Foreword

Introduction
May 9, 2019
Foreword to the Second Publication
May 9, 2019

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Foreword

All praise belongs to Allah, such praise as befits His Majesty. I praise Him wholeheartedly, purely and eternally. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, Who has no partner; and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. I invoke Allah’s mercy and blessings upon him, his family, Companions, and all those who follow his guidance until the Last Day.

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala says:

 

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوْا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَكُمْ مِّنْ نَّفْسٍ وَّاحِدَةٍ وَّخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيْرًا وَّنِسَآءً وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ الَّذِيْ تَسَآءَلُوْنَ بِهٖ وَالْأَرْحَامَؕ إِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيْبًا

O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And fear Allah, through whom you ask one another, and the wombs. Indeed Allah is ever, over you, an Observer.[1]

 

It is thus the Mercy of Allah that He has created Mankind from clay and the established familial and marital bonds between them so that they may become acquainted with each other. In the same token, the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum would intermarry with the Ahlul Bayt from the Banu Hashim: the progeny of ‘Aqil, the progeny of ‘Ali, the progeny of Jafar, the progeny of ‘Abbas, and others.

There was no shortcoming in doing so nor any disdain, as long as they were united beneath the banner of Islam; its unity, love, and sincerity coursing through them like the blood in their veins.

There are those who presume that great enmity and discord existed between the Ahlul Bayt and the Sahabah. This presumption is the result of their superficial analysis of historical material, failing to investigate the veracity of its chain and text. How many are the narrations that have reached us that failed to meet the criteria of authenticity! The copious narrations and information before us establish the harmonious relationship that existed between the Sahabah and Ahlul Bayt. It is this relationship that prompted Ibn ‘Abbas radiya Llahu ‘anhuma—who is titled the Learned One of the Ummah—to hold the stirrup for Zaid ibn Thabit radiya Llahu ‘anhu as he mounted his camel.[2] This is what prompted Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu to declare, “Please the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam by showing kindness to his family.”[3] And there is no end to the examples that can be cited in this regard.[4]

There is no doubt that it is this very solidarity that led the Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam to marry the two daughters of his two closest friends and advisors, thus making al Siddiqah bint al Siddiq and Hafsah al Sawwamah al Qawwamah[5] among the Mothers of the Believers; and also marrying his two daughters, Sayyidah Ruqayyah and Sayyidah Umm Kulthum radiya Llahu ‘anhuma to Dhu al Nurayn ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu.

A sterling example of the Sahabah honouring the Ahlul Bayt of the Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam is the action of Sayyidina ‘Umar ibn al Khattab radiya Llahu ‘anhu when distributing the stipends amongst the Sahabah, wherein he would include Sayyidina Hassan and Sayyidina Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhuma amongst the participants of Badr, in honour of them.[6]

As well as the statement of Sayyidina Abu Bakr al Siddiq radiya Llahu ‘anhu, which became the maxim for all the Sahabah, “By the Being Who controls my life, to maintain ties with the family of the Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam is more beloved to be than maintaining ties with my own family.”[7] 

This was passed down generation to generation such that the Tabi’in too loved the Ahlul Bayt and the Sahabah dearly, awarding them their due status as reflected in the verse:

 

وَالَّذِيْنَ جَآءُوْا مِنْۢ بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُوْلُوْنَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِيْنَ سَبَقُوْنَا بِالْإِيْمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِيْ قُلُوْبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِيْنَ أٰمَنُوْا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوْفٌ رَّحِيْمٌ

And those who came after them, saying, “Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful.”[8]

 

Then came the generation whose hearts were soaked in love for both the Sahabah and Ahlul Bayt, speaking of both in high praise. You will find no book or reference of the books they authored—whether it be narrators of Hadith or hagiographies—but that you will find praise for both of them mentioned therein.

