I found the following astonishing tradition in one of the most famous Sunni Tafsir books titled “Tafsir al-Kabir”, by Fakhr al-Razi who is a leading Sunni scholar with multiple specialties in Tafsir, Fiqh, and theology. The full address of the document is given at the end. This tradition about the reward of loving Ahlul-Bayt can also be found in other Sunni commentary books of the Qur’an such as “Tafsir al-Kashshaf” by al-Zamakhshari, as well as “Tafsir al-Tha’labi.”
Before going over the text of the tradition, it is important to point out that a true love is always accompanied by obedience. A person who is crazy about somebody, does everything to satisfy the lover, and does not allow himself to disobey the one who loves. That is why the “true love” is necessary and sufficient. A true love affects every single action of human being and directs it to a special direction in harmony with the one who loves. Thus anyone who claims to love the Prophet and his Ahlul-Bayt (peace be upon them all), but he insists in disobeying them, is simply a liar.
After giving the text of the tradition, I shall quote the related verse of the Qur’an under whose commentary this tradition was mentioned. I will also present some other traditions transmitted by the Sunnis which clearly specify the individuals whose love is obligatory.
He who dies with the love of the family of Muhammad is a Martyr. And, behold! He who dies with love of the family of Muhammad is forgiven. And more! The one who dies with the love of the family of Muhammad died repented.
Lo! He who dies with love of the family of Muhammad is died as a believer with a COMPLETE belief. And no doubt! The one who dies with the love of the family of Muhammad, the angle of death gives him the glad tiding of Paradise, and so do the two angels who question him (Munkar & Nakeer). And verily he who dies with love of the family of Muhammad, will be led toward the Paradise as the bride is led to the house of her husband. Behold! And he who dies with love of the family of Muhammad, for him there will open two gates in his grave toward Paradise. Lo! And the one who dies with love of the family of Muhammad, Allah will make his grave a sacred place of visit for the angels of mercy.
And verily he who dies with love of the family of Muhammad, has died on Sunnah. And no doubt! The one who dies with the HATE of the family of Muhammad, will arrive in the day of judgment while it is printed on his forehead that he is desperate from the Mercy of Allah. Behold! He who dies with the HATE of the family of Muhammad, has died unbeliever. And verily he who dies with the HATE of the family of Muhammad, will never hear the smell of Paradise (1).
Fakhr al-Razi and others mentioned the above tradition under the commentary of the following verse of the Qur’an, in which Allah tell his Messenger: “(O Prophet) tell (people) I don’t ask you any wage (in return for my prophethood) except to love my near kin. And if anyone earns any good We shall give Him an increase of good (in return for it)” (2).
It has been widely reported by the Sunni commentators of the Holy Quran that: Ibn Abbas narrated: When the above verse (3) was revealed, the companions asked: “O the Messenger of Allah! Who are those near kin whose love Allah has made obligatory for us?” Upon that the Prophet (PBUHH) said: “Ali, Fatimah, and their two sons.” He (PBUHH) repeated this sentence thrice (4). Then the Prophet (PBUHH) continued: “Verily Allah has dedicated my wage (of prophethood) to love of my Ahlul-Bayt, and I shall question you about it on the day of judgment.” (5)
In another tradition, we read: The Messenger of Allah (PBUHH) said: “I advice you to be kind to my Ahlul-Bayt for verily I will dispute you about them on the day of Judgment, and whoever I dispute him shall enter the Fire.” He (PBUHH) also said: “One who regards me by regarding my Ahlul-Bayt, he has taken a promise from Allah (to enter the Paradise)” (6). Furthermore, al-Kateeb and Ibn Hajar narrated on the authority of Anas Ibn Malik saying: The Prophet (PBUHH) said: “The title of the Book (Saheefah) of the believer is the love of Ali Ibn Abi Talib” (7). In the above tradition, “The Book of the believer” refers to the way a believer conducts affairs, i.e., his daily life, and his diary.
On the commentary of the Qur’anic verse: “Lo! those who believe and do good, the Beneficent will appoint for them love” (8), al-Hafidh al-Salafi wrote: Muhammad Ibn Hanafiyyah said: “There will not be a believer unless in whose heart the love of Ali and his family exists.” In this connection, al-Bayhaqi, Abu al-Shaikh, and al-Daylami reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “A servant (of God) will not be a (true) believer unless he loves me more than his own soul, and loves my progeny more than his own soul and his own family” (9).
Al-Tirmidhi and Ahmad narrated: The Messenger of Allah said: “He who loves me and loves these two: al-Hasan and al-Husain, and loves their father and mother, he will be with me in Paradise” (10). It is also narrated that: The Messenger of Allah said: “Verily the prosperous and the only prosperous and the true prosperous is he who loves Ali in his lifetime and in his hereafter” (11).
To be continued!
NOTES
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1. Tafsir al-Kabir, by Fakhr al-Din Muhammad Ibn Umar al-Razi, Pub. In Egypt (1357/1938), under commentary of verse 42:23, Part 27, pp. 165-166.
2. The Quran 42:23.
3. The Quran 42:23.
4. Sunni references:
Tafsir al-Kabir, by Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, Part 27, pp 165-166
Tafsir al-Tha’labi, under the commentary of verse 42:23 of the Quran
Tafsir al-Tabari, by Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, under verse 42:23
Tafsir al-Qurtubi, under commentary of verse 42:23 of the Quran
Tafsir al-Kashshaf, by al-Zamakhshari, under commentary of verse 42:23
Tafsir al-Baidhawi, under the commentary of verse 42:23 of the Quran
Tafsir al-Kalbi, under commentary of verse 42:23 of the Quran
al-Madarik, in connection with verse 42:23
Dhakha’ir al-Uqba, by Muhibbuddin al-Tabari, p. 25
al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p. 259
Shawahid al-Tanzeel, Hakim Hasakani, al-Hanafi, vol. 2, p. 132.
Many others such as Ibn Abi Hatam, al-Tabarani, etc.
5. Dhakha’ir al-Uqba, by Muhibbuddin al-Tabari, p. 26.
6. al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p. 231
7. al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 9, section 2, p. 193.
8. The Quran 19:96.
9. See al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, pp 261-262 quoted from al-Hafidh al-Salafi, al-Bayhaqi, Abu al-Shaikh, and al-Daylami.
10. Sunni reference:
Sahih al-Tirmidhi, vol. 5, p. 641 and Fadha’il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, vol. 2, p. 693, Hadith No: #1185
al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p. 264.
11. Sunni reference:
Fadha’il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, vol. 2, p. 658, Hadith No: #1121
al-Riyadh al-Nadhirah, by Muhibbuddin al-Tabari, vol. 3, p. 176
Majma’ al-Zawa’id, by al-Haythami, vol. 9, p. 132
Sharh Ibn Abil Hadid, vol. 2, p. 429
