Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem
Allah, with His Name I begin; The Most Compassionate, The Most Merciful.Allah, The Sublime, we praise and Peace & Blessings upon His Beloved Messenger, (Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam), his Pure Ahl al-Bayt and the Dear Companions, Allah be well pleased with them all.Jazak'Allah for your question. The Blessed Progeny of the Messenger of Allah, (
Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam), are referred to as Sadaat [sing. Sayyad] in the Asian Sub-Continent. In the Middle-East and ‘Arab countries they are referred to as Shareef [Ashraaf; pl.: those who are endowed with honour]. That is, Allah,
Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, has ‘sharrafahum’ granted special honour and favours upon them. Technically, in Shar’iah terms, it is more appropriate to use the word Ashraaf, since this literally and by Shari’ah definition removes all the confusion which the questioner speaks of. Consequently, this question is a subject of repeated recurrence due to the usage of a less appropriate word in the Sub-Continent. Indeed, Sayyiduna Amir al-M’uminin Hadrat ‘Ali,
karrama Allahu wajhahu al-Kareem, is a Sayyad/Shareef as we shall explain below.
The sharaf; honours and favours bestowed upon the Ashraaf/Sadaat or Sayyads in general [by way of descendancy] and specifically to Sayyiduna Amir al-M’uminin Hadrat ‘Ali,
karrama Allahu wajhahu al-Kareem, to mention a few only are as follows:
Sharaf: Paternal Lineage with Banu Hashim The Messenger of Allah, (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam), paternal lineage is recorded through his Blessed Father Sayyiduna Hadrat ‘Abd Allah bin ‘Abd al-Muttalib bin Hashim, and so on, which, after twenty five generations is traced back to ‘Adnan with whom Sayyiduna Hadrat Ibrahim, ‘
alayhi as-Salam, also relates his Blessed paternal lineage. This lineage of our Beloved Messenger, (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam), is what we refer to as the Banu Hashim; the Progeny of Hashim.
Sayyiduna Amir al-M’uminin Hadrat ‘Ali,
karrama Allahu wajhahu al-Kareem, is the Blessed Son of Sayyiduna Hadrat Abu Taalib, who was the brother of Sayyiduna Hadrat ‘Abd Allah bin ‘Abd al-Muttalib bin Hashim. Allah be well pleased with them all. This makes Sayyiduna Amir al-M’uminin Hadrat ‘Ali,
karrama Allahu wajhahu al-Kareem, the the Most Beloved Messenger of Allah, (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam), cousin. Thus, Sayyiduna Hadrat ‘Abd Allah, is Sayyiduna Amir al-M’uminin Hadrat ‘Ali,
karrama Allahu wajhahu al-Kareem’s, Uncle. Sayyiduna Hadrat ‘Abd al-Muttalib being the great Grandfather of both the Messenger of Allah, (
Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam), and of Sayyiduna Amir al-M’uminin Hadrat ‘Ali,
karrama Allahu wajhahu al-Kareem.
Sharaf: Marriage with Sayyidah Fatimah, ‘alayha as-Salam Furthermore, Sayyiduna Amir al-M’uminin Hadrat ‘Ali,
karrama Allahu wajhahu al-Kareem, was endowed with further honour and favour through the marriage with the Blessed Daughter of the Beloved Messenger of Allah, (
Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam), Sayyidah Fatimah, ‘
alayha as-Salam.
There are many clear and definitive proofs from the Ahadith which substantiate and infer the aforementioned position of the Ahl as-Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah; The People of the Prophetic Sunnah and the Authentic Community.
The Most Beloved Messenger of Allah, (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi Sallam), said:
“ ‘Aliyyun minni wa anaa min ‘Ali [karrama Allahu wajhahu al-Kareem]”
“ [Sayyiduna Amir al-M’uminin Hadrat] ‘Ali, [karrama Allahu wajhahu al-Kareem] is from Me and I [salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] from ‘Ali [karrama Allahu wajhahu al-Kareem]. ”
This is a general statement detailing the virtuous merits and honour favoured upon Sayyiduna Amir al-M’uminin Hadrat ‘Ali,
karrama Allahu wajhahu al-Kareem. All the beautiful interpretations which one can extract from the above tradition are valid. In particular the Scholars infer that herein, one definitive meaning is that Sayyiduna Amir al-M’uminin Hadrat ‘Ali,
karrama Allahu wajhahu al-Kareem, is part of the Beloved Messenger of Allah, (
Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa aalihi wa Sallam), i.e. not just a cousin and son-in law, but rather more; equal to his progeny/Son.
Also,
“ Ashbaha khalqi wa khuluqi ”
“[Sayyiduna Amir al-M’uminin Hadrat] ‘Ali [karrama Allahu wajhahu al-Kareem] is like me in physical features and manners.”
Also,
“ Fatimah bid’unn minni ”
“ [Sayyidah] Fatimah [‘alayha as-Salam] is a [blessed] part of me [Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam]. ”
Again, the Scholars infer the same meaning here, that, not only is Sayyidah Fatimah, [‘
alayha as-Salam] my Blessed Daughter but her Progeny are my [Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam’s] Progeny. The above should suffice for those who fear Allah,
Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, and know that pleasing the Messenger, (
Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam), is indeed sincerely loving his
Aal and Ahl al-Bayt, Peace and Blessings upon them all.
IMPORTANT NOTE: In light of recent heated discussions, questions like the above must be asked sincerely merely to educate oneself with Islamic knowledge from the sources. According to some Scholars the Ahl al-Bayt are the Progeny of Banu Hashim and for the Majority of Scholars as is on the tongues of most Muslims, the Progeny of the Messenger of Allah, (
Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa aalihi wa Sallam), are through the Progeny of Sayyiduna Amir al-M’uminin ‘Hadrat ‘Ali,
Karrama Allahu wajhahu al-Kareem. Our predecessor Scholars when they differed on such issues they differed sincerely, researching in good faith, integrity and with uncompromising love for the Ahl al-Bayt, ‘
alayhim as-Salam. People in general make erroneous remarks because they cannot understand or ignorantly make incorrect analogies in such sensitive matters.
A good example to quote is the incorrect analogy of the accursed Iblis. When asked to prostrate before Prophet Adam, ‘
alayhi as-Salam, due to the sharaf; honour and In’aam; favour granted to him, ‘
alayhi as-Salam, by the command of Allah,
Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, Iblis through his incorrect analogy replied, “I am better than him [Prophet Adam, ‘
alayhi as-Salam]”. Thus, becoming accursed till eternity due to the gravity of his Sin. One must remember Allah,
Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, makes exceptions for His exceptional and dearest servants from amongst the Messengers, Prophets, their Companions, immediate household members and their Progeny. May the Peace & Blessings of Allah,
Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, be upon them all. And it is as simple as that. Some questions and remarks are uttered unknowingly treading on a very fine line. ‘Adab; respect, must always be observed like the earlier Scholars observed when discussing the Progeny of the Messenger of Allah, (
Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa aalihi wa Sallam). Certain comments about the Ahl al-Bayt, ‘
alayhim as-Salam, can offend and hurt the Messenger of Allah, (
Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa aalihi wa Sallam). And, he who hurts the Most Beloved Messenger of Allah, (
Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam), has indeed hurt Allah, the Most Majestic & Sublime.
Finally, the article by the member 'Sweet Madinah' should also be referred to in order to understand with full clarity the Ahl as-Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah’s clear and balanced position. And, Allah, The Most Majestic and Sublime, is All-Knowing & Wise.
Imam Abu Yusuf