ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Shiism: Imamate and Wilayat The Concept of Ahlul Bayt: Tribal or Islamic? The Meaning of Ahlul Bayt "Ahlul Bayt" literally means people of the house and it refers to the family or children of a person. In Islamic terminology, it refers to the family of the (s.a.w.). What is the basis of the importance given to the Ahlul Bayt of the Prophet? Is there anything about it in the Qur'an and the sayings of the Prophet?

Or is this an old Arab tribal concept with no basis in Islamic sources? The Qur'an and the hadíth have a lot to say about the Ahlul Bayt. However, before we even go to the Qur'an, a clarification on the concept of Ahlul Bayt is necessary. The term "family of the prophet" can be applied on three kinds of relationships: • Those who are related to the prophet by blood or marriage ties only. • Those who are related to the prophet by soul and spirit only.

●Those who are related to the prophet by blood or marriage ties as well as by soul and spirit. When the Qur'an or the Prophet uses the term "Ahlul Bayt", it could not be the first or the second group. The first group is only physically related to the Prophet but not spiritually, like the son of Prophet Nuh or the wife of Prophet Lut or Abu Lahab, the Prophet's uncle.

Allah clearly says to Prophet Nuh about his son: " Innahu laysa min ahlik - He is not of your family." (11:45-46) That is, he is not one of your spiritual family; he is only physically related to you. Lut's wife and the Prophet's uncle, Abu Lahab, both are counted as people of the Hell-Fire.

The second category is considered "Ahlul Bayt" only in a metaphorical sense, not in the real meaning; for example, Salman al-Farsi about whom the Prophet said, "Salman is from us, the Ahlul Bayt." This leaves us with the third group. Who Are the "Ahlul Bayt"? Many people were related to the Prophet both by blood and marriage as well as by soul and spirit. But the term "Ahlul Bayt" as used by the Qur'an and the Prophet does not apply to all of them.

We see that (s.a.w.) clearly applied the Qur'anic term "Ahlul Bayt" to four people: Fatima, 'Ali, Hasan and Husayn (peace be upon them all). The first verse (33:33) is of purification ( tathír) : "Verily Allah intends to keep away the abomination from you, O the Ahlul Bayt, and purify you a thorough purification." No Muslim would question the inclusion of Fatima, 'Ali, Hasan and Husayn in the "Ahlul Bayt".

✦ ✦ ✦