By: Seyyed Ali Shahbaz

 

“That is the good news Allah gives to His servants who have faith and do righteous deeds! Say (O Prophet to mankind), ‘I do not ask you any reward for it (enlightening minds with Islam) except love of [my] nearest of kin...” (Holy Qur’an 42:23) 

The above is the clear commandment of God Almighty for all those claiming to be Muslims. It explicitly states that the token of their gratitude towards Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) for delivering them from the darkness of ignorance, idolatry, oppression, and all sorts of vices, is their love and affection for his immediate family.

In other words, it is an article of faith to adhere to the path of the Prophet’s immaculate blood-kin or progeny, whom God calls the Ahl al-Bayt and vouches their purity in the holy Qur’an (33:33).

To remove any doubts on the identity of his Ahl al-Bayt, the Prophet himself has said without mincing words: 

“I am leaving behind among you the Thaqalayn (two invaluable things), the Book of Allah (Qur’an) and my progeny (Itrati) the Ahl al-Bayt. Hold fast to them and you will never go astray, for the two never separate with each other even when they return to me at the Pond (of Kowthar on Judgement Day).” 

The above hadith has been widely quoted by all denominations of Islam, as could be evinced from the famous compilation of our Sunni brethren titled “Sahih Muslim”, although in some later works by certain pseudo scholars, the word Itrati (my Progeny) has been replaced by Sunnati (my practice).

Erudite scholars, both Shi’a and Sunnis, have thoroughly scrutinized this hadith and reached conclusion after checking the “isnaad” (chain of transmitters) that the original word is definitely Itrati, since there is no doubt or dispute concerning the identity of the progeny of the Prophet, in contrast to accounts of his behaviour and practice that has unfortunately been subjected – either intentionally or unintentionally – to contradictory interpretation and even fabrications on what actually he did or meant, and how he prayed (whether with hands unfolded or folded). 

All ulema, however, are unanimous that the Prophet’s love and affection for his daughter, Hazrat Fatema Zahra (SA), her husband Imam Ali (AS), and their sons, Imam Hasan (AS) and Imam Husain (AS), along with the commandment for all Muslims to revere his Ahl al-Bayt, is an unquestionable, indisputable, and inseparable part of his Sunnah.

We are indeed indebted to auspicious Sha’ban for taking up this lively discourse, especially since today happens to be the 11th of this blessed month, the day on which Imam Husain (AS), the Prophet’s younger grandson, was blessed with a radiant son who bore a striking resemblance to the Almighty’s Last Messenger to mankind.

Named Ali (AS) in honour of his Infallible Grandfather, the One and Only Amir al-Momineen, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS), his gait, voice and eloquent manner of speech brought memories of the Prophet to the people of Medina, Mecca and elsewhere.

According to reports, he was born in 33 AH and called Ali al-Akbar (Ali the Elder), while his two younger brothers were Imam Ali Zain al-Abedin (AS) and the 6-month infant martyr of Karbala Abdullah Ali al-Asghar (Ali the Younger). His presence in Karbala on the fateful day of Ashura or 10th Muharram in the year 61 AH definitely drew the line between Muslims and infidels.     

No wonder, while sending his youthful son to the battlefield, Imam Husain (AS) held God as Witness, saying he was now offering a person who was the carbon copy of the Prophet, adding: “Whenever we missed seeing Your Prophet, we would look at him.” 

Then he recited the Qur’anic ayah:

“Indeed Allah chose Adam and Noah, and the progeny of Abraham and the progeny of Imran above all the nations.” (3:34). 

Irrespective of the fact that the “Imran” mentioned in this ayah could be Abu Taleb – the paternal ancestor of Prophet Muhammad’s (SAWA) progeny – and certainly not the father of the Virgin Mary since Prophet Jesus did not leave any issue behind, the question arises: Was Murrah bin Munqad who pierced the chest of Ali al-Akbar in Karbala with a spear and then cruelly twisted the blade inside his body, a believer in Islam?

Moreover, could Yazid and his hordes who most brutally massacred the Prophet’s Ahl al-Bayt, be considered Muslims? 

Still, was the system called caliphate that brought the Godless Omayyads to power, Islamic?

And last but not the least, shouldn’t we Muslims, not just for the sake of the Ummah’s unity in this modern scientific era but for the course of our souls in the Hereafter including the eventual meeting with the Prophet who will surely question us about the Thaqalayn on the Day of Judgement, summon the courage of faith to scrutinize the scandalous event of Saqifa Bani Sa’da and the blood of the Ahl al-Bayt it spilled when the victor of this dubious gathering led a gang of rogues to batter down the door of the house on Fatema Zahra (SA), thereby breaking her ribs and resulting in the martyrdom of the stillborn Mohsin? 

These are points to ponder as we celebrate the Day of Youth in the Islamic Republic of Iran on the occasion of the auspicious birthday of the Immortal Youth of Karbala, who thus introduced himself to his foes on the battlefield: 

“I am Ali, the son of Husain, the son of Ali,

“By the House of God, we are those with the Prophet righteously,

“By God, the son of a spurious son, will not judge us,

“I will strike with the blow of a Hashemi, a Quraishi.”