There are several marital relationships between the Sahabah and the Ahlul Bayt—as is illustrated in this concise study—such that the reader will conclude that there is scarcely a Sahabi who does not have a relationship with the Ahlul Bayt and it is difficult to find a member of the Ahlul Bayt who does not have a marital link with the Sahabah of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

This is what led me to documenting the relationship between the Ahlul Bayt and the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum from the various sources of the various factions of Islam and its genealogists, hoping that there will remain no doubt in anyone’s mind thereafter; more so when the books and biographies penned by the majority of the recognised genealogists testify to the same.

To the best of my abilities and strength, I have managed to gather the largest compilation of the names and marital relations between the Sahabah and Ahlul Bayt. I do not claim to have encompassed everything, and most certainly many must have slipped through my gaze but as the saying goes That which cannot be encompassed entirely, the majority at least will be covered.

Amongst the major resources relied upon in the compilation of this book:

  1. Umdat al Talib fi Ansab Al Abi Talib of Ibn ‘Inabah (828 A.H), who is one of the leading scholars in the science of genealogy.
  2. Al Asili fi Ansab al Talibiyin of Ibn Tiqtaqa (709 A.H), who is also a renowned genealogist.
  3. Sirr al Silsilat al Alawiyyah of Abu Nasr al Bukhari, who was still alive in the year 381 A.H.
  4. Al Irshad of al Mufid, one of the leading (Shia) scholars.
  5. Muntaha al Amal fi Tawarikh al Nabi wa al Al of Sheikh ‘Abbas al Qummi, of the most senior (Shia) scholars of the past century, who died in 1359 A.H.
  6. Tarajim Alam al Nisa’ of Muhammad Hussain al A’lami al Ha’iri who is a contemporary (Shia) scholar.
  7. Kashf al Ghummah fi Marifat al A’immah of al Irbili. The popularity of this book requires no elaboration and it has been published a number of times in a number of volumes.        
  8. Al Anwar al Numaniyyah of Ni’matullah al Jaza’iri, a leading scholar of the Akhbari (Shia) and one of the students of Muhammad Baqir al Majlisi (d. 1111 A.H).
  9. Ayan al Nisa’ by Muhammad Rida al Hakimi, who is amongst the contemporary (Shia) scholars.
  10. Tarikh al Yaqubi by Ahmed ibn Abi Yaqub ibn Jafar ibn Wahab ibn Wadih, the well-known historian from the early historians. His book is published in two volumes.
  11. As well as a number of other books penned by the genealogists, such as: Ansab al Ashraf by Ahmed ibn Yahya al Baladhuri (d. 279 A.H), one of the most recognised genealogists and whose book is recognised as an authoritative source in this science. His book has been printed on a number of occasions; the version which I relied upon was printed with the research of Suhayl Zakkar in 12 volumes.
  12. Nasab Quraysh by Mus’ab al Zubairi (d. 236 A.H) published by Évariste Lévi Provençal, Dar al Ma’arif print.

 

Amongst the key works I have cited as additional references, on account of their significance, are:

  1. –Al Muhabbar by Muhammad ibn Habib (d. 245 A.H) with the research of Ilse Lichtenstädter, printed by Dar al Afaq al Jadidah.
  2. Maqatil al Talibiyyin by Abu al Faraj al Asfahani, which has its place amongst the literary works. It was the first book authored by al Asfahani, the author of al Aghani, whose acquaintance with genealogy is well-known. He authored many books, amongst which are: al Jamharah fi Nasab, Nasab Abdul Shams, Nasab Bani Shayban wa Nasab Al al Muhallab, Nasab Bani Kilab, and Nasab Bani Taghlib. Al Asfahani died in the year 357 A.H.

 

Further strengthening the aspect of intermarriage between the Ahlul Bayt and the Sahabah is the fact that the Ahlul Bayt, in particular the progeny of Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu, named their children after the Sahabah and adopted their agnomens as well. This will add a vertical dimension to the reader who examines these historic realities from a horizontal perspective.

The reader will notice that there is hardly a family of the Ahlul Bayt that does not have amongst them a person named Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman Aisha, Talhah, etc., in honour and reverence for these illustrious personalities. These personalities having these names is proven by a number of sources.

