Today, we continue to discuss the status of the Prophet of Islam’s Infallible Household (Peace be upon them) in accordance to the ayahs of Holy Quran and the remarks of Prophet Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny).

A number of ayahs of Holy Quran have cited the Prophets as saying that they do not expect any reward from people and that their reward is bestowed upon them by God Almighty.

For instance, the 57^th ayah of Surah Furqan notes: Say, ‘I do not ask any reward for it, except that anyone who wishes should take the way of his Lord.’

Also, the 23^rd ayah of Surah Al-Shura notes: “…Say, ‘I do not ask you any reward for it except love of my relatives. Whoever performs a good deed, We shall enhance for him its goodness. Indeed Allah is all-forgiving, all-appreciative.”

In this ayah, the Prophet of Islam points out that his reward is love for his relatives, and the reward that he expects is all beneficial for those who love the Prophet of Islam’s Infallible Household. This is because an individual who admires and loves the Prophet of Islam’s Infallible Household, set them as his role model; and love for chaste and pure leaders, is the key and secret behind setting foot on, and treading the righteous path. So, the related benefits all go to those, who admire the Prophet’s Infallible Household.
This in fact is reminiscent of a teacher who tells his student that he does not want any rewards from the latter, and the only reward of the teacher is for the student to fully study the related taught lessons. Obviously, the benefits of such a deed solely return and belong to the student. The Prophet of Islam’s remarks are also reminiscent of a physician who tells his patient that the only reward the latter could give is to comply with the physician’s prescriptions. Undoubtedly, if the patient does so, the only one who benefits is the patient, recovering from his illness.

As a reminder, an ayah of Holy Quran cites the Prophet of Islam as saying that his only reward is people’s love for his relatives. Somewhere else, the Prophet of Islam points out his reward is the selection of the righteous path by people. If we place together these two ayahs of Holy Quran it becomes clear that admiration and love of Prophet’s Infallible Household, and the divine path are in line with each other; and kindness toward the Prophet’s relatives and associates and pursuance of their divine teachings are means for treading the righteous and divine path.

Obviously, the reward for prophet hood is huge and remarkable. This is because large numbers of people throughout the world in different phases of history have set the Prophet of Islam as their role model and have thereby been guided toward prosperity, while in the future many members of the international community will also join the sacred religion of Islam.

Meanwhile, kindness toward Prophet’s relatives also conveys another fact which is the Velayat and Imamate of the Infallible Imams of the Prophet of Islam’s Household. This is because leadership of Islamic Ummah is the continuation of the leadership of the Prophet of Islam and the divine path of prophet hood. Thus, Holy Quran considers love for the Prophet’s Infallible Household as the reward for prophet hood, so that the love for the Prophet’s Household turns into a means for reference of people to Prophet Mohammad’s Household, turning these infallible figures into the scientific sources of reference for people.

Several hadiths, in the sources of Shias and Sunnis have been cited from the Prophet of Islam which show that who the Prophet is referring, when he talks about his relatives and Infallible Household. For example, the Sunni Scholar, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, has cited a hadith noting: When an ayah was descended which pointed out that the only reward the Prophet of Islam wanted for his prophet hood, was people’s love for his relatives; the disciples of Prophet Mohammad asked the prophet who he meant by his relatives? In response the Prophet named Imam Ali (AS), Hazrat Fatemeh (SA), and their two infallible children, Imam Hassan (AS), and Imam Hussein (AS), repeating his remark three times.

According to a reliable source, when Imam Ali (Peace be upon him), courted martyrdom, his infallible son, Imam Hassan, delivered a sermon before people; which partly pointed out that Imam Hassan was from a Household, that God has urged all Muslims to admire and love.

The Scholar, Fakhr-e Razi notes: “Those, who maintain a stronger and full bond with the Prophet of Islam, are considered to be his Infallible Household, and undoubtedly Hazrat Fatemeh (SA), Imam Ali (AS), Imam Hassan (AS), and Imam Hussein (AS) maintained the strongest bond with the Prophet of God. This is a certainty via reference to several hadiths. So, it is essential to consider them as the Prophet’s Infallible Household.”

Also, Fakhr-e Razi cites the exegete of Holy Quran, Zamakhshari, as saying: “When the said ayah was descended, some asked the Prophet of Islam, who he meant by his relatives, which Muslims should be kind towards? The Prophet responded: Ali, Fatemeh, Hassan, and Hussein.”

The other important fact which appropriately manifests the important status of Prophet’s Infallible Household, is the recitation of greetings to Prophet Mohammad and his infallible progeny throughout daily prayers of Muslims. In the majority of Islamic denominations, Muslims recite greetings to the Prophet and his Infallible Household during Tashahhud in daily prayers.

Meanwhile, the 56^th ayah of Surah Ahzab notes: “Indeed Allah and His angels bless the Prophet; O you who have faith! Invoke blessings on him and invoke Peace upon him in a worthy manner.”

Several ayahs, which have been stated in Shia and Sunni books have clearly emphasized that Muslims, upon recitation of greetings to the Prophet of Islam, should also recite greetings to Prophet’s Infallible Household. Hadiths point out that when the Prophet ascended heavens, Archangel, Gabriel, taught the Prophet how to observe daily prayers in the same form that they are observed today. During the Tashahhud in the daily prayer, God told the Prophet to recite greetings upon himself and his Infallible Household. Thus, the Prophet of Islam recited greetings to himself and his Infallible Household during Tashahhud in daily prayers.

Based on this hadith and other similar hadiths, a number of major Sunni theologians consider it necessary to recite greetings to Prophet Mohammad and his Infallible Household during Tashahhud in daily prayers.

This is a major virtue which belongs to the Prophet of Islam and his Infallible Household, and on this basis, they are superior to others, because people establish a closer bond with God via resorting to the Prophet’s Infallible Household.

Meanwhile, recitation of greetings to the Prophet’s Infallible Household within daily prayers shows their especial status and their close association with the Prophet of Islam.

MR/EA