Prophet Mohammad

And

His Household

(Ahlal Bayt)

Ustad Abdus Samad

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Our Readers Comments:

Before reading this book, I thought that we were Sunnis, but now I know that we were only Wahhabis! Our Aalims were fooling us!

Atty. M. Hassan

Philippines

I studied Islam for two years is Saudi Arabia, but this little book taught me more about the true Islam than those two years; Thanks be to Allah (S.W.T.)

Sister Aliyyah Marhum

Philippines

Its so beautifully written, excellent!

Ali Al-Hosaini

Bahrain in the Persian Gulf

Your book is very powerful tool in refuting the false Wahhabi accusations against the followers of the Ahlul Bayt (A.S.).

Palter (Abdur-Rashid) L. Camanse

Dipolog City, Philippines

Your book is a death-knell to the coffin of the Wahhabism in America!

Brother Hamid

California, USA

Brother, I studied Islam for three years in Darul Hijra school in Baguio (Philippines) but when I read your book I found the truth; I could not sleep for one whole week!

Brother Mohammad Jamil

Philippines

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Truth is Truth, whether its accepted now, or in a million years! Truth is in No Hurry!

Max Muller German Scholar

Prophet Mohammad

And

His Houshold

(Ahlal Bayt)

Ustad Abdus Samad

This book can be reproduced anywhere in the world.

No permission is needed.

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Copyright 2001

By

Islamic Research center Quiapo, Manila, The Philippines This book can be reproduced anywhere in the world.

No permission is needed.

ISBN 971-9070-25-0

Printed by:

Philippine Graphics Arts, Inc.

163 Tandang Sora Street, Caloocan City

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PrefacePage 1

Introduction2

Chapter I

Prophet Mohammad and His Household (Ahlal Bayt)15

Chapter 2

Explanations37

Imam Must Be Infallible39

Prayer Without Bismillah is Not Valid44

Who are the Ahlal Bayt?48

Merits of the People of Persia51

Imam Mahadi, the Last Reformer54

Imam for Every Time60

Prophet Mohammad and His Successors61

What is Wahhabism?

62

Lawrence of Arabia84

Prophets Successor89

Fatimah Zahra94

Ashura: The Great Tragedy in Islam97

Prophet Mohammad: A Blessing to the Worlds104

What is Bid-ah?109

Separating Prophet from His Children?115

Siratal Mustaqim (the Right Path)116

What is Shi-ah?117

Chapter 3

Question and Answers

1. Shi-ah, Sunnah Differences122

2. Imam Alis position123

3. Did Jebrail make a mistake?123

4. A different Quran?123

5. Visiting Shrines125

6. The Intercession or Shafa-ah126

7. Imam Alis Welayah128

8. Ayah wilayah not Surah Wilayah!

10. Imams Higher than Angels?130

11. Holy Prophet and Imams knew their death?133

12. Praying inside Shrines137

13. Miracles of the Prophets138

14. Asking Help from others A shirk?139

15. Criticizing the Sahabah?144

16. Fasting till Night144

17. Mot-ah145

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O Ahlo Bayt!

O ahlo-Bayt of Prophet!

Loving you is a duty,

Which is commanded by Allah

In His Glorious Quran;1

So much so that, if anyone,

Will not pray for you, - even

Though he may pray to Allah!

Has had no prayer, at all!

Imam Shafeiy

(150 203 A.H.)

Yaa Ahla Bayte Rasulief Lahi Hob-bokomu,

Fardhom Minal Lahi, Fil Qurani Anzalahu;

Kafa-Komu Min Azimish Shane An-nakomu,

Man la yusal-le Alaikom la Salata Lahu!2

___________

1Holy Quran (42:23)

2Ibne Hajar, Sawaiq Al-Muhriqa p.88

Love of the Ahlo Bayt!

I surely love, the Ahlo Bayt,

The Household of Prophet;

But folks call me Rafedhi!*

I do refute accusations,

And seek refuge with Almighty,

From the people who claim,

Its Heretic,

To love the House of Fatimah!

Imam Shafeiy

(150-203 A.H.)

Bari to ilal Mohaimin e min Inasin,

Yaraw nar Rafdha Hob bal Fatimiyyah!

* Rafedhi or Heretic, is a title given by the enemies of the Ahlo Bayt, to the followers of the Ahlo Bayt of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.).

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PREFACE

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Dear readers, brothers and sisters in Islam:

In researching and writing this book, I had to spend some of my best time, and my rest time usually from one oclock to three oclock in the morning.

But that was my pleasure, because it was a labor of love for Allah (S.W.T.) and His Messenger (P.B.U.H.) and the Holy Ahlal Bayt, as well as for the truth-seeking servants of God.

The most memorable part of this spiritual journey was the emotional attachment and closeness I got to the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) and his persecuted children especially Sayyida Fatimah Zahra, the beloved daughter of the Prophet, and Imams Hassan and Hosain, his grandsons, who were all brutally murdered! And the saddest thing about it was that those who massacred the entire family of the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) claimed to be his followers also!

There were times at the middle of the night, that I had to stop writing and start crying for the oppressed Holy Ahlal Bayt! And if you also, had to shed some tears in their memory, keep in mind that we were not alone; the Holy Prophet himself and the Angels of Heaven, cried for them, too!

The Author

Introduction

The book that you are holding is intended to explain some of the most interesting parts of the Islamic teachings, as well as its history, which for many centuries, and for many reasons, especially the dictatorship of the Khalifahs and the kings, were kept secret from the people of the world in general, and the Muslims in particular.

(Just as the Jewish Rabbis and the Christian Priests, in connivance with the ruling class, were hiding the truth from the people; during the Dark Ages of Europe for their own vested interests, some Muslim rulers and their hired servants called ulama also connived in order to hold to their power, by keeping the Muslim Ummah in the dark about many facts in Hadith and even the true meaning of some verses in the Holy Quran ,as well as the events that took place, in the history of Islam).

Now, by the Grace of God, there is a relative freedom of speech and expression ,as well as much easier system of communication in the world, although not yet so much in some oppressive police states much like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and most of the Arab and so-called Muslim states.

For this reason, we are publishing this book, outside those authoritarian states, in order to be able to tell freely what could not have been written or published there, because it shows clearly that those governments have nothing to do with the real Islam and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.). In fact, they are diametrically opposed to the Islamic principles and the True Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) just as Yazid and Mo-awia, and the rest of the hordes from the Umayyad and the Abbasid Dyanasties were, in the earlier days.

Those Khalifahs, with a few exceptions, gave a black eye to Islam by living the most immoral, sensual, debaucherous and dictatorial life styles, of which the infamous Arabian Nights is just an example (even today this game is going on). All of this were done in the name of the Khalifah of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.)! No wonder the non-Muslims have such a wrong concept about Islam and the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.)

Ahlal Bayt of Prophet Mohammad

The greatest tragedy in the history of Islam, and even of the world, is that the people never got a real chance of experiencing the leadership of the Holy Descendants of the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.).

The Blessed Family of the Holy Prophet is Certified Pure by Allah himself in the Holy Quran (33:33) and on many occasions by the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) (see the last chapter of this book). Also, the great Sahaba and the companions of the Holy Prophet, who should know Islam better than anyone else, have repeatedly attested to the fact that the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) regarded his Ahlal Bayt as the teachers of the Quran and the defenders of Islam!

Most note worthy is the fact the the Muslims around the world always include Aali Mohammad or the Ahlal Bayt, in their daily prayers to Allah (S.W.T.) by mentioning their names, five times or more a day, saying:

Allahum ma sal-li Alaa Moham-madin wa Alaa Aali Mohammadin kama sal-laita Alaa Ibrahiima wa Alaa Aali Ibrahiim, Fil Aalamina In-naka Hamidum Majiid! (O Allah bless Thee Mohammad and his descendants as Thou blessed Ibrahim and his descendants, amongst the People of the world; verily Thou art Most Praiseworthy, Most Glorious)!

However, instead of following the leadership (Imamah) of this Blessed Descendants of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.), some Muslims massacred them (as the Jews did with the family of Abraham), and accepted the rule and the leadership of their enemies unbelievable, but true!

How Important are the Ahlal Bayt?

To know better how important are the Ahlal Bayt of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) in the Eyes of Allah (S.W.T.) and His Messenger (P.B.U.H.) and to the Sahaba, here are a few Hadith, which we quote very briefly:

1)The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) said:

The example of my Family (Ahlal Bayt) is like the Ark of Noah, those who join it are saved, and those who dont, will perish! (Mostadrak Sahihain, vol.2, p. 343).

2)Again in the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) said:

O people! I leave behind, for you, two very important (weighty) things that if you followed them, you wont go wrong; A) The Book of Allah, B) My Ahlal Bayt (as teachers of the Book). (Sahih Tirmidi, vol. 2, p. 308; Sahih Muslim, vol. 5, p. 272, /vol. 7, p. 122; Sunan of Abu Dawud p. 307 and more than 30 other books of Hadith).

3)Also, the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H.) said this about his beloved daughter, Fatimah Zahra:

Fatimah is the lady of the Women of Heaven (Sahih Bukhari vol. 5 p. 74).

Fatimah is part of me, whosoever will hurt her, has (actually) hurt me! (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 5, p. 75).

(How about those who killed Fatimah and her baby?)

4)Concerning Imam Ali, the Holy Prophet said: Ali! No one loves you unless he/she is a Mo-min and nobody hates you, unless he/she is a Monafiq (Sahih Muslim, vol. 1, p. 46 etc.).

(How about Mo-awia and other enemies of Imam Ali?)

5)Concerning Imam Hasan and Imam Hosain, the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) said:

Hasan and Hosain are the Masters of the youth of Heaven!

Hasan and Hosain are Imams (leaders of the Ummah) be they in power or not! (See all books of Hadith, chapter on Ahlal Bayt).

