstatedhisviewsasfollows."ByGod,OChristians,you

knowthatMuhammadisaGodsentProphet,whohasbroughttoyouthefinalmessagefrom

yourLord.ByGod,nonationeverdaredtochallengeaProphetwithmalediction,butthatwoe

befellthem.Notonlywilltheyperish,but,theirchildrenwillalsobeafflictedwiththecurse."

Sayingthis,thatitisbettertoreachacompromisewiththeProphet,ratherthanchallengehis


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truthandperishAbdulMassihadvisedhispartytostophostilitiesandretaintheirreligionby

submittingtotheProphet'sterms."So,ifyoupersist(foraconfrontation),wewillallperish.But,if

you,tokeepyourfaith,shouldrefuse(tohaveashowdown)andremainasyouare,then,make

peacewiththeman(theProphet)andreturntoyourland."

Zamakhsharicontinues:

"The

next

day

the

Prophet,

carrying

Husein

in

his

arms,

leading

Hasan

by

thehand;followedbyhisdaughterFatima,behindwhomcameAli,enteredtheappointedplace

andwasheardsaying(tohisAhlulBait):"WhenIinvokeAllah,youallsay:Amen."

ThepontiffofNajranonseeingtheProphetandhisAhlulBait,addressedtheChristians:"O'

Christians,IambeholdingsuchfacesthatifGodwishes(fortheirsake),Hewouldmove

mountainsfromtheirplaces.DonotaccepttheirchallengeforMubahalaforifyoudoyouwould

allperishandtherewouldremainnoChristianonthefaceoftheearthtilltheDayof

Resurrection."HeedinghisadvicetheChristianssaidtotheProphet:"OAbdulQasim,wedecided

nottoholdMubahalawithyou.Youkeepyourreligionandwewillkeepours."

TheProphettoldthem:

"Ifyourefusetohold(Mubahala),thensubmit,(acceptIslam)andyouwillreceivewhatthe

Muslimsreceive,andcontributewhattheMuslimscontribute."

TheChristianssayingtheyhadnodesiretofighttheArabs,proposedatreatyaskingforpeace,

andfreedfromforcedcompulsiontomakethemforsaketheirreligion.Inreturntheyagreedto

paytheMuslimsanannualtributeoftwothousandssuits;onethousandofwhichtobepaidin

themonthofSafarandtheremainingonethousandinRajab,besidesthirtycoatsofironmail.

AcceptingtheproposaltheProphetremarked:"BytheOneWhohasmysoulinHishanddeath

wasloominglargeoverthepeopleofNajran.(Hadtheydaredtoacceptthechallengeof

'Mubahala').Theywouldhavebeentransformedintoapesandswines,andthevalleywouldhave

beensetablaze.AllahwouldhavedestroyedNajranwithitspeople,sparingnoteventhebirdson

thetreetops,andbeforethepassingoftheyeartheChristianswouldhaveallbeendead."

ContinuinghiscommentsontheMubahalaverse,Zamakhsharilaysemphasisonthepositionof

theAhlulBaitbyquotingthefollowingnarrationfromtheProphet'swifeAa'isha:"Hementioned

them,AhlulBait,beforementioningtheword'selves'inordertohighlighttheirpositionandtheir

proximity(toAllah),andtostresstheirpreferenceto'selves'whichcouldbesacrificedforthem.

ThereisnostrongerevidencethanthisregardingthemeritsoftheAhlKisa*.Itistheproofofthe

truthfulnessoftheProphet'smission,becausenoonehoweverbiased,hasnarratedthatthey(the

Christians)daredtoacceptthat(challengeforMubahala)"(4).

SurelythisstatusoftheAhlulBaitindicatestheappearanceofthecampofbelief(representedby


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theProphet(s.a.w.)andhisholyfamily(AhlulBait))againstthecampofidolatoryanddisbelief,

because

__________________________

*AhlalKasaisatermdenotingthosewhogatheredwiththeProphetundertheKisa(cloak)

whereuponthe

verse

of

purity

was

revealed.

They

are

All,

Fatima,

Hasan,

Husein,

as

has

been

alreadydiscussed,earlier.

thosewhocameouttothemeetinggroundswerethebestexamplesofguidanceandtheleaders

ofthenationandthepuristamongtheselveswhomAllahkeptuncleannessawayfromthemand

madethempureaspureascanbe.Therefore,weunderstandthatwhateverwereceivefromthe

HouseholdoftheProphet(AhlulBait)(a.s.)oftheirthoughts,laws,narrations,jurisprudence,

interpretations,andguidancecomesfromthiscourseandthattheyaretruthfulintheir

utterances,biographyandpath.TheQur'anchallengestheenemiesofIslambythemandcalls

theirenemiesliarsandsaysthattheyshouldbefacedwithcurseandpunishment.TheAlmighty

says:

"...thenletusbeseechAllahandinyokeHiscurseupon,heliars."HolyQur'an(3:61)Withouttheir

(AhlulBait)truthfulnessandrighteousness,Allahwouldnotgivethemsuchstatusandposition

norwouldtheQur'anhaveutteredanythingconcerningthem.FakhruddinRazi,inhis'alTafsiral

Kabir',givesanidenticalnarrationandafterhavingstatedwhatZamakhsharihassaid;adds:'Mind

you,thatallinterpreters(oftheQur'an)andnarrators(oftheProphet'straditions)areunanimous

abouttheauthenticityofthisnarration."Butbytakingalongonlythesefourandnooneelse

besides,theMessengerofAllah(s.a.w.)wasshowingtheMuslims,thatthebestexamplefor

womenisFatimaandthebestexampleforboysareHasanandHusein,accordingtotheQur'an's

wordings,which,also,delicatelyusedtheword'ourselves'forAli,therebypointingtohisclose

proximitywiththeProphet,andsolvingthequestionofsuccessiononceandforall.

4.TheVerseofPrayer(Salat):

"SurelyAllahandHisangelsblesstheProphet;Oyouwhobelieve!Callfor(divine)blessingson

himandsalutehimwitha(becoming)salutation."

HolyQur'an(33:56)Thepreviousverses,oftheHolyQur'an,revealedtousastowhoarethe

Prophet'sAhlulBait,theirpurityofcharacterandthecommandforMuslimstoloveandobey

them.Thisversereferstothesalutationsalawat,whichaMuslimisobligedtosendonthe

Prophetandhisprogenyduringthefivedailyprayers.

Inthisverse,theMuslimsareorderedheretosendblessingsontheProphetandhis"aal"

(progeny),atermexclusivelyreservedforAli,Fatima,HasanandHuseinandtheirrighteous


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descendants.TheemphasisontheProphet's"aal",insalutation,isyetanotherindicationoftheir

pivotalpositionaftertheProphet.ByaskingtheMuslimstoexaltthem,Allah,theExalted,was

remindingtheMuslimcommunitiesthatHehadchosentheAhlulBait,fortheroleofleadingthe

Muslimnation.

Inhis

'Tafsir

al

Kabir',

Fakhruddin

Razi,

commenting

on

the

above

verse,

narrates

the

following

quotationfromtheProphet,whowasaskedbysomeofhiscompanionsonhowtosendblessings

uponhim.TheProphetreplied:

"Say:'OAllah,sendblessingsonMuhammadandonMuhammad'sprogenyasYousentblessings

onAbrahamandonAbraham'sprogeny;andsendgraceonMuhammadandonMuhammad's

progeny,asYousentgraceonAbrahamandonAbraham'sprogeny,YouarethePraiseworthy,the

Glorious."'Beforegivingthisnarration,Raziinterpretstheverseandcomments:'Thisisaproofof

theShafi'ischool,becauseordermeansanobligation*;so,tosendblessingsontheProphet

(s.a.w.)isobligatory,atleastintheTashahhud(testimonyduringtheprayers)ifnot

elsewhere."'(5)

___________________

*Famousjuristshadconcludedthatwhenthereisan'order'intheQur'anortheTraditions,then

carryingitoutisobligatory;unlesstheRazifurtherargues:'IfAllahandHisangelssendtheir

blessingsonhim(theProphet),thenwhatneedisthereforourblessings?"He,himself,provides

theanswer:'Whenwesendblessingsonhim,itisnotbecauseheisinneedofthem,but,because

ofalreadyhavingAllah'sblessings,hedoesnotevenrequiretheblessingsoftheangels.Whenwe

send,wesendtoglorifyAllah,and,also,it(sendingblessings)revealsourgratitudetowardsAllah,

sothatHemayhavecompassiononusandrewardus.ThatiswhytheProphetsaid;"Whoever

sendsblessingsonmeonce,Allahwillsendblessingsonhimtentimes."

Itwillnotbeoutofcontext,here,tociteImamShafi'i'sfamousquatrainonthissubject:

"O'HouseholdoftheMessengerofAllah,loveforyou

IsanobligationfromAllah,revealedintheQur'an.Itsufficesasthegreatesthonourbestowedon

youThathisprayercomesofnothingwhodoesnotsaluteyou."

_____________

contexttellsclearlythatitisarecommendation.

