The Rights of the Noble Companions (رضي الله عنه) and the Family of the Prophet (ﷺ)
he Repentance
وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ وَٱلْأَنصَارِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَـٰنٍۢ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍۢ تَجْرِى تَحْتَهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًۭا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ ١٠٠
As for the first and foremost of the Emigrants (Muhājirīn) and the Supporters (AnSār) and those who followed them in goodness, Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Allah, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, where they will live for ever. That is the supreme achievement. (9:100)
2. The best example of faith and sacrifice.
مُّحَمَّدٌۭ رَّسُولُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥٓ أَشِدَّآءُ عَلَى ٱلْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَآءُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ تَرَىٰهُمْ رُكَّعًۭا سُجَّدًۭا يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًۭا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضْوَٰنًۭا ۖ سِيمَاهُمْ فِى وُجُوهِهِم مِّنْ أَثَرِ ٱلسُّجُودِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مَثَلُهُمْ فِى ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ ۚ وَمَثَلُهُمْ فِى ٱلْإِنجِيلِ كَزَرْعٍ أَخْرَجَ شَطْـَٔهُۥ فَـَٔازَرَهُۥ فَٱسْتَغْلَظَ فَٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَىٰ سُوقِهِۦ يُعْجِبُ ٱلزُّرَّاعَ لِيَغِيظَ بِهِمُ ٱلْكُفَّارَ ۗ وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ مِنْهُم مَّغْفِرَةًۭ وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًۢا ٢٩
Muhammad(ﷺ) is the messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are hard on the disbelievers, compassionate among themselves; you will see them bowing down in Rukū‘, prostrating themselves in Sajdah, seeking grace from Allah, and (His) good pleasure; their distinguishing feature is on their faces from the effect of Sajdah (prostration). This is their description in Torah; and their description in Injīl is: like a sown crop that brings forth its shoot, then makes it strong, then it grows thick and stands straight on its stem, looking good to the farmers, so that He may enrage the disbelievers through them. Allah has promised forgiveness and a huge reward to those of them who believe and do good deeds. (48:29)
3. Forgiveness and Rewards for the Companions who were part of the Pledge of Ridwan
۞ لَّقَدْ رَضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحْتَ ٱلشَّجَرَةِ فَعَلِمَ مَا فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَأَنزَلَ ٱلسَّكِينَةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَثَـٰبَهُمْ فَتْحًۭا قَرِيبًۭا ١٨
Allah was pleased with the believers when they were pledging allegiance with you (by placing their hands in your hands) under the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts, so He sent down tranquility upon them, and rewarded them with a victory, near at hand, (48:18)
4. The Promise of Paradise
“…And those who spent and fought before the conquest (of Makkah) are better than those who spent and fought afterwards. And Allah has promised all of them the best…
وَمَا لَكُمْ أَلَّا تُنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَٰثُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ لَا يَسْتَوِى مِنكُم مَّنْ أَنفَقَ مِن قَبْلِ ٱلْفَتْحِ وَقَـٰتَلَ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةًۭ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنفَقُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدُ وَقَـٰتَلُوا۟ ۚ وَكُلًّۭا وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌۭ ١٠
And what is wrong with you that you should not spend in the way of Allah, while to Allah belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the earth? Those who spent before the Conquest (of Makkah) and fought are not at par (with others). Those are much greater in rank than those who spent later and fought, though Allah has promised the good (reward) for each. Allah is well aware of what you do. (57:10)
5. The faith of the Companions (رضي الله عنه) was established as the ‘standard of faith’.
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ ءَامِنُوا۟ كَمَآ ءَامَنَ ٱلنَّاسُ قَالُوٓا۟ أَنُؤْمِنُ كَمَآ ءَامَنَ ٱلسُّفَهَآءُ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ ٱلسُّفَهَآءُ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا يَعْلَمُونَ ١٣
And when it is said to them, “Believe as people have believed,” they say, “Shall we believe as the fools have believed?” Beware, it is, in fact, they who are the fools, but they do not know. (2:13)
This verse clarifies that the faith of the Companions (رضي الله عنه) is a high standard and the true guidance.
6. Adopting their way
A Hadith regarding the Companions (رضي الله عنهم):
أصحابي كالنّجوم، بأيّهم اقتديتم اهتديتم”
My Companions are like stars; whichever one of them you follow, you will be guided. (مشکاة المصابیح، 6018)
The Rights and Status of Ahl al-Bayt (رضي الله عنهم)
Who are the Ahl al-Bayt?
The term “Ahl al-Bayt” refers to those individuals who are the close relatives of the Prophet (ﷺ), and who hold a high status and honor in Islam. It is obligatory for every Muslim to love, respect, and fulfill the rights of the Ahl al-Bayt, as they are the guarantors of the stability of the religion and the pleasure of Allah.
In light of the Qur’an and Hadith, the term “Ahl al-Bayt” primarily includes those individuals who are from the household of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and whom Allah has granted special purity and excellence.
In the light of the Holy Qur’an:
وَقَرْنَ فِى بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِيَّةِ ٱلْأُولَىٰ ۖ وَأَقِمْنَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتِينَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَطِعْنَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ ٱلرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ ٱلْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًۭا ٣٣
Remain in your homes, and do not display (your) beauty as it used to be displayed in the days of earlier ignorance; and establish Salāh, and pay Zakāh, and obey Allah and His messenger. Allah only intends to keep (all sorts of) filth away from you, O members of the family (of the prophet), and to make you pure through a perfect purification. (33:33)
Context and Background:
This verse was revealed regarding the wives of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). However, one of its phrases…
إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ
Indeed, Allah only intends… (33:33)
The address is in the masculine form, from which the commentators have deduced that, along with the wives, other close members of the Ahl al-Bayt are also included.