6)The Sahabah of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) also had a great respect for the Ahlal Bayt , which shows very clearly that, the Descendants of the Holy Prophet were very important to them. Here is a very interesting Hadith quoted from Sahih Tirmidi:

It is narrated that one day, during the rule of Khalifah Omar, the children were playing in the street. Among the players were Imam Hosain and Abdullah Bin Omar (Son of the Khalifah).

Hosain ordered Abdullah to do something, but Abdullah refused to obey. (As his father, Omar, had refused the order of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) when the Prophet asked for a pen and paper to write a guideline for the Muslims after him, and he accused the Holy Prophet of Talking nonsense, at his death-bed! ( See Sahih Bukhari vols. 5 & 9, p. 346).

Seeing Abdullahs disobedience , Hosain admonished him by saying:

Abdullah! You should obey my orders, because you are our (the family of the Prophets servant!

What? said Abdullha . How could I be your servant, while my Papa is Khalifah Omar?

I said you are our servant repeated Hosain And even your Papa is our (Family of the Prophets) servant!

Upon hearing this, Abdullha cried, and ran to his father, the Khalifah Omar, and told him the whole story. The Khalifah got a pen and a piece of paper (which he himself had declined to give to the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) and gave it to his son Abdullah , saying:

Son! Go, give these to Hosain, and ask him to please state in writing that you and I, are their familys servants!

Why Papa? Why should I ask Hosain to also put in writing his his verbal attack on our honor? Abdullah objected. Its just like adding an insult to an injury!

Son! , Khalifah Omar replied. I want to put Hosains certification inside my shourd, when I die, and to present it to Allah (S.W.T.) on the day of judgment, and ask Him to forgive me, because I am a cirtified servant of the Family of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) as has been attested by Hosain, the grandson of your Prophet!

By reading such a narration, Im always reminded of the famous Ayah of the Holy Quran, which says:

They actually Know those Blessings of Allah and yet those deny them! And most of them are ungrateful. (To Allah and to his Prophet and to those whom they were supposed to obey after the Prophet the real Olil-Amr) Holy Quran (16:83).

Now , there are several possibilities regarding this narration:

1) The narration is not true !

This cannot be, because Sahih Tirmidi is one of the six books of narration which are considered to be free from any false narrations, and therefore its titled as Sahih, meaning correct ; Otherewise , it wouldnt be Sahih anymore!

2) Probably, Khalifah Omar was not serious in saying what he said!

This is also not possible , because Khalifah Omar is one of the great Sahaba of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) and a ruler of Islam.

3) Khalifah Omar knew very well who Imam Hosain was, and how important the Ahlal Bayt of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) are in the eyes of Allah and His Messenger. So important, indeed, that their certification can help even people like in the Day of Judgment! (So, intercetion or Shafa-ah is right, according to Khalifah Omar and other Sahabah).

If this is the case (which in reality it is), then, at the presence of such blessed personalities, nobody else especially the one who needs certification and recommendations is qualified to rule over the Ummah, and, more so, over the most qualified people -- the Ahlal Bayt!

Thats Islamic why, Allah (S.W.T.) in the Holy Quran asks us this very meaningful question:

Is he who guides to the Truth more worthy to be followed or he who finds no guidance (himself) unless he is guided? What kind of a judgment is that? Holy Quran (10:35).

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How This Book Came To Be?

For many years, living in different Muslim countries and communities, I noticed, among many other things, that majority of the Muslims dont love and follow the Ahlal Bayt, the way the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet have instructed them to do.

In fact, in some areas, the murderers and the persecutors of the Family of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) are more respected and followed than the beloved descendants of the Holy Prophet, whose love and respect is a requirement, ordered by Allah (S.W.T.) and requested by Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.).

Allah (S.W.T.) says in the Holy Quran (42:23):

Say (O Apostle Mohammad!) I ask nothing for it (guiding you to Islam) except (i.e., I ask you) to love the loved ones (my belovedthe relatives, the family, especially those whom the Holy Prophet showered with his love during his entire life; and that starts with his unequalled love for his cousin and brother, Imam Ali, Fatimah Zahra, his beloved daughter whom the Holy Prophet called part of my body, and Imam Hasan and Imam Hosain, whom the Holy Prophet used to carry on his own shoulders in the streets of Madinah to let the Muslims realize how beloved they were, and how much the Holy Prophet cared for them)!

Just imagine a Prophet who was highest of all creatures of Allah (S.W.T.) and who was carried to High Heavens by the Archangel Jebrail (A.S.) and who went to a place that even Archangel Jebrail (A.S.) could not go was carrying his grandchildren, Imam Hasan and Imam Hosain, on his shoulders to show (to those who have the eyes to see!) how high is the position of those two Imams, in the Eyes of Allah and His Beloved Messenger!

(Now, those who want to follow the Sunnah the way of life of the Holy Prophet should do as the Prophet did and not the opposite, as many did after the Prophet died, and some are doing up to now)!

Not only that the children of Prophet Mohhamad were massacred by the oppressive rulers in the olden days, even today, they are being constanly persecuted by not being recognized as they should be. Also, the Muslims who believe in them (Their Shi-ah) are being maligned and persecuted, even this 21st Century!For instance, Yazid, son of Mo-awia, killed Imam Hosain and the rest of the family of the Holy Prophet, in Karbala, on the Day of Ashura, and then, he also justified his crime by telling the Muslims that Imam Hosain was an unbeliever! And today, the followers and lovers of Yazid and Mo awia, call the followers and lovers of the Ahlal Bayt, Kafirs (whatever that means)!

After the Islamic Revolution of Iran in 1979, it became more evident that the revolutionary moves of Imam Hosain and the rest of the Ahlal Bayt which are patterned after their grandfather, Prophet Mohhamads revolutionary teachings were, the guiding their followers from Iran, up to South Lebanon (Hizbollah), Saudi Arabia, Bahrain UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, India, Pakistan and other Islamic Nations.

The reactionary governments in the region, lead by the corrupt Saudi rulers (like Yazid) started calling the followers of the Ahlal Bayt as heretics and any remembrance of Imam Hosains martyrdom as Bid-ah, and therefore ,should be suppressed (because it would expose not only the crimes of Yazid bin Moawia bin Abu Sufian, but also the crimes commited by the present day Yazids, whose modern names were Fahad, Mubarak, Jaber, Saddam, Aale Khalifah, etc).

When I observed all those attacks on the family of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) and their Shi-ah (followers) and I did not see much defenders around, I felt an obligation to tell what I had learned from the Holy Quran and the Hadith, as well as from the historical events that took place after the death of Prophet Mohammad when Islam was hijacked by an exteremist-fundamentalist group, who not only killed the non-Muslims; but even the Children and relatives of the Holy Prophet himself!A beginning of Taliban , Salafi, Takfiri, Wahhabi murderous movement),This feeling was always in my heart, until one day; when I was on a vacation, suddenly it came to my mind that it was about time to write an essay about the Ahlal Bayt to and explain the position which Allah (S.W.T.) has assigned them. ( Man Konto Maulah).Basically, it is what we find in our Daily Prayers (Salat) during which every Muslim has been required by Allah (S.W.T.) to state his own faith, very clearly, by saying:

O Allah, Bless thee Mohammad and the children of Mohammad as Thou has Blessed Ibrahim and the children of Ibrahim ( see: Daily Muslim Prayers / in Tashah-hud).From that prayer, I got the inspiration to write an article in defense of the Ahlal Bayt and to expose their oppressors and persecutors, past and present!

That article was reprinted several times , and it served as a blessing to many people, who had no other literature or source, which could open their eyes, to the injustices that took place, against the Ahlal Bayt, in the past centuries and, which is continued until today.

Some Added Explanations

After reaching to so many people, through that article, I got some feedbacks, as follows:

1.) Some readers appreciated it a lot, because it gave them the Truth, which had been covered up by the rules, and powers that be, in collaboration with some so called Ulama who pleased the kings and Khalifahs rather than Ahllah(S.W.T.) and His Messenger (P.B.U.H.), (as the Priests and Rabbis in the earlier generations did (see Holy Quran 9:9, 2:79 & 2:174, etc).

2.) Also, I came to know that due to the shortness of that article, some important points had not been explained sufienciently and in details and this had caused some confusions, and misunderstandings, in the minds of some readers, esepecially those who didnt have much background knowledge of the Holy Quran, the Hadith and the History of Islam, as a whole.

Aside from that, in the original text he emphasis was to get light from the Holy Quran, in order to reduce the possibility of any doubts about the nature of the source, but now that we are able to explain further, some relevant evidences, from the major books of Hadith (which are acceptable to the majority of Muslims, like Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Tirmidi, etc.) have also been added, in order to further clarify and to support the original text which was exclusively based on the Holy Quran and the historical facts and figures.

In order not to affect the original format of the article on the Prophet and his Ahlal Bayt, we have decided to bring the additional explanations as footnotes; and whenever the topic needed longer discussions, we placed it entirely or partially at the last chapter, so that the readers wont be distracted by the secondary issues.

It is our sincere prayer and hope that every one of our readers will be blessed by the topics discussed -- be it in the main body or in the explanations that are added to it, because every controversial issue can make us either bitter or better. We hope its the latter for you.

We also know very well that no matter how much we try, if it is not the Will of Allah (S.W.T.) nobody gets enlightened. Even many collectors of Hadith and the writers of history who have recorded so much of the truth, could not see the light themselves, and they walked opposite of what they had recorded in their own books! No wonder Allah (S.W.T.) tells the Prophet (P.B.U.H.), You (O Mohammad!) cannot guide any one that you like, but Allah guides those whom He Will . . . . . Holy Quran (28:56).

Now if there are some people (whose hearts are not humble enough to accept the truth ) that even Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) could not guide then, who are we to expect that everybody who reads the Truth in this book, which is based on the Holy Quran and the Hadith, will accept it? We can only pray to Allah (S.W.T.) to do What it is His Will. THY WILL BE DONE, O ALLAH!

Dreams About This Book

Before end this part, let me also tell you about the two beautiful and inspiring dreams regarding this work. Long before I could come up with the book in its present form, and when it was still a plan in my mind, something took place that made me hopeful and encouraged me to pursue this humble effort.

