Hawzah News Agency- Speaking at an international webinar held on the occasion of the Day of Mubahala and the revelation of Surah Hal Ata, Dr. Ahsan al-Hadi of Bangladesh said love for the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUT) is neither a Shia nor a Sunni issue exclusively, but an article of faith shared by Muslims worldwide.
He opened his remarks by commending the organizers and participants, underlining the need to address the station of the Ahl al-Bayt through sound scholarly inquiry. He noted that Islam's Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his household) repeatedly enjoined the Muslim community to love his purified Household, a reality the Holy Quran itself underscores in multiple verses.
Dr. Ahsan al-Hadi stated that Sunni Muslims in Bangladesh firmly believe that affection for the Ahl al-Bayt is a prerequisite of faith. He explained that just as the Prophet said no one can be a true believer unless they love the Prophet more than their own father, children, and all people, love for the Prophet cannot be separated from love for his pure progeny.
Citing the Verse of Affection (Mawaddah) from Surah ash-Shura, verse 23, the Dhaka University scholar said God commanded the Prophet to tell the faithful: "Say: I do not ask of you any reward for it except love for my near relatives." He pointed out that this was the only reward the Prophet sought in return for all the hardships he endured to guide humanity. Referencing Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti's Tafsir al-Durr al-Manthur, he noted that the term "near relatives" refers to the household of Lady Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her) and her descendants.
Turning to the Verse of Purification (Tathir) from Surah al-Ahzab, verse 33, he recalled that when the verse "Indeed, Allah desires to repel all impurity from you, O Ahl al-Bayt, and purify you with a thorough purification" was revealed, the Prophet gathered Imam Ali, Lady Fatima, Imam Hasan, and Imam Husayn (peace be upon them all) under his cloak and declared, "These are my Ahl al-Bayt." The episode, he said, plainly illuminates the unique standing of the Prophet's Household among Muslims.
The Bangladeshi Sunni scholar further pointed to the Verse of Obedience from Surah an-Nisa, verse 59, in which God commands believers to obey Him, the Messenger, and "those vested with authority among you." From a Sunni perspective, he explained, the Ahl al-Bayt hold a pivotal station after the Prophet in expounding the path of guidance and safeguarding the Ummah from deviation.
Dr. Ahsan al-Hadi highlighted the Hadith al-Thaqalayn (the Two Weighty Things) as one of the most important proofs of the Ahl al-Bayt's position. He noted the hadith is recorded in authoritative Sunni sources, including Sahih Muslim, Sunan al-Tirmidhi, and Sunan al-Nasa'i. In it, the Prophet declared: "I am leaving among you the two weighty things: the Book of Allah and my progeny, my Ahl al-Bayt." Based on this, the Quran and the Ahl al-Bayt constitute the Prophet's two precious legacies for the Islamic community.
Addressing the event of Ghadir, he added that the Prophet raised Imam Ali's hand and proclaimed, "For whomever I am his master, Ali is his master." He then prayed: "O Allah, befriend whoever befriends him." The scholar said this utterance demonstrates that love for and allegiance to Imam Ali are essential pillars of faith.
Turning to the Verse of Mubahala from Surah Al-e-Imran, verse 61, he noted that when the Prophet was called to the field of Mubahala, he took with him Lady Fatima, Imam Hasan, Imam Husayn, and Imam Ali. The Quranic expression "our selves" in this verse points to Imam Ali's extraordinarily high standing with the Prophet, as he took him as his own self to the encounter.
Dr. Ahsan al-Hadi also spoke of the place Ahl al-Bayt devotion holds in Bangladesh's religious culture. He observed that, doctrinally speaking, there is no great distance between Sunnis and Shias in the country regarding affection for the Prophet's Household. In their Friday sermons and religious gatherings, he said, they openly proclaim Lady Fatima Zahra as the Mistress of the Women of Paradise, and Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn as the Chiefs of the Youths of Paradise.
In closing, the Dhaka University scholar affirmed that love for the Ahl al-Bayt is a sign of true faith and a measure of sincerity in religion. Whoever genuinely loves the Prophet cannot remain indifferent toward his pure Household. He concluded that promoting this love can serve as fertile ground for greater unity, mutual empathy, and solidarity among Muslims across the world.
Your Comment