In the Light of the Hadiths
(1) The Hadith of the Cloak (Hadith al-Kisa)
It is narrated from Umm al-Mu’minin, Hazrat Umm Salama (رضي الله عنها) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) gathered Hazrat Ali, Hazrat Fatimah, Hazrat Hasan, and Hazrat Hussain (رضي الله عنهم) under a cloak and said:
اللَّهُمَّ هَٰؤُلَاءِ أَهْلُ بَيْتِي، فَأَذْهِبْ عَنْهُمُ الرِّجْسَ وَطَهِّرْهُمْ تَطْهِيرًا
O Allah! These are my Ahl al-Bayt. Keep all impurity away from them and purify them completely.
(2) The Hadith of Thaqalayn
إني تاركٌ فيكم الثقلين، كتابَ اللهِ، وعترتي أهلَ بيتي… (جامع ترمذی، مسند احمد)
I am leaving among you two precious things: the Book of Allah and my Ahl al-Bayt, that is, my family.
Conclusion: In light of the Qur’an and Hadith, those included in Ahl al-Bayt are:
1. Hazrat Muhammad (ﷺ)
2. Hazrat Fatimah al-Zahra (رضي الله عنها)
3. Hazrat Ali (رضي الله عنه)
4. Hazrat Hasan (رضي الله عنه)
5. Hazrat Hussain (رضي الله عنه) (These five are known as “Ahl al-Kisa”)
6. The Blessed Wives (Azwaj-e-Mutahharat)
(Some commentators and scholars, according to the context of the Ayat al-Tahhir, include the Prophet’s (ﷺ) wives in Ahl al-Bayt.)
The Rights of Ahl al-Bayt (The Pure Family)
1. The Declaration of Purity by Allah Almighty:
وَقَرْنَ فِى بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِيَّةِ ٱلْأُولَىٰ ۖ وَأَقِمْنَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتِينَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَطِعْنَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ ٱلرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ ٱلْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًۭا ٣٣
Remain in your homes, and do not display (your) beauty as it used to be displayed in the days of earlier ignorance; and establish Salāh, and pay Zakāh, and obey Allah and His messenger. Allah only intends to keep (all sorts of) filth away from you, O members of the family (of the prophet), and to make you pure through a perfect purification. (33:33)
2. The Command to Love Ahl al-Bayt
ذَٰلِكَ ٱلَّذِى يُبَشِّرُ ٱللَّهُ عِبَادَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ ۗ قُل لَّآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا ٱلْمَوَدَّةَ فِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ ۗ وَمَن يَقْتَرِفْ حَسَنَةًۭ نَّزِدْ لَهُۥ فِيهَا حُسْنًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ شَكُورٌ ٢٣
That is the good news that Allah gives to His servants who believed and did righteous deeds. Say, “I do not ask you any fee for it, except the love of kinship.” And whoever performs a good act, We will increase for him goodness therein. Surely Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Appreciative. (42:23)
Hadith:
“أذكّركم الله في أهل بيتي، أذكّركم الله في أهل بيتي (صحیح مسلم، حدیث 2408)”
I swear by Allah, fear Allah regarding the Ahl al-Bayt.
3. The Virtue and Special Status of Ahl al-Bayt:
وَقَرْنَ فِى بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِيَّةِ ٱلْأُولَىٰ ۖ وَأَقِمْنَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتِينَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَطِعْنَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ ٱلرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ ٱلْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًۭا ٣٣
Remain in your homes, and do not display (your) beauty as it used to be displayed in the days of earlier ignorance; and establish Salāh, and pay Zakāh, and obey Allah and His messenger. Allah only intends to keep (all sorts of) filth away from you, O members of the family (of the prophet), and to make you pure through a perfect purification. (33:33)
This verse is proof of the purity of Ahl al-Bayt and the special sanctity granted to them by Allah. ‘Purity’ does not only refer to physical cleanliness but also includes spiritual, moral, and social purity.
3. The Importance of the Proximity and Status of Ahl al-Bayt:
حدیث سفینة نوح: قال رسول الله ﷺ: «إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي فِيكُمْ كَمَثَلِ سَفِينَةِ نُوحٍ، مَنْ رَكِبَهَا نَجَا وَمَنْ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهَا غَرِقَ» (المستدرك للحاكم 2/343، وحسنه بعض أهل العلم)
4. The Importance of Fulfilling the Rights of Ahl al-Bayt
The rights of Ahl al-Bayt include loving them, respecting them, obeying their words, and following their teachings. Fulfilling their rights is a means of gaining Allah’s pleasure and a sign of properly following the religion of Islam.
Ahl al-Bayt played a significant role in propagating and safeguarding the principles of Islam. Following their teachings and keeping their Sunnah alive is also part of fulfilling their rights.
The rights of Ahl al-Bayt, in the light of the Qur’an and Hadith, are very clear and of a high status. Fulfilling their rights is the responsibility of every believer, as it leads to the love and respect of the religion, and the protection of Islam, while earning Allah’s pleasure.
نبی کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کے صحابہ کرام اور اہلِ بیت کے حقوق
