Imam al-Shafi'i رحمه الله writes:
يا أَهْلَ بَيْتِ رَسولِ اللهِ حُبُّكُمُ - فَرْضٌ مِنَ اللهِ في ٱلْقُرْآنِ أَنْزَلَه
كَفاكُمْ مِنْ عَظيمِ ٱلْقَدْرِ أنَّكُم - مَنْ لَمْ يُصَلِّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَلا صَلٰوةَ لَه
O members of the Household (Ahl al-Bayt) of the Messenger of Allah! Loving you is an obligation, which God has revealed in the Qur’an.
On the greatness and loftiness of your station, it is enough that anyone who does not invoke blessings on you (in invoking blessings on the Prophet (ﷺ), it is as if he has not invoked blessings at all.
Who Are The Ahl al-Bayt?
The Ahl al-Bayt are wives of the Prophet ﷺ, the children of the Prophet ﷺ, members of his family who accepted Islam, and those from Banu Hashim and Banu al-Muttalib and their freed slaves. None from the Ahl al-Bayt can accept zakat.
From part of a longer hadith, Zayd bin Arqam رضي الله عنه narrated, "...Once the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood amongst us in order to address us at an oasis called Hama between Makkah and Madinah. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) praised and glorified Allah. He then advised us and reminded us and thereafter said, “O people, I am but a human. Soon a messenger of my Lord will come and I will accept his request. (Referring to his death) I leave amongst you two weighty things: the first being the Qur’an which is filled with guidance and light, So hold onto it with steadfastness. Thereafter the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) urged us and emphasised concerning the Qur’an. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “My Ahl al-Bayt. Remember Allah when dealing with my Ahl al-Bayt. Remember Allah when dealing with my Ahl al-Bayt.”
(One of the narrators) Husayn asked Zayd, “Who are the Ahl al-Bayt? Are not the wives of the Messenger (ﷺ) Ahl al-Bayt?” Zayd replied, “Yes, His wives are also from the Ahl al-Bayt. However, the Ahl al-Bayt are those amongst whom it is not permitted to distribute Zakat.” Husayn asked, “Who are they?” Zayd replied, “They are the progeny of Ali, Aqeel, Ja’far, and Abbas.” [Muslim]
The sahabah asked, “O Allah’s Messenger, How should we send salutations upon you?” The Allah’s Messenger replied, “Say,
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَأَزْوَاجِهِ وَذُرِّيَّتِهِ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَأَزْوَاجِهِ وَذُرِّيَّتِهِ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
‘O Allah, I ask you to send salawat upon Muhammad, his wives, and his progeny; just as you sent salawat upon Ibrahim and I ask you to send blessings upon Muhammad, his wives, and his progeny just as you sent blessings upon the family of Ibrahim. You are indeed the Most Praiseworthy, the Most Glorious.’” [Bukhari]
Allah referred to the Prophet’s ﷺ wives as part of Ahl al-Bayt when they were commanded,
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
Settle in your homes, and do not display yourselves as women did in the days of (pre-Islamic) ignorance. Establish prayer, pay zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah only intends to keep (the causes of) evil away from you and purify you completely, O members of the (Prophet’s) family! [Surah al-Ahzab, 33] There are other ayat in the Qur’an where the wives of Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Musa are called their Ahl.
Other than the wives of the Prophet ﷺ, the highest rank among the Ahl al-Bayt is held by his ﷺ children and grandchildren. Aishah رضي الله عنها narrated, “The Prophet ﷺ went out one morning wearing a striped cloak (made) of a black camel’s hair. Hasan bin Ali came and the Prophet ﷺ placed him under it. Then came Husayn and he entered (the cloak) with him. Then came Fatimah and he ﷺ placed her under it. Then came Ali and he ﷺ placed him under it. Then he ﷺ said, ‘Allah only intends to keep (the causes of) evil away from you and purify you completely, O members of the (Prophet’s) family!’” [Muslim]
The only non-Arab member of the Ahl al-Bayt is Salman al-Farsi رضي الله عنه. He was given this blessing by the Prophet ﷺ. Ali رضي الله عنه said about Salman, “He knows the first knowledge (i.e. of the previous revealed books) and the last one (i.e. the Qur’an and the Sunnah); he is a sea (of knowledge) that is very deep to the extent that you cannot reach its bottom; he is from us the family of the household (of the Prophet ﷺ).” [Tabaqat al-Kubra] It is because of this honour that Salman could never take charity for the rest of his life.
The Misunderstanding of the Land of Fadak
This is a topic used to cause doubts about the intentions of the sahaba by deviant groups. A short summary has been synthesised using multiple narrations from Sahih al-Bukhari.
Fai' is war booty won without fighting. One such property was the estate of Fadak that was under the Prophet's ﷺ care. Fadak was a village approximately three nights journey from Madinah, which contained some springs and a few date palms. With regards to Fadak and all types of Fai’, Allah says,
مَّا أَفَاءَ اللّٰهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُوْلِهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْقُرَىٰ فَلِلّٰهِ وَلِلرَّسُوْلِ وَلِذِيْ الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامٰى وَالْمَسَاكِيْنِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيْلِ كَيْ لَا يَكُوْنَ دُوْلَةً بَيْنَ الْأَغْنِيَاءِ مِنْكُمْۚ - وَمَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَىٰكُمْ عَنْهُ فَٱنتَهُوا۟ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ
And what Allah restored to His Messenger from the people of the towns, it is for Allah and for the Messenger and for (his) near relatives and orphans and the (stranded) traveller, so that it will not be a perpetual distribution among the rich from among you. And whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he has forbidden you - refrain from. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty. [Surah al-Hashr, 7]
He ﷺ used its wealth for the yearly maintenance for his family, and whatever used to remain, he used to spend it in charity. It was not gifted to anyone as the Prophet ﷺ himself managed it till his death.