Suyuti,inhis,DuralManthur',citingAbdulRazzaq,IbnAbiShaiba,AhmadibnHanbal,Abdibn

Hamid,Bukhari,Muslim,AbuDawud,Tirmidhi,Nisa'i,ibnMaja,ibnMardawaya,whohaveall

narratedfromKa'bibnUjra,says:amanoncesaidtotheProphetthatgreetinghimisclearto

everyone,but,howdoesonesendblessingsonhim.TheProphetreplied:


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"OAllah,sendblessingsonMuhammadandonMuhammad'sprogenyasYousentblessingson

AbrahamandonAbraham'sprogeny,YouarethePraiseworthy,theGlorious."'Suyutihascited

eighteendifferentnarrationsotherthanthis,withslightvariations,stressingthattheblessingson

theProphetshouldincludehisprogeny,also.Thesamehasbeennarratedbycompilersofall

"Sunan"and

"Jawami",

books

quoting

anumber

of

the

Prophet's

companions,

such

as;

Abdulla

ibn

Abbas,Talha,AbuSa'idKhidri,AbuHuraira,AbuMas'udAnsari,Buraida,ibnMas'ud,Ka'bibn

Amra,andlast,butnottheleast,AliibnAbiTalib,himself.Similarly,ithasbeennarrated

byAhmadibnHanbalandTirmidhiwhohavequotedImamHasanibnAlifromtheProphetas

follows:

"Heisamiserwho,onthementionofmynametohim,doesnotsendblessingsonme."(6)Thus,

alljurisprudentsagreethatitisobligatoryforMuslimstosendblessingsonMuhammad(s.a.w.)

andhisprogenyduringtheTashahud(Testimony)inthefivedailyprayers.(7)

Byanalyzingthisverseweeasilydiscovertherealobjectivebehindthisobligatorycommand;

whichistorevereMuhammad's(s.a.w.)pureprogeny,fromwhomAllahhaskeptawayall

uncleannessanderror,andmadethempureaspurecanbe.Theemphasisonhis"aal"bythe

Prophet,isyetanotherindicationtotheMuslimsoftheirpivotalpositionafterhim.By

commandingMuslims,tosendtheirblessingsonthem,Allah,theExalted,wasremindingMuslims

oftheAhlulBait'seventualleadership.Inotherwords,bytakingthemasexemplarsandaccepting

theirleadership,theMuslimswouldbesparedfromtrialsandcontroversies.

So,itisclearthatAllahhasnotmentionedthemintheprayersfornought.Haditnotbeenfor

theirprobitythatwasprovedtimeandagainandfortheirmagnanimityofcharacter,aswellas,

theirdeepknowledge,AllahwouldnothaveorderedtheMuslimstoadheretotheirstraight

courseandseekblessingsforthemineveryprayer.Theveryfactthatthisblessingshouldbe

invokedeverydayineachprayeraMuslimperformswasbuttodrawtheattentionoftheMuslim

communitiestowardsthesignificanceoftheAhlulBait;whichshouldserveasaconstant

reminderthatitistheywhoareMuhammad's(s.a.w.)rightfulheirs.Ortoputitmoreclearly,

anyoneignoringtheirstatusdeliberatelyorotherwise,hasnoexcuses,whatsover,andis

deceivinghisownselftobeastrayfromAllah'scommand.

5.TheVerseofFeeding:

"Therighteoustrulydrinkofacuptemperedwithcamphor Afountainfromwhichtheservants

ofAllahdrink,makingitflowinabundance.Theyfulfilvowsandfearaday,theevilofwhichis

widespread.Andtheygivefood,outofloveforHim,tothepoorandtheorphanandthecaptive.

Wefeedyou,forAllah'spleasureonly Wedesirefromyouneitherrewardnorthanks.Surelywe

fearfromourLordastem,distressfulday.SoAllahwillwardofffromthemtheevilofthatday,


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andcausethemtomeetwithsplendourandhappiness;Andrewardthem,fortheirsteadfastness,

withaGardenandwithsilk."HolyQur'an(76:513)

TheseversesoftheHolyQur'anspeakoftheAhlulBait,andplacesthematthetopofpreference

andpietyandshowsthemasexamplarsandmodelsformankindsothatthegenerationsare

rightlyguided

through

them

and

follow

their

right

way.

The

historical

occasion

to

which

these

blessedversesreferisthegreatstatusofAhlulBait(a.s.).WhenAli,Fatimaandtheirtwosons

HasanandHusein(peacebeuponthemall)fastedforthreeconsecutivedays,andeachdayatthe

timeofbreakingthefastsomeneedyperson,asversenumbereightindicates,appearedandthe

AhlulBaitgladlyfedhim,andthemselvespassedthenightswithoutfood.Allahwassopleasedby

thegenerosityoftheProphet'sHouseholdthatHeconvertedtheiractionsintoversesofthe

GloriousQur'antoserveasguidancefortheMuslims.TheseversesnotonlyportraytheAhlul

Bait'stotalsubmissiontoAllah'sWill,but,also,revealthemaspureandspotlesspersonalities;

promisedesteemandadmirationamongthedwellersofParadise.Theyareshownasimmaculate

modelsofemulationsothatwhoever,amongtheMuslimcommunities,followstheirglowingpath

willachievesalvationandwillbeassembledintheirillustriouscompanyontheResurrectionDay.

Zamakhshari,inhis'Kashshaf'commentingonthisverse,narratesfromAbdullahbinAbbas that

onceHasanandHuseinfellsickandtheProphet,togetherwithsomeofhiscompanions,visited

hissickgrandsons.HesuggestedthatAlishouldmakeavowtoAllahforhissons'health.Heeding

theProphet'ssuggestionAli,Fatimaalongwiththeirmaid,Fidha,tookavowthatiftheboys

recovered,theywouldfastforthreeconsecutivedays.Eventually,HasanandHuseinrecovered

andtofulfillthevowtheyalsofastedalongwiththeirparentsandmaid.Sincetherewasnothing

inthehousetoeat,AliborrowedfromSham'un,aKhaibarianJew,threemeasuresofbarely.

Fatimagroundedonemeasureintoflourandbakeditintofiveloaves(ofbread)equaltotheir

number,andplacedthesebeforethemforbreakingthefast.Justthenabeggarstoppedattheir

doorandsaid:"alSalaamAlaikum(peacebeuponyou),OAhlulBaitofMuhammad(s.a.w.),(I

am)oneofthepoorestofMuslims(so),feedme,mayAllahfeedyouofthefoodofParadise!"So

theygladlygavehimallthefoodandsleptthatnight,tastingnothingbutwater."Theyfasted

againthenextdayandatsunsetastheyplacedthebreadbeforethemtobreakthefast,an

orphanknockedonthedooraskingforfoodandtheycheerfullyfedhim,themselvesgoing

withoutfoodforyetanotherday.Onthethirddayofthefast,asthebreakingtimeapproached,

andthefoodwasspread,aprisoner(ofwar)suddenlyappearedattheirdoorandthesame

scenariowasrepeated,withtheProphet'sAhlulBaitpassingthethirdsuccessivenightwithout

tastingamorseloffood.ZamakhsharicontinuesthatwhendawnbrokeAliholdingthehandsof

HasanandHuseincametotheProphet'shouse.TheProphetseeingtheirpalecountenancesand

notingthattheyweretremblingfromhunger,expresseddismayandatonceaccompaniedthem

totheirhouse.Onenteringthehouse,hewasshockedtoseethesightofhisdaughterFatima,

sittingholloweyedonherprayermat,herstomachsunkintoherback.Itwas,then,thattheangel


12/36


Gabrielcamedownwiththisverse,saying:

"OMuhammad,Allahcongratulatesyoufor(thesacrificeof)yourhousehold.Thenherecitedthe

(verse)."(8)

6.The

Verse

of

Guardianship

(Wilaya):

"OnlyAllahisyourGuardianandHisApostleandthosewhobelieve,thosewhokeepupprayers

andpaythepoorratewhilein(Ruku').AndwhoevertakesAllahandHisApostleandthosewho

believeashisguardian,thensurelythepartyofAllaharetheythatshallbetriumphant"Holy

Qur'an(5:555)

ThereareothernumerousverseswhichextollImamAli's(a.s.)virtue,generosity,bravery,

patience,piety,hissacrificinginAllah'swayandsupportingAllah'sApostle(s.a.w.)andhisbeing

themostrighteousamongthebelieversandthebestamongHiscreatures...etc.Theabove

mentionedversesfromtheBookofAllahareasexamples:

Zamakhshari,inhis'alKashshaf',saysthefollowingaboutthisverse:"Itwasrevealedinfavourof

Ali(MayAllahenlightenhisface)whenabeggaraskedhim(foralms)whilehewasintheposition

ofRuku'duringprayer,andhegaveawayhisring(inthesameposition).Itseemsitwaslooseon

hislittlefinger,forhedidnotexertanyeffortintakingitoff,whichwouldhavenullifiedhis

prayer.Ifyouask:'HowcoulditbeinfavourofAli(mayAllahbepleasedwithhim),whenthe

wordingsareinthecollectiveform?'Isay.Theformiscollective,thoughitsinstigatorisasingle

man,becausethisistoencouragepeopletofollowhisexampleandearnasimilarreward,and,

also,todrawattentiontothefactthatthebelieversmustbeextremelymindfulandbenevolent,

towardsthepoor,inasmuchas,ifasituationcouldnotbepostponeduntilaftertheprayer,it

maynothedelayedtillhavingfinishedit."(9)

Wahidi,in'AsbabalNuzul',citingKalbi'snarrationconcerningthecausefortherevelationofthis

versesays:"SurelyAllahisyourGuardianandHisApostleandthosewhobelieve,thosewhokeep

upprayersandpaythepoorratewhileinprostration(Ruku').""Thelatterpartofthisverseisin

favourofAlibinAbiTalib(mayAllahbegracioustohim)becausehegavearingtoabeggarwhile

inRuku'duringprayer."(10)

7.TheVerseofProclamation(Tabligh):

"OProphetproclaimwhathasbeenrevealedtoyoufromyourLord,forifyoudoitnotyouhave

notconveyedHismessage,andAllahwillprotectyoufromthe(evildesignsof)people..."(11)Holy

Qur'an(5:67)


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PerhapsthemostclearportentofImamAli'sexcellenceovertheMuslimsaftertheProphet,isthe

aboveverse,whichmakesadecisivephaseinthehistoryofdivinerevelation.Aftercreatingthis

wideandwonderfulworld,theAlmightyhadsentanunbrokenchainofprophetstoguide

mankindtowardsdivinebliss.ThelastandthegreatestlinkinthiseternalchainwasMuhammad

alMustafa(s.a.w.),whowasentrustedwiththemostcomprehensivecodeoflaws,capableof

solvingmankind's

needs

till

doomsday.