Two Muslims, one from Pakistan and the other from Afganistan, who did not know each other, nor they knew anything about my project, narrated two similar dreams, both related to this book.

First, a Pakistani Muslim came to me during the holy month of Ramadhan (1995) and said:

Brother! Last night, after I finished my sahar and said my prayers, I went back to sleep. In my dream, I saw you coming to our house, holding a very beautiful copy of the Holy Quran and you told me this is a gift for you!

The second dream, this time by an Afgani Muslim, which was very similar to the first one, took place several months later. The Afghani Muslim also told me about his dream this way:

You know, last night, after I did my Tahaj-jud (special midnight prayers), I slept, and I saw you in my dream carrying a copy of the Holy Quran. You came close to me and told me Brother, this is gift for you!

With these testemonies of two Muslims from different countries, who did not even know each other, but their stories were very similar, it became so meaningful and inspirationalfor me to come out with his work; Their dreams also confirmed the fact that the main text of the book is based entirely on the verses of the Holy Quran. However, the added explanations, in the new edition, contain some Hadith also to support the statements in the text.

I, take this as asign that Allah (S.W.T.) might use this simple and humble work to Guide those whom He wills to the Siratai Mustaqim (the Right Path)--the path of those people whom He hath Blessed; Not (the way of) those whom He hath cursed! And not the misguided ones! Holy Quran (2:26) and (1:6-7).

Maybe, after centuries of dictatorship by the absolute rulers, and caliphs in the name of Islam, its about time to tell the truth, without being jailed for it, or even being executed! (As the Wahhabis do in Saudi Arabia!) May Allah (S.W.T.) bless each and every Muslim brother and sister, as well as any seeker of Truth, by guiding us all. Islam Allah!Ramadhan, 2012Wassalam

Abdus Samad

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Even a medicine which is to heal, in excess, it will kill.

(Just like the Wahhabi extremist Islam)Chapter I

Prophet Mohammad and

His Household(AHLAL BAYT)Before his death, the Holy Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.) said: I am leaving behind for you (Muslims) two very important things: The Book of Allah, and my Descendants, my Ahlal Bayt; And these two shall not separate from each other, till they come to me, on the Day of Judgment.

Sahih Muslim Vol. 4, p. 1286

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PROPHET MOHAMMAD AND HIS HOUSEHOLD

(AHLAL BAYT)

Mulims around the world have to pray at least five times a day; And in every prayer, they have to recite the Salawat Ibrahimiyya (Tashahhud), this way:

Allahum-ma Sal-li Alaa Moham-madin wa Aaali Mohammadin, Kama Sal-laita Alaa Ibrahi-ma wa Aali Ibrahim; In-na-ka Hamidum Majeed!

O, Allah! Bless Thee Mohammad and Aali Mohhamad (his Household) as Thou Hath Blessed Ibrahim and his Household; Verily Thou Art most Praiseworthy, most Gracious.

But.

Surprisingly enough, very few Muslims know or even try to know the Aali Mohammad, or the, people, for whom they ask Allahs blessing so many times a day!

Who are the Aali Mohammad (P. B.U.H.)? What is their role in Islam, and in the Islamic Society? Why do we have to include them in our Daily Prayers? And why without including them in, Salat, our prayers are not accepted by Allah (S.W.T.)?

Historical Background

To know more about Prophet Mohammads Household, who are also known as the Ahlal Bayt, or Aali Mohammad, we have to go back into the history; and to reduce the chances of any doubt, we shall try to get light, from the Holy Quran:

And when Allah tested Ibrahim by some Words and he completed (the

Test), Allah said: Now, I, appoint thee as the Imam of the people. (Ibrahim) Said: A and how about my children? (Allah) Said: My promise wont be for the sinners (among them). Holy Quran: (2:124).

As we have seen, here Allah granted the request of the patriarch Abraham to bestow Imamah (Imamhood or Leadership) on his righteous descendants (Not the sinners, because sinful people cannot become Imams of the Ummah. So Imams must be impeccable and infallible) see page 39

Who are They?

But who are the righteous descendants of Abraham (A.S.)? Well, they are those who, according to the Holy Quran, granted Imamah or the Leadership of the People of the Book, namely: Ismail, Is-haq, Yaqub, Yusof, Dawoud, Solaiman, Moses, Jesus, and finaly the last Prophet of Allahour very own beloved Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.).

They are the righteous children of Abraham or Aali Ibrahim, who received Imamah or God given leadership over the believers. Now, there are two very important questions to be answered here:1. Who are the Aali Mohammad for whom we pray together with Aali Ibrahim, saying:

O Allah! Bless Thee Aali Mohammad (the same way) as Thou Hath

Blessed Aali Ibrahim? (At-ta-hiyyat, Daily Salats).

2. How did Allah bless Aali Ibrahim, that we ask Him to Bless Aali Mohammad, in the same manner?

The second question has been answered by Allah (S.W.T.) very clearly, in this verse from the Holy Quran:

Are they (?) jealous of the people (?) for what Allah Hath given them from His Grace? While We gave Aali Ibrahim, the Book, and the Wisdom and We gave them a Great Possession!Holy Quran (4:54)

So, what was given by Allah (S.W.T.) to Aali Ibrahim, was The Book, The Wisdom and a Great Possession! (Both material as well as the spiritual, i.e. the leadership of the Ummah).

Who Are the Aali Mohammad?

With regard to the first question, i.e. Who are the Aali Mohammad? Some people have tried, in vain, to interpret the Aali Mohammad as the followers of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.)! see page 48

The answer is that every Aali Mohammad is a follower of Prophet Mohammad, but not every follower of Prophet Mohammad, is necessarily an Aali Mohammad, too!

Specifically the following points should be considered very carefully:

a) If we go to the Arab tribesmen, and we ask them what do they mean by Aali so and so, when they are refering to a clan or a tribe, we will know that Aal refers only to the children of a certain chieftain.

b) In the Quranic terminology, except for one or two negative cases, like Aali Firaun (Pharoas children/followers), the term Aal is used to mean the children or descendants of a person. Examples are: (1) Aali Is-haq, (2) Aali Yaqub, (3) Aali Dawoud, (4) Aali Imran, (5) Aali Ibrahim, (6) Aali Yasin, (7) Aali Nooh, (8) Aali Musa, (9) Aali Haroon, etc., etc.

In the Hadith and the prayes, also, the terms Aali Taha, Aali Yasin, Aali Mohammad have always had this particular meaning. (Even in the history of Islam such terms as Aali Mohammad, Aali Ali, Aali Fatima, Aali Abbas, etc. refer to the descendants of those respectable personalities). Even today in Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Arab world, the word Aal means, clan. Like Aale Saud, Aale Sabah, Aale Khalifah, Aale Sheileh, etc.Prophet Mohammad Left No Son

Some people says: But Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) left no male child after him, because his two sons Ibrahim and Qasim, both died in their early childhood; Then where are the children of the Prophet, to become the Aali Mohammad?

Well, that was exactly what some unbelievers said during the lifetime of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.). According to their calculations, the Holy Prophet had no son left to carry on his name after him, and that he was an Abtar or without a descendant.

But Allah answered them back in and a very short, yet strongly worded Sura of the Holy Quran, this way:

In the Name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful. *Verily We have given thee (O Mohammad!) the Ever Increasing One. Then pray to thy Lord and sacrifice. Surely thy enemys tail is cut off! (childless) Holy Quran (108: 1-3). See page 44

Though Allah (S.W.T.) took the sons of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.), He left for him a blessed daughter Fatimah Zahra (Kauthar or Ever Increasing One) who is known as the Sayyidato Nisa-il Aalamin (The Lady of all the Women of all Ages). As well as the Sayyidato Nisa-e Ahlil Jannah (The Lady of the Women of Heavens).Thus, Prophet Mohammads descendants, or the Aali Mohammad ,continued ,not through a male child, but through Sayyida Fatimah and her beloved husband Imam Ali. ( Just like Prophet Elisa A.S. or Jesus, who is the son ( The grandson) of Prophet David A.S. through Sayyida Maryam A.S.).

To know how the children of Imam Ali and Fatimah Zahra, are called Children of Prophet Mohammad, we have to refer to the Holy Quran, once more.

Muhabala Or the Spiritual Confrontation

When the Christian leaders of Yemen came to the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.), and after long debates they still did not want to accept the truth of Islam, Allah (S.W.T.) ordered the Prophet, to do Mubahala, or the spiritual confrontation with them!

Say (OMohammad!) lets call our sons and your sons our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves, and then ask Allah to destroy the liars! Holy Quran (3:61).

All Muslim historians, without exception, say that in the spiritual confrontation of Islam vs. Christianity there were only five people present: They were Prophet Mohammad himself, Imam Ali, Fatimah Zahra, Imam Hassan and Imam Hosain.

(From this Ayah, we understand that whenever there is a confrontation between the family of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) and others, the opposite camp belongs to the unbelievers and the liars, upon whom is the curse and the Anger of Allah (S.W.T.)!

Here, some interesting questions arise. For instance, that Allahs order was let us bring our sons, and you bring your sons, we will bring our women and you bring your women, and you come yourselves, and we shall come ourselves!

Question No. 1. Who were the sons that the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) brought with him?

Answer: Imam Hassan and Imam Hosain. (Surely, the Holy Prophet cannot be lying or joking, so he Considered the Children of his daughter Fatimah Zahra, as his own sons).Question No. 2. Who represented the women on the side of Islam?

Answer: Fatimah Zahra.

(Now, why the Holy Prophet did not include any of his own wives in that crucial confrontation of Islam vs. Kurf? The best answer would be that he was carrying out the Order of Allah S.W.T.) *

Question No. 3. Who represented the selves in Allahs command, aside from the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) himself?

Answer: The man who slept in place of the Prophet Mohammad, when he migrated form Mecca to Madinah; He who represented the Holy Prophet, as the governor of Yemen, and he who took the Prophets place when he left Madinah to fight the Romans. He was none but Imam Ali.