The reader will become acutely aware of that which has been hidden from him all this time by the additional sources and quotations I have added, citing them verbatim without any addition or alteration.

I have reproduced these quotations as they appear in the original works, and wherever I have found the author to have erred or slipped I have indicated to it thereafter. At times I have included a few additional discussions without distracting the reader from the actual topic under discussion.

Respected reader, now I urge you to put aside all your religious affiliations and sectarian bias, and read with an open mind and heart—not just with your eyes or with prejudice—Allah willing the reality will then be made clear.

O Allah, my effort has only been for You; so please accept it, make it easy for me, and assist me. Place it in my record of good deeds, O He Who raises every pure word, and pious deed. Verily, You, O Allah, are an excellent Protector and an excellent Helper.

Lastly, all praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the entire universe.

 

Abu Muaz al Sayed ibn Ahmed ibn Ibrahim

Kananah

Correction of this work was completed on 7 Safar 1423 A.H, 20 April 2002.

 

NEXT⇒ Foreword to the Second Publication


[1] Surah al Nisa’: 1

[2] The detailed narration can be read in Tabaqat ibn Sa’d, 2/360.

[3] Sahih al Bukhari, under the virtues of the Ahlul Bayt.

[4] One may refer to the chapter on the virtues of the Ahlul Bayt in Sahih al Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan al Tirmidhi, Sunan Abi Dawood, Sunan al Nasa’i, Sunan Ibn Majah, Mukhtasar Kitab al Muwafaqah bayn Ahlul Bayt wa al Sahabah of al Zamakhshari, Dhakha’ir al ‘Uqba fi Manaqib Dhai al Qurba of Muhibb al Din al Tabari, as well as a number of other books on the subject; from which one will easily gauge the cordial relationship between the Ahlul Bayt and Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum.

[5] The one who fasted and prayed profusely.

[6] Siyar A’lam al Nubala’, 3/266-285, in a number of narrations.

[7] Sahih al Bukhari, # 4241, Sahih Muslim, # 6759.

[8] Surah al Hashr: 10.

BACK Return to Table of contents

 

Foreword

All praise belongs to Allah, such praise as befits His Majesty. I praise Him wholeheartedly, purely and eternally. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, Who has no partner; and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. I invoke Allah’s mercy and blessings upon him, his family, Companions, and all those who follow his guidance until the Last Day.

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala says:

 

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوْا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَكُمْ مِّنْ نَّفْسٍ وَّاحِدَةٍ وَّخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيْرًا وَّنِسَآءً وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ الَّذِيْ تَسَآءَلُوْنَ بِهٖ وَالْأَرْحَامَؕ إِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيْبًا

O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And fear Allah, through whom you ask one another, and the wombs. Indeed Allah is ever, over you, an Observer.[1]

 

It is thus the Mercy of Allah that He has created Mankind from clay and the established familial and marital bonds between them so that they may become acquainted with each other. In the same token, the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum would intermarry with the Ahlul Bayt from the Banu Hashim: the progeny of ‘Aqil, the progeny of ‘Ali, the progeny of Jafar, the progeny of ‘Abbas, and others.

There was no shortcoming in doing so nor any disdain, as long as they were united beneath the banner of Islam; its unity, love, and sincerity coursing through them like the blood in their veins.

There are those who presume that great enmity and discord existed between the Ahlul Bayt and the Sahabah. This presumption is the result of their superficial analysis of historical material, failing to investigate the veracity of its chain and text. How many are the narrations that have reached us that failed to meet the criteria of authenticity! The copious narrations and information before us establish the harmonious relationship that existed between the Sahabah and Ahlul Bayt. It is this relationship that prompted Ibn ‘Abbas radiya Llahu ‘anhuma—who is titled the Learned One of the Ummah—to hold the stirrup for Zaid ibn Thabit radiya Llahu ‘anhu as he mounted his camel.[2] This is what prompted Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu to declare, “Please the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam by showing kindness to his family.”[3] And there is no end to the examples that can be cited in this regard.[4]

There is no doubt that it is this very solidarity that led the Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam to marry the two daughters of his two closest friends and advisors, thus making al Siddiqah bint al Siddiq and Hafsah al Sawwamah al Qawwamah[5] among the Mothers of the Believers; and also marrying his two daughters, Sayyidah Ruqayyah and Sayyidah Umm Kulthum radiya Llahu ‘anhuma to Dhu al Nurayn ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu.

