['Aalim Network QR] Al-Qur'an 42:23

[Mustafa Rawji <mrawji@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca>]

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|       In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful       |\
|  Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\
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Salaamun alaykum,

	The reply to the following question was kindly provided by Shaykh
Hussein Khimjee. 

Wasalaam,


Mustafa Rawji
Acting Moderator, 'Aalim Network

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 QUESTION:
 
 
 In Al Quran Sura 42 (Ash-Shu'ra) verse 23 it says:
 
 "...Say thou (O' Our Apostle Muhammad!):  I demand not of you any recompense
 for it (the toils of apostleship) save the love of (my) relatives..."
 
 This translation is from Mir Ahmed Ali and in his commentary he has
 mentioned the Ahlul-Bayt as the relatives that are referred to.  I was also
 reading Maualna Maudoodi's commentary and he raises a seemingly valid point.
 He starts out by stating that there are 3 different interpretations of this
 aya'h.  One of the interpretations that he mentions is the Shi'a version
 where the Ahlul-Bayt are reported as the relatives to whom this verse
 refers.  Maulana Maudoodi rejects this explanation based on historical
 features.  His contention is that this Sura was revealed in Makkah when Ali
 and Fatima were not yet married and when Imam Hasan and Husain were not yet
 born.  Based on this historical fact,  he feels that the relatives referred
 to in this aya'h cannot be the Ahlul-Bayt.
 
 I will welcome any input on this issue, especially from our Alims.

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the name of Allah Subhanahu wata'ala, the Compassionate, the Merciful. 

 ANSWER:
 
In the name of Allah Subhanahu wata'ala, the Compassionate, the Merciful. 

It is strange that Maulana Maudoodi rejects this explanation based on his
arguement that this Aayat was revealed in Makkah when Imam 'Ali (Alayhi 
Salam) and Bibi Fatima (Alayha Salam) were not married and therefore the 
Ahl al Bayt consisiting also of Imam al Hasan and Imam al Husayn (Aluhuma 
salam) were not even born!  Well, this view is not consistent with
authentic Sunni scholars and has to be rejected. There is enough evidence
in authentic Sunni Tafasir that proves this verse was actually revealed 
in Medina and it actually refers to the Ahlal Bayt (Alayhimu Salam). 

A detailed discussion of this is found in Allama al Sayyid Muhammad Husayn
al Taba-Tabai's "al Mizan fi Tafsir al Qur'an"  vol.18  pp.43-48

In discussing the above, Alllama al Taba-Tabai argues very convincingly (I
am only presenting the summary of part of his argument in the above pages)
when he says that Rasul Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Aalihi wa Sallam) did
not ask for any "Ajr" (Payment or Fee) as referred to in the Aayat. 
Bringing Imaan upon Rasul Allah (Sallallahu Alyhi wa Aalihi wa Sallam) and
upon his Risalat is his Ajr. If this is understood, then after great
thinking from both the Sunni as well as the Shia Ulema it is concluded
that that love for the Ahl al Bayt forms part of his Risalat and principle
of Usul as is shown in the Hadith of al Thaqalayn and Hadith of the Safina
(Nabi Nuh Alayhi Salam's Ark) and other Ahadith.

Only Allah knows the Best.

Wassalaam.

Husein Khimjee.