Now, we have the complete picture of the first generation of the Aali Mohammad or the Household of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.).

And what is the position of this Household or the Ahlal Bayt in the Eyes of Allah (S.W.T.)? Well, lets ask Him.

In the Holy Quran Allah (S.W.T.) says: Very Allah wills to remove (all kinds of) impurities from You, O Houselhold (of the Prophet) and to purify you perfectly Holy Quran (33.33).

Some people argue that this verse includes the wives of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) also, but as we saw before, they were not present at the Mubahala, or the confrontation of Prophet Mohammads family vs. the Christians of Nadjran. The Prophet should know Allahs orders better than anyone else.

(Of course, all Muslims must respect the wives of the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) as their spiritual mothers, but here we are searching for Aali Mohammad/Children of the Prophet and not his wives may Allah bless them all). **

The Role of Aali Mohammad

After knowing the Aali Mohammad, or the Ahlal Bayt, now the question will be: So, what if they are the Aali Mohammad (P.B.U.H.)?

The answer is that: If they are the Aali Mohammad, then they will have some responsibilities over their shoulders as did the Aali Ibrahim, Aali Dawoud, etc. And we also as the followers of the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) will have some obligations to them in the same manner that the followers of Ibrahim, Dawoud, (A.S.) etc had in the previous ages. This belief is confirmed in the following verses of the Holy Quran:

Such has been the way Allah dealth with the people before, and you wont ever see Allah change His way! Holy Quran (33:62).This is the way of those Prophets We sent before you, and you wont find any changes in Our Way Holy Quran (17:77).

Allahs way will never change, Allahs way wont alter. Holy Quran (35:43), etc.

Their Role Is Imamah

Every Muslim believes that the Holy Quran is the last of the Heavenly Books, and that Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) is the last Prophet or the Khatamon Nabiy-yin.

In the same manner, the Imamah or the spiritual leadership of the Muslims after the death of the Prophet Mohammad, cannot be denied by anyone who knows Islam even a little.

For centuries, all Muslims have agreed (Eijmaa) that a Muslim has to have a Madh-hab, through which, he will follow the Fiqah or the Islamic Jurisprudence, and the head of that Madh-hab is called Imam.

Thats why in Islam, we have the following Madh-habs and their respective Imams:

1) Madh-hab Hanafi, which is headed by Imam Abu Hanifa Bin Thabit Bin Marzban whose origin is from Iran, and who is the greatest of all the Sunni Imams (Imam Azam); * (Born 80 A.H. Died 148 A.H.). see page 51

2) Madh-hab Maaliki, lead by Imam Maalik, (95 A.H. to 179 A.H.).

3) Madh-hab Shafe-iy, lead by Imam Shafe-iy, (150A.H. to 203 A.H.).

4) Madh-hab Hanbali, lead by Imam ahmad Hanbal (163 A.H. to 239 A.H.).

The Imams of Aali Mohammad

As we have Imams in the Sunni School of Fiqah (Four Imams that were mentioned above), we also have Imams of the Ahlal Bayt or the Aali Mohammad. See page 60

The Imams of the Ahlal Bayt are as follows:

(1) Imam Ali Bin Abi Talib, (2) Imam Hasan Bin Ali, (3) Imam Hosain Bin Ali, (4) Imam Zainol Abidin, (5) Imam Mohammad Baqir, (6) Imam Jafar Saadiq (the teacher of the first Imam of the Sunni Madh-hab, who is Imam Abu Hanifa, also known as the Great Imam, as well as another Sunni Imam named Imam Maalik), (7) Imam Musa Al-Kazim, (8) Imam Ali Reza, (9) Imam Mohammad Taqiy, (10) Imam Ali Hadiy, (11) Imam Hasan El-Askary, (12) Imam Mahdi (TheWorld Reformer, who is to appear in the future, with Allahs permission). **see page 54

However, there are some differences between the two concepts of Imamah, upheld by the Aali Mohammad and the non-Ahlal Bayt Imams.

Take note of the following for instance:

1. The Imams, who were not from the Aali Mohammad, started their Fiqah or Jurisprudence some 100 to 200 years after the death of the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.), while the Ahlal Bayt9 started Imamah (Spiritual leadership), immediately after the Prophets passing away. See page 61

2. The second difference between the two groups of Imams is that the Imams of Aali Mohammad all claimed to have the Authority (Olil Amr) from Allah, through their appointment by the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.), *** one after the other; the non_Ahlal Bayt Imams never claimed to have such an Authority from anyone at anytime, and they had no authority, indeed.

The Right Number of Imams

After knowing the Ahlal Bayt, and the non-Ahlal Bayt Imams (12 versus 4) it will be very interesting to ask Allah (S.W.T.) and His Prophet (P.B.U.H.) about the right number of Imams. After all, thats what Allah (S.W.T.) has ordered, when He commanded us by saying:

O, ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger and those who are Authorized (by whom? Of course by Allah, through His Messenger) amongst you (the Imams); and if you disputed in anything (including those who are Authorized/Imams) then take it to Allah and to His Messenger (ask them) if you believe in Allah and the Day of Judgement. This is a better and much agreeable judgement. Holy Quran (4:59).

This Ayah expresses two things very clearly, namely:

a) Obedience to those who are Authorized (?) is obedience to Allah and His Messenger and vice versa, meaning the disobedience to those who are Authorized is also disobedience to Allah and to His Messenger (P.B.U.H.).

This means that those who are AUTHORIZED are spotless and pure (See the Holy Quran 33:33), otherwise, how could Allah order us to obey someone who himself is a sinner, or a wrong doer and impure? (The blind leading the the blind!)b) In all the disputes (especially regarding those who are Authorized) a believer should refer the matter to Allah, and to His Messenger (and not anyone else, as some people tried to do by putting the matter to peoples decision not to Allah and His Messengers) see The Holy Quran 3:154, etc.

The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) Says 12

According to a very the popular Hadith from the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.), the number of the Rightful Leaders or Emirs, after him shall be 12 (no more and no less!) and all of them shall come from Qoraish. (Ref. (1) Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 9, p. 250; (2) Sahih Muslim Vol. 4, p. 482; (3) Mosnand Ahmad, Vol. 1, p. 398, etc.).

This Hadith could not be about the Khalifahs, because they were not twelve. It also could not be about the Non-Ahlal Bayt Imams, because they are not twelve, either.

The only Twelve Leaders/Emirs in the history of Islam are the Holy Imams of the Ahlal Bayt i.e. Imam Ali, Imam Hasan, Imam Hosain up to the last Imam, namely Imam Mahdi. These are the only twelve personalities who perfectly fit the descriptions of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.).

Previous Religions (Ahlal Kitab) and their 12 Leaders

Considering that the people of the Book (followers of Prophets Musa and Elisa (A.S.) also proclaim the same Source of Truth that Islam comes from i.e. God Almighty, many things are similar or ever common among these three Godly religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

In fact, the Holy Quran very often talks about those religions and their Prophets, their people as well as their history and law. It also declares many times that the Holy Prophet of Islam Has come with the BOOK, confirming what (other Books) went before it, and He (Allah) revealed the Taurah and the Gospel before, Holy Quran (3:3).

Considering such closeness between these three Heavenly religions, it will be very interesting to see the leadership style as well as their numbers among them, too.

The Holy Quran says the number of The Chieftains appointed by Allah among the People of Israel, was 12.

And We appointed Twelve Chieftains among them. Holy Quran (5:13). (Note the word appointed by Allah not chosen by the people)!

And when Muslims asked the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) about the number of his successors he said: Twelve people, just like the chieftains of Bani Isra-il, Mosnad Ahamd Vol. 1, p. 398.

Even in the Old Testament it is mentioned that from Ismael, there shall come a Great Nation with Twelve Princes. See, for example, this verse from that Book:

As for Ismael, all right, I will bless him also, just as you (Prophet Abraham) have asked me to. I will cause him to multiply and become a great nation; Twelve Princes shall be among his posterity. Genesis (17:20).

Now, who are these 12 Princes in the family of Ismael, who is also the forefather of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.)? No one but the 12 Holy Imams of the Ahlal Bayt of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) just like the 12 Chieftains of Bani Isra-il.

Next is the number of the Apostles of Jesus (A.S.) which is also 12. (Also the 12 Gates of Jerusalem, 12 Angels, with the name of 12 Apostles, etc.).

What is the reason that the number of the Princes/Leaders/Imams/ Khalifahs after Prophet Musa, Elisa and Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) are 12? We dont know, but there are some other 12 Phenomena in this universe, that may explain the mystery of this number:

a) Allah in the Holy Quran says:

Verily, the number of the months (of the year) with Allah is 12, so ordained by Him, the day He created the heavens and the earth.

Holy Quran (9:36)

b) According to the scientists a big number of natural elements are composed of 12 parts.

c) The Zodiac signs which are based on the ancient science of astrology are also 12 (something to think about).

Despite these quotations, still the instructions of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) are the only reliable foundation of the belief in and following his 12 progeny, as he told us upon the order of Allah (S.W.T.).

Are the Imams Necessary?

There are some new groups and sects (like the Wahhabis of Saudi Arabia) who preach that there is no need for any Imam. They believe that everybody should read the Holy Quran and the Hadith of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) and follow them as he understood them to mean! (We shall discuss this later, but first let us see if we need any Imam to guide us in Islam). In order to grasp the question of Do we need Imams? better, we may put it this way: Do we need the Prophets at all?

The answer to the second question is: Definitely yes, because we need a Messenger to bring us the Message of Allah (S.W.T.) and to guide us according to His laws and commandments.

Then you may ask, after the Messenger delivered the Message, and himself passed away, do we need any teacher of the Book who will explain the meanings, and will interpret the difficult parts of it, and who will answer the questions that may arise, long after the Messenger had left? *

The Holy Quran says yes. Please take note of the following verses:

(1) And what We have sent to thee (O Mohammad) from the Book, is the Truth, supporting the revelations before it; Verily Allah knoweth all about people. Then We gave the Book as an inheritance to those servants of Us whom We chose. That is a Great Giving! Holy Quran (35:31-32).