Now,

there

no

longer

was

need

of

any

new

messenger.

Butnonetheless,theWiseCreatorcannotleavemankind'sstruggleofthousandsofyearstothe

whimsandfanciesoffallibleArabs,whohadspentthegreaterpartoftheirlivesinidolataryand

sin.Therefore,toensurethesafetyofIslamandMuslims,Allahsentdownthisverse,appointing

ImamAliastheProphet'svicegerent.Narratorsandhistorianshavetestifiedtothatgreatevent.

WhentheMessengerofAllahleftMeccaaftertheHajjceremoniesalltheMuslimsfollowedhim,

withtheintentionofleavinghimataplacenearJuhfawhichwasatthecrossroadsforthe

caravansofMadinah,EgyptandSyria.Onthe18thDhilhijja,(12)alittlebeforenoon,whenthey

reachedGhadirKhumnearJuhfa,hestoppedandorderedallthepeopleaheadtocomenearand

waitforthosefollowing(13)...Whenallthecaravanhadgathered,hecalledforacongregational

prayer(14),and,then,heofferedmiddayprayersinthemiddayheat(15),thenhestoodup

addressingthepeople,andstartedhisspeechbypraisingandgivingthankstoHim.Thenhesaid:

"Opeople!IamabouttobecalledtoAllah,anddeparttoHim.Iamresponsibleandsoareyou.

Whatdoyousay?"

"WebearwitnessthatyouhavedeliveredtheDivineMessage,andtriedyourbesttoguideuson

therightpath,andalwaysgaveusgoodcounsel.MayAllahblessyouwithagoodreward,"they

replied.TheProphetproceeded:'Don'tyou,'hesaid,'bearwitnessthatthereisnogodbutAllah,

MuhammadisHisservantandMessenger,Hisparadiseistrue,Hishellistrue?'"OYes!Webear

witnesstoallthis,"theysaid,"OAllah!Bearwitness,"hesaid.Thenhesaid:"Donotyouhear?"

Theyreplied,"Yes."Thenhewentonsaying:

'Opeople!Iwillprecedeyouandyoushallarriveatthepool(Kawther):thepoolwiderthanthe

distancebetweenBasrahandSan'aandwhichhastwogobletsofsilveraslargeasthespacein

whichthestarsareswimming.WhenyoushallreachmeIshallinterrogateyouaboutyour

behaviourtowardsthetwoweightythingsaftermydeath.Thenacallercalled:'matarethetwo

weightythings,OAllah'sMessenger?'He(s.a.w.)said:TheweightieroneistheBookofAllah,the

MightyandGlorified,whichhastwobonds,oneisinthehandsofAllah,theMostHigh,andthe

otherinyourhands.Soholdtighttoit,don'tgoastrayanddon'tchangeyourfaith.Theother

mightythingismyprogeny,myhousehold.TheKnowerofsubtleties,theAwarehastoldmethat

theywilljoinmeatthepoolassoonastheirlifeonearthexpires."(16)


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Then,he(s.a.w.)said:

"Don'tyouknowthatIammoreappropriateforauthorityoverthebelieversthanthemselves?"

"Yes,OtheMessengerofAllah"(17)theyanswered.He(s.a.w.)said:"Don'tyouknoworwitness

thatIammoreappropriateforauthorityovereverybelieverthanhimself?""Yes,OMessengerof

Allah"(18),they

replied.

Then,he(s.a.w.)bentdownandliftingupAlibinAbiTalib(a.s.)inhishands,showedhimtothe

vastcrowdwholookedonhisarmpits'swhiteness(19)andproclaimedthosefamouswords,which

guaranteedthecontinuationofdivineleadership:"Opeople!AllahismyMasterandIamyour

master(20).forwhomseoverIammaster,this,Ali,ishismasterOAllah!Befriendwhoever

befriendshimandbehostiletowhoeverishostiletohim(21).helphimwhohelpshim,forsake

himwhoforsakeshim,andlovehimwholoveshimandhatehimwhohateshim."

Then,he(s.a.w.)said:

"OAllah!Bearwitness."Then,they(theMessengerofAllahandAli)didnotseparateuntilthe

followingverseswererevealed:"...todayhaveIperfecteduntoyouyourreligionandcompleted

uponyouMyblessingsandapprovedforyouIslamasyourreligion..."HolyQur'an(5:3)

TherearenumerousotherversesinthebookofAllah,whichelucidatetheposition,dignityand

honourofImamAli;hishighstatusamongtheMuslimsandhe(a.s.)isthebestafterthe

MessengerofAllah(s.a.w.).Thefollowingversecertifiesthismore:"(Asfor)thosewhobelieve

anddogood,surelytheyarethebestofpeople."HolyQur'an(98:7)

Alltheinterpretersandnarratorshavetestifiedthattheabovementionedversewasrevealedin

favourofAlibinAbiTalibandAllah,theAlmighty,Himself,describedhimasthebestofpeople.

Ontherevelationofthisverse,theMessengerofAllah(s.a.w.)said:

"OAli,theseareyouandyourfollowers."(22)Whoevergoesthroughthetraditionsofthe

Prophet,hisdailybehaviour,andhisrelationwithhisAhlulBait,whosepuritytheHolyQur'an,

itself,hastestifiedto,onerealizesthatAhlulBait(Ali,Fatima,andtheirtwosons,Hasanand

Husein)hadauniqueroleandagreatresponsibilityinthehistoryoftheMuslimNation.So,the

Prophet'sfrequentstressonthesefourluminarieswasnotwithoutmeaning,norwasitmere

emotionalbehaviourtowardshisfamily.Infact,hewasonlyobeyingAllah'scommandstoprepare

andguidetheMuslimstowardsacceptanceoftheirleadership,afterhiseventualdeparture.Only

SuyuticollectedaboutsixtyProphetictraditions(hadiths)stressingthelovetowardstheAhlulBait

(a.s.);acknowledgetheirleadershipsoastomaketheMuslimNationfollowtheirperfectexample

andilluminatedpath;lookforguidancetowardsthemandnotinblindobedience,but,byawayof

discerningcomparisonwithothers.


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ThefirststepwhichtheProphettooktowardstheformalbuildingofthisblessedfamilywasthe

marriageofhisdaughter,Fatima,(a.s.)tohisbelovedcousinAlibinAbiTalib(a.s.)atthe

Almighty'scommand.Thus,becameimplementedthisblessed'tree'whichwouldeventually

extenditsshadybranchesovertheMuslimsanditshistoricalprogress.Itisnarratedthatthe

Prophet(s.a.w.)

said:

"Allah

has

ordered

me

to

marry

Fatima

to

you."(23)

Whenthismarriagehadoccured,theblessedfamilywasformedandthetwosons(Hasanand

Husein)wereborn,theProphetusedtocaressthem,saying:

"Allsonsaretheirfathers'astheiragnationreturnstotheirfathers,exceptthesonsofFatima,asI

amtheirfatherandagnation."(NarratedbyAhmadbinHanbalin'alManaqib').(24)

TheQur'anintheSchooloftheAhlulBait

AstudyofthenarrativeandthetraditionsthathavereachedusontheauthorityoftheAhlulBait

andaglanceattheirlivesandworks,revealsthatthemessageoftheHolyQur'anandthe

safeguardingofitsletterandspirit,wastheprimeconcernoftheseluminaries.

ImamJa'fer

al

Sadiq,

the

sixth

Imam

of

the

Prophet's

infallible

Household,

quotes

his

grandfather,

theMessengerofAllah(s.a.w.)assaying:"WhoevermemorizestheQur'anandpracticesits

teachings,willbeamongtheranksofthehonourableandtherighteous"(25)Narratedtheforth

ImamAlibinHusein(a.s.):theMessengerofAllah(a.s.w.)said:

"WhoeverisgiventheQur'anbyAllah,butthinksthatsomeoneelseisgivenabetterthingthan

heis,wouldbebelittingthegreatandmagnifyingthelittle."(26)ThefifthImamMuhammadal

Baqir(a.s.)isquotedtohavesaid:TheMessengerofAllah(s.a.w.)said:

"OreadersoftheQur'an,fearAllahforhavingchargedyouwithHisBook,asIamresponsibleand

youare

responsible.

Iam

responsible

for

communicating

the

Message,

while

you

will

be

questionedaboutwhatyouhavebeenchargedwiththeBookofAllahandmytraditions."(27)

ImamalSadiq(a.s.)said:

"AbelievershouldnotdiebeforelearningtheQur'an,ortryingtolearnit."(28)Heisalsoquoted

tohavesaid:


16/36


"TheQur'anisAllah'scovenanttoHiscreatures.So,aMuslimisoughttolookintohiscovenant

andreadsoversesofiteveryday."(29)Againhe(a.s.)said:

"ThreewillcomplaintoAllah,theExalted:Adesertedmosquewherelocalpeopledonotprayin

it;alearned

man

among

the

ignorant;

and

the

Scripture

(the

Qur'an)

which

is

covered

with

dust

as

nobodyreadsit."(30)He(a.s.)alsosaid:

"TheQur'anisalive,itneverdies.Itgoesonasthenightandthedaygoon,andasthesunandthe

moongoon..."Thus,werecognizethevalueandthesignificanceoftheQur'anasseenbythe

AhlulBait(a.s.)whonotonlydedicatedtheirlivestoitspracticalrendering,but,also,encouraged

theMuslimstofollowitsprinciples,memorizeit,andbuildtheirlivesonitsfoundations.

MemorizingtheQur'an

AmongtheblessingsofAllahonmankindisthatHe,Himself,hasguaranteedtoguardthis

everlastingDivineMessageagainstanyformofdistortion,forgeryanddisfigurement,insucha

waythatfalsehoodcannotapproachitfromanydirection.Remarkably,theQur'an,today,isthe

sametextwhichwasrevealedfourteencenturiesagototheProphet,andisfreefromany

additionsor

deletions.

