“AYAT-E-TATHEER”
In Surah Al Ahzab, verse 33, the Holy Qur’an declares:
إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا )
“Allah only desires O the members of the family of the Prophet! That He may remove from you every uncleanness and purify you well after cleaning you thoroughly.”
This verse is called or referred to as “Ayat-e-Tatheer.” This also indicates to the blessed wives of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam who are the Mothers of the Believers. However, in certain commentaries of the Holy Holy Qur’an and certain Ahadith, a few scholars have also mentioned that this indicates to Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Ali, Sayyidah Fathima and also Hasanain Kareemain Radi Allahu Anhum. (Tafseer Kabeer)
In one Hadith Shareef, it is mentioned that the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam once gathered them under his blessed shawl and made the following Du’a, “O Allah azza wajal, this is my Ahle Bayt and are special to me, please remove any impurity from them and make them pure.” (Mishkaat Shareef)
Hadrat Sayyidah Umme Salmah Radi Allahu ‘Anha once asked, “O Prophet of Allah, am I also among them?” He replied, “You are on goodness”.
At the same time, mention is also made of certain Ashaab there were included in this category. We see that once while explaining the immense stature of Hadrat Sayyiduna Salman Farsi Radi Allahu ‘Anhu the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam declared, “Salman is from among my Ahle Bayt.”
On another occasion, Hadrat Sayyiduna Waa’ilah Radi Allahu ‘Anhu asked, “O Prophet of Allah, am I also among your Ahle Bayt?” He replied, “Yes, you are among my Household.”
Imam Thalabi explains that by Ahle Bayt is meant all the members of the Bani Hashim and their children. In fact, it is also reported that once the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam placed his blessed shawl on his uncle and other members of the family and made Du’a, “O Allah! This is my uncle and he is like my father. They are members of my Ahle Bayt. Please protect them against the Fire of Hell as I am protecting them with this shawl of mine.” (Sawaaneh Karbala)
The words, “Ahle” and “Aale” has appeared on a number of occasions in the Holy Holy Qur’an. It can imply someone who follows you, a master, someone who has the same beliefs as you, a wife etc. Therefore, to insist that this only implies one single group and disqualifies another, is certainly not proper and fair. There are some ignoramuses who actually immediately remove the blessed wives of the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam from this category. They also claim to be great lovers and admirers of the Ahle Bayt in their twisted logic. They do not seem to understand a simple point which is that when someone asks you about your family, and if you are married, they would obviously also mean your wife or wives as well.
Imam Fakhrudeen Razi Radi Allahu ‘Anhu in the Tafseer Kabeer explains this “Ayat-e-Tatheer” in the following manner,
“The most appropriate explanation is that by Ahle Bayt is meant the children of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam, his wives, Sayyiduna Imam Hasan, Sayyiduna Imam Husain and Sayyiduna ‘Ali Radi Allahu ‘Anhum are also included in this category. The reason that (Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Ali Radi Allahu ‘Anhu) is included in this is because on account of his connection with Sayyidah Bibi Fathima and obviously also because of his attachment to her.”
Allama Saawi in his Tafseer explains that, “In this verse, Ahle Bayt could imply those who lived in his household such as his blessed wives and those who are related to his blood line such as his offsprings.”
Shaikh Muhaqqiq Allama Shaikh Shah Abdul Haq Muhaddith Dehlwi Radi Allahu Anhu explains in the Ash’atul Lam’aat Shareef that, “There are three categories of the Ahle Bayt. The Bayt of Nasab, the Bayt of Sakanah and the Bayt of Wilaadat. The Bayt of Nasab (or family blood line) would imply the Bani Hashim who are the children of Abdul Mutallib. They are the Ahle Bayt of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam in respect of family blood line or family lineage. The blessed wives are his Ahle Bayt who lived and resided with him. His children are his Ahle Bayt and are refereed to as Ahle Bayt Wilaadat, (in other words, those born from him).”
(a) Points to be noted in this explanation
One important point to be borne in mind is that in this verse Allah azza wajal has referred to removing any impurity from the Ahle Bayt. Ma’azzalah, it does not mean that they were impure and hence the need to remove any impurity from them. In like manner, when we appoint someone to clean the Masjid, it does not mean that the Masjid is actually unclean. It means that our intention is to make sure that no impurity comes near the Masjid. Hence, the meaning of this verse is that Allah azza wajal in His Divine Mercy does not want any impurity to come near the Blessed Household. This verse also states that the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam purifies them and Allah azza wajal also purifies the Blessed Household.
(b) An import point about the Blessed Ashaab
In Surah Anfal, verse 11, Allah azza wajal descibes the blessed Muslims who took part in the Battle of Badr as follows:
إِذْ يُغَشِّيكُمُ النُّعَاسَ أَمَنَةً مِنْهُ وَيُنَزِّلُ عَلَيْكُمْ مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ بِهِ وَيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمْ رِجْزَ الشَّيْطَانِ وَلِيَرْبِطَ عَلَى قُلُوْبِكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتَ بِهِ الْأَقْدَامَ
“When He made slumber overcome you, so it was as a peacefulness from Him, and sent down water from the sky upon you to purify you with it, and to remove the impurity of Satan from you, and to give your hearts fortitude and firmly establish your feet with it.”
It is quiet surprising that people would use the word “tatheer” in the previous verse to describe the purity of the Ahle Bayt, but when a verse uses the word “tatheer” to describe the blessed Ashaab, they do not even accept the blessed Ashaab as Muslims being purified by Allah azza wajal! It is quiet shocking. The word is the same, the tense is the same, the scale is the same, and nonetheless there is immense love displayed for the Ahle Bayt and immense hatred displayed for the Ashaab by using this word. What more can we say in this regard?
There is no doubt that love for the Ashaab is because of their connection with Sayyiduna Rasoolullah Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam and love for the Ahle Bayt is also because of their connection to the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam. If only people could understand and realise that those who sat in front of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam are to be respected, those who sat behind Sayyiduna Rasoolullah Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam are to be respected, those who rest in the same blessed piece of ground in which he rests, are also be to respected. The blessed person whom Sayyiduna Rasoolullah Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam carried on his shoulder, namely Sayyiduna Imam Husain Radi Allahu ‘Anhu is to be respected and that person who carried his beloved Prophet on his shoulder when they were travelling at night during the migration, namely Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Radi Allahu Anhu should also be respected. All the Ahle Bayt are to be respected and loved and all the blessed Ashaab are to be respected and loved.
If you do not do this, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam will never look at you.
At the same time, there are many verses in the Holy Qur’an which describes the greatness of the Ahle Bayt. However, we will present a few verses and a short explanation to each verse so that the treatise does not become too lengthy.