A sterling example of the Sahabah honouring the Ahlul Bayt of the Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam is the action of Sayyidina ‘Umar ibn al Khattab radiya Llahu ‘anhu when distributing the stipends amongst the Sahabah, wherein he would include Sayyidina Hassan and Sayyidina Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhuma amongst the participants of Badr, in honour of them.[6]

As well as the statement of Sayyidina Abu Bakr al Siddiq radiya Llahu ‘anhu, which became the maxim for all the Sahabah, “By the Being Who controls my life, to maintain ties with the family of the Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam is more beloved to be than maintaining ties with my own family.”[7] 

This was passed down generation to generation such that the Tabi’in too loved the Ahlul Bayt and the Sahabah dearly, awarding them their due status as reflected in the verse:

 

وَالَّذِيْنَ جَآءُوْا مِنْۢ بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُوْلُوْنَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِيْنَ سَبَقُوْنَا بِالْإِيْمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِيْ قُلُوْبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِيْنَ أٰمَنُوْا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوْفٌ رَّحِيْمٌ

And those who came after them, saying, “Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful.”[8]

 

Then came the generation whose hearts were soaked in love for both the Sahabah and Ahlul Bayt, speaking of both in high praise. You will find no book or reference of the books they authored—whether it be narrators of Hadith or hagiographies—but that you will find praise for both of them mentioned therein.

There are several marital relationships between the Sahabah and the Ahlul Bayt—as is illustrated in this concise study—such that the reader will conclude that there is scarcely a Sahabi who does not have a relationship with the Ahlul Bayt and it is difficult to find a member of the Ahlul Bayt who does not have a marital link with the Sahabah of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

This is what led me to documenting the relationship between the Ahlul Bayt and the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum from the various sources of the various factions of Islam and its genealogists, hoping that there will remain no doubt in anyone’s mind thereafter; more so when the books and biographies penned by the majority of the recognised genealogists testify to the same.

To the best of my abilities and strength, I have managed to gather the largest compilation of the names and marital relations between the Sahabah and Ahlul Bayt. I do not claim to have encompassed everything, and most certainly many must have slipped through my gaze but as the saying goes That which cannot be encompassed entirely, the majority at least will be covered.

Amongst the major resources relied upon in the compilation of this book:

  1. Umdat al Talib fi Ansab Al Abi Talib of Ibn ‘Inabah (828 A.H), who is one of the leading scholars in the science of genealogy.
  2. Al Asili fi Ansab al Talibiyin of Ibn Tiqtaqa (709 A.H), who is also a renowned genealogist.
  3. Sirr al Silsilat al Alawiyyah of Abu Nasr al Bukhari, who was still alive in the year 381 A.H.
  4. Al Irshad of al Mufid, one of the leading (Shia) scholars.
  5. Muntaha al Amal fi Tawarikh al Nabi wa al Al of Sheikh ‘Abbas al Qummi, of the most senior (Shia) scholars of the past century, who died in 1359 A.H.
  6. Tarajim Alam al Nisa’ of Muhammad Hussain al A’lami al Ha’iri who is a contemporary (Shia) scholar.
  7. Kashf al Ghummah fi Marifat al A’immah of al Irbili. The popularity of this book requires no elaboration and it has been published a number of times in a number of volumes.        
  8. Al Anwar al Numaniyyah of Ni’matullah al Jaza’iri, a leading scholar of the Akhbari (Shia) and one of the students of Muhammad Baqir al Majlisi (d. 1111 A.H).
  9. Ayan al Nisa’ by Muhammad Rida al Hakimi, who is amongst the contemporary (Shia) scholars.
  10. Tarikh al Yaqubi by Ahmed ibn Abi Yaqub ibn Jafar ibn Wahab ibn Wadih, the well-known historian from the early historians. His book is published in two volumes.
  11. As well as a number of other books penned by the genealogists, such as: Ansab al Ashraf by Ahmed ibn Yahya al Baladhuri (d. 279 A.H), one of the most recognised genealogists and whose book is recognised as an authoritative source in this science. His book has been printed on a number of occasions; the version which I relied upon was printed with the research of Suhayl Zakkar in 12 volumes.
  12. Nasab Quraysh by Mus’ab al Zubairi (d. 236 A.H) published by Évariste Lévi Provençal, Dar al Ma’arif print.