Thereligiousscholars(ulama)andresearchers,intheschoolofAhlulBait,certifythisgreatfact.

WementiononlywhatSheikhTabarasi(oneoftheprominentinterpretersandgreatShi'ite

scholarsofthesixthcenturyA.H.)(mayAllahblesshim)said:"WhatisknownamongtheShi'a

scholarsandresearchers,orwhattheyevenpositivelytakeforgranted,istherejectionoftheidea

ofanyfalsification."(31)Healsosaid:

"...ofsuch(baseless)talkaboutadditionsanddeletions,intheQur'an,isunbecomingofany

interpretation.Astotheadditions,itisunanimouslyregardedtobeafalseassumption;and

concerningdeletions,

agroup

of

our

people

think

of

some

alterations

and

deletions

in

the

Qur'an,

whilethetruebeliefofourpeopleistothecontrary.Thishasbeensupportedby(Sherif)

Murtadha(mayAllahblesshissoul),who,extensivelydiscoursedonit..."(32)

SheikhalBalaghi(mayAllahglorifyhisstatus)said:TheQur'ancontinuestoenjoygreat

venerationamongtheMuslims,generationaftergeneration.Everywhereyouwouldencounter


17/36


thousandsofcopiesoftheBookandthousandsofthosewholearnitbyheart.Theystudiously

copyfromoneanotherandtheMuslimsreciteittooneanotherforverification.Thousandsofits

copiesstandassentinelsoverthelearners,andthousandsoflearnersstandassentriesoverthe

copiesoftheQur'an,andthousandsofthembothstandasguardianoverthenewcopies.Wesay

thousands,whileactuallytheyarehundredsofthousands.Nay!Thousandsofthousands,because

nohistorical

event

received

such

akind

of

perpetuity

and

unquestionable

eternity

as

the

Qur'an

did,aspromisedbyAllah,theExalted:

"SurelyWehaverevealedtheReminderandWewillmostsurelybeitsguardians."HolyQur'an

(15:9)

"SurelyonUs(devolves)thecollectingofitandtherecitingofit."HolyQur'an(75:17)

"Therefore,ifyouhappentoheardubiousnarrativesthatsomethingoftheQur'anwasdistorted

andsomeofitwaslost,donotheedsuchtalk,asscholarlyresearcheshaveprovedhow

disordered,shakyandweaktheirnarratersare,andhowcontradictorytheyaretothe

Muslims..."(33)Inachaptertitled'TheImamiya'sopinionrejectingdeletionsintheQur'an',

Balaghifurtherstatesinhis'Tafsir'."ItisnosecretthatSaduq(mayAllahblesshim)whoisknown

forthegreatcarehetookinwhathenarrated,saysinhisbook'Iqtiqad'.OurbeliefintheQur'an,

whichwassentdownbyAllahtoHisProphet,Muhammad(s.a.w.),isthatitconsistsofallthatis

inbetweenitstwocovers,anditiswhatisincirculationamongthepeople,nomore...Whoever

ascribestousthatwesayitwasmorethanthat,isbutaliar."

AnothergreatShi'itischolar,SheikhMufid,writesinhisbook'Maqalat'that:

"AgroupoftheImamiyasaythatnothingwasdeletedfromit(theQur'an)notevenasingleword,

verse,chapter,butwhatwasomittedwerethenotes,explanationsandinterpretations

concerningthemeaningsandthetruthofitsrevelation,whichhadbeenwrittenbythe

CommanderoftheFaithfulAli(a.s.)onhisowncompilationoftheBook"In'KashfalGhitafikittab

alQur'an',chaptereight,concerningthedeletion,itissaid:

"NodoubtthatitisprotectedagainstanyalterationbytheSovereign,theAlmighty,asisproved

bytheevidenceoftheQur'anandthescholars'unanimityofopinion."

SheikhBahauddinAmilisays:

"...theyalsodifferedconcerningadditionsanddeletionsinit,butthetruthisthattheGlorious

Qur'anisprotectedagainstallthat,beitadditionordeletion.ThisisprovedbyAllah'ssaying:"We

surelyareitsguardians."MuqaddasBaghdadi,in'SharhalWafiya'says:


18/36


"...thetalkaboutdeletionwhichisincirculationamongourcompanions,isincontrasttothe

unanimoustalkofnoninterferenceinit...itissaidthatSheikhAlibinAbdulAalihadwrittenan

exclusivebookrefutingthedeletiontheory',quotingtheaforementionedspeechofSaduq."(34)

Thelatecontemporaryscholar,SheikhMuhammadHuseinAalKashifalGhita',inhisbook'Aslal

Shi'awaUsuliha',says:"TheBookwhichis(incirculation)amongtheMuslimsistheBookwhich

Allahhad

sent

down

to

His

Prophet

amiracle

and

challenge

and

there

is

no

deletion,

distortion,

noradditionsinit."

TashisisthepositionoftheShi'atischolars,regardingtheQur'annowinthehandsofthe

Muslims.Itis,itwasrevealedtotheMessengerofAllah(s.a.w.),anditwillremainpureand

unadulterated,aslongasmanremainsonthefaceoftheearth,guidinghumanitytowardsvirtue

andhappiness.Certaindubiousnarrationswhichallegedlyspeakaboutdeletionsintheholytext,

and,sometimes,claimofaQur'anotherthanthis,havebeenexploitedbypurposefuloffenders

andhaveobviouslymisledsomepeople.Thesesimplemindedsoulscitethefollowingnarration

fromImamJa'farbinMuhammadalSadiqtosupporttheirmisconstruedviews:

"...butbyAllah(pointingtohischest)wehavetheweaponoftheMessengerofAllah(s.a.w.),his

swordandhisarmour.ByAllahwehaveFatima's'Mashaf'(book),whereinarenotanyofthe

versesofAllah'sBook.ItisadictationoftheMessengerofAllah,writtenbyAliwithhishand."(35)

TheyhavemisunderstoodtheImam,andwithoutgoingintothelexicalmeaningoftheword

MashafthoughtthathewasindicatingaQur'anotherthantheoneincirculation.Itwasagrave

mistakeonthepartofthesepeople.However,acarefulscrutinyofthenarrative,willhelpreveal

theactualmeaningofthewordMashaf:"ByAllahwehaveFatima's'Mashaf'(book),"

BylookingupthewordMashafinArabiclexicons,wediscoverwhatImamalSadiq(a.s.)actually

meant.RaghibIsfahanisays:"(AlSahifameansanyflatthingsuchastheflatnessofthecheck,a

leafapage,orasheetwhichisusedforwriting.ItspluralisSaha'iforSuhufastheAlmightysays;

"'Suhuf'ofAbrahamandMoses,andalso...receivingpure'Suhuf'(pages)whereinareallthe

correctbooks."HolyQur'an(87:19)

ItissaidthatitmeanstheQur'anandthatbyusingthepluralSuhufinwhichare'Books',itis

meanttosaythattheyincludemorethanwhatisinAllah'sBooks.Hence,aMashafisacollection

ofwrittenSuhuf,anditspluralformisMasahif.(36)Therefore,thewordMashafmeansanybook

andisnotaspecialtermfor"theBookofAllah".ItcanmeananycollectionofSuhuf(leavesof

paperorskin),andonlyinthiscontextcantheQur'analsobecalledMashafbecauseitisa

collectionofSuhuf.

TheexclusivenamesfortheBookofAllahare:AlQur'an,alDhikr,alFurqanandalKitab(37),as

mentionedintheholytext,itself.Allahdidnotcallit"Mashaf",but,itwerethelaterMuslimswho


19/36


nameditso,afterhavingcompileditonleavesorsheets.Thus,itisclearthatthemistakearose

fromthelinguisticuseofthewordduringtheearlydaysofIslam,whenpeopledidnottake

'Mashaf'tomeanQur'an,asitmayimplyinpresentdayusage.

AcloserlookatImamalSadiq'snarration,itself,willhelpclarifythemisconception.Hesaysthat:

"InFatima's

Mashaf

there

are

none

of

the

verses

of

Allah's

Book"

It

obviously

means

that

it

is

neithertheQur'annoranypartofit.Norisitadivinerevelation,butitisadictationofthe

MessengerofAllahwritteninImamAli'shandwriting.

Accordingtosomescholars'theMashafFatima'wasacollectionofsupplicationsandinstructions

whichProphetMuhammad(s.a.w.)dictatedforthebenefitofhisbeloveddaughterFatima(ass.).

PrinciplesforUnderstandingtheQur'an

TheQur'anistheBookofAllahWhosentitdownasaRevelationtoHisProphetMuhammad

(s.a.w.).

Allahprotectedit(theQur'an)againstanydistortion,forgeryanddisfigurement,additionsand

deletions.PraisebetoAllahthatalltheMuslimsagreewiththepurityandthesafetyofthe

Qur'an,but

there

is

ascientific

problem

which

is

the

problem

of

understanding

the

Qur'an

and

its

explanation.Mostofthedifferencesinideological,andjurisprudentialopinionsbelongtothe

differencethatexistinunderstandingandexplainingtheQur'an.

InordertogiveacorrectexplanationtotheQur'an,theImamsofAhlulBait(a.s.)usedtofollowa

scholarlymethodinexplainingtheQur'an,theseare:

1.TheexplanationoftheQur'anbytheQur'an,thatis;someQur'anicversesexplainsomeothers.

2.TheexplanationoftheQur'anbytrueandauthentictraditionsandnarrations.Surelythe

Messengerof

Allah

(s.a.w.)

explained

what

was

in

need

of

explanation

through

his

sayings

and

actions,liketheversesofprayer,payingthepoorrate(zakat),pilgrimageandvariousother

Qur'anicconceptsandlaws.

