I was wondering why is it that Mahdi will be coming from this lineage?
They say cast systems should be outcasted and are irrelevant in Islam yet from where I stand with limited knowledge, I only see people from the Tribe of Quraysh as being high and mighty than the rest of us humans.
What gives, why does Islam give so much emphasis and higher status to the people of Quraysh?
Had it been a person from some other tribe, someone might have been asking the same question... like people used to ask why did not a prophet from angels come to us but a human?
exact ditto situation...
Wallah-O-Alam!
Re: Quraysh's Tribe
[QUOTE]
Originally posted by CocoNut: *
**I was wondering why is it that Mahdi will be coming from this lineage?*
[/QUOTE]
Pardon my ignorance but where does it state that? Honestly, i don't know, i'm just wondering, i'm not disputing it.
>>.... from where I stand with limited knowledge, I only see people from the Tribe of Quraysh as being high and mighty than the rest of us humans.<<
What about the Companions of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) like Bilal ? He wasn't from the Quraysh tribe. But even the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) himself stated that he had heard Bilal's footsteps in paradise. Fewer things can be more nobler than to have your footsteps heard in jannat by Prophet Muhammad (saws) himself. So not all the 'noble' individuals were from the tribe of Quraysh.
Sorry if i make no sense.
Prophecies about a person being from one group or another do not necessarily mean the group is to be regarded more than others. It was prophesized that AnHazoor (saw) will be from the progeny of Hazrat Ibrahim (as) and I have many friends who follow far-eastern religions and they question that perceived 'favoritism'.
These prophecies should be taken as a hint for the future nations to find the true claimant and also as a proof of the truthfulness of the person who prophesized.
Now, Mehdi being a Qureshi is widely believed by Shias, who actually go a little further to say that he will be from the direct descendants of AnHazoor (saw). Then there is a division among them; Will he be the 13th missing Imam or someone else altogether.
I haven't heard Sunnis claiming the Mehdi to be from Quraish, though they do claim other things, like his name being Muhammad and Ahmad and his parents’ name also being Abdullah and Amina.
So the idea of cast systems is not to deem one better than the other but to signify if I understood correctly, Ahmad.
Reason why I asked there question is because there are many other progenies out there that claim lineage of the Prophet and also claim that they are better than the rest which brings us to status symbols and hierarchy of humans. Personally, I find it disgusting to put one over the other.
AQ: My question was in regards to tribes and why one is held in such high esteem over the other when all of us humans are just the same. I'm sorry, maybe I didn't understand through the brevity of your answer. Its left me even more puzzled.
Nadia: I've read it in a few literatures and heard it several times that Mahdi will be from the tribe of Quraysh. Could be a gross misunderstanding on my part. (sidenote: so much for 15.1 hours :p)
Today, while listening to the sermon about the Al-Ansar and Muhajireen migrating from mecca to yathrib due to oppression (such as what is happening today in france and alabama). I had learnt tribes were always prevalent but never was one held in higher status in comparison to others.
Thats why the question came to me, why is it in this day and age, Muhammad's (pbuh) linearity/tribe has been depicted as pure and untainted from any bas-tards or any other illegal relations according to the people in Islam.
Coco Bhai, it will be like caste system if the prophecy states that people from a certain tribe/nation/color are better than the other. On the contrary, the prophecies like the one about AnHazoor (saw) and the ones about Mahdi only foretell that there is a promised one to come and he happens to be from these people.
Quresh in Islam has the honor of being the tribe of the Holy Prophet, this doesn't mean they have any special treatment. Just like the Prophet (saw) himself said in his last sermon, no Arab is better than the non-Arab and no white is better than black ... only rightousness counts.
Now, if the Qureshies or Syeds of today consider themselves higher in status than others than it's their own fault.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ahmadjee: *
I haven't heard Sunnis claiming the Mehdi to be from Quraish, though they do claim other things, like his name being Muhammad and Ahmad and his parents’ name also being Abdullah and Amina.
[/QUOTE]
Sunnies do Claim that Mehdi is from Quraish.
Here i am posting the msg again!
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) informed that the number of Imams after him are twelve, as the compilers of Sihah and Masanid have narrated it.
*In Sahih of Muslim: *
The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "The [Islamic] religion will continue until the Hour (day of resurrection), having *twelve Caliphs * for you, all of them will be from Quraysh."
Sahih Muslim, (English version)
Chapter DCCLIV (titled: The People are subservient to the Quraysh and the Caliphate is the Right of the Quraysh),
v3, p1010, Tradition #4483
Hadith #3398 (numbering of al-'Alamiyyah)
The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "The affairs of people will continue to be conducted (well) as long as they are governed by the *twelve men *, all of them from Quraysh."
