Faith of the parents of the Holy Nabi
صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم

Scholars have different opinions about the faith of the parents of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم .
Some scholars have not believed that they were Mu`min. Whereas, some scholars have not expressed their opinion about the faith of his parents, advising that one should refrain from declaring them either to be Muslim or non-Muslim and that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ knows it the best. However, the researchers and scholars of the Ahl-us-Sunnah have believed and declared that they were certainly and doubtlessly Mu`min. The names of these scholars and researchers include Imam Jalaluddin Suyuti, ‘Allamah Ibn Hajar Haytami, Imam Qurtubi, Haafiz Ash-Shaam Ibn Naasiruddin, Haafiz Shamsuddin Dimashqi, Qazi Abu Bakr Ibn-ul-‘Arabi Maliki, Shaykh ‘Abdul Haq Muhaddis Dihlvi, Maulana ‘Abdul Haq Muhajir Madani etc. رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه.

Shaykh ‘Abdul Haq Muhaddis Dihlvi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated: The scholars of the earlier period did not accept that the parents of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم were Mu`min. However, the scholars of the later period have researched into this issue and have proved that the parents (رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُمَا) of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم and all of his ancestors were Mu`min. The scholars of the later period have proved it in three ways:

Firstly, the parents and all the forefathers of the Revered and Renowned Rasoolصَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم were the followers of the religion of Sayyiduna Ibraheem عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام. Hence they were Mu`min. Secondly, all of them had passed away during the era called ‘Fitrat’ before the Greatest and Noblest Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم declared his Nubuwwah. The invitation to faith from the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم did not even reach them. Therefore, they can never ever be called disbelievers. They will be called only believers. Thirdly, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ resurrected them. They came out of their graves and recited the Kalimah, believing in the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم . Although this Hadees is Da’eef [ضَعِیف], there are so many narrators of it that it is now believed to be ‘Sahih’ [صَحِیح] and ‘Hasan’ [حَسَن].

This was the knowledge which remained undisclosed to the scholars of the earlier period and which was disclosed by Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ to the scholars of the later period. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ bestows His special mercy upon whoever He عَزَّوَجَلَّ wills. Shaykh Jalaluddin Suyuti رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه wrote some booklets on this issue, giving proofs and removing the doubts raised by his opponents.¹

Similarly, a great commentator, Shaykh Isma’eel Haqqi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه stated: Imam Qurtubi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه stated in his book ‘Tazkirah’ that Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا said:

The Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم took us with him on the occasion of ‘Hajja-tul-Wada’. While passing the valley ‘Hajoon’ [حَجُون], he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم started crying, grief-stricken. Seeing him cry, I [i.e. Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah] also started crying. The Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم then got off his she-camel. After a little while, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم came to me, happy and smiling. I asked, ‘Ya Rasoolallah صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم ! May my parents be sacrificed for you! You were very sad and grieved when you got off the she-camel but you have come to me very happily with a smile on your beloved face. What is the matter?’ He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘I went to see the grave of my mother, Aaminah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا. There, I prayed to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ to resurrect her. So Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ resurrected her and she accepted the [Islamic] faith.’²

It is stated in the book ‘Al-Ashbah Wan-Nazaair’ [اَلاَشبَاہ وَالنَّظَائِر]: It is permissible to curse everyone who has died in the state of disbelief except the parents (رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُمَا) of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم because it has been proved that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ resurrected both of them and they believed in Islam.³

It has also been narrated that the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم once cried near the graves of his parents. He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم then planted a tree, saying, ‘If this tree flourishes, it indicates that it is possible for them to believe in Islam.’ That tree flourished. Then, by the blessing of the prayer of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم , both of them came out of their respective graves, believed in Islam and then went into their respective graves again.

Thus both of them became alive and believed in Islam. This is not impossible by Shari’ah; nor is it logically impossible. It has been proved by the Holy Quran that a killed person from the Bani Israel became alive and told the name of his killer. Similarly, Sayyiduna ‘Isa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام also raised some people from the dead.⁴ When all of these things are proved, so what could prevent the parents of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم from becoming alive and believing in Islam?

As for the Hadees which states that ‘I asked for permission for the prayer of the forgiveness of my mother but I was not granted the permission’; this Hadees was reported long before his parents became alive and believed in Islam. The parents (رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُمَا) of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم became alive and believed in Islam on the occasion of the ‘Hajja-tul-Wada’ (which took place just a few months before the visible demise of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم ). It is also to be noted that the ranks of the Greatest and Noblest Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم are always raised. It is possible that at first Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ may not have granted him this privilege, i.e. his parents embracing Islam.

