Absolving the Ahlul-bait (ll)

Also published in Daily Trust

In addition to the vast network of intermarriage between Ahlul-bait and Sahaba, and between their respective descendants also, which I highlighted last Friday in the context of debunking the already fictitious enmity between them, I now similarly highlight some instances of the Ahlul-bait’s obvious preference for naming their sons and daughters after the Sahaba, which further debunk that myth.

For instance, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Hassan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib, Ali zainul-Abideen bin Hussain ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib, Ali ibn Musa Al-Kazim ibn Ja’afar As-sadiq, Abdullah ibn Ja’afar ibn Abi Talib, among others, each named one of his sons after Abubakr As-siddeeq. Likewise, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Hassan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib, Ali zainul-Abideen bin Hussain ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib and Musa-Kazim ibn Ja’afar As-sadiq etc each had a son named after Umar ibn Al-Khattab. Also, Ali ibn Abi Talib and his brother, Aqil ibn Abi Talib each equally had a son named after Uthman ibn Affan.

Similarly, Musa-Al-Kazim ibn Ja’afar As-sadiq, Ja’afar ibn Musa-Al- Kazim, Ali-Ar-Ridha ibn Musa-Al- Kazim, Ali Al-Hadi ibn Muhmmad Al-Jawad etc., each named a daughter after Aisha bint Abibakr As-siddiq. In the same vein, Hassan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib named a son after Dalha ibn Ubaidullah, also Abdullah ibn Ja’afar ibn Abi Talib had a son called Mu’awiya.

Nevertheless, despite all these and many other similar instances, as well as many instances of intermarriage between Ahlul-bait and Sahaba, which even the Shiite theorists and historians maintained in their books, albeit reluctantly, yet the Shiites continue to cling to the myth of Ahlul-bait-Sahaba enmity having downplayed such instances and indeed reduced them to mere coincidences that, according to them, did not debunk the enmity narrative. Interestingly, however, they can’t explain why, though each of the twelve, or rather, eleven members of the Ahlul-bait chosen by the Shiites had Shiite “disciples” and “followers”, yet none of them (i.e. Ahlul-bait) ever married from, or married off any of his sons and daughters to any of his Shiite “disciples”and ‘followers’, or even named any of his children after any of such Shiite “supporters” of Ahlul-bait.

By the way, each of those Ahlul-bait chosen by the Shiites endured the stress of being surrounded by so many imposters masquerading as his followers who also kept fabricating and attributing falsehoods to, particularly, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Hussain ibn Ali and Ja’afar As-sadeeq who, in turn, often and openly lambasted such hypocritical followers on several occasions that were too many to be swept under the rug by the early Shiite historians and theorists who, reluctantly, narrated some of them in their otherwise largely fabricated narrations.

On one of such occasions, for instance, Ali ibn Abi Talib said “If I scrutinize my “Shiites”, they will turn out to be frauds, and if I subject them to a test, they will turn out to be apostates, also if I dissect them, I will find no single trustworthy person out of one thousand, and if I subject them to screening, none of them will remain with me except those who have been with me all along...” (e.g. the remnants of his fellow Sahaba). (See Al-Kafi v8 p228 and Raudatul-Kafi v8 p338).

Likewise, Ja’afar As-sadiq, to whom the early Shiite imposters attributed most of the fabricated narrations contained in their major reference books, seriously discredited one Zurara ibn Aayun who was responsible for fabricating and attributing most of such narrations to him. He (i.e. Ja’afar As-sadiq) said “I swear to Allah, Zurara attributes sayings to me that I did not say. May Allah curse Zurara” (he repeated it three times) (See Rijalul-Kish-shy v2 p227)

Anyway, Allah the Almighty had already debunked such fictitious narrative of Ahlul-bait-Sahaba enmity. After all, those of them (i.e. Ahlul-bait) who were also Sahaba e.g. Ali ibn Abi Talib, his two sons, Hassan and Hussain were already included in all the Qur’anic verses where Allah the Almighty acknowledges the Sahaba’s genuine love for one another. For instance, He the Almighty says “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. And those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and falling down prostrate (in prayer), seeking Bounty from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure.” (Chapter Al-Fat’h, V29)

Furthermore, Allah the Almighty had also already addressed the scenario of disagreement between them, which indeed unfortunately occurred and even escalated into confrontations, decades after the demise of the Prophet, as a result of some purely political misunderstandings among them, not on the unfounded basis of the fictitious equation of enmity between Ahlul-Bait—Sahaba, as the Shiites claim. Besides, He referred to both parties as not only Muslims, but actually Muminoon i.e. sincere and pious believers, for that matter. (See Qur’an, Chapter, Al-Hujurat, V.9). He also recognized their love for one another anyway in the subsequent verse where He said “The believers are nothing else than brothers (in Islamic religion). So, make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear Allah, that you may receive mercy” (Chapter, Al-Hujurat,v.10)

In the meantime, even the subsequent generations of Ahlul-bait and indeed other righteous Muslims who, however, weren’t fortunate enough to be among the Sahaba, were equally absolved by Allah the Almighty from harbouring hatred against the Sahaba. He the Almighty said about them “And those came after them say: Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith, and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful’ (Chapter-Al-Hashr verse 10).