The Thirty Eighth Narration: By the one in whose hands my life lies, Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala will enter into the fire whoever hates us, the Ahlul Bayt.

The Thirty Eighth Narration

Abu Sa’id al Khudri radiya Llahu ‘anhu narrates that Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:

والذي نفسي بيده ، لا يبغضنا أهل البيت أحد إلا ادخله الله النار

By the one in whose hands my life lies, Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala will enter into the fire whoever hates us, the Ahlul Bayt.[1]

This narration is sound as narrated by Ibn Hibban. The authenticity has been verified by him, al Hakim and others.

Commentary and Lessons Learnt from this Narration:

The unforgiving end result of those who harbour hate for the Ahlul Bayt.

The great rewards for those who love the Ahlul Bayt. If hating them equals entrance into Hell, loving them equates entrance into Paradise.

The sentiment of dislike towards the Ahlul Bayt was prevalent during the time of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, a direct result of the hypocrites. This is understood from incidents such as the Ifk incident which has been discussed previously. This hadith was a warning for Muslims to not fall into these traps of Shaitan.

Hate is a feeling. If by a feeling one can be doomed to Hell, then what of those who attempt to harm the Ahlul Bayt by their speech and actions?

This narration is a stern warning for the Nawasib, a faction that harbours hatred for the Ahlul Bayt.

A feeling of dislike may develop in a Muslim too, which is why Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam sounded this warning. As for the disbelievers, they will forever hate the Ahlul Bayt.

One of the Mogul ministers asked Ibn Taymiyyah, “What do you say regarding one who hates the Ahlul Bayt?”

He replied, “The curses of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala, the angels, and all of humanity is upon the one who hates them. Neither his obligatory acts, nor is optional acts will be accepted by Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala.”

The following narration is recorded in Musannaf ibn Abi Shaybah:

لا يحبنا منافق ولا يبغضنا مؤمن

A hypocrite will never love us and a believer will never hate us.[2]

The following appears in Sahih Muslim:

قال علي والذي فلق الحبة وبرأ النسمة إنه لعهد النبي الأمي صلى الله عليه وسلم إلي أن لا يحبني إلا مؤمن ولا يبغضني إلا منافق

‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu says, “By him who split the seed and created life, the unlettered Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam gave me a promise that no one but a believer would love me, and none but a hypocrite would nurse a grudge against me.”[3]

Those who profess their undying love for the Ahlul Bayt, yet secretly harbour ill feelings towards them are worse than those who openly hate the Ahlul Bayt. This is because whilst professing love for them they go against every teaching of theirs. They go against the teachings of sincerity, truthfulness, love for the creation, continuous servitude, seeking forgiveness on behalf of those who have passed on, prayer for the Muslims, bravery against the enemies of Islam, striving for unity, not harming the believers, having a clean heart, honouring people especially the weak, protecting the Book of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala, and following in the footsteps of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

If these teachings are not found, yet the cry of love for the Ahlul Bayt is sounded, then know these are the enemies of Islam who are attempting to rip the fabric of Islamic values from the inside; an act that champions the cause of hypocrisy. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala says:

قَدْ قَالَهَا الَّذِيْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ فَمَا أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُمْ مَّا كَانُوْا يَكْسِبُوْنَ

Those before them had already said it, but they were not availed by what they used to earn.[4]

Ibn Hibban has brought this hadith under a chapter titled, ‘Mention of the everlasting punishment in Hell of those who hate the family of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam’.

The hadith does not mention everlasting punishment, nor does entry into Hell necessitate everlasting punishment. The explicit texts of the Qur’an and the ahadith support this as well. It is by the decision of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala. If He wishes, He will punish and if He wishes He will forgive. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala says:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُوْنَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا بَعِيْدًا

Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly gone far astray.[5]

Similarly, the scholars all agree that by asking for forgiveness, one’s sins are wiped out. See the following verse:

إِنْ يَنْتَهُوْا يُغْفَرْ لَهُمْ مَا قَدْ سَلَفَ

If they cease, what has previously occurred will be forgiven for them.[6]

The reason Ibn Hibban brought this hadith under such a chapter heading was because those that harbouring ill feeling toward the Ahlul Bayt are, by and large, not Muslims at all. They are hypocrites through and through, who will remain in Hell for eternity. The Ahlul Bayt are a family that assisted the faith and gave their all for it. Thus no one besides a true hypocrite will hate them. Such people are out to harm the faith of Islam even if they make a show of love. A similar narration is found in Sahih al Bukhari and Sahih Muslim:

لا يحبهم إلا مؤمن ولا يبغضهم إلا منافق

Only a believer loves them and only a hypocrite hates them.[7]

Ibn Taymiyyah has written much on this in his book al Sarim al Maslul.

Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam would only take oaths on important matters.

NEXT⇒ The Thirty Ninth Narration

[1] Sahih ibn Hibban, vol. 15 pg. 435.

[2] Musannaf ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 32779.

[3] Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 78.

[4] Surah al Zumar: 50.

[5] Surah al Nisa’: 116.

[6] Surah al Anfal: 38.

[7] Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 3572.

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