(2) The unbelievers say: Why no sign is revealed from his God (to support his claim)? Well, the truth is you (O Mohammad) are a Warner; And for every nation, there is a Guide (Imam) Holy Quran (13:7). ___(3) He (Allah) is Who revealed unto you (OMohammad) the Book, some verses of which are clear; Those are the fundamentals of the Book, and some are not so clear (thus need clarification). Holy Quran (3:7).

Now, how shall we clarify those verses which are not so clear?

Again the Holy Quran tells us what to do:

(4) Then you ask those who are familiar with the Note (Reminder or the Quran) if you dont know. Holy Quran (16:43).

(5) (And on Ibrahim) We bestowed Is-haq, also Jacob, as a grandson and We made all of them righteous. And we appointed them Imams who guided (the people) in accordance with Our Orders Holy Quran (21:72-73).

(6) And verily We sent Noah and Abraham (as our Messengers) and We assigned the Prophethood and the Book amongst i[their children. Holy Quran (57:26).

(7) Verily Allah chose Adam and Noah and the families of Ibrahim as well as Imran, above all peole. Offspring, one of the other; And Allah heareth and knoweth all things. Holy Qurran (3:33-34).

(8) One day (Day of Judgment) We shall call every people with their Imam. Holy Quran (17:71).

(9) O, Ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger and those who are Authorized (certified by Allah and His Messenger) amongst you; And if you disputed in anything (regarding the Authority, etc.) then take it to Allah and to His Messenger (ask them) if you believe in Allah and the Day of Judgment; This is a better and much agreeable judgment. Holy Quran (4:59).

And what kind of an Authority is that? Again the Holy Quran guides us:

They ask you (OMohammad!) do we have any share in that Authority? Tell them (No!) the Authority, all of it, belongs to Allah (and those whom He has Authorized). Holy Quran (3:154).

Through all these verses, we got the following messages: (1) Every people have an Imam (Quran 13:7) with whom they shall come in the Day of Judgment (Quran 17:71); (2)The Book has been given as inheritance (after the Prophets) to those servant of Allah who were chosen by Him/Children of Prophets Noah, Ibrahim, etc. (Quran57:26); (3) The Holy Quran has some points which are not clear to everyone; (4) We have to ask those who are knowledgeable about this Book; (5) There are some Imams who guide people in accordance with the Orders of Allah, versus those who dont; (6) We have to obey Allah and His Messenger and those who are Authorized; and finally (7) The whole Authority comes from Allah and not from men!

But Why The Household?

One may ask: Why such an Authority or Imamah is limited to the Household of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.)? Why not free for all? After all, Islam is the religion of the people (though not by the people) and Allah is the God of the people?

The answers are as follows:

(1) That is the Sunnat-Allah (or Allahs way) through history (among all nations and after every Prophet) and Allahs Way does not change (see Holy Quran 33:62 and 17:77, etc.).

As he decided for Aali Ibrahim, Aali Nooh, Aali Imran and other Prophets families, the same He did for Aali Mohammad, (P.B.U.H.) See Holy Quran 57:27 also 3:33-34, 11:73, etc.

(2) The Holy Quran points out some specific Houses that are chosen by Allah (S.W.T.) to do His work (like the house of the Prophets):

The Light of Allah shineth in those Houses that Allah has allowed (chosen) to rise high/grow, and to mention His Name, in which, He is praised in the morning as well as in the evening by (those) men whom no business or buying (and selling) will prevent from remembering Allah, and establishing the prayer, and giving in charity (sharing) and who are fearing The Day in which the hearts and eyes shall tremble (Day of Judgment). Holy Quran (24:36).

(3) Allah says: None shall touch (handle or explain) this Book, except The Purified Ones! Holy Quran (56:79).

And who are the Purified People in the eyes of Allah? Again the Holy Quran identifies them:

Verily Allah wants to remove all impurities from you O Ahlal Bayt (Aali Mohammad) and to clean you a through cleaning. Holy Quran (33:33).

In another verse, as we noted earlier, the Holy Quran further emphasizes that some people are chosen by Allah to Inherit the Book:

Then We Gave the Book, as an inheritance to some of Our Servants, whom we Chose () This is a Great Blessing! Holy Quran (35:31-32).

(Also look at the Hadith of the Holy Prophet regarding the Two Important Valuables he left for Muslims after him, namely 1) The Book of Allah, and 2) The Ahlal Bayt, as teachers of the Book. See Sahih Muslim, Vol. 5, p.272 and Sahih Tirmidi, vol.2, p.308, etc.)

The Wahhabi Saudi Concept of Imamah

In recent years, the Saudi royal family and its twin brother, the Wahhabi sect, who are both the by-products of the infamous Lawrence of Arabia, the British Secret Agent (please read the book of the same title or see the movie called Lawrence of Arabia to know the truth better)* are spreading a new concept of Islam in general, and Imamah in particular. See page 62 and 84.

The money that they are using to propagate this idea, is the American Petro-Dollar and the company that pays for its propagation is the so-called Arab-American Oil Company (ARAMCO). The agency that orchestrates all this American Islam is the Satanic Organization of the CIA, which is the evil instrument of the U.S. Imperialism to destroy Islam and all other Godly and human values that may stand against their Satanic plots. (No wonder, Imam Khomeini called American, the Great Satan)!

Among the many tools that they use for their unholy purposes are the so-called Ulama who receive their monthly salaries in U.S. dollars coming from doubtful sources.

What Is the Concept?

The Saudi-American Islam preaches that there is no need for any Imam, and every Muslim should read the Holy Quran for himself, and follow what he understands from the Holy Book. (This is exactly the same concept that the CIA-backed American missionaries are preaching in the name of ProtestantismBaptists, Methodists, Lutherans, etc. in the Christian world). They are telling the people to read the Holy Quran, and the Hadith (without a teacher) and to understand Islam (without a guide or Imam) while they know very well that 60% of the Saudi Arabians are no read no writes! Also a big percentage of the Muslim population in the Middle East or elsewhere, either dont know how to read and to understand the Holy Quran and the Hadith or they are simply illiterate. (In Pakistan and Afghanistan, the majority of their Papulation are illiterate).What Is The Purpose?

Apparently, this plan, or plot, is pretending to believe that the Book of Allah is complete (which is true) and that every believer can understand all that is revealed in the Book (which is not true). See Holy Quran (3:7).

But, the real intention of its advocates is to prevent the formation of any Islamic Organization under the leadership of a spiritual Muslim leader or Imam, that can unite the Muslim Ummah and to stand against the Satanic forces of Imperialism and to declare Jihad, against America and its puppets in the world, namely Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, etc.

Just to know how successful this Anti-Islam, Anti Imamah scheme has been in the Muslim world, its enough to note that for scheme has been in the Muslim world, Its enough to note that for more than half a century, all the Islamic movements in the Muslim worldhave failed to establish any real Islamic rule. (Look at the Ikhwan Al-Muslimin in Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, ect. or those Islamic movements, in countries like Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, etc. and you will see failures after failures of such Islamic Organizations or Fronts).

The only successful Islamic movement that was able to establish an Islamic government in a Muslim country so far, has been the Islamic Revolution of Iran under the leadership of Imam Khomeini; and the major factor for this successful Islamic Revolution was Imamah or the spiritual leadership rising up against the corrupt regime of the Shah of Iran, in 1979.This phenomenon Imamah vs. the corrupt governments, is what the Saudi royal family and the rest of the corrupt regimes in the Muslim world and their mother the U.S. Imperialism, are so afraid of. Thats why they spend so much money and use so many Ulama as a tool, just to preach that there is no need for any Imams, and that everyone is an Imam for himself! (Thus, there is no united front against Imperialism and there is no Ummah, no Jihad and nothing at all)! But as Muslims, we should think that if there would be no Imam, who else then shall declare Jihad (which is emphasized in more than 200 places in the Holy Quran)? We cant even have a Friday Prayer, Id-Al-Adha, Id Al-Fitir prayers, etc. without an Imam; how then do we expect that the Muslim Ummah could march forward (both spiritually and materially) without an Imam?

Do you think that all Muslims, for many centuries, have been wrong by following the Imams? Are we to accept that only the newly established Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its new Wahhabi sectare right, and the rest of the Muslim world is wrong? Can you believe that?

But The Holy Quran Says It Differently

The Holy Quran tells us a different story. It teachers us that we need an Imam or a spiritual leader, who will follow the footsteps of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) and will implement the Commandments of Allah (S.W.T.) (not the dictates of the U.S.) in the Muslim society. It does not allow the community to be without a spiritual guide or Imam, even just for a day!

When Prophet Musa (A.S.) was called by Allah (S.W.T.) to Mount Sinai (for 30 days), the Holy Quran says: He appointed his brother Aaron as his Khalifah and leader (Imam) of the people. Inspite of this, some people did not want to follow him, and they even started worshipping a calf (!). This is a case which proves that you cant follow what you think is right certainly you need a guide or an Imam.

The Holy Quran tells it better:

And We (Allah S.W.T.) invited Moses for thirty days; then We (testing the people) increased it by ten more days; thus making it forty nights; And Moses told his brother (Aaron) take my place among my people (lead them), improve the situation and follow not the ways of the corrupt People! Holy Quran 7:142. (See, corrupt People, even among the followers and companions of Moses and Aaron)!

In the history of Islam, the same event was repeated. When Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) left Madinah to fight the oppressive government of Rome, he assigned Imam Ali to run the Islamic City State of Madinah during his absence for a few days. But, some people did not want to follow Imam Ali. (the same story of Musa and Aaron. No wonder Prophet Mohammad said: O, Ali you are to me like Aaron to Musa (A.S.) except the fact that there is no Messenger after me. Sahih Bukhari, vol. 5, p. 492). *

So, the lmam is needed in a Muslim_society, not only for a long period, but for every single day in the life of the Ummah. (To our opinion, the basic reason why the Muslims of the Philippines could not reach their goals despite 400 years of Jihad, is the lack of a united front, under the leadership of a qualified Imam (Olil Amr) who is acceptable to the majority of the Muslims, in the country).