After the Prophet ﷺ passed away, 2 requests came to Abu Bakr:
- Aishah رضي الله عنها narrated, "The wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) sent Uthman to Abu Bakr demanding from him their 1/8 of the Fai' which Allah had granted to his Messenger.
- Aishah رضي الله عنها narrated, "Fatimah (رضي الله عنها ) sent somebody to Abu Bakr asking him to give her her inheritance from the Prophet (ﷺ) from what Allah had given to His Messenger through Fai'. She asked for the wealth assigned for charitable purposes of the Prophet (ﷺ) in Madinah, and Fadak, and what remained of the Khumus (i.e., one-fifth) of the Khaibar booty.
Both parties got the same response. Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه said, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "We (Prophets), our property is not inherited, and whatever we leave is sadaqah, but Muhammad's family can eat from this property, but they have no right to take more than the food they need.' By Allah! I will not bring any change in dealing with the sadaqah of the Prophet (and will keep them) as they used to be observed in his (i.e. the Prophet's) life-time, and I will dispose with it as Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to do,"
Hearing this, Ali رضي الله عنه said, "I testify that None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and that Muhammad is His Messenger," and added, "O Abu Bakr! We acknowledge your superiority." Then he (i.e. Ali) mentioned their own relationship to Allah's Messenger and their right. Abu Bakr then spoke saying, "By Allah in Whose Hands my life is. I love to do good to the relatives of Allah's Apostle rather than to my own relatives"
Fatimah رضي الله عنها never spoke to Abu Bakr thereafter to engage him on the matter any further as she was content with his decision. The wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) also stopped demanding anything when they heard this hadith.
Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه during his caliphate took charge of this property and disposed of it in the same manner as Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to do. Not just that, he was the first person to institute monthly stipends for the Ahl al-Bayt from the public treasury.
Umar رضي الله عنه during the the first 2 years of his caliphate maintained the property in the same way as Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه used to do. He then appointed Ali and Al-Abbas رضي الله عنهم as the manager of Fadak on behalf of the Khalifah for easier administration. Uthman رضي الله عنه during his caliphate continued the practice of Abu Bakr and Umar based on the guidance of the Prophet ﷺ.
Ali رضي الله عنه during his own caliphate did not distribute Fadak رضي الله عنها to the heirs of Fatimah. Rather, he dealt with it in the exact same manner as his predecessors had dealt with it where the returns from the property after the family's use were distributed among the destitute, the needy and the travellers.
The Fadak estate was then similarly managed by Hasan bin Ali, then by Husayn bin Ali, then by Ali bin Husayn and Hasan bin Hasan, and each of the last two used to manage it in turn, and then it came in the hands of Zayd bin Hasan رضي الله عنهم. Likewise, Muhammad al-Baqir took on the management of the Fadak Estate during the reign of Umar ibn Abdul Aziz. It remained in his control until the Abbasid Khalifas took control of it.
The Khulafa of the Prophet ﷺ
Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه narrated, “Ali bin Abu Talib (رضي الله عنه) came out of the house of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) during his fatal illness. The people asked, ‘O Abul Hasan! How is the health of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) this morning?’ Ali replied, ‘He has recovered with the Grace of Allah.’ Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib (رضي الله عنه) held him by the hand and said to him, ‘In three days you, by Allah, will be ruled (by somebody else ), And by Allah, I feel that Allah's Messenger will die from this ailment of his, for I know how the faces of the offspring of Abdul Muttalib look at the time of their death. So let us go to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and ask him who will take over the Caliphate. If it is given to us we will know as to it, and if it is given to somebody else, we will inform him so that he may tell the new ruler to take care of us.’ Ali said, ‘By Allah, if we asked Allah's Apostle for it (i.e. the Caliphate) and he denied it to us, the people will never give it to us after that. And by Allah, I will not ask Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) for it.’” [Bukhari] This shows us that Ali رضي الله عنه himself knew that the office of the khilafah was not meant to be hereditary or family-only.