Sahih Muslim, (English version)
Chapter DCCLIV (titled: The People are subservient to the Quraysh and the Caliphate is the Right of the Quraysh),
v3, p1010, Tradition #4478
Hadith #3394 (numbering of al-'Alamiyyah)
Narrated Jabir ibn Samura: The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "This matter (life) will not end, until it is passed by *twelve Caliphs *." He then whispered a sentence. I asked my father what the Prophet said. He said, the Prophet added: "All of them will be from Quraysh."
Sahih Muslim, (English version)
Chapter DCCLIV (titled: The People are subservient to the Quraysh and the Caliphate is the Right of the Quraysh),
v3, p1009, Tradition #4477
Hadith #3393 (numbering of al-'Alamiyyah)
The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "Islam will continue to be triumphant until there have been *twelve Caliphs *, all of them from Quraysh."
Sahih Muslim, (English version)
Chapter DCCLIV (titled: The People are subservient to the Quraysh and the Caliphate is the Right of the Quraysh),
v3, p1010, Tradition #4479
Hadith #3395 (numbering of al-'Alamiyyah)
The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "Islam will continue to be triumphant until there have been *twelve Caliphs *, all of them from Quraysh."
Sahih Muslim, (English version)
Chapter DCCLIV (titled: The People are subservient to the Quraysh and the Caliphate is the Right of the Quraysh),
v3, p1010, Tradition #4480
Hadith #3396 (numbering of al-'Alamiyyah)
The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "Islam will continue to be triumphant and protected until there have been *twelve Caliphs *, all of them from Quraysh."
Sahih Muslim, (English version)
Chapter DCCLIV (titled: The People are subservient to the Quraysh and the Caliphate is the Right of the Quraysh),
v3, p1010, Tradition #4481
Hadith #3397 (numbering of al-'Alamiyyah)
*In Sunan of al-Tirmidhi: *
The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "There will be after me *twelve Amir * (Prince/Ruler), all of them from Quraysh."
Sunan al-Tirmidhi (Arabic)
Chapter of Fitan,
2:45 (India) and 4:501 Tradition # 2225 (Egypt)
Hadith #2149 (numbering of al-'Alamiyyah)
*In Sunan of Abu Dawud: *
This religion remains standing until there are *twelve vicegerents * over you, all of them agreeable to the nation, all of them from Quraysh."
Sunan Abu Dawud (Arabic)
2:421, Kitab al-Mahdi.
Sunan Abu Dawud (Arabic)
3:106, Kitab al-Mahdi.
Hadith #3731 (numbering of al-'Alamiyyah)
"The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "Islam will continue to be triumphant until there have been *twelve Caliphs *," So people said Takbir and made noise, then he said a light word I didn't hear. I [Jabir bin Samura] said to my father: What did he say? He said "All of them are from Quraysh."
Sunan Abu Dawud (Arabic)
2:421, Kitab al-Mahdi.
Sunan Abu Dawud (Arabic)
3:106, Kitab al-Mahdi.
Hadith #3732 (numbering of al-'Alamiyyah)
*In Sahih of al-Bukhari: *
Narrated Jabir ibn Samura: I heard the Prophet saying, "There will be *twelve commanders (Amir) *." He then said a sentence which I did not hear. My father said, the Prophet added, "All of them will be from Quraysh."
Sahih al-Bukhari (English)
Hadith: 9.329, Kitabul Ahkam.
Sahih al-Bukhari (Arabic)
4:165, Kitabul Ahkam.
Hadith #6682 (numbering of al-'Alamiyyah)
These traditions are also narrated in other sources [1].
*And in a tradition: *
Then the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) spoke a few words which I could not understand. Then I asked my father: "What did the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) say?" He said: "All of them are from the Quraysh." [2]
*And in another tradition: *
"The enmity of their enemies will not harm them." [3]
*And in another tradition: *
"This nation will always remain straight in its affairs, and triumphant against the enemies, till *twelve Caliphs * will be among them; all of them from Quraysh. Then there will be discord and confusion." [4]
*And in a tradition: *
"There will be *twelve upright Imams * for this nation. Those who try to disgrace them will not succeed; all of them shall be from the Quraysh."
"The affair of the people will continue as long as *twelve men * rule over them."