The Love of Aali Mohammad

Allah in the Holy Qur'an says:

Tell them (O'Mohammad) I dont ask any compensation for it (preaching Islam to you) except (that you) love the loved ones! (of the Holy Prophet). Holy Quran (42:23). See Page 117

According to the Islamic historians, a group of Sahaba (compansions of the Holy Prophet) came to him and wanted to offer him some material things as a token of their appreciation of what Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) had done in guiding them towards lslam, and out of the Jahiliyyah or Ignorance. But, Allah (S.W.T.) told the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) to tell them that he needed nothing of their material possessions! However, if they wanted to repay the Holy Prophet, they would better be kind to his relatives and descendants. Unfortunately, many so-called Muslims did the exact opposite!

The Biggest Tragedy in Islam

lnspite of Holy Prophets repeated recommendations and his clear instructions, all the lmams of the Aali Mohammad, and a big number of Prophets children and grandchildren were either killed by the sword or they were poisoned by the rulers, immediately after the death of, Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.).

1.)Fatimah Zahra, the only child that the Prophet Mohammad had left behind him, and wife to Imam Ali, mother of lmams Hasan and Hosain, and the lady whom all Muslims remember, during the Khotbah of Friday prayer, and other Salats, was critically wounded by a mob, who attacked and burned her house. They injured her physically and killed the fetus in her womb! This tragic event took place even as the body of the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) was left unburied! Because, some people thought that the election of a Khalifah or successor to the Holy Prophet, was more urgent than the burial of the body of Prophet Mohammad! (Leadership of the Ummah seemed so important to the Sahaba; then why did the Prophet himself say nothing about such an important issue? Or did he say, but some people did not want to follow)!

Fatimah Zahra was injured severely, and she died of the complications, six months after her father passed away. She was only 18 years old at the time of other tragic death. She requested Imam Ali to bury her secretly, as a sign of her protest against those ungrateful followers of her father (see page 94).Until now, no Muslim knows exactly, where is the tomb of Fatimah Zahra, the beloved daughter of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.).

2.)Imam Ali, the husband of Fatimah Zohra and the cousin of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) was disobeyed, hurt, and finally martyred, inside the Kufa Mosque, during a morning prayer, in the Holy mouth of Ramadan.3.)Imam Hasan, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, (son of Fatimah and Ali) was disobeyed and dastardly poisoned by Moawia, the governor of Damascus, who was also a former companion of, Prophet Mohammad (P.B .U .H .).

4.)Imam Hosain, the second grandson of the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) was beheaded by Khalifah Yazid, son of Moawia! Along with Imam Hosain, 72 other Muslims (some Aali Mohammad and some Sahaba of the Prophet Mohammad) were killed by Yazids soldiers.

His sisters, Zainab and Ummi Kulthum, the grand daughters of the Holy Prophet, and Imam Hosain's own daughters (Sakina and Roqayya) were taken as captives, and they were introduced to the people of Iraq and Syria, as the non-Muslims! (And today, the followers of Yazid and Moawia call the followers of the Ahlal Bayt as the non-Muslims. Is it amazing? Like father, like son!). see page 97

All other Imams of the Aali Mohammad, except for Imam Mahdi, have been jailed (Imam Musa Al-Kazim for 14 years) and killed through poisoning by the Khalifahs of their times, both the Umayyads as well as the Abbasids.

This is how the so-called Muslims returned the services of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U .H.) after his death.

And now, the Saudi government, and its Wah-habi rulers, have destroyed the tombs of four of those Imams of the Ahlal Bayt of the Holy Prophet, namely Imam Hasan, Imam Zainol Abidin, Imam Mohammad Al-Baqir and Imam Jafar As-Saadiq, in Madinah (The Baqie Cemetery). They argue that, according to the Wah-habi / Salafi Islam, construction of any tomb for anybody is a Bid-ah (!) or un-Islamic. (See page 109)(What about the tombs of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H) or Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) and other Prophets)? see page 104

How come building palaces with golden faucets for the Saudi royal family is not a Bid-ah, and contrary to the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Mohammad? Why the re-establishment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, itself, is not a Bid-ah and against the teachings and the pure practices of the Prophet Mohammad; but having a tomb built upon the burial ground of a good Muslim or an Imam, whom we are all supposed to remember, love and follow, is a Bid-ah? **

The truth of the matter is that, as the Munafiq people in the early days of Islam hated the Holy Family of the Prophet Mohammad (P.B .U .H .) and they even, massacred them, their children today (lead by the Saudi royal family) are doing the same; as did the Jews with the descendants of Abraham or Aali Ibrahim. A.S. (See the Holy Quran 31:112, etc.). see page 115-116

This Saudi-American unholy alliance, knows very well, that even the tombs of the Aali Mohhamad, can inspire the Muslims, in uprising against the corrupt regimes in the Islamic world -- just like what Imam Hosain did when he and his followers fought, so bravely against Yazid, and his anti-Islamic rule.

If these regimes were allowed to continue their crimes against Islam and the Ahlal Bayt, maybe one day, they would remove even the names, of the Aali Mohammad, from the Muslim Prayers: 'Allahum-ma Salli Ala Mohammad wa Ala Aaali Mohammad, Kama Sal-laita Ala Ibrahim wa Ala Aali Ibrahim, fil Aalameen!**

May Allah forbid that! Insha Allah!

Chapter II

Explanations

What is the use of running,when the road is wrong?What is the use of a lamp, if there is no oil!

Imam Must Be lnfallible

lt seems that some people have a hard time to understand how can an Imam (i.e. the Holy Imam of the Ahlal Bayt) possibly be infallible, because they, think that infallibility is limited to the Prophets (A.S.) and even then, some of them cannot figure it out quite clearly, how can it be?

Well , we cannot blame them, because they never had a chance to follow Imam Ali, Imam Hasan, Imam Hosain, and the rest of the 12 Holy Imams of the Family of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.).

The only leaders that they saw, were Mo'awia, Yazid and the rest of the Caliphs (both Omayyad and Abbasid) who would openly drink wine, and yet they claimed to represent the Holy Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) and amazingly a majority of the Muslims believed them; and some fools, still do!

But the Imams that we are talking about, are the 12 Holy Imams of the Ahlal Bayt or the Family of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) who were certified pure, by Allah (S.T.W.) in the Holy Qur'an (33:33) and not the Imam of any Mosque or Mufti of a certain country, etc.

Why Must Imam Be lnfallible?

a) Because, Allah has already told Ibrahim (A.S.) that: His promise of Imamah (or the spiritual leadership) won't be for the sinners. (See Holy Quran: 2:124).

b) Allah has also commanded all the Muslims, to obey Him, obey the Messenger (Prophet Mohammad) and Those Who Authorized (by Allah and His Messenger) among us. (See Holy Quran 4:59)

How can Allah order us to obey a sinner? In fact , He denies this by saying: Say (O'Mohammad) that Allah will never command corrupt practices (Holy Quran: 7:28).

And obey you not anybody whose heart We have allowed to forget Us. One who follows his own desires . . . (Holy Quran 18:28).

So obey you not those who deny the Truth! Obey you not despicable person, always ready with oaths; A slanderer, going around calumnies; Hinderer of good, transgressing beyond bounds, deep in sin, violent (and cruel) with all that, base-born (Holy Qur'an: 68:8 13).

Now, in the history of Islam, you should compare the life styles of the Omayyad and the Abbasid Khalifahs, and that of the Family of ProphetMohammad (P.B.U.H.) or the Ahlal Bayt, whom Allah decided to cleanse from all dirt and thoroughly purity! Holy Quran (33:33).

Or take note when the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) said:

The example of my family is like the Ark of Nooh, those who join it (follow them) are saved (for sure because they commit no mistakes in leading the people, because they are pure, Quran 33:33) as Prophet Mohammad himself was pure and committed no wrong (but there is no prophet after Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H ) only there are 12 Emirs or the Holy Imams, from Qoraish (Sahih Muslim Vol. 5 p.482). And those who dont (join my family i.e. do not follow them as their Imams, or follow any other person who is not from the Family) will perish! (like those people who did not board the Ark of Nooh) See Prophet Mostadrak Sahihain, Vol. 2, p.343.

Now, do you think that the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H) will ask us to join/follow the sinful people? Or only those who are certified by Allah (S.W.T.) to be far from any sins? (Holy Quran: 33:33).

c) If the Imam is not infallible, then how sure are we that he is telling the (truth and nothing but the truth) and he must be obeyed, or he is telling a lie (like Yazid) or making a mistake (like many Khalifahs) and we have to disobey? But Allah says obey them! (Holy Quran, 4:59, etc.).

d) In the Holy Quran, Allah gives a good example of the righteous Imams this way:

And We gave him (Ibrahim A.S.) Isaac and Jacob and We made all of them righteous! And We made them Imams, guiding (people) by Our Orders, and We sent them inspirations, in order for them to do good deeds . . . . Holy Quran (21:72-73).

But, the you may say: This ayahs are talking about the Prophets of Bani Israil, who were children of Ibrahim (A.S.) and they are not about the Imams of the Ahlal Bayt of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H) because, there is no other Prophet after our beloved Prophet Mohhamad(P.B.U.H.).

The answer is: It is true that there is no other prophet after the Prophet Mohammad (P. B. U. H. ) but the Imam hood or the spiritual leadership, has never stopped since Allah appointed Adam (A. S.) as His KHALIFAH on Earth, and He ordered the Angels to bow down to him (Qur'an 2 34) This heavenly Authorization or Olil Amr Continued untill Allah (S.W.T.) Appointed Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) as Imam of the people (Holy Quran 2:124) and after Ibrahim, He again appointed Aali Ibrahim or Children of Ibrahim as Imams (Holy Quran 21:72-73).

