Epilogue and Lessons from the Lives of August Personalities

Our lives have been one for the past chapters, entangled in a web of love, wisdom and spiritual ascension. Discussing great stalwarts of the Ahlul Bayt, lighting up these pages and so the pages of our history by their mention. Hereunder are some of the many lessons we take back with us from their lives as we turn the last pages of this book.

A true believer shows love for his faith and by defending it and giving his life for it. His life is always ready to be put on the line for Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala and his Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam when called. His life holds no value in relation to the magnanimity of upholding the faith just as ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib radiya Llahu ‘anhu had done the night of hijrah, and as Hamzah radiya Llahu ‘anhu had done at Badr and Uhud, and as Jafar al Tayyar radiya Llahu ‘anhu had done at Mu’tah. They showed what sincerity and true faith meant. As for the hypocrites and liars, their tongues are never in conformity with their hearts.

The importance of patience in the life of a Muslim. We learn from Safiyyah radiya Llahu ‘anha the lesson of patiently facing hardships as she had done when faced with the martyred and mutilated body of Hamzah radiya Llahu ‘anhu. All she said was, “I will display patience and hope for reward.”[1] The life of Zainab bint ‘Ali teaches us the same. She was called ‘Mother of Hardships’ due to the intense difficulties she bore. She endured the death of her grandfather the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, her mother, father, brothers, sons, and many of her family at Karbala’. She was patient and hoped for rewards. These qualities differentiate the normal from the great.

The importance given to acquiring knowledge, be it memorising the Qur’an or attaining proficiency in the field of hadith. Most of the prominent personalities had to some degree gained a good footing into the divine sciences such as ‘Ali, Aisha, Zayn al ‘Abidin, his son Zaid, Muhammad al Baqir, his son Jafar al Sadiq, and the head of the Shafi’i school of thought, Imam Muhammad ibn Idris al Shafi’i.

They didn’t suffice on just talk. They acted upon the knowledge they had acquired becoming ascetics in worship and showing distaste to the paltry gains of this world. If their devotion of worship were to be discussed, it would encompass volumes.

The nobility of being a descendant of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam is dependent on that person’s faith. Without faith there is no nobility. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala says:

إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ

Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.[2]

Greatness cannot be attained solely through lineage. Good actions go hand in hand with it. Abu Lahab for example will not benefit from having ties to this pure family. It is rather imperative that we hate him for the hurt he caused Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. He who has been gifted this lineage should not merely rely on it. After thanking Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam he should hasten towards good actions. Whoever hasn’t been included in this lineage should ask of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala the love of the Ahlul Bayt, as one will be with whom he loves, together with the ability to carry out pious deeds. Piety is the scale worthy of note in the sight of Allah.

The correct belief with regards to the Ahlul Bayt is to love them all which includes the noble Consorts of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Placing each on their respective level with justice, not by being blinded by emotions or by exceeded the bounds, we revere all those who are of the pure lineage and faith.

O Allah grant us the sublime character of the previous pious ones and delight our hearts by granting us true and sincere martyrdom in your path under the flag of Islam.

Dear Muslims, where are those to stand at night in prayer and spend their days fasting? Where are the likes of ‘Ali, Fatimah, Hafsah, Aisha, Zayn al ‘Abidin, Zaid, Muhammad al Baqir, Jafar al Sadiq, and Kazim? The brave have long gone leaving behind people who do not amount to much. The leaders have left in their wake generations of idle minds and bodies.

They were in Makkah, the Banu Hashim; whilst I sway in the dessert lost.

These greats left after having helped the faith and defended it against its enemies. They have tasted death whilst we remain here. The question that remains is, what have we sent forth firstly for ourselves and for the Din of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala? And secondly for the rest of the ummah?

Have we followed the footsteps of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum in fervor to do good for others and annihilate ourselves for the faith? Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala says:

مُّحَمَّدٌ رَّسُوْلُ اللَّهِ وَالَّذِيْنَ مَعَهُ أَشِدَّاءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَاءُ بَيْنَهُمْ تَرَاهُمْ رُكَّعًا سُجَّدًا يَّبْتَغُوْنَ فَضْلًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانًا سِيْمَاهُمْ فِيْ وُجُوْهِهِمْ مِّنْ أَثَرِ السُّجُوْدِ

Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating [in prayer], seeking bounty from Allah and [His] pleasure. Their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration.[3]

The crux of the matter is, dear Reader, this ummah will only succeed by the principles laid out by its founding greats: sincerity in speech and action together with following the sunnah of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Add to this refraining from following one’s desires and treading the footsteps of the true and noble. They were people who witnessed revelation and its meaning being disseminated. They were people whose speech matched their actions. Vanity had died in them. Reaching Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala remained their only goal. Following their prophet was their only dream.

They acted deliberately with proofs and gave up formalities. They stood far from gossip and mundane useless activities. Upon their necks lay the trust of spreading divine knowledge. They worshipped Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala as he ought to be worshipped resulting in mighty kings bowing to them.

Hassan ibn ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu was told, Abu Dhar prefers poverty to wealth and sickness to health. He said, “May Allah have mercy on Abu Dhar. I say, whoever is happy with the decisions of Allah will not wish for anything.”[4]

In conclusion, I hope that I have been able to present a scholarly read which benefits the reader regarding the greats of the Ahlul Bayt. I hope that you, dearest reader, have benefitted from what you have read.

May Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala have mercy on the Ahlul Bayt and be pleased with them, the noble Consorts of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and his Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum. O Allah! Send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the followers of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and upon the followers of Ibrahim; indeed, You are praiseworthy and glorious. O Allah! Bless Muhammad and the followers of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the follower of Ibrahim; indeed, You are praise worthy and glorious.

O Allah we bear witness that we love our Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, his family and Companions. O Allah gather us with them in Jannat. O Allah forgive the Muslims that are alive and that have passed away. Enlighten their graves and forgive the living. Make their matters easy and forgive the seekers of forgiveness. Overlook our sins and cure our ill, O Most Merciful.

[1] Sirah Ibn Hisham, vol. 3 pg. 612.

[2] Surah al Hujurat: 13.

[3] Surah al Fath: 29.

[4] Tarikh Dimashq, vol. 13 pg. 253; Siyar A’lam al Nubala’, vol. 3 pg. 262.

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