*And from Anas: *
"This religion will remain till *twelve Imams * from Quraysh (will pass), then when they expire the earth will swallow its inhabitants." [5]
*And in a tradition: *
"The affair of this nation will always be apparent till the *twelve Imams * will rise, all of them from the Quraysh." [6]
*Ahmad and Al-Hakim and others have narrated similarly from Masrooq who said: *
"We were sitting one evening with Abdullah (ibn Mas'ud). We were reciting the Qur'an, then a man asked him: "O Abu Abdur-Rahman, did you ask the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) how many Caliphs will rule this nation?" Abdullah said: "No one asked me about this before you from the time I arrived in Iraq." He said: "We asked him (the Prophet s.a.w.s.), he said: "*Twelve *, (like) the number of the Chiefs of Bani Israel." [7]
*And in a tradition: *
Ibn Mas'ud said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) said: "There will be Caliphs after me, whose number is like those of the companions of Musa." [8]
Ibn Kathir said: "And there is a similar narration from Abdullah bin 'Umar, Hudhayfah and Ibn 'Abbas. [9]
However, I have been unable to find this tradition of Ibn 'Abbas or others as reported by Al Hakim Al Haskani.
The traditions assert that the number of authorities are twelve and all of them are from Quraysh, and, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) clarified it in his speech that they shall be from the Quraysh when he said: "Surely Imams will be from the Quraysh, they have been planted in this line through Hashim. It would not suit others nor would others be suitable as heads of affairs." [10]
And he said: "O Allah! Yes, but the earth is never devoid of those who maintain Allah's plea either openly and reputedly or, being afraid, and hidden in order that Allah's pleas and proofs should not be rebutted." [11]
Notes: ** **Continue ...
[1]
Muslim b. al-Hajjaj, Sahih, 3:1453, Tradition No. 1821, Kitabul Imarah.
Al-Bukhari, Sahih, 4:165, Kitabul Ahkam.
Al-Tirmidhi, Sunan, Chapter of Fitan, 2:45 (India) and 4:501 Tradition # 2225 (Egypt)
Abu Dawud, Sunan, 3:106, Kitab al-Mahdi.
Al-Tayalisi, Musnad, Tradition No. 767 and 1278.
Ahmad b. Hanbal, Musnad, 5:86.
Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Kanz al-'Ummal 13:26-27.
Abu Nu'aym al-Isbahani, Hilyat al-'awliya' , 4:333.
Jabir bin Samurah bin Junada was the nephew of Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas. He died at Kufa. The compilers of traditions have narrated 146 traditions from him. For his biography, refer to Usd al-Ghaba or Taqrib al-Tahdhib.
[2]
Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani, Fath al-Bari 16:338.
Al-Hakim al-Nisaburi, Mustadrak al-Sahihayn 3:167.
[3]
Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani, Fath al-Bari 16:338.
[4]
Muntakhab Kanz al-'Ummal 5:321.
Ibn Kathir, Ta'rikh, 6:249.
Al-Suyuti, Tarikh al-Khulafa, Vol 10.
Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Kanz al-'Ummal ,13:26.
Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqa Vol 28.
[5]
Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Kanz al-'Ummal , 13:27
[6]
Ibid.
[7]
Ahmad b. Hanbal, Musnad, 1:398 and 406.
Al-Hakim al-Nisaburi, Mustadrak , 4:501
Al-Dhahabi, Talkhis , 4:501.
Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani, Fath al-Bari 16:339.
Ali b. Abu Bakr al-Haythami, Majma' al-Zawa'id 5:190.
Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqa, vol 12.
Al-Suyuti, Tarikh al-Khulafa, Vol 10.
[Al-Suyuti or al-Tabarani], Jami' al-Saghir 1:75.
Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Kanz al-'Ummal, 13:27.
[8]
Ibn Kathir, Ta'rikh, 6:248.
Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Kanz al-'Ummal, 13:27.
Al-Haskani , Shawahid al-Tanzil, 1:455, Tradition No. 626.
[9]
Ibn Kathir, Ta'rikh, 6:248.
[10]
Imam 'Ali b. Abi Talib [a], Nahjul Balagha, Sermon no. 142.
[11]
Shaykh Sulayman Qanduzi al-Hanafi, Yanabi' al-Mawaddah, p. 523.
I am sorry but how are the 12 Caliphs or men equate to the prophecy of Imam Mahdi?
I hope this post will help you to understand the concept; I posted this msg under "Sunni beliefs regarding the Shia Imams" thread. This is somehow related; but little bit different topic.
This is a valid question that Why is this Imamat to be only amongst the Ahle bait?. But! it is not necessary for Imamat to be only in family lineage (Ahlebait). Imamat’s requirements are piety, superiority and the will to do only Allah’s bidding. If these are present in anyone else he is definitely deserving to be an Imam but the truth is it is found in none but the progeny of the Prophet. These are the people who have been named by the Prophet himself.