The Prophet's wives are not excluded from Ahlul-Bayt

13-5-2010 | IslamWeb

Question:

Could you please tell me about the authenticty of the given narration: "Then Muhammad (pbuh) explained that Jibreel (Gabriel) had just revealed to him a unique Ayah, an Ayah in which Allah had decreed to specifically purify and sanctify them, calling them Ahlul Bayt. Umm‑Salama then asked, “How about me? Can I come under the mantle?” Muhammad (pbuh) replied, “No, you stay where you are, do not worry, you are in a fine state.”" Is this Hadeeth Saheeh? Please reply as quickly as possible as this is used in support for some innovators, they say that is in Saheeh Muslim and negates her inclusion in Ahlul Bayt.
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

 

This story is reported by Muslim but without the mention of the story of Umm Salamah may Allaah be pleased with her so it is wrong to attribute the whole story to Imaam Muslim. Nevertheless, the story of Umm Salamah may Allaah be pleased with her was reported by Imaam Ahmad in his Musnad, and its chain of narrators is Dha’eef [weak] but Al-Arna’oot may Allaah have mercy upon him classified it as Saheeh due to its various routes of narration.

However, there is nothing in this story that proves that the wives of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) are not among the members of his household [Ahlul-Bayt]. Rather, there is evidence that they are among Ahlul-Bayt, as we already clarified in Fatwa 87409, so please refer to it.

The Hadeeth that is mentioned is not clear evidence that his wives are not among Ahlul-Bayt. Rather, there is another authentic wording of this Hadeeth which proves that the wives of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) are among Ahlul-Bayt. We mean the narration reported by Al-Bayhaqi may Allaah have mercy upon him in which it is mentioned that Umm Salamah may Allaah be pleased with her said, “I said, 'O Prophet of Allaah, am I not one of Ahlul-Bayt?' Thereupon, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) replied: ''Yes, In shaa' Allaah (Allaah willing).”

Then Al-Bayhaqi may Allaah have mercy upon him said, “Abu ‘Abdullaah (meaning himself) said, 'The chain of narration of this Hadeeth is Saheeh, and its narrators are trustworthy. Besides, some Ahaadeeth were narrated supporting it and others contradicting it, but they are not proved to be authentic and the Book of Allaah contains what clarifies what we indicated here that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) used the word ‘Ahlul-Bayt’ to mean his wives or that his wives are included in it.'”

Allaah Knows best.

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