3.Explainingtheverses,whoseexplanationdoesnotreachusfromthepureProphetictraditions

(sunnah),andwerenotclear,becauseofotherverses,fromthelinguisticunderstandingofthe


20/36


Arabiclanguage.IndeedAllah'sBookisaclearArabicBook;whatisunderstoodfromitsliteral

meaningisanexcuseupontheMuslims.

4.Theexplanationdependsonthereasonfortherevelationinexplainingmostoftheversesof

theQur'anandthisshouldbedonewithintheframeworkoftheQur'anandtheTraditionsin

orderto

give

their

true

and

real

meanings.

ThePropheticTraditions(Sunnah)intheSchooloftheAhlulBait

ItisnarratedthattheMessengerofAllah(s.a.w.)said:

"MayAllahprosperthepersonwhoheardmysaying,memorizedit,comprehendeditandretoldit

(toothers)ashehadheardit,sinceacarrierofknowledgemaynotbeascholarandperhapsone

maytransportknowledgetoamorelearnedone."(38)TheProphetictraditionmeansthespecific

actions,sayingsandthedeclarations(confirmations)*oftheProphetMuhammad(s.a.w.).Allah,

theAlmightyorderedustofollowtheProphet(s.a.w.)andpractisehistraditions(sunnah)by

saying:

"...whatevertheApostlegivesyouacceptit,andwhateverheforbidsyouabstain(fromit)."Holy

Qur'an(59:7)

"CertainlyyouhaveintheApostleofAllahanexcellentexamplarforhimwhohopesinAllahand

theLastDay..."HolyQur'an(33:21)

"...andIfyouhaveadisputeconcerninganymatterreferittoAllahandtheApostle."HolyQur'an

(4:59)

* TaqririnArabicmeans"confirmation".itisadeclaration,approvalandsignatureandmeans

thattheMessengerofAllah(s.a.w.),himselfhadawitnessfortheactionspractisedbythe

Muslimsbut,didnotforbidthem.ThesedivineinstructionswerestrictlyadheredtobytheAhlul

Baitand

those

who

followed

their

radiant

path

and

advocated

sincere

adherence

to

the

Book

of

AllahandthePropheticsunnahininterpretation,narration,jurisprudence,legislationand

ideologyandotherIslamicknowledgeandsciences.

Thus,thePropheticsunnahisthesecondsourceamongthesourcesofthoughtandlegislationon

whichtheMuslimsdependedforjudgement,lawsandvalues.


21/36


MostoftheShari'ahlaws,andtheirconceptswerenotclearlydetailedintheBookofAllahlike

thelawsconcerningthepayingofpoorrate(zakat),prayer,wealth,holystruggle(jihad),family,

andinternationalrelationsandothers.Therefore,theMessengerofAllah(s.a.w.)started

explainingthemandclarifyingtheirrulestotheMuslimsthroughhissayingsandactions.He

(s.a.ws)told

the

Imams

of

Ahlul

Bait

(a.s.)

to

return

to

the

Qur'an

and

the

Prophetic

traditions

as

twomainsourcesforexplainingIslamiclawsandrulesandtorefuseanalogy,opinion,approval

andothersourcesuponwhichsomejuristsofIslamicsectsdependedintheirinductionsand

inferences.

ItisnarratedthatImamalSadiq(a.s.)said:

"NeveristhereanythingbutthatismentionedeitherintheBookofAllahorintheProphetic

tradition."(39)

Sama'ahaskedImamMusabinJa'far:"Isaidtohim:'IseverythingfoundintheBookofAllahand

thetraditionofHisProphet(s.a.w.);ordoyoucommentonthem?'He(a.s.)replied:'Yes,all

thingsarefoundintheBookofAllahandthesunnahofHisProphet'".(40)

NarratedImamAlibinMusaalRidha(a.s.)said:

"Donotacceptanysaying(relatingthemtous)whichdisagreeswiththeQur'an;surelyour

sayingsshouldagreewiththeQur'anandtheProphetictraditions;wespeakeitherquotingthem

fromAllahorHisMessenger."(41)

ItisnarratedthatImamJa'faralSadiq(a.s.)said:

"DonotacceptanynarrativerelatedtousunlesstheyagreewiththeQur'anandthesunnah."(42)

IndeedtheImamsofAhlulBaitmemorizedtheProphetictraditionsquotingthemfromtheir

fatherswhoquotethemfromtheMessengerofAllah(s.a.w.)andcalledpeopletowritethem

downfromtheperiod(ofrule)ofAliandhissonHasan(a.s.)whilethecaliphsforbidthewriting

downofthesunnahandtheycontinuedsotilltheperiodofUmarbinAbdulAziz(43)who

ordered,again,towritedowntheProphetictraditionsintheyearof99A.H.(44)

ImamalSadiq(a.s.)said:

"Mynarrationismyfather's,andmyfather'sismygrandfather's,andmygrandfather'sishis

father's,andhis;father'sisthenarrativeofAlibinAbiTalib,andthenarrativeofAliisthe

narrativeoftheMessengerofAllah(s.a.w.),andthenarrativeoftheMessengerofAllah(s.a.w.),is

thewordsofAllah.theExalted."(45)TheImamsofAhlulBaitwerethosewhocomprehendedand


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understoodthesunnahoftheMessengerofAllah,memorized,narratedthemtoothers,and

explainedtheircontentstotheMuslimnation.

ScholarlyMethodsforProvingthetrueSunnah:Inordertodistinguishthetruenarratives

(sunnah)fromtheinterpolatedandfalseones,thescholarsoftheschoolofAhlulBaitplaced

somescholarly

and

ideological

bases

and

measures

for

proving

true

sunnah.

The

most

prominant

ofthemare:

1.Anyhadith(theProphet'ssayings)shouldbecheckedwiththeBookofAllahtoseewhetheritis

correctornot.IfitconformswiththeQur'an,then,itisoftruehadith,but,ifitcontradictsthe

divinetext,thenitisafalseone.2.Allhadithsmentionedinthebooksofhadith,disregardingthe

reliabilityoftheirnarrators,shouldbecheckedandinvestigatedbythescholarsinordertobe

sureofthereliabilityofthenarratorandhistruthfulness.

3.Thescholarsshouldnotacceptanynarrationunlesstheirnarratorsaredescribedbypietyand

truthfulness,disregardingthesectorthegrouptowhichthenarratorbelonged.Therefore,the

methodofthejuristsofAhlulBait(a.s.)isnottoviewabookofhadithascompletelycorrectoras

completelyfalse.

MonotheismAccordingtotheSchoolofAhlulBait

ImamAli(a.s.)inNahjulBalaghasays:

"TheforemostinreligionistheknowingofHim,theperfectionofknowingHimistobelieveinHis

Oneness,andtheperfectionofbelievinginHisOnenessistobesinceretoHim."(46)Beliefin

Allah,theOne,andtheOnly,toWhomalltheattributesofperfectnessareascribedandWhois

abovealltheattributesofimperfection,isthemainoriginandbaseoftheIslamicfaith,thought,

legislationandconduct...etc.Therefore,theImamsofAhlulBait(a.s.)gavemoreimportanceto

formapureconceptofmonotheismfreefromdoubts,perversions,anddisbeliefofpreIslamic

ignoranceand

the

remnants

of

pagan

thought

and

strived

hard

towards

correcting

such

thought

byexplainingthetruemeaningsandfaithofmonotheismasprovedbytheQur'an.

Formoredetails,wecitesomenarrationsofAhlulBait(ass.)concerningthetruemeaningsof

monotheismanditsconcepts.ImamMusabinJa'far(a.s.)wrotetooneofhiscompanionsand

said:


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"Verily,AllahisHigh,andMighty(Sublime)andGreatandfarabovethattherealityofHis

attributesshouldbecomprehensible.AssigntoHimonlythoseattributesthatHehasassignedto

HimselfandrefrainfromqualifyingAllahwithanythingbesidesthoseattributes."(47)Regarding

theAlmighty'sintegrityandthepurityofIslamicthoughtfrompolytheismandpaganism,the

AhlulBait

(a.s.)

narrated:

"Whoever

likens

Allah

with

His

creatures

is

apolytheist;

surely

Allah

is

theAlmightyandHigh.NothingresemblesHimandnothingislikeHim,andHeistotallythe

reverseofwhateverisimagined."(48)

OneofthecompanionsofImamJa'farbinMuhammadalSadiq(a.s.)askedhimaboutthecorrect

sectinmonotheism,He(a.s.)said:

"You mayAllahbemercifultoyou askedmeaboutmonotheismandwhatthatgroupofpeople

believein.ExaltedisAllah,thelikeofwhomthereisnaught,andHeisAllHearingandAllSeeing:

AllahisabovewhatisattributedtoHimbythosedescriberswholikenAllahtoHiscreatures,those

whoareslanderoustoAllah.Knowyou mayAllahbemercifultoyouthatinrespectto

monotheism,thetruedoctrineiswhatisrevealedintheQur'anabouttheattributesofAllah,the

Almighty,theExalted.AttributednottoAllah,theSublime,anyideasofnihilismandsimilitude.

NeithershouldHisexistencebenegatednorshouldHebelikened(toanything).HeisAllah,the

EstablishedtheExistent.ExaltedisHefarabovewhatthefalseinterpretersattributetoHim.

ExceednottheQur'anoryouwillgoastrayaftertheclearexpositionoftruth."(49)

Thus,theImamsofAhlulBait(a.s.)explainthatthetruemonotheismistheonecalleduponby

theQur'anwhichunifiedAllahinHisSelf,Hisattributes,HisdeedsandHisworships.

DivineJustice

"Allah(Himself)iswitnessthatthereisnogodsaveHim,and(sodo)theangelsandthemenof

learning,maintainingHiscreationinjustice.ThereisnogodsaveHim,theAlmighty,theWise."