But later on, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ granted him this privilege, blessing his parents (رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُمَا) with Islamic faith.⁵

Qazi Imam Abu Bakr Ibn-ul-‘Arabi Maliki was asked a question, ‘A person says that the forefathers of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم are in Hell.’ He replied: Such a person is cursed because Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has said in the Holy Quran:

اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ یُؤْذُوْنَ اللّٰهَ وَ رَسُوْلَهٗ لَعَنَهُمُ اللّٰهُ فِی الدُّنْیَا وَ الْاٰخِرَةِ

Indeed those who annoy Allah and His Messenger, upon them is Allah’s curse in the world and in the Hereafter.

(Part 22, Surah Al-Ahzaab, Ayah 57)

Haafiz Shamsuddin Dimashqi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه expressed his opinion on this issue in his couplets praising the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم :

حَبَا اللّٰەُ النَّبِیَّ مَزِیْدَ فَضْلٍ      عَلٰی فَضْلٍ وَّ کَانَ بِەٖ رَءُوْفًا

Translation: Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has bestowed the greatest grace upon His Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم . And Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is very Merciful to him.

فَاَحْیَا اُمَّەٗ وَ کَذَا اَبَاہُ      لِاِیْمَان بِەٖ فَضْلًا لَّطِیْفًا

Translation: Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ resurrected the parents of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم showing His mercy so that they would believe in the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم .

فَسَلِّمْ فَالْقَدِیْمُ بِەٖ قَدِیْرٌ      وَ اِنْ کَانَ الْحَدِیْثُ بِەٖ ضَعِیْفًا

Translation: So you should accept it because Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has the power to do so; though this Hadees is Da’eef [ضَعِیف].⁶

(Tafseer Ruh-ul-Bayan, vol. 1, pp. 217-218)

The author of the book ‘Al-Ikleel’ [اَلْاِکْلِیْل], ‘Allamah Shaykh ‘Abdul Haq Muhajir Madani رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه stated that ‘Allamah Ibn Hajar Haytami mentioned in the commentary of the book ‘Mishkat’: ‘Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ resurrected the parents (رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُمَا) of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم , both of them believed in Islam and then passed away.’ This Hadees is ‘Sahih’ [صَحِیْح]. Some of the scholars of Hadees who have declared this Hadees to be ‘Sahih’ include Imam Qurtubi and Syrian Haafiz-ul-Hadees Ibn Naasiruddin. Hence objecting to it, is unreasonable and unfair because a Mu’jizah [i.e. miracle] is something that is not possible in usual circumstances.
It is also to be noted that though the parents of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم believed in Islam having become alive after death, they would be benefited by it. Others would not be benefited by this type of belief. This is because his parents have unique relationship with him which others do not have. As for the Hadees which states ‘لیت شعری ما فعل ابوای’ (if only I had known how my parents were treated), Imam Suyuti رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه declared in his book ‘Durr-e-Mansur’ that the Hadees was Mursal [مُرسَل] and Da’eef-ul-Asnaad [ضَعِیفُ الاَسنَاد].

(Al-Ikleel ‘ala Madarik-ut-Tanzeel, vol. 2, pp. 10)

The above passages have been taken from authentic books. Devotion and affection for the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم require that one should consider the parents (رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُمَا), all forefathers and even the relatives of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم respectable except those relatives who have been doubtlessly declared disbelievers and Hell-dwellers by the Holy Quran and Ahadees. For example, ‘Abu Lahab’ and his wife ‘Hammaala-tul-Hatab’ [حَمَّالَةُ الْحَطَب]. As for other relatives, one should consider them respectable because disrespect for them will certainly cause discomfort to the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم . And you have already read the Quranic declaration that those who displease Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and discomfort His Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم are cursed in the world and the Hereafter. A’la Hadrat Maulana Shah Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه wrote a booklet on this issue. In this booklet which is entitled ‘Shumool-il-Islam li-Ba-il-Kiraam’ [شمول الاسلام لاباء الکرام], he provided research-based information, detailed and authentic proofs, declaring that the forefathers of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم were monotheists⁷ and Muslim. (وَاللهُ تَعَالٰی اَعلَم)

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¹Ashi’a-tul-Lam’aat, Kitab-ul-Janaaiz, vol. 1, pp. 765
²Ruh-ul-Bayan, Surah Al-Baqarah, Taht-al-Ayah: 119, vol. 1, pp. 217
³Al-Ashbah Wan-Nazaair, pp. 248
⁴Ruh-ul-Bayan, Surah Al-Baqarah, Taht-al-Ayah: 119, vol. 1, pp. 217
⁵ Ruh-ul-Bayan, Surah Al-Baqarah, Taht-al-Ayah: 119, vol. 1, pp. 217
⁶Ruh-ul-Bayan, Surah Al-Baqarah, Taht-al-Ayah: 119, vol. 1, pp. 217
⁷ Belief in the oneness of the Almighty