 

Amongst the key works I have cited as additional references, on account of their significance, are:

  1. –Al Muhabbar by Muhammad ibn Habib (d. 245 A.H) with the research of Ilse Lichtenstädter, printed by Dar al Afaq al Jadidah.
  2. Maqatil al Talibiyyin by Abu al Faraj al Asfahani, which has its place amongst the literary works. It was the first book authored by al Asfahani, the author of al Aghani, whose acquaintance with genealogy is well-known. He authored many books, amongst which are: al Jamharah fi Nasab, Nasab Abdul Shams, Nasab Bani Shayban wa Nasab Al al Muhallab, Nasab Bani Kilab, and Nasab Bani Taghlib. Al Asfahani died in the year 357 A.H.

 

Further strengthening the aspect of intermarriage between the Ahlul Bayt and the Sahabah is the fact that the Ahlul Bayt, in particular the progeny of Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu, named their children after the Sahabah and adopted their agnomens as well. This will add a vertical dimension to the reader who examines these historic realities from a horizontal perspective.

The reader will notice that there is hardly a family of the Ahlul Bayt that does not have amongst them a person named Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman Aisha, Talhah, etc., in honour and reverence for these illustrious personalities. These personalities having these names is proven by a number of sources.

The reader will become acutely aware of that which has been hidden from him all this time by the additional sources and quotations I have added, citing them verbatim without any addition or alteration.

I have reproduced these quotations as they appear in the original works, and wherever I have found the author to have erred or slipped I have indicated to it thereafter. At times I have included a few additional discussions without distracting the reader from the actual topic under discussion.

Respected reader, now I urge you to put aside all your religious affiliations and sectarian bias, and read with an open mind and heart—not just with your eyes or with prejudice—Allah willing the reality will then be made clear.

O Allah, my effort has only been for You; so please accept it, make it easy for me, and assist me. Place it in my record of good deeds, O He Who raises every pure word, and pious deed. Verily, You, O Allah, are an excellent Protector and an excellent Helper.

Lastly, all praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the entire universe.

 

Abu Muaz al Sayed ibn Ahmed ibn Ibrahim

Kananah

Correction of this work was completed on 7 Safar 1423 A.H, 20 April 2002.

 

NEXT⇒ Foreword to the Second Publication


[1] Surah al Nisa’: 1

[2] The detailed narration can be read in Tabaqat ibn Sa’d, 2/360.

[3] Sahih al Bukhari, under the virtues of the Ahlul Bayt.

[4] One may refer to the chapter on the virtues of the Ahlul Bayt in Sahih al Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan al Tirmidhi, Sunan Abi Dawood, Sunan al Nasa’i, Sunan Ibn Majah, Mukhtasar Kitab al Muwafaqah bayn Ahlul Bayt wa al Sahabah of al Zamakhshari, Dhakha’ir al ‘Uqba fi Manaqib Dhai al Qurba of Muhibb al Din al Tabari, as well as a number of other books on the subject; from which one will easily gauge the cordial relationship between the Ahlul Bayt and Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum.

[5] The one who fasted and prayed profusely.

[6] Siyar A’lam al Nubala’, 3/266-285, in a number of narrations.

[7] Sahih al Bukhari, # 4241, Sahih Muslim, # 6759.

[8] Surah al Hashr: 10.