HolyQur'an

(3:17)

JusticeisoneoftheattributesofAllah,theExaltedanditseffectsarediscernedinallofHisacts.

Itsmanifestationcanbeseenintheworldofcreationandinthedivinelegislationandlaw,aswell.

It(DivineJustice)canbeseenintheobligationswhichHeassignsuponHisservantsascanbeseen


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intheJudgementandPunishmentDay,andthecompensationofthesufferingsresultingfrom

themwithoutpunishmentnorrevenge.Thus,theQur'antalksaboutAllah,theAlmighty'sJustice,

andman'sresponsibilityofhisdeedsand,also,refusestheideaoffatalism.TheAlmightysays:

"Allahenjoinsjusticeandkindness."HolyQur'an(16:90)

"...andyourLordwrongsnoone."HolyQur'an(18:49)

"...forit(isonly)thatwhichithasearned,andagainstit(only)thatwhichithasdeserved."Holy

Qur'an(2:286)

"Andwhoeverdoesgoodanatom'sweightwillseeitthen.Andwhoeverdoesillanatom'sweight

willseeitthen."HolyQur'an(99:78)

"Wehaveshownhimthewaywhetherhebegratefulordisbelieving."HolyQur'an(76:3)

"Andpointedouttohimthetwoconspicuousways."HolyQur'an(90:10)

"Corruptionhasappearedinthelandandtheseaonaccountofthatwhichmen'shandsban

wrought,..."HolyQur'an(41:30)

Differentopinions,amongtheMuslims,appearedinexplainingman'sactsandtheirrelationwith

Allah,theAlmighty.EvensomeIslamicschoolsbelievethatmanhasnofreewillandnooptionof

hisown,andallhisbehaviourandactionsarepredeterminedbyAllah,theAlmighty.Therefore,he

isforcedtodowhathedoesandisnotfreeinhisacts.

Otherssaythatmanhasfullchoicetodowhateverhewills,ashiswillisseparatefromAllah'swill,

andthatmandoeswhateverhewillsandAllahisactuallyincapableofstoppingmanfromdoing

whathewills.But,theImamsofAhlulBaitrefutebothofthesebeliefsandsay:NeitherFatalism

norSelfDeterminationbecause,man,ifhewasforcedtodowhathedoes,hewouldnotdeserve

punishmentandrewardandifmanhasfullchoicetodowhateverhewills,Allahwillnothave

poweroverallthings.Thus,thefollowingthreeopinionsappearedtoexplainman'sactions:

1.Fatalism

2.SelfDeterminationorFreewill

3.NeitherFatalismnorSelfDeterminationMuhammadbinAjlan,oneofthosewholivedduring

theperiodofImamalSadiq(a.s.)narratedtheexplanationoftheImam(a.s.)regardingman's

actions:Hesaid:Iaskedhim(theImam):

"DidAllahleaveHiscreaturestotheiraffairs?Hesaid:'Allahismoregenerousthantoleavetheir


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affairstothem,'Iasked:'ThendidHeimposeonthemtheiractions?Hereplied:'Allahismorejust

thantocompelaservanttodosomething,thentorturehimforthat."'(50)

So,manisresponsibleforhisowndeeds,andtherefore,deservespunishmentandreward

becausemannotonlyownsfreewillandoption,but,also,Allahgrantshimkindnessandhelpfor

guidanceand

salvation

from

error

and

misguidance

if

one

chooses

the

path

of

guidance.

AccordingtotheQur'an'sdeclaration,manisfreetochooseoneoftheways:

"Andpointedouttohimthetwoconspicuousways.""Wehaveshownhimthewaywhetherhebe

gratefulordisbelieving."

AhlulBaitandthePervertedGroups

TheopponentsofIslamrealizedthattheImamofAhlulBait(a.s.)weretheveryembodimentof

originalityandpurityandactedasarefugeforMuslimsintimeofdistressandcalamities.They

haveaspecialstatusandrespectintheselfofeveryMuslimwholovestheMessengerofAllah

(s.a.w.).Historytellsusthatdiverse,deviatedgroupsappeared,suchas;theZindiks,Exaggerators,

Mazdakis,Jews,hypocrites,andeventhosewhoareaffectedwithpaganthoughtswhichcame

eitherfromtheMagis,orfromthephilosophiesofIndia,China,andGreece,andthelikehave

usedtheir

different

destructive

attempts

to

deviate

Islam

and

defame

its

illuminated

face.

SomeofthesedeviatedgroupshaveevenslippedintotheranksoftheschoolofAhlulBaitand

claimedattachmenttotheminordertodefameIslamandtopollutetherightcauseofAhlulBait

anditspurity;liketheExaggeratorsandtheMazdakiswhodescribedtheImamsofAhlulBait

throughtheattributesofDivinityandpretendedthatAllah,theMostGlorified,hadtransmigrated

intothebodiesoftheImamsoftheAhlulBait(a.s.)andauthorizedtheaffairofthecreationto

them.But,theImamsofAhlulBait(a.s.)stoodfirmlyagainstsuchdestructiveanddeviatedbeliefs

anddisclosedthemtothepeople;stronglyrepudiated,cursed,dismissedandrenouncedthem.

Amongthese

deviated

groups

were:

'The

Mughira

Group',

the

followers

of

Mughira

bin

Sa'id

and

'TheKattabiyah',thefollowersofAbiKhattabMuhammadbinAbiZainabalAssadi.

ImamJa'faralSadiq,sonofImamalBaqir(a.s.),isquotedtohavesaid:

"MayAllahcurseMughirabinSa'idasheusedtotellliesagainstmyfather,mayAllahmakehim


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tastetheheatofburningiron,mayAllahcursethosewhosayaboutus,whatwedonotsay

ourselves,mayAllahcursethosewhotrytotakeusawayfromtheservitudeofAllah,Who

createdus,andtoHimisourreturnandinHishandisourcontrol."(51)

He(a.s.)alsosaid:

"Don'tacceptanysaying(hadith)relatingthemtousexceptthatwhichagreeswiththeQur'an

andtheProphetictraditions(sunnah)unlessyouseeanevidenceofourprevioussayingswithit;

indeedMughirabinSa'id,mayAllahcursehim,hasinterpolatedsayings(hadiths)inthebooksof

thecompanionsofmyfatherofwhichhe(myfather)didnotnarratethem,so,fearAllahand

don'tacceptanysayingrelatedtous,whichdisagreeswiththestatementofOurLord,the

Exalted,andthetraditionsofourProphetMuhammad(s.a.w.) becausewe,ifwenarrateany

hadith,wealwayssay:TheAlmightyAllahortheMessengerofAllah(s.a.w)saidsoandso."(52)

He(a.s.)furthersaid:

"MughirabinSa'idwasintentionallybelyingmyfather;heusedtotakethebooksofhis

companions,whodisguisedthemselvestobeofthecompanionsofmyfather,andthen,theygave

themtoMughirawhointerpolatedinthempervertedbeliefsofunbeliefandinfidelityand,then,

attributedthemtomyfatherandtherefore,returnedthemtohiscompanionsandorderedthem

todistributethemamongtheShi'a;wheneverthereisanyexaggerationinthebooksofthe

companionsofmyfather,besurethatitistheactofMughirabinSa'idwhointerpolatedthemin

hisbooks."

RegardingtheexaggerationandtheinterpolationofAbiAlKhattabandhislieagainsttheImams

ofAhlulBait,ImamAlibinMusaalRida(a.s.)said:

"IndeedAbiKhattabusedtotellliesagainstAbiAbdullah(ImamalSadiq)(a.s.),mayAllahcurse

AbiKhattab,whereashiscompanionsusedtointerpolatethesesayings(hadiths)upuntiltodayin

thebooksofAbiAbdullah(a.s.);therefore,don'tacceptanysaying(hadith)relatedbythemtous

iftheydisagreewiththeQur'an,because,alloursayingsshouldagreewithboththeQur'anand

theProphetictraditions."(53)

Thus,theImamsofAhlulBaitfoughttheExaggeratorsanddeviatedgroups.Theycalledonthe

MuslimstoholdfasttotheBookofAllah(theQur'an)andthepureProphetictraditionssothat

theycandifferentiatebetweentheilluminatedpathofAhlulBaittowhichthefollowersofthe

schooloftheImamiyaShi'afirmlyadheredandthemisguidanceoftheExaggeratorsandtheir

strayedbeliefs.


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TheAhlulBait'sMethodinthePoliticalField

PoliticalactionandthoughtformsaprincipalbaseamongthepillarsofIslam;Islamisacreed,

systemandlegislationanditsapplicationinitssocialfieldneedsapoliticalauthority,stateand

legitimateleadership.Therefore,thispoliticalactionandthoughttakes,inthemethodofAhlul

Bait,(a.s.)ahigh,importantpositionwhichisbasedonfoundationsandprinciples;amongthem

are:1.ThenecessityofestablishinganIslamicstateandapplyingitslaws.

2.TheMuslimleader(Imam)isresponsibleforsafeguardingIslamiclaws,applyingthemand

invitingotherstowardsthem.Heisthepoliticalleaderandguardianoftheideologicallineofthe

ummah

(Islamic

communities).

3.TheMuslimleader(Imam)shouldbequalifiedwithpiety,behaviouralrighteousness,andbe

familiarwithIslamiclaws.

4.Itisforbiddentoobeyorbefriendtheunjustruler.

First,itisobligatoryfortheMuslimstoadvisehim;ifhedoesnotrespond,itbecomesobligatory

fortheMuslimstoboycotthim,andifhedoesnotrespond,itbecomesobligatorytodeposehim

andrevoltagainsthimandpledgeallegiancetoajustrulerwhoactsaccordingtotheprinciplesof

theBook

of

Allah

and

the

traditions

of

His

Noble

Prophet

Muhammad

(s.a.w.)

ThesearetheclearfactsinthepracticallifeofAhlulBaitandtheirstruggleagainstthetyrannical

rulers;theirguidingandeducatingthemassesoftheummah;preparingthemtobeconscious

vanguardsandtheirsupportforthemovementsandrevolutionswhichadoptedreformand

change.

AmongtheprominantstateofrefusingoppressionandcorruptionisthestateofImamHuseinbin

Ali(a.s.)againstthegovernmentofYazidbinMu'awiyahandhisdeclarationforanarmed

revolutionagainsthim;thesupportofImamalSadiq(a.s.)fortherevolutionofZayidbinAlibin

Huseinin

the

year

121

A.H.

against

Husham

bin

Abdul

Malik;

and

the

support

of

Imam

Musa

bin

Ja'farfortherevolutionofHuseinbinAliinMadinahintheyear169A.H.againsttheAbbasid

caliphalMahdi.

ThelifeofAhlulBait(a.s.)isacontinuationofthewayinwhichtheMessengerofAllah(s.a.w.)

tookand,also,aconfirmationforit.ImamHusein,themartyr(a.s.)narratesfromhisgrandfather,


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theProphetMuhammad(s.a.w.),thathesaid:"Whoeverwitnessesanunjustrulerconsideringthe

prohibitionsofAllah,theAlmightyaspermissible,breakingthecovenantofAllah,opposingthe

practicesoftheApostleofAllah(s.a.w.),treatinghisservantssinfullyandcruellyandhadseenall

thesemisdeeds,but,didnotopposehimbywordsoractions,Allahsurelywillpunishhimashe

wills..."(54)

Thelifeofthe(AhlulBait)(a.s.)andtheirwordsareacorrectionforthedeviatedwayandfalsified

linewhichwasfoundedbysomeunjustrulersandtheirpreacherswhosupportedandbowed

downtothem.TheydependedonsomeforgedhadithswhichwerenarratedbyMusliminhis

Sihah;forexample,thefollowingnarrationismentionedintheabovementionedbook,inthe

chapterontheorderforthenecessityofperformingprayer,collectivelythattheMessengerof

AllahMuhammad,(s.a.w.)said:

"'Aftermetherewillberulerswhowouldnotbeguidedarightnorfollowmytraditionsand

amongthemtherewillappearmenwhoseheartslookliketheheartsofSatansbutinthebodyof

humanbeings."

Heasked:Isaid:O,MessengerofAllah,WhatshallIdo,ifIbecameawareofthis?He(s.a.w.)said:

'Youshouldlistenandobeysuchrulerseveniftheybeatyourbackortakeyourwealth,thenyou

shouldlistenandobeythem'"(55)

Alltheseforgedsayings(hadiths)writtenbythetyrants,andtheiragents,formsabasefor

misunderstandingtotheextentthatsomeevenbuilttheirpoliticalviewsonthem.Nawawiinhis

explanationofSahihMuslimsaid:

"ThejuristsandthenarratorsofAhlulSunnahsay:Therulershouldnotbedeposedbecauseof

doingcorrupt,oppressive,andwrongingother'srights.(Sucharuler)shouldnotbedeposednor

revoltedagainst,butitisobligatorytoadvise,andfrightenhimwiththenarrationsconcerning

that."(56)

TheImamsofAhlulBait(a.s.)hadaspecialpositionagainstsuchunjustrulersandtheystood

againstsuchdeviatedpoliticallines,therefore,theserulersbegantousedifferentkindsoftactics

againstthem.Their(AhlulBait)lifeisfilledofilluminatedimagesofsacrificeforthesakeoffaith

andtheirhistoryisthehighestexamplaryofstruggleforthesakeoftruthandwhospenttheir

bestdaysbetweeneitherbeingkilled,poisoned,pursuedontheearthorbeingpunishedinthe

darknessofprisons.


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30/36


(s.a.w.)tous."(61)HishambinSalimsaysthatheheardImamalSadiq(a.s.)tellamancalled

Hamranthis:

"Lookattheonewhoislowerthanyou(inposition)anddonotlookattheonewhoishigherthan

you,asinthiswayyouwillbemoresatisfiedwithwhatisyourlot,andmoredeservingofAllah's

bounty.Do

know

that

(good)

routine

deeds

even

iffew

are

worthier

than

aregular

deed

lacking

certainty.DoknowthatnopietyismorebeneficialthanavoidingtheprohibitionsofAllahand

refrainingfromwrongingthepeople.Nothingismorepleasingthanagoodtemper.Nowealthis

betterthanbeingcontentwiththelittlewhichsuffices.Noignoranceismorebitterthan

conceit."(62)

ImamAlSadiq(a.s.)alsocitestheMessengerofAllahasdescribingthebelievers:"Whoeveris

displeasedwithhisevildeedwhilebeingpleasedwithhisgooddeed,isafaithfulman."(63)These

arethetrueattributesofagoodMuslimonthebasesofAhlulBaitwhostrivedhardtoeducate

andestablishthem.ThisistheirtruemethodinbuildingandeducatingtheMuslimsocietyand

ummah.ThisistheirtruecallthroughwhichtheyaddressedthefollowersoftheProphet

Muhammad(s.a.w.)whichwastofollowtheBookofAllah(theQur'an)andthetraditionsofthe

MessengerofAllah(s.a.w.)andtobuildlifeontheirprinciples.HowbeautifulitiswhenaMuslim

isguidedarightthroughtheirguidanceandfollowstheirwillandlistenstotheremembranceof

them.

A

Look

at

the

Islamic

School,

Jurisprudence

DuringthedaysoftheMessengerofAllah(s.a.w.),Muslimsusedtoreceivetheregulationsand

preceptsconcerningworship,dealings,andjudgementsandothersocialissues,fromtheProphet,

himself,andhadnoprobleminunderstandingIslamandobtainingshari'ahlawsandregulations.

Afterhisdemise,peopleusedtorefertotheBookofAllahandthetraditionsofHisProphet,

derivingfromthempercepts,lawsandreligioussituations,ontheauthorityoftheProphet's

AhlulBait

and

those

of

the

religious

scholars

of

the

companions

who

collectively

agreed

with

the

mostlearnedamongthem,ImamAli.TheMessengerofAllah(s.a.w.)said:"Iamleavingamong

youtwopreciousthings:TheBookofAllahandmyProgeny,myHousehold.Andindeed,Allah,the

Benign,theAllAwarehastoldmethatthese(two)willneverpartwitheachotheruntilthey

returntomeatthePoolof'Kawther'inParadise."


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acceptingthenarration,withanemphasisonthereliabilityofthenarration.

2.TheacceptanceofcertainIslamicschoolsofjurisprudenceassourcesoflegislation,otherthan

theQur'anandtheProphet'straditions;likeanalogy,approval...etc.andrefusingthem.For

example,eachoftheHanafi,Shafi'i,Maliki,Hanbali,Zaydi,Shi'aImamiyajurists,...etc.hasitsown

wayand

conditions

for

accepting

the

narrations

proved

by

the

Prophetic

traditions.

Thisdifferencecausedbythesetwofoundationsaffectsthejurists'sviewsandopinions.This,in

return,leadstotheappearanceofjurisprudentialdifferenceamongthem.Thus,itisnota

differencebetweenthetwosects(theSunnisandtheShi'as)assometrytopretendinorderto

sowtheseedofdisunityanddiscordamongtheMuslims.Intruth,itisonlyascholarlydifference

amongtheMuslimjurists,altogether.Therefore,itisnottruethatthisscholarlydifferencebea

causeofdiscordanddisunityamongtheMuslims.Thus,itisobligatoryforalltheMuslimstohave

scholarlydialogesandunderstandingsandtoopenthedoorofIjtihad(endeavouringtodiscover

anddeducetheIslamiclawsandregulationsfromtheirsources)bythoseofthesectswhoclosed

it,sothatthescholarscanreachasatisfiedanswerandasafe,lawfulposition.Surely,the

scholarlydifferencesbased,onsafefoundations,shouldnotbeconsideredasamaincausefor

socialandpoliticaldifferencenortoisolatetheMuslimswhoareonesinglenationandwho,

altogether,agreethattheBookofAllahandthetraditionsofHisnobleProphetMuhammad

(s.a.w.)aretheoriginandmainsourceforIslamicknowledge,law,andthought.

Hereunderareexamplesofthejuristsopinions,showingtheirpointsofagreementand

disagreementinspiteofwhethertheybelongtotheSunnisortheShi'as:

BoththeImamiyaandtheHanbalissaythatthe'FirstTestimony'(intheprayer)iscompulsory,

whereastheHanafis,theShafi'isandtheMalikissaythatitisrecommended,andnotcompulsory.

The'LastTestimony'issaidbytheShafi'is,theImamiyaandtheHanbalistobecompulsory,

whereas,theMalikisandtheHanafissaythatitisrecommended,andnotcompulsory.(64)

TheShafi'is,theMalikisandtheHanbalissay.TheTaslim(submissionintheprayer)iscompulsory.

theHanafissay:Itisnotcompulsory,whiletheImamiyadifferamongthemselves:somesay:Itis

compulsory,whereas,otherssay:Itisrecommended.Amongthosewhoregarditas

recommendedwasMufid,SheikhTusiandAllamaHilli.(65)

Inrespecttocollectiveprayer,theHanbalissay:Itiscompulsoryoneveryableperson,andifone

leftitandprayedasanindividual,onewouldbeasinner,althoughhisprayeriscorrect.Onthe

otherhand,theImamiya,theHanafis,theMalikisandthemajorityoftheShafi'isregarditasnot

compulsoryoneveryone,noronafew,but,nonetheless,highlyrecommended.

Concerningthosewhodeservethepoorrate(zakat),theShafi'isandtheHanbalissaythat


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whoevergetshalfofhisrequirementsisnotregardedaspoor,anddeservesnotzakat(poorrate).

