In Surah Aal-i-Imran Almighty Allah mentions His choice:
اِنَّ اللّٰهَ اصْطَفٰۤی اٰدَمَ وَ نُوْحًا وَّ اٰلَ اِبْرٰهِیْمَ وَ اٰلَ عِمْرٰنَ عَلَی الْعٰلَمِیْنَۙVerily, Allah chose Adam, and Nuh (Noah), and the family of Ibrahim (Abraham) and the family of ‘Imran (in dignity) above all the people of the world.[Sura Aal-i-Imran The Family of Imran: Verse 33]
Almighty Allah mentions this chosen family and says that they are descendants of each other. So and so is the descendant of ‘so and so’ is said to expound ‘connection’ (ta’alluq) and ‘relationship’ (nisba). The Holy Prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him) also expounded his connection to Hadrat Hussain(Radiyallahu Anhu).
Hazrath Yala bin Murra(Radiyallahu Anhu) narrates that the Messenger of Allah(peace be upon him) said,
حُسَيْنٌ مِنِّي وَأَنَا مِنْ حُسَيْنٍ أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ مَنْ أَحَبَّ حُسَيْنًا
‘Husayn is from me and I am from Husayn . Allah loves that person who loves Husayn .’ [ Jami` at-Tirmidhi , Hadith #3775 , Graded as Hasan]
Everyone can understand:
Husayn is from me
حُسَيْنٌ مِنِّي
This part of hadith entails that,“I am Husayn’s grandfather”, as this is an obvious fact because a branch stems from the tree.
However, very few have really understood:
I am from Husayn
أَنَا مِنْ حُسَيْنٍ
‘I am from’ in this statement symbolizes Islam. So what is said here is: “O Imam Husayn , your being (wujood) is from me and the continuation of my deen is from you.” The meaning sheds light that Husayn’s line is my line, Husayn’s message is my message, Husayn’s principles are my principles, Husayn’s mission is my mission.
When it comes to justice and standing up for truth and differentiating the truth from falsehood, Imam Husayn (Radiyallahu Anhu) was the flag-bearer of the message and will continue to be the champion of truth until the day of judgment.Hence, until the fateful day of Karbala in 61 AH, Hadrat Husayn(Radiyallahu Anhu), was from the Holy Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him) , but after Karbala the Holy Prophet(peace be upon him) is from Husayn(Radiyallahu Anhu) . Thus ,upto the age of 56 Hadrat Husayn(Radiyallahu Anhu) , was from the Holy Prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him) , but after Karbala the Holy Prophet(peace be upon him) is from Husayn(Radiyallahu Anhu) .
Hazrath Abdullah ibn Abbas(Radiyallahu Anhu) narrates that the Holy Prophet(peace be upon him) stated: ‘The similitude of my family(Ahl al-Bayt) is like the ark of Noah (Nuh) . He whoever boards it will attain salvation, and whoever deserts it will perish’.[Al-Imam al-Tabarani in Mu’jam al-Kabir (2636), (2638) & (12388). In Mu’jam al-Awsat (3478);Al-Hakim in al-Mustadrak (3312) & (4720)]
The Holy Prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him) also stated: “My Companions are like stars. Whosoever of them you use as a guide, you will be rightly guided.”
[Imam Suyuti, al-Jami` al-saghir (#4603)]
So the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) likened the Ahl al-Bayt to the Ark of Noah(Alaihi Salam) and likened his Sahaba(Radiyallahu Anhu) to the stars. In that age when the Holy Prophet(peace be upon him) had drawn these comparisons, at night when the people on board an ark or ship used to sail, they reached their destination by being guided by the stars. Modern navigation equipment of today was not available at that time. Even modern navigation devices of our age have to contact a satellite high up in the heavens, to function effectively. Those that get on board the ship and refuse to be guided by the stars will not reach their destination. Those that don’t board the ship and stand on the shore looking at the stars will also never reach their destination. Only those that board the ship and attain guidance from the stars will reach their goal. So to love the family of the Holy Prophet
(peace be upon him) is not only an aspect of faith but it is the essence of faith and a means of salvation. The Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l Jama‘ah have boarded the ship of love for Ahl al-Bayt and they have accepted the companions as stars of guidance.