And now, we Muslims are also required by Allah (S.W.T.) to pray several times a day, asking Him to: Bless Mohammad and Aali Mohammad (his children) as He Blessed Ibrahim and Aali Ibrahim (Allahum-ma Sal-li Ala Mohammadin Wa Ala Aali Mohammadin Kama Sal-laita Ala Ibrahim Wa Ala Aali Ibrahim . . .) The Daily Prayers, in Islam.What was the Blessing of Allah to Aali Ibrahim? Do you remember any? If not, then let us ask Allah Himself . . . Are they(?) jealous of the people (?) for what Allah Has Given them of His Blessings? While We have already given Aali Ibrahim the Book and the Wisdom and a Great Possession! (Holy Quran 4:54).

Now, do you realize what are you praying for, several times a day? Are you following what you are praying for? Who are your Imams, then?

e) The prophethood ended by Prophet Mohammad, who is the Seal of the Prophets, and the Prophethood (Quran: 33: 40) and there is no other prophet or revelation to come after him, because, the religion has been completed by Allah, through Prophet Mohammad, and his Message, i.e. Al-Islam (see Holy Quran 5:4).

Yet, the Khalifah of Allah or His Representative on Earth, in other words, the Spiritual Leadership or the Imamhood, will never be over; Because, for thousands of years Allah has appointed Imams, to guide the people. How could He let them down, today? While we know very well that Allahs Style will never change (Holy Qur'an: 33:62 and 17:77 and 35: 43, etc., etc.).

That's why the Holy Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) said:

"(After me) I leave among you two very important things, that if you followed them, you will never go astray:1) The Book of Allah2) and My Ahlal Bayt (the teachers of the Book) Sahih Muslim, Vol. 5, p. 272; Sahih Tirmidi, Vol. 2, p. 308, etc.

In fact, the reason why after the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) there was an immediate need for a leader (Khalifah or Imam) that some Sahaba even left the body of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) unburied, to look for a successor or a Khalifah for him, proves that, they also believed that the Muslim Ummah can never be without an Imam, and that Imam must be Pure because, the sinners are not qualified to take the place of the Pure Prophet of Allah (S.W.T) and lead the believers.

The Holy Quran says: . . . Is he who guides to the truth better to follow, or he who himself needs to be guided (doesnt know well what to do, or is a sinner and thus not qualified to take a lead the peopIe)? Holy Quran (10:35).

Just look at the Islamic history, to see how many rulers after Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) committed mistakes or even crimes, and they knowingly violated the laws of Allah, and some Muslim leaders are still violating it openly or otherwise. Now, how can obeying them be ordered by Allah? No wonder Allah (S.W.T.) ends, His statement in that Ayah by asking: Whats the matter with you? What kind of a judgment you have? Holy Quran (10:35).

f) Finally, someone who succeeds the Holy Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) as a Khalifah or Imam, assumes all the responsibilities of the Holy Prophet (in war as well as in peace) except the revelation, which has ended.

Such a leader should possess the same qualities that the Holy Prophet himself did; like the Knowledge, the Wisdom, the Purity, etc. Thats why the Prophet Mohammad said: I am the City of Knowledge and Ali is the Gate to it! Sahih Tirmidi Vol.2, p.299. (Has anyone heard the Holy Prophet saying the same thing about, any other person)?

Otherwise, how could someone sit in the place of the Prophet, rule over the believers absolutely, as the Prophet did, and he also should be obeyed as the Prophet was being obeyed, and yet not possess his qualifications In Knowledge, Wisdom, Purity and so on? (In other words, the one who succeeds, should also, Posses the qualifications of the one he is succeeding, otherwise, it will end up in a systems failure!)Again, to make it sure that we have understood very well, the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) told Imam Ali: (OAli!) You are to me like what Aaron (A.S.) was to Moses (A.S.) (Namely: assistant, veriz, and his successor . . .) except that there is no other Prophet after me. Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 5, p. 492.

So, the true successor of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) is an Imam, who is the purest and the most knowledgeable person among the Ummah, after the Prophet. And every Muslim knows that nobody among the Muslim Ummah, has ever been purer and more knowledgeable about Islam than the Ahlal Bayt of the Holy Prophet, and nobody knew Islam better than those whose house was where Islam was born, and the Holy Quran entered first, and those who were living with Prophet Mohammad, twenty four hours a day! i.e. his Household or the Ahlal Bayt.

Now, are those who know the real truth and are purified by Allah equal (in leadership, etc.) with those who are not? Lets see what the Holy Qur'an says:

Are those who know, equal to those who dont know? Only those who are wise, know the difference!" Holy Quran (39:9).

After all these qualifications possessed by the Imams of the Family of the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) and the certification by Allah and His Messenger to support their purity and integrity, are you still in doubt about their being Infallible?

PRAYER WITHOUT BISMILLAH IS NOT VALID

As we all know, the BISMILLAH-IR RAHMAN-IR RAHIIM is the most important and often repeated ayah in the Holy Quran. Yet some Imams start their prayers without saying Bismillah-ir Rahman-ir Rahiim, which is definitely unacceptable to Allah (S.W.T.) and to His Messenger (P.B.U.H.) and to the believers.

Every surah in the Holy Quran starts with Bismillah, except for Surah Bara-ah/ Tauba (Surah 9) that starts without Bismillah, because it was to declare the Anger of Allah, and His Messenger, towards the Idol worshippers, while Bismillah is for Compassion and Mercy of Allah (S.W.T).

Here are some reasons why Bismillah is necessary/wajib, and why without it, there is NO VALID PRAYERS:

1. Al-Fatihah is the first surah of the Holy Quran, and the first ayah of it (i.e. the first ayah in the Holy Quran ) is Bismillah -ir Rahman-ir Rahiim. Not saying Bismillah while reciting Al-Fatihah/prayer is an intentional disrespect to Allah (S.W.T.) by purposely omitting or avoiding His Holy Name, which is above all the names; and no true believer can do it knowingly. Only those who hate Allah (S.W.T.) may do such things.

2. As far as the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) and the early Muslims who compiled/memorized and recited the Holy Quran were Concerened, the Bismillah was clearly a part and the beginning ayah of every surah. Thats why when one surah (Surah 9) came without Bismillah (an exeptioanl case) nobody put Bismiilah into it; meaning to say that other surahs which start with Bismillah, were revealed as such. (i.e. with Bismillah).

3. According to the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.): Whenever Archangel Jebrail would recite Bismillah to me, I would understand that a new surah is being revealed by Allah (S.W.T.). If Archangel Jebrail repeated Bismillah in every surah, then who are we to omit it? Unless Satan wants to destroy our prayers, and to make them useless; because he hates Allah's Holy Names (S.W.T)!

4. When Prophet Nooh (A.S.) built his Ark , then, according to Allah (S.W.T.) in the Holy Quran, he told his believing followers, who were the only ones that were saved: Bismillah Majraaha wa morsaaha (Enter ye in the Name of Allah), Holy Quran (11:41). Its amazing, the believers in the time of Prophet Nooh (A.S.) did not even ride the ark without Bismillah and here some of the Muslim Imams lead the Friday Prayer, etc. without BISMILLAH!

5. When Prophet Solaiman (A.S.) wrote a letter to the Queen of Saba (not yet a believer) he started his letter with Bismillah. Again, Allah (S.W.T.) in the Holy Quran says:

This is ( a letter) from Solaiman , and it is (as follows): Bismillah-ir Rahman-ir Rahiim . . . Holy Quran (27:30).

So, when a great Prophet like Solaiman (A.S.) starts his letter, even to an unbeliever, with Bismillah, What makes some people think that the saying of Bismillah is not necessary in Islamic Daily Prayers? And if they claim that they say it in their hearts then the question will be why are they trying to Hide the Name of Allah (S.W.T.) while the Holy Prophets (A.S.) openly declared it to the whole world to hear?

6. Allah (S.W.T.) in the Holy Quran describes the Surah Al-Fatihah to be of seven verses (Holy Quran 15:87). This includes the Bismillah . . . as its first ayah. Now if you omit the Bismillah, then Al- Fatihah becomes only six ayahs. It contradicts Allahs intention in that surah. And every change in the Holy Quran is definitely a Bid-ah!

7. Allah (S.W.T) warns those who avoid mentioning His Holy Name, by deciaring:

Anyone, who avoids remembering/mentioning of (Allah) Most Gracious, We appoint for him a Shaytan to be his companion!... But they think that they are being guided! Holy Quran (43:36-37).

8. Finally, we should like to quote a very timely reminder on this topic which has been issued by the Concerned Muslims of the Philippines, as follows:

PRAYING TO ALLAH WITHOUT THE NAME OF ALLAH, IS IT POSSIBLE?

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Islam:

It has been observed that some of our respectable prayer leaders (some of them), start Jumah prayer without (the most repeated part in the Holy Quran, namely) Bismillah-ir Rahman-ir Rahiim.

This, despite the Quranic injuctions, and the Hadith and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) that says: When reading Quran or performing something important, a Muslim should always start with Bismillah.

Allah (S.W.T.) has clearly commanded the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) and every Muslim to observe this rule: And when you recite the Quran (prayer is also called Quran; see Chapter 17, verse 78) seek Allahs protection against Satan the rejected one, See the Holy Quran: Chapter 16, verse 48.

(Thus say, Auzo Billahi Minash Shaytan-ir Rajiim, Bismillah-ir Rahman-ir Rahiim.) Also the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) said:

Anything important, if it is not started with Bismillah..... is going to be incomplete!

(No wonder our prayers are not being answered.)

How about the prayer? Is it important? Lets see what the prayer means in the Holy Quran: Strictly, observe your prayers, especially the middle prayer, and stand before Allah with all humility. See Holy Quran, Chapter 2, verse 238.

And the Holy Prophet said: Prayer is the Foundation of the Religion, He also said, Prayer is the Mi-raj (Ascession) of a Momin. (Believer!)Now, can you lead the most important prayer (Jumah) with thousands of Muslims, in the house of Allah (S.W.T.), but without the Name of Allah? That is very important question that every Muslim should ask himself, as well as his Imam. However, one thing is sure: When you start a prayer with the Name of Allah (S.W.T.), that prayer is directed to Allah, alone. But a, prayer started not with the Bismillah, can go to any god, be it a Hindu god, an Arab god, a Greek god, or Roman god, etc.