TheImamiyaandtheMalikissaythatthepoor,accordingtothereligion,istheonewhodoesnot

haveayear'sprovisionsforhimselfandhishousehold;so,whoeverhadafarm,apropertyor

cattle,thatwasinsufficienttosustainhimandhisfamilyforawholeyear,deservedtoreceivea

portionofthezakat.TheImamiya,theShaf'isandtheHanbalissaythatwhoeverwasabletoearn

hisbread

is

not

allowed

to

receive

the

zakat,

whereas,

the

Hanafis

and

the

Malikis

say:

He

is

allowedtoreceivethezakatanditshouldbepaidtohim.Concerningstayingovernightin

Muzdalifaduringthehajjrites,theHanafis,theShafi'isandtheHanbalissaythatitiscompulsory,

andwhoeverdoesnotstaytherewillhavetoofferasacrifice asin'alMughni',whereasthe

ImamiyaandtheMalikissay:itisnotcompulsorybutrecommended.

RegardingthepeltinginJamrahalAqaba (itisthelargestsymbolofthedevilwhichissituatedon

theoutskirtsofMinatowardsMecca,andsevenpebblesonthetenthdayshouldbethrownatit,

andisconsideredamongtheobligationsofthepilgrimage(hajj)), theMalikis,theHanafis,the

HanbalisandtheImamiyasay:ItisnotallowedtopelttheJamrahalAqababeforedawn,but,if

thepilgrimthrowsbeforedawnwithouthavinganexcuse,heshouldrepeatit,again,whereas,

theyallowedthepilgrimstodosoiftheyhaveexcuses,suchas,elderliness,sicknessandfear,

whereas,theShafi'issay.Itisallowedtodosobecausetheabovementionedtimeis

recommendedandnotobligatory.

Concerningthecontractofmarriage,theImamiya,theHanbalis,andtheShafi'issay.Thecontract

cannotbecorrectthroughcorrespondence,whereastheHanafissaythatitiscorrecttodosoif

bothsidesengagedinmarriageareinoneplace.

TheShafi'isandtheMalikissaythattheguardianisthesoleauthoritywhohastherightofconsent

tothemarriageofamentallysanegrown,maturegirlifsheisvirgin,butifsheisawidow,he

sharesinhermarriageconsent,andneitherofthemhasthesolerightofconsent.Moreover,itis

hewhoconcludesthemarriagecontract,asitcanneverbeconcludedbythegirl'swordsalone,

althoughhercontentisnecessary.

TheHanafissaythatamature,sanegirlhastherighttochooseherhusbandandtoconductthe

marriagecontractherself,irrespectiveofwhethersheisvirginorwidow,andnoonehasauthority

uponher,northerighttoobject,providedthatshechoosesaworthysuitor.MostoftheImamiya

juristsaythatthemature,sanegirlhastherighttoconductallkindsofproceduresanddeals,

includingmarriagecontracts,bothasavirginandawidow.Shehas,thus,therighttoconclude

contracts,onherownbehalfandonbehalfofotherthanherself,bothdirectlyandthrough

agency,inconsentandacceptance,similartotheman,withouttheleastdifference.(66)

Concerningdivorce,AbuZuhrasays:


34/36


"AccordingtotheHanafisect,thedivorceofeverybodyisvalid,exceptofthechild,theinsaneand

theidiot.So,thedivorceislegalevenifdonejokingly,orbyadrunkard,orunwillinglyandbythe

onewearingtheihram(pilgrimrobes)forhajjrites."(67)

Headds:

"AccordingtotheHanafisect,thedivorcedoneevenbymistakeorunintentionallyandbythe

forgetfulisvalid."(68)

Ofthesamebookshesays:

"MalikandShafi'agreedwithAbuHanifaandhisfollowersinrespecttothevalidityofdivorce

eveninjest,whileAhmad(binHanbal)didnotagree,regardingsuchadivorceasincorrect."(69)

TheImamiya,ontheauthorityofAhlulBait(a.s.),say:

"Nodivorce(isvalid)exceptfortheonewhowantsit."Theseweresomeexamplesof

comparativejurisprudence,selectedtoshowthereadertherealscholarlycontroversyinthe

Islamicsects,andhowthesesectsmeetinsomeinstancesanddifferinsomeothermatters,

regardlessoftheirShi'ismorSunnism.

WehavealreadyseentheHanafiandtheShaf'iagreeinginsomecaseswiththeImamiya,and

differingfromtheHanbali,andtheMaliki,ortheMalikiagreeingwiththeImamiyaanddiffering

fromotherSunnisects.Thisisanexplicitfactobservedinallthesubjectsofjurisprudenceandits

differentbranches.ThejurisprudentaldisputecannotbetermedadiscordbetweentheShi'ites

andtheSunnites.Itisascientific,methodicaldisputeamongthefiveschoolsofjurisprudence.We

havetolookforthelegalreligiousproofs,andcommenceascientificdiscussionuntilwegettothe

coreofthetruthregardingthecorrectnessoftheschool,asAllahhasonlyasingle,practical

verdictforeverycase.

ThosewhotrytoillustratethedisputebetweentheShi'itesandtheSunnisasiftheywereagainst

oneanother,ortwocontradictorysects,arebutfalsifyingthetruth,gettingawayfromthe

methodofsoundscientificobjectivity,andattemptingtoservetheenemiesoftheIslamic

Ummah,bysowingtheseedsofdisunity.

But,theneutral,doctrinal,scholarlymethodistheoneabletounifyalltheMuslimsandtobring

themalltogether.SheikhMuhammadShaltut,therectorofAlAzharTheologicalUniversity(Cairo)

hadissuedaverdictallowingthefollowersofdifferentIslamicsects theHanafis,theHanbalis,

theMalikisandtheShafi'is toactaccordingtotheImamiya(Shi'a)sect,aswellas,accordingto

otherIslamicsects,asthis,hesaid,waslawfulandcorrect.Hewasfollowed,inhisopinion,bythe

nextrectorofalAzhar,Dr.MuhammadFahham.


35/36


ItisworthwhiletostatethetextsoftheverdictsissuedbytheminthisrespectThefollowing

verdictisissuedbyAlSayyid,Hishonour,therectorofAlAzharTheologicalUniversityaboutthe

legalitytoworshipaccordingtotheImamiyaShi'aSect:

SheikhShaltut

was

asked

that:

"SomepeoplesaythatifaMuslimistoconducthisworshipandotherdealscorrectly,hemust

followoneofthefourIslamicsects,amongwhicharenotthesectsoftheImamiyaShi'anorthe

ZaidiShi'a.So,doesyourhonouracceptthisideainitsgenerality,andforbidfollowing,for

example,theTwelvers(ImamiyaShi'ites)?"

TheSheikhreplied:

"1.Islamdoesnotcompelanyofitsfollowerstofollowaparticularsect,butwesay:EveryMuslim

hastherightto'imitate'firstandforemost,anysectthathascorrectlybeenquotedandwhose

relevantpreceptshavebeenrecordedinitsparticularbooks.Whoeverfollowsoneofthesesects

maymovetoanyother,whicheverofthem,withoutanyrestrictions."

2.TheJa'fariSchoolknownastheImamiyaschoolofTwelversShi'ites,isaschoolaccordingto

whichitislawfultoworship,thesameastheotherSunnitesects.ItisnecessaryfortheMuslims

toknowthat,andtogetridofunjustprejudicetowardsparticularsects Because,neitherAllah's

religionnorHisShari'ah(Islamiclaws)arerelatedtoaparticularsectorrestrictedtoaschool,so

allofthemareabletodiscoverIslamicrulesandcodesfromtheQur'anandthesunnahandare

acceptablebeforeAllah,theAlmighty;therefore,itislawfulforthosewhoarenotabletogive

opinions,nortodoijtihadtofollowthemandpractisewhattheydecideintheirjurisprudenceand

thereisnodifferenceconcerningthisinworshipanddealings."

ThelateDr.MuhammadMuhammadFahham,therectorofalAzharcommentingonShaltut's

verdict,said:

"MayAllahhavemercyonSheikhShaltutwhoperceivedthissignificance,andinhisexplicit

verdict,displayedcourage,asheallowedactingaccordingtotheImamiyaShi'aSchool,

consideringitanIslamicjuristicschool,foundedontheBook,thesunnahandthemostcorrect

proofIpraytoAllahtograntsuccesstothosewhoactuponthissoundcourseofintroduction

amongthebrethren.

"Andsay:Act!Allahwillbeholdyouractions,and(sowill)HisMessengerandthebelievers.Our

lastinvocationis:PraisebetoAllah,Lordoftheworlds."


36/36

Itisobvious,then,thattheroadtotheunificationofthenationiswideopenbeforethefaithful

believersofIslam.Theyhavetounitetheirranks,todiscardtheirpettycontroversiesand

prejudices,touprootthecausesofdivision,andtosubjectthescientificpointsofviewtoresearch

anddiscussion.WeaskMuslims,everywhere,tocomprehendthecritical,politicalandsocial

situationthroughwhichtheummahispassing,andtolookatoneanotherwithaffectionand

brotherhood,and

to

identify

those

who

instigate

bigotry,

and

to

put

their

scientific

view

points

for

scientificdialoguesandresearchwithoutanyinstigationandfanaticism,lesttheenemiesofIslam,

inparticular,misusethemwhilewefaceZionismandimperialismandtheiragents.

Finally,weimploreAllah,theHigh,theOmnipotent,forHishelptounifytheranksofthisnation,

tokeepawaytheelementswhoagitatecommotionamongsttheMuslimsandwhopreventthe

applicationofdivinelaws.WeakeningtheranksoftheMuslims,andcausingdivisionamongthem,

cannotbebutasupporttotheenemiesofAllah,andaservicetothetyrantsandsuperpowers.

PraisebetoAllah,LordoftheWorlds.

Documents

Ahlul Bait a s in the Quran and the Prophets Traditions Sunnah