A woman approached the Prophet ﷺ and spoke to him about something. He instructed her to return to him. She submitted, “O Messenger of Allah, what if I come and do not find you,” hinting towards death. The Prophet ﷺ said, “If you do not find me, then go to Abu Bakr.” [Bukhari]
Anas رضي الله عنه reported, “The Banu al-Mustaliq sent me to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to ask him as to whom they should give their zakat to after his demise. Accordingly, I came to him and posed the question. His reply was, ‘To Abu Bakr.’” [Hakim]
The dreams of the prophets are a form of revelation. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “I saw (in a dream) that the people had gathered. Then Abu Bakr stood up and pulled out one or two buckets full of water (from a well) and there was weakness in his pulling -- may Allah forgive him. Then Ibn al-Khattab stood up, and the bucket turned into a very large one and I have never seen any strong man among the people doing such a hard job. He pulled out so much water that the people (drank to their satisfaction) and watered their camels to their fill, (and then after quenching their thirst) they sat beside the water.” [Bukhari]
In the last days before he passed away, Aishah رضي الله عنها (complaining of headache) said, “Oh, my head"! Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, “I wish that had happened while I was still living, for then I would ask Allah's Forgiveness for you and invoke Allah for you.” Aishah (jokingly) said, “Wa thuklayah! By Allah, I think you want me to die; and if this should happen, you would spend the last part of the day sleeping with one of your wives!” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Nay, I should say, ‘Oh my head!’ I felt like sending for Abu Bakr and his son, and appoint him as my successor lest some people claimed something or some others wished something, but then I said (to myself), ‘Allah would not allow it to be otherwise, and the Muslims would prevent it to be otherwise.’” [Bukhari]
Aishah رضي الله عنها reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) in his (last) illness asked me to call Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه), her father, and her brother too, so that he might write a document, for he feared that someone else might be desirous (of succeeding him) and that some claimant may say, ‘I have better claim to it’, whereas Allah and the Faithful do not substantiate the claim of anyone but that of Abu Bakr." [Muslim]
Abdullah ibn Zam’ah رضي الله عنه narrated, “When the illness of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) became serious while I was with him among a group of people, Bilal called him for prayer. He said, ‘Ask someone to lead the people in salah.’ So Abdullah ibn Zam’ah went out and found that Umar was present among the people and Abu Bakr was not there. I said, ‘Umar, get up and lead the people in prayer.’ So he came forward and uttered, ‘Allahu Akbar!’ When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) heard his voice, as Umar had a loud voice, he said, ‘Where is Abu Bakr?’ Allah does not allow that, and the Muslims too; Allah does not allow that, and the Muslims too.’ So he sent for Abu Bakr. He came after Umar had led the people in that prayer. He then led the people in prayer (again).” [Abu Dawud]
Once Abu Bakr was leading the people. He heard the Prophet ﷺ coming and tried to move back, but Allah's Messenger ﷺ beckoned him to carry on. The Prophet ﷺ sat on his left side. Abu Bakr was praying while standing and Allah's Messenger ﷺ was leading the prayer while sitting. Abu Bakr was following the Prophet ﷺ and the people were following Abu Bakr (in the salah). [Bukhari]
After the death of the Prophet ﷺ, the Ansar assembled with Sa’ad bin Ubadah in the garden Bani Saida. They said (to the emigrants), “There should be one Ameer from us and one from you.” Then Abu Bakr, Umar bin al-Khattab and Abu Ubaidah bin al-Jarrah went to them. Umar wanted to speak but Abu Bakr stopped him. Umar later on used to say, “By Allah, I intended only to say something that appealed to me and I was afraid that Abu Bakr would not speak so well.” Then Abu Bakr spoke and his speech was very eloquent. He said in his statement, “We are the rulers and you (Ansars) are the ministers (i.e. advisers).” Hubab bin al-Mundhir said, “No, by Allah we won't accept this. But there must be a ruler from us and a ruler from you.” Abu Bakr said, “No, we will be the rulers and you will be the ministers, for they (i.e. Quarysh) are the best family amongst the Arabs and of best origin. So you should elect either Umar or Abu Ubaidah bin al-Jarrah as your ruler.” Umar said (to Abu Bakr), “No but we elect you, for you are our chief and the best amongst us and the most beloved of all of us to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ).” So Umar took Abu Bakr's hand and gave the pledge of allegiance and the people too gave the pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr. [Bukhari]
Imam Musa bin Uqbah رحمه الله narrated that Abd ar-Rahman bin Awf رضي الله عنه said, “Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) gave an address (khutbah) and said, 'By Allah, I was never eager for a position of command for even as long as a day or a night, and I never desired it, and I have never asked Allah for it in secret nor openly. However, I was afraid of dissension. I will have no rest in command. I have been invested with a mighty matter for which I have not the energy, nor the power, except it be by Allah's strengthening.” Ali and Az-Zubayr said, “We were not angry except that we were too late for the counsel, and we see Abu Bakr as the person most fitted for it. He was the Companion of the Cave. We know his honour and his excellence. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered him to lead the people in prayer while he was yet alive.” [al-Maghazi]
Similarly, Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri رضي الله عنه said, “When Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) climbed the pulpit, he looked at the faces of the people who were before him. Not finding Zubayr bin al-Awwam (رضي الله عنه)(رضي الله عنه) anywhere among the crowd, Abu Bakr summoned for him to come. When Zubayr came (a short while later), Abu Bakr said to him, ‘O cousin and helper of the Messenger of Allah, do you want to break the stick of the Muslims (i.e. do you want to be the cause of disunity)?’ Zubayr said, ‘There is no blame upon you (for what you say), O Khalifah of the Messenger of Allah.’ after which he stood up and pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr.
Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) then looked in the faces of the crowd, and, not finding Ali bin Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه) anywhere among them, summoned for him to come. When Ali came (a short while later), Abu Bakr said, ‘O cousin of the Messenger of Allah, do you want to break the stick of the Muslims (i.e. do you want to be the cause of disunity)?’ Ali responded, ‘There is no blame upon you (for what you say), O Khalifah of the Messenger of Allah.” after which he stood up and pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr.” [al-Bidayah wan Nihayah]
This authentic narration was deemed so important by Imam Muslim bin al-Hajjaj رحمه الله (compiler of Sahih Muslim), that he went to his teacher, Imam Muhammad bin Ishaq al-Khuzaymah رحمه الله, and asked him about it. bin al-Khuzaymah wrote out the hadith for him and read it for him. Speaking figuratively, Imam Muslim said, “This hadith is worth a badanah (a large cow that is slaughtered in Makkah, i.e. this hadith is something of great value).” bin Khuzaymah responded, “This hadith is not only equal to a badanah; instead, it is equal to a badarah (a bag that contains 1000 or 10,000 gold coins; or in other words, this ḥadīth is a priceless treasure).
The sahaba were human and they had their own emotions and feelings. Being the son-in-law and cousin of the Prophet ﷺ, it is not far fetched to think that assuming the leadership after the Prophet ﷺ to do good would have definitely popped in Ali’s mind. This is clear from the hadith we read above when he was leaving the Prophet’s ﷺ house.