Can You Say it in Your Heart?

Some prayer leaders claim that they say it in their hearts. Why in their hearts? Are they ashamed to declare the Glory of Allah (S.W.T.) for everybody to hear? How come the Al-Fatihah and the Surah are recited loudly, but the Name of Allah which is the beginning of every Surah (except Surah Taubah) and the centerpiece of our faith, is covered up?

The truth of the matter is that it is neither Islamic, nor logical to pray to Allah (S.W.T.) without bringing His Holy Name, or hiding His Holy Attributes. Only Satan will love that!

We pray to Allah (S.W.T.) to guide all of us In the Siratal Mustaquim, Inshallah.

_______

(Note: This same people who are very shy to say Bismillah, are very proud to shout Aaaamen!, just like what the Christians and the Jews do; while in the Holy Quran, there is no such woed as Amen, but in the Bible there are many!

Actually the origin of Amen is from the Egyptian-Persian sun god Amen Amon! (See Websters New World Dictionary p. 23-24, under Amen) . Meanwhile, Allah (S.W.T.) in the Holy Quran, orders the Muslims not to shout their prayers, like that of the pagans, and also not to hide it either; but to be moderate between the two extremes! Holy Quran (17:110)

Who Are The Ahlal Bayt?

There is a debate whether the Ahlal Bayt of the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) about whom the certification of purity has been issued by Allah (S.W.T) in the Holy Quran (33:33) includes his wives also, or not?

Some people say that the Holy Prophets wives are included. But, many evidences from the Holy Quran, the Hadith of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) and some historical developments, clearly show that Ahlal Bayt is the title of Those who were part of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) and flesh of his flesh and blood of his blood. Here are some evidences to prove that belief, as follows:

A) The certification of purity in the verse 33 of the Sura 33 of the Holy Quran is with the Arabic pronoun Kom (you men folk) while all the previous and later statements and instructions to the wives of the Holy Prophet are with the pronoun Kon-na ( you women folk).

Now, consider the following facts:

1) Ahlal Bayt or the household is referring to those who are members of the family of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.).

2) The Prophet had no living male child, at that time (Holy Qurran, 33:40).

3) The only male members of his Household were Imam Ali, the cousin of the Prophet, who was raised by the Prophet since his early childhood, and he virtually lived with the Prophet. Aside from Imam Ali, there were Imams Hasan and Hosain, the grandchildren of the Prophet through his son-in-law Ali, and his beloved daughter Fatimah Zahra.

4) lf the certification of purity is not meant for the Holy Prophet himself (because he did not need it, because the whole Qur'an is a proof of his purity) but rather it is about his Household/ Family, and he has no living son, then why suddenly the statement of Allah changes from feminine pronoun Kona (you women, meaning the wives of the Holy Prophet (P.B.H.U.) to a masculine pronoun Kom (you men folk)?

And if it were about the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.), then he is one male and the male pronoun should have been Ka (you man, singular).

So much for the Arabic grammar and logical interpretations. Now, let us see what the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) himself says about his own Household, or the Ahlal Bayt:

B) When Allah (S.W.T.) ordered the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) to bring His children, his women folk and himself to the Mubahala or the confrontation of lslam vs. Christianity (see Holy Quran, 3:61), the Prophet only brought with him Imam Hasain, Imam Hosain, Fatimah Zahra and her husband, Imam Ali. (SahihMuslim,Vol.5, p.268). No other person was included.

C) Zaid Bin Arqam has said that the wives of the Prophet (may Allah Bless him and Bless them all) are not included in the privilege of being purified by Allah from all forms of lmpurities (Quran 33:33) and they dont carry the title of Ahlal Bayt. (Sahih Muslim Vol. 5, p. 274 and Sahih Tirmidi Vol. 2, p.209 and Mosnad Ahmad Hanbal, Vol. 6, p.323 etc.).

Also consider the fact that:

1) Some wives of the Holy Prophet were idol worshippers before they converted to Islam, while Allahs certification of the Household of the Prophet Mohammad is a total purification (See Holy Quran 33:33).

2) Some of them broke the Quranic rule for them to stay at home (See Holy Quran 33:33) by leading a military rebellion against the duly constituted Khalifah of Islam (i.e. lmam Ali) and that is a mortal sin in Islam (see the history of the Jamal war lead by Aisha R.A. etc.).

3) Allah (S.W.T.) scolds some wives of the Holy Prophet, by saying that, if the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.H.U.) divorced them, He Allah can replace them with Better than you! (See Holy Qur'an, 66:5 as well as 66:1, etc.).

Now, considering that Allah (S.W.T.) is not joking, nor He is exaggerating or bluffing, then it means to say that there were some other Muslim ladies, who were even better, in the Eyes of Allah, than some wives of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) May Allah bless them all. Otherwise, the Qur'anic verse will be contradictory, and no true Muslim can accept that!

So, how could they be qualified to be the Ahlal Bayt, (who hold the highest position in the Eyes of Allah and His Messenger, as well as among the Sahaba and the Tabe-in), while Allah tells the wives of the Holy Prophet, that there are some other Muslim women, who are Better than you! Who can judge better than Allah? The answer is: NONE!

Besides, just being a wife to the Prophet, is not enough to purify a woman; thats why Allah (S.W.T.) in the Holy Quran criticizes the wives of Prophet Nooh (A.S.) and Lot Prophet (A.S.) and He praises the wife of Pharaoh (Lady Asyah) for her faith (See Holy Quran: 66:10, etc.).

Actually, man and woman become husband and wife by a marriage contract, but they may not be related genetically, while the children are genetically parts of their parents and they never could be separated as such. In Islam, one can divorce his wife, but you can never divorce your children!

MERITS OF THE PEOPLE OF PERSIA

It clearly shows the cosmopolitan view and the universality of Islam, that most of its great religious and scientific as well as socio-political leaders were the non-Arabs; notable among them are the Persians, about whom the Holy Prophet said:

If religion/knowledge were in the stars, even then a person from Persia would have taken hold of it, or one amongst the Persian descent would have surely found it.

(For more Hadith on this subject, see Sahih Muslim Vol. 4, p. 1352 under The Merits of the People of Persia).

Its amazing that the Holy Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) is all praises for the Persian/Iranian people, but some ignorant groups (who also claim to be the followers of Prophet Mohammad) call the Iranians Kafir! Now, whom should we believe, the Holy Prophet or these dectractors?

In order to appreciate the truth of this Hadith of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) better, here are some historical facts, as follows:

1) The greatest Imam in Islam (aside from the Ahlal Bayt) is an Iranian. He is Imam Abu Hanifa bin Thabit bin Marzban (this is a Persian name which means guard of the frontiers/Governor) Imam Abu Hanifa is also known as Imam Azam or the highest Imam.

2) All the great men of Hadith, who gathered and preserved the sayings of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) were Iranians. These are: 1) Bukhari from Bukhara (Ancient Persia), 2) Muslim from Nishapur (Persia) 3) Tirmizi from Tirmiz (Persia), 4) Nasai from Nasa of Khorasan (Persia), 5) Abu Dawud from Sajistan (Sistan-Baluchistan, Persia) and finally, 6) lbne Maja from Qazwin (Caspian, Persia) (See The Islamic Essentials by Haji Moinuddin Ahmad of India, pp. 80-82).

3) The greatest Mofassir (interpreter) of the Holy Qur'an is also an Iranian. He is Imam Tabari, from Tabaristan of Persia.

4) The greatest Sufi or Mystic in Islam is another man from Persia. He is Imam Mohammad Al-Ghazzali. (From Tous, Khorasan). Some believe it is Jalalud Din Rumi, but he is also from Balkh of Persia.5) The greatest grammarian of the Arabic language is Sib-waih of Shiraz, the capital of Pars province in Iran.

6) And finally, the greatest non-Arab Muslim and Sahaba of the Holy Prophet is Salman Al-Farsi (R.A.) from Isfahan, Iran.

It was about this great personality that the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) said: Salman is from us, the Ahlal Bayt! No other person, outside the Family of the Holy Prophet, got the honor of such a title, in Islam, ever.And there are several Ayahs in the Holy Quran, directly referring to Salman and his people - the Persians . See for example:

1) The last Ayah of Surah Mohammad (P.B.U.H.). The Holy Quran (47:40).

2) The third Ayah of Surah Jumah (64:3), according to Sahih Muslim Vol. 4, p. 1352, Chapter: The Merits of the People of Persia.

3) Also, Ayah 103 of Surah 16 (Suraton Nahl).

These and many other Ayahs and Hadithes, show us very clearly, how true is the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) and how wrong are the detractors, who are just enviuos of the Allah -given merits of a people. (See Holy Qur'an, 4:54, etc.).

P.S.

There are many other great Muslim philosophers, thinkers, poets, mystics, scientists, mujahids, etc. in the history of Islam who were Persians. Here are the names of some of them:

1) Mohammad Al-Kolaini (Hadith)*

2) Ibne Sina or Avicenna (Medicine, Philosophy)

3) Al-Farabi (Philosophy, Arts and Linguistics)

4) Al Biruni (History)

5) Mohammad Zakarayya Al-Razi (the Chemist or Alchemist who discovered the alcohol for the industrial uses)

6) Omar Khayyam (Poetry and Math)

7) Jalal Ad- Din Rumi (Great Mystic, Poet)

8) Fakhr Al-Razi (Tafseer)

9) Naseer Ud-Din Tousi (Astronomy)

10) Sheikh Abdul Qadir Gilani, (Great Spiritual Leader)

11) Salahud Din Ayyubi (The Kurdish leader who liberated Jerusalem from the Crusaders)

And many more. For details, please refer to the history of Islam and the great Muslim personalities.

Foot note

-Mohammad Al-Kolaini is probably the greatest man of Hadith, in the entire history of Islam. His famous book Al-kafi has more Hadith than all the six books of hadith of the Sunnah (Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmid