In the translation of the above verse...

In the translation of the above verse, Yusuf Ali states that the Prophet did not ask for any wage. By that, Yusuf Ali contradicted his own translation of the other mentioned verse (12) where he states the Prophet did, in fact, ask for the wage: Yusuf Ali> “Say: No reward do I ask of you for this except the love of those near of kin”(13) There is no doubt that the reward of the Prophet is with Allah. However, with the above order of Allah, the Prophet did ask People to love his family as his wage.

Such a request is, in fact, for the benefit of people as verse 34:47 testifies. The verses of the Holy Quran explain one another. More Surprisingly, there is a third verse with another wording which implies that the benefit that people get by fulfilling the Prophet’s request (i.e., affection and devotion to Ahlul-Bayt) is that they will be led to the path (Sabeel) of Allah: “Say: I ask of you no reward for it except that one who wishes, may adopt a Path (Sabeel) toward his Lord”(14).

Pickthall’s translation: Pickthall> “Say: I ask of you no reward for this save that whoso will, may choose a way unto his Lord” (15) Putting verses 25:57 beside 42:23 and 34:47 gives evidence to the fact that each member of Ahlul-Bayt is on the Right Path (Sabeel) toward Allah and the way toward His satisfaction. The Right Path of Allah is no more than one even though it is manifested in a sequence of divinely appointed leaders.

As such, each of these leaders was the unique Path (Sabeel) of Allah in their own time, and through whom people can attain protection against disagreement in religious matters. In fact, the Messenger of Allah confirmed the above conclusion from the latter verse. Ibn Sa’d and Ibn Hajar recorded that: The Messenger of Allah said: “I and my Ahlul-Bayt are a tree in Paradise whose branches came to this world (Dunya).

Thus, whoso will, may choose a path unto his Lord (by taking a branch and reaching to the stem in Paradise).”(16) The above-underlined part of the Hadith of the Prophet (PBUHH) is the Quranic verse mentioned above (17). True love for Ahlul-Bayt will, in fact, oblige us to follow their Right Path which guarantees human prosperity in this world as well the Paradise in the world after. NOTES: __________________________________________________ 1. The Quran 42:23. 2.

Sunni references: al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, “Chapter of understanding the virtues of companions,” vol. 3, p. 172 al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p259 3.