The following narrations shows how well they managed their emotions with love and respect. It is reported that weeks later, Ali رضي الله عنه requested Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه for an audience and he had with him other member of Banu Hashim. Aishah رضي الله عنها narrated, “So Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه entered upon them, and then Ali رضي الله عنه said to Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, ‘We know well your superiority and what Allah has given you, and we are not jealous of the good what Allah has bestowed upon you, but you did not consult us in the question of the rule and we thought that we have got a right in it because of our near relationship to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ).’ Thereupon Abu Bakr's eyes flowed with tears.
And when Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه spoke, he said, ‘By Him in Whose Hand my soul is to keep good relations with the relatives of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) is dearer to me than to keep good relations with my own relatives. But as for the trouble which arose between me and you about his property, I will do my best to spend it according to what is good, and will not leave any rule or regulation which I saw Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) following, in disposing of it, but I will follow.’
At that Ali رضي الله عنه said to Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, ‘I promise to give you the oath of allegiance this afternoon.’ So when Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه had offered the Dhuhr salah, he ascended the pulpit and uttered the tashahhud and then mentioned the story of Ali رضي الله عنه and his failure to give the oath of allegiance, and excused him, accepting what excuses he had offered. Then Ali رضي الله عنه (got up) and praying (to Allah) for forgiveness, he uttered tashahhud, praised Abu Bakr's right, and said, that he had not done what he had done because of jealousy of Abu Bakr or as a protest of that Allah had favored him with. Ali رضي الله عنه added, ‘But we used to consider that we too had some right in this affair (of rulership) and that he (i.e. Abu Bakr) did not consult us in this matter, and therefore caused us to feel sorry.’ On that all the Muslims became happy and said, ‘You have done the right thing.’ The Muslims then became friendly with Ali as he returned to what the people had done (i.e. giving the oath of allegiance to Abu Bakr).” [Bukhari]
Sa'eed bin Jumhan narrated: Safinah (رضي الله عنه) narrated to me that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Al-Khilafah will be in my Ummah for thirty years, then there will be monarchy after that."' Then Safinah said to me: 'Count the Khilafah of Abu Bakr,' then he said: 'Count the Khilafah of Umar and the Khilafah of Uthman.' Then he said to me: 'Count the Khilafah of Ali."' He said: "So we found that they add up to thirty years." [Tirmidhi]
Together they are known as the Four Rightly Guided Khulafa. Some mention Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan رضي الله عنهم or Umar bin Abdul Aziz رحمه الله as the fifth rightly guided khalifa and this is incorrect. The fifth rightly guided khalifa was Hasan bin Ali رضي الله عنهم who was the Khalifa for 6 months. It is with the addition of his caliphate that the prophesied 30 years are completed. After this, he gave away the office of Khalifah to Muawiyah in 41 AH.
He stood on the minbar and said, “O Muslims! To me, mischief is highly detestable. I made peace with Muawiyah to save the Ummah of my grandfather from tribulations and disorder and accepted him as commander and Khalifah. Had the command and khilafah been his right, he has got it; if it was mine, I bestowed it on him.”
Imam al-Bukhari رحمه الله reports from Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, “The Prophet (ﷺ) was once sitting on the pulpit with Al-Hasan beside him. He (ﷺ) would sometimes look towards the audience and at times at Al-Hasan and said, “This son of mine is the chief of people and Allah the Almighty will reconcile between two groups of Muslims through him.”
- The Khilafah of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq lasted 2 years 3 months 9 days from the 13th Rabi al-Awwal 11 AH to the 22nd Jumada al-Thani 13 AH.
- The Khilafah of Umar al-Faruq lasted 10 years 6 months 3 days from the 23rd Jumada al-Thani 13 AH to the 26th Dhul Hijjah 23 AH.
- The Khilafah of Dhun Nurayn Uthman bin Affan lasted 12 years 12 days from the 1st Muharram 24 AH to the 18th Dhul Hijjah 35 AH.
- The Khilafah of Ameer al-Mu’minin Ali bin Ab Talib lasted 4 years 9 months from the 19th Dhul Hijjah 35 AH to the 19th Ramadan 40 AH.
Total: 29 years 6 months 4 days
- The Khilafah of Hasan bin Ali lasted 6 months from 19th Ramadan 40 AH to 19th Rabi‘ al-Awwal 41 AH.
Total: 30 years
The Status of Abu Bakr and Umar In The Eyes of the Ahl al-Bayt
There is a rare occurrence where Ali رضي الله عنه narrates a hadith from the Prophet ﷺ on the authority of Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه. Ali رضي الله عنه said, “Indeed I am a man who, when I heard a Hadith from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) then Allah causes me to benefit from it as much as He Wills for me to benefit from it. When a man among his Sahaba narrates to me I ask him to swear an oath to me about it, and when he swears an oath to me I trust him. And Abu Bakr narrated to me - and Abu Bakr told the truth - he said, ‘I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, ‘There is no man who commits a sin, then makes wudhu, then performs salat, then seeks forgiveness from Allah, except that Allah forgives him.’ Then he recited this ayah:
(وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُوا فَاحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُوا اللَّهَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا لِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَنْ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَلَمْ يُصِرُّوا عَلَى مَا فَعَلُوا وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ
Those who when they have committed fahishah or wronged themselves with evil, remember Allah. (Surah Aal Imran, 135) until the end of the Ayah." [Tirmidhi]
Our mother Aishah رضي الله عنه narrated, “My father left with his sword unsheathed, mounted on his conveyance towards Dhu al-Qissah (during the Wars of Riddah). Ali ibn Abi Talib rushed towards him, gripped his animal’s halter and said, ‘Where are you off to, O Khalifah of Rasulullah (ﷺ)? I will tell you the very same thing Rasulullah (ﷺ) said to you on the Day of Uhud, ‘Sheathe your sword and do not burden us with your demise.’ By Allah, if we suffer with losing you, Islam will never ever prosper thereafter.’ Hearing this, Abu Bakr returned and sent out the army.” [al-Bidayah wan Nihayah]
Ja’far bin Muhammad narrates from his father that a man once said to Ali bin Abi Talib رضي الله عنه, “O Ameer al-Mu’minin! Who was it that you were referring to in the khutbah when you said, ‘O Allah! Reform us and mend our ways as You did with the (previous) rightly-guided khulafa?’ With teary eyes, he exclaimed, ‘They are my beloveds, your uncles, Abu Bakr and Umar. They were (leading) men from Quraysh and paragons of guidance. They were to be followed after the Messenger of Allah. Whosoever emulated them was protected, and whoever followed in their footsteps was guided unto the Sirat al-Mustaqim (straight path). Whoever clung onto them and their normative practices was considered to be from Allah’s (special) group; and Allah’s group are truly the successful ones.” [Hilyat al-Awliyah]
Ali رضي الله عنه declared upon the pulpit, “Hearken! Certainly, Abu Bakr was tender hearted and possessed a heart frequently returning to Allah. Hearken! Umar was sincere to Allah, so Allah treated him accordingly.” [Tarikh Dimashq]
Ali رضي الله عنه was once asked about Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه and so he said, “Allah referred to him with the epithet al-Siddiq upon the blessed tongue of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and Jibreel (عليه السلام). He was the deputy of the Prophet (ﷺ). The Prophet (ﷺ) was pleased with him to administer our religious affairs, and thus we are all pleased with him to administer our worldly affairs. [Hilyat al-Awliyah]
Muhammad bin al-Hanafiyyah رضي الله عنه narrated, “I asked my father (Ali bin Abi Talib), ‘Who are the best people after Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?’ He said, ‘Abu Bakr.’ I asked, ‘Who then?’ He said, ‘Then Umar.’ I was afraid he would say Uthman, so I said, ‘Then you?’ He said, ‘I am only an ordinary person.’ [Bukhari]
Ali رضي الله عنه said, “The best of this ummah after our Prophet (ﷺ) are Abu Bakr and Umar.” [Ahmad] Imam ad-Dhahabi رحمه الله said, “This is mutawatir from Ali, so may Allah curse ar-Rafidah, how ignorant they are!” In another narration, bin Abi Layla recorded that Ali said, “Anyone who prefers me over Abu Bakr and Umar, I will lash them with the hadd punishment for inventing falsehood.”
Ali Zayn al-Abidin bin Husayn رضي الله عنه was asked, “What was the status of Abu Bakr and Umar in the eyes of the Messenger of Allah?” He gestured towards their graves and said, “Just as their relationship is with him right now.” [Siyar A'lam an-Nubalah]
Bassam al-Sayrafi said, “I asked Abu Jaʿfar (Muhammad al-Baqir) about Abu Bakr and Umar” He replied, “By Allah, I associate myself to them and I seek forgiveness for them. I have not met anyone from my household who dissociates themselves from them.” [Tabaqat al-Kubra]
Imam Abu Hanifah رحمه الله said, “I met Abu Ja’far bin Muhammad bin Ali and asked him about Abu Bakr and Umar.” He replied, “May Allah confer His mercy upon Abu Bakr and Umar.” I remarked, “It is said in Iraq that you disassociate yourself from them!” He said, “Allah forbids! Whoever says that about me is a liar. Do you not know that Ali bin Abi Talib married off his daughter Umm Kulthum, whose mother was Fatimah, the daughter of the Prophet (ﷺ) to Umar ibn al-Khattab; while her grandmother was Khadijah and her grandfather was the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)?’” [Al-Muntathim]
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir رضي الله عنه used to say, The children of Fatimah unanimously agreed to say the best about Abu Bakr and Umar." [Siyar A'lam an-Nubalah]
Urwah bin Abdullah narrated that he asked Muhammad al-Baqir رضي الله عنه regarding decorating a sword. He replied, “It is fine, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq decorated his sword.” I then said, “Do you say, ‘As-Siddiq’?” He jumped up and faced the Qiblah, saying, “Yes, al-Siddiq! Yes, al-Siddiq! The person who does not say al-Siddiq, may Allah never let any of his statements be deemed credible in this world or in the hereafter.”
He also said, “The person who does not acknowledge the virtue of Abu Bakr and Umar is ignorant of the Sunnah.” [Siyar A'lam an-Nubalah]
Abdullah bin Ja'far bin Abi Talib رضي الله عنه who lived through the caliphates of both Abu Bakr and Ali رضي الله عنهم said, “We were ruled by Abu Bakr, the best of the Caliphs, the most merciful towards us, and the kindest to us.” [Sharh Usul I'tiqad Ahl al-Sunnah]
Ja'far as-Sadiq رضي الله عنه said, “Allah is free from the one who disassociates from Abu Bakr and Umar, Allah be pleased with them both.” [Fadhail as-Sahaba]
Ja’far as-Sadiq رضي الله عنه said, “Some of the envious zealots of Iraq claim that we speak ill of both Abu Bakr and Umar. How can that ever be, they are my fathers!” [Sharḥ al-Sunnah]
Ja’far as-Sadiq رضي الله عنه used to proudly say, “Abu Bakr fathered me twice.” [Umdat al-Talib]
How is this?
- He is Ja’far al-Sadiq bin Muhammad al-Baqir bin Ali Zayn al-Abidin bin Husayn bin Ali.
- Abu Bakr's eldest son is Abdur Rahman and his youngest son is Muhammad.
- Al-Qasim bin Muhammad married Asma bint Abdur Rahman and had Fatimah who was famously known as Umm Farwah.
- Muhammad al-Baqir married Umm Farwah and had Ja’far as-Sadiq in 80 AH.
- Ja’far’s mother is Umm Farwah bint al-Qasim bin Muhammad bin Abi Bakr. She is the paternal granddaughter of Muhammad bin Abi Bakr.
- Umm Farwah's mother is Asma bint Abdur Rahman bin Abi Bakr. She is the maternal granddaughter of Abdur Rahman bin Abi Bakr.
Imam al-Ajurri رحمه الله records that Salim bin Abu Hafs narrated, “I asked Abu Ja’far (Muhammad al-Baqir) and Ja’far about Abu Bakr and Umar. And they said, ‘O Salim, befriend them and absolve from their enemies, indeed they were imams of guidance’ - And Ja’far said to me, ‘O Salim, Abu Bakr is my grandfather. Can a man abuse his own grandfather? And may the intercession of Muhammad (ﷺ) not reach me on the Day of Judgement, if I did not befriend them and did not absolve myself from their enemies” [Kitab al-Shari’yyah]
Zayd bin Ali رضي الله عنه said, "Abu Bakr was the leader of the Shakirin. Thereafter he recited the ayah, 'Allah will reward the Shakirin.' He then said, “To disassociate oneself form Abu Bakr is to disassociate oneself from Ali." [Siyar A'lam an-Nubalah]
Abu Khalid al-Ahmar said, "I asked Abdullah bin Hasan (al-Muthanna) about Abu Bakr and Umar and he replied, “May Allah bless them and may Allah not bless those who do not seek blessings for them.” [Tarikh Dimashq]
Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه narrated, “When (the dead body of) Umar was put on his deathbed, the people gathered around him and invoked (Allah) and prayed for him before the body was taken away, and I was amongst them. Suddenly I felt somebody taking hold of my shoulder and found out that he was Ali bin Abi Talib. Ali invoked Allah's Mercy for Umar and said, “O Umar! You have not left behind you a person whose deeds I like to imitate and meet Allah with more than I like your deeds. By Allah! I always thought that Allah would keep you with your two companions, for very often I used to hear the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, ‘I, Abu Bakr and Umar went (somewhere); I, Abu Bakr and Umar entered (somewhere); and I, Abu Bakr and Umar went out.’” [Bukhari]
At the martyrdom of Umar رضي الله عنه, it is reported that Hasan رضي الله عنه said, “Whichever household does not miss Umar is indeed an evil household.” [Tabaqat al-Kubra]
Uthman رضي الله عنه helped cover the wedding expenses of Ali رضي الله عنه, made the necessary arrangements, and also served as one of the witnesses. Ali رضي الله عنه said, “The day I went to the Prophet ﷺ to propose for Fatimah, he said to me, 'Sell your armour, and bring back to me the money so that I can arrange for you and my daughter, Fatimah, what you require.' I took my armour and went to the market where I sold it to Uthman bin Affan for 400 hundred silver coins. After we have exchanged the money and armour he said to me, 'O Abul Hasan, am I not more entitled to this armour and you to the money?' I replied, 'Yes.' He then said, 'This armour is a gift from me to you.' I then took the armour and the silver coins and presented both to the Prophet ﷺ. Thereafter I informed him of what had transpired. The Prophet ﷺ then supplicated for Uthman."
Imam al-Bukhari recorded that the first one to swear allegiance to Uthman رضي الله عنه after Abdur Rahman ibn Awf رضي الله عنه was Ali bin Abi Talib رضي الله عنه. [Kitab Fada’il al-Sahabah]
During the end of his caliphate, Uthman was surrounded by renegades. Ali رضي الله عنه sent word to Uthman رضي الله عنه and said, “I have 500 men with shields; give me permission to protect you against the people, for you have not done anything that would make it permissible to shed your blood.” Uthman رضي الله عنه replied, “May you be rewarded with good; I do not want blood to be shed for my sake.” [Tarikh Dimashq]
Uthman رضي الله عنه loved and honoured Hasan and Husayn. Ali رضي الله عنه sent his sons, Hasan and Husayn رضي الله عنهم to guard Uthman when he was surrounded by the wrongdoers. He said to them, “Take your swords, protect the entrance to Uthman, and do not allow anyone to reach him!” [Ansab al-Ashraf]
Hasan bin Ali رضي الله عنه came and asked Uthman, “Should I unsheathe my sword?” He said to him, “I will never be able to justify the shedding of your blood before Allah; put your sword back in its sheath and go back to your father.” [Ibn Abi Shaybah]
Kinanah, the freed slave of Hafsah said, “I was among those who carried Hasan bin Ali bin Abi Talib wounded from the house of Uthman. Hasan bin Ali was the last person to leave Uthman’s presence.” [Tarikh Dimashq]
Hasan and Husayn رضي الله عنهم entered (later) with those with them only to find Uthman رضي الله عنه killed. They fell upon him, and wept, and then left. People entered and found him slain. The news reached Ali bin Abi Talib, Talhah, Zubayr, Sa’ad, and those present in Madinah. Their minds were bewildered due to the news they received. They left and entered upon Uthman only to find him killed. They recited, “To Allah do we belong and to Him is our return.” Ali scolded his sons, “How could Ameer al-Mu’minin be killed when you were guarding the door?” He lifted his hand and slapped Hasan and punched Husayn in the chest. He rebuked Muhammad ibn Talhah and reproached Abdullah bin az-Zubayr. Ali رضي الله عنه then left totally outraged. Talhah رضي الله عنه met him and asked, “What is the matter with you, O Abul Hasan? You hit Hasan and Husayn?” He replied, “May Allah’s curse be upon you and them, except if this saddens me. Ameer al-Mu’minin is killed. A man from the sahabah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, a participant of Badr. Whereas no proof or evidence was established against him.” [Tarikh Dimashq]
Ali رضي الله عنه said of Uthman رضي الله عنه, “He was the one among us who upheld ties of kinship the most, and he was the one who feared Allah the most.” [Sifat al-Safwah]
Abu Bakr and Umar’s Love for the Ahl al-Bayt
Ibn Umar رضي الله عنه relates that Abu Bakr entreated the Ummah, "Honour Muhammad by (honouring) his household." [Bukhari]
He رضي الله عنه also said, "By the One Who has control of my life, maintaining good ties with the relatives of Rasulullah is more beloved to me than maintaining good ties with my own relatives." [Bukhari]
Narrated Uqbah bin al-Harith رضي الله عنه, "I saw Abu Bakr carrying Al-Hasan and saying, 'Let my father be sacrificed for you; you resemble the Prophet and not Ali,' while Ali was laughing at this. [Bukhari] This happened a few days after the passing away of the Prophet.
Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه visited Fatimah رضي الله عنها in her final illness and said, “By Allah, I never forsook my property, my wealth, my family, and my tribe except to seek the pleasure of Allah and His Messenger and the pleasure of the Ahl al-Bayt.” He kept saying kind words to her until she was extremely pleased with him. [al-Bidayah wan Nihayah]
Abu Bakr's رضي الله عنه wife Asma bint Umays رضي الله عنها used to nurse Fatimah رضي الله عنها in her fatal illness until she breathed her last and then was also responsible of washing and shrouding her.
Umar رضي الله عنه entered the presence of Faṭimah رضي الله عنها and said, "O Fatimah! By Allah, I have not seen anyone more beloved to Rasulullah than you. By Allah, there is no one after your father more beloved to me than you." [Al-Mustadrak]
When Fatimah رضي الله عنها passed away, Abu Bakr and Umar رضي الله عنهم came for the funeral prayer. Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه gave Ali رضي الله عنه the option to perform the prayer. He refused citing seniority. He said, “How can I perform the prayer in your presence; the Khalifah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه forward and performed the prayer. [Tabaqat al-Kubra]
Khalid bin al-Walid رضي الله عنه sent an expensive shawl with the wealth of Heera (after
the city was conquered) to Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه coupled with a thousand dirhams. Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه gifted the shawl to Husayn bin Ali رضي الله عنه. [Futuh al-Buldan]
It is reported that when the lists of names for the account books of the treasury were being recorded and stipends were being allocated, Umar bin al-Khattab رضي الله عنه put Hasan and Husayn رضي الله عنهم in their father’s category with those who had participated in the Battle of Badr. This was because of their relation to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. So each of them were allocated a sum of 50,000 Dirhams. [Tarikh Dimashq]
Jabir رضي الله عنه reports that he heard Umar bin al-Khattab رضي الله عنه telling the people after he married the daughter of Ali (Umm Kulthum) رضي الله عنه, "Will you not congratulate me? I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) affirming, 'On the Day of Qiyamah, every connection and relationship will cease except my connection and relationship.'" [al-Mu'jam al-Awsat] Umm Kulthum bint Ali رضي الله عنها would get married to Umar bin al-Khattab رضي الله عنه in 17 AH with a bridal gift (mahr) of 40,000 Dirhams.
With this marriage:
- Umar became the son-in-law of Ali and Fatimah.
- Umar was the father-in-law of the Prophet ﷺ while he ﷺ was the Grandfather-in-law of Umar.
- Hasan and Husayn became Umar’s brothers-in-law.
- Zayd and Ruqayyah are counted as Ali’s grandchildren and the Prophet's ﷺ great grandchildren.
Muhammad bin al-Hanafiyyah رضي الله عنه reported, "Once, Umar entered and I was by my sister Umm Kulthum. Umar hugged me, and told Umm Kulthum, “Treat him with sweets.” [Siyar A'lam an-Nubalah]
Marriages between the Ahl al-Bayt and the Families of Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman
Just a few marriages between the members of Ahl al-Bayt and the families of Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه and Umar رضي الله عنه are:
- Ali married Asma bint Umays, the widow of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq
- Hassan bin Ali married Hafsah bint Abdur Rahman bin Abu Bakr
- Ishaq bin Abdullah bin Ja’far married Umm Hakim bint Qasim bin Muhammad bin Abi Bakr
- Muhammad al-Baqir bin Ali Zayn al-Abidin married Umm Farwah bint Qasim bin Muhammad bin Abi Bakr. They had a son named Ja’far as-Sadiq.
- Musa bin Abdullah bin Hasan bin Hasan bin Ali bin Abi Talib married Umm Salamah bint Muhammad bin Talhah bin Ubaydullah bin Abdur Rahman bin Abi Bakr.
- Ishaq bin Abdullah bin Ali (Zayn al-Abidin) bin Husayn bin Ali bin Abi Talib married Kulthum bint Ismail bin Abd al-Rahman bin Qasim bin Muhammad bin Abi Bakr.
- Husayn (al-Aftas) bin Ali bin Ali (Zayn al-Abidin) bin Husayn married the daughter of Khalid bin Abi Bakr bin Abdullah bin Umar.
- Umm Kulthum bint Ibrahim bin Muhammad bin Ali bin Abi Talib: The great-granddaughter of Ali bin Abi Talib was married to the great-grandson of Abdullah bin Umar - Abu Bakr bin Uthman bin Ubaydullah bin Abdullah bin Umar.
- Umm Kulthum bint Abdullah bin Ja’far bin Abi Talib was married to Aban, the son of Uthman bin Affan.
- Umm al-Qasim bint Hasan bin Hasan bin Ali bin Abi Talib married the grandson of Uthman bin Affan whose name was Marwan bin Aban bin Uthman.
- Fatimah bint Husayn bin Ali bin Abi Talib married the grandson of Uthman bin Affan whole name was Abdullah bin Amr bin Uthman.
- Ibrahim bin Abdullah bin Hasan bin Hasan bin Ali bin Abi Talib married Ruqayyah bint Muḥammad bin Abdullah bin Amr bin Uthman bin Affan.
- Ishaq bin Abdullah bin Ali bin Husayn bin Ali bin Abi Talib married Aishah bint Umar bin Asim bin Umar bin Uthman bin Affan.
Some other key marriages with the families of Az-Zubayr and Muawiyah include:
- Umm al-Hasan bint Hasan bin Ali bin Abi Talib was married to Abdullah bin Zubayr al-Awwam.
- Ruqayyah bin al-Hasan bin Ali bin Abi Talib was married to Amr bin Zubayr bin al-Awwam.
- Hasan bin Hasan bin Hasan bin Ali bin Abi Talib married Aishah bint Talhah bin Ubaydullah
- Ramlah bint Ali bin Abi Talib married Mu’awiyah bin Marwan bin Ḥakam.
- Nafīsah bint Zayd bin Hasan bin Ali bin Abi Talib married the Umayyad Khalifah Walid bin Abdul Malik bin Marwan.
Members of Ahl al-Bayt Named after Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Aishah
Imam bin Asakir رحمه الله recorded: Ali bin Abi Talib رضي الله عنه remarried after the demise of Faṭimah and shortly thereafter he was blessed with a son who he name Muhammad (bin al-Hanafiyyah). When he was blessed with another son thereafter, he was asked what he would name him and he replied, “After Muḥammad, he can only be named Abu Bakr.” Later when a third son was born he named him Umar, and when the next son was born he named him Uthman. He was questioned about this action of his, “How could you name your children after others first and your uncle (Abbas) last?” He answered, “Just as Allah and His Messenger placed him last.” He named his son born thereafter from Umm al-Banin al-Kilabiyyah after his uncle Abbas [Tarikh Dimashq]
Just a few of the members of Ahl al-Bayt named after Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Aishah رضي الله عنهم among many are:
The name Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه occurs around 9 times among the Ahl al-Bayt.
- Abu Bakr bin Ali bin Abi Talib: He was martyred at Karbala.
- Abu Bakr bin al-Hasan bin Ali bin Abi Talib: He was martyred at Karabala.
- Abu Bakr Ali Zayn al-Abidin: Abu Bakr was also the kunyah of Zayn al-Abidin.
- Abu Bakr Ali bin Musa al-Kazim bin Ja’far al-Sadiq: Abu Bakr was the kunyah of Ali al-Rida.
- Abu Bakr Muhammad al-Mahdi al-Muntaẓar bin al-Hasan al-Askari
- Abu Bakr bin Abdullah bin Ja’far bin Abi Talib: He was martyred at Karbala.
- Abu Bakr bin Hasan (al-Muthannā) bin Hasan bin Ali bin Abi Talib
The name Umar رضي الله عنه occurs around 25 times among the Ahl al-Bayt.
- Umar al-Atraf bin Ali bin Abi Talib
- Umar bin al-Hasan bin Ali bin Abi Talib: He was martyred at Karbala.
- Umar bin Husayn bin Ali bin Abi Talib: He was martyred at Karbala.
- Umar al-Ashraf bin Ali Zayn al-Abidin bin Ali (Zayn al-Abidin)
- Umar bin Yahya bin al-Husayn bin Zayd al-Shahid bin Ali bin al-Husayn bin Ali bin Abi Talib
- Umar bin Musa al-Kaẓim bin Ja’far al-Sadiq
- Umar bin al-Hasan (al-Aftas) bin Ali bin Ali (Zayn al-Abidin) bin al-Husayn
- Umar bin Ali bin Umar bin al-Hasan (al-Aftas) bin Ali bin Ali (Zayn al-Abidin) bin al-Husayn
- Umar bin Muḥammad bin Umar (al-Shajari) bin Ali (al-Asghar) bin Umar (al-Ashraf) bin Ali (Zayn al-Abidin)
- Umar bin Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Umar bin Ali bin Abi Talib
- Umar bin Muhammad bin Umar (al-Atraf) bin Ali bin Abi Talib
The name Uthman رضي الله عنه occurs around 3 times among the Ahl al-Bayt.
- Uthman bin Ali bin Abi Talib: He was martyred at Karbala.
- Uthman bin Aqeel bin Abi Talib
- Uthman bin Husayn bin Ali bin Abi Talib
The name Aishah رضي الله عنها occurs around 6 times among the Ahl al-Bayt.
- Aishah bint Ja’far al-Sadiq
- Aishah bint Musa al-Kazim bin Ja’far al-Sadiq: Imam Musa had 37-38 children and only one daughter whom he named Aishah.
- Aishah bint Ja’far bin Musa al-Kazim bin Ja’far al-Sadiq
- Aishah bint Ali al-Rida bin Musa al-Kazim
- Aishah bint Ali al-Hadi bin Muḥammad al-Jawwad bin Ali al-Rida.
- Aishah bint Muhammad bin Hasan bin Ja’far bin Hasan (al-Muthanna) bin Hasan bin Ali bin Abi Talib
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