Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Brother Burhan As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi

wa Barakatuh.

(May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you, Once again,

thanks to you and your team for providing Muslims and Non-Muslims with valuable information of Islam and Sharia. I am sure Allah SWT will reward all of you. I have couple of questions if you can shade some light on them please.

I have wittnessed some people portraying themselves as family members of Prophet Mohammad SAW and call themselves Sayeds and other speritual families. Innocent people who do not have knowledge of Islam treat them with greater respect even though those Sayeds or Spiritual family members will be the most evil people, drinking, gambling, committing adulteries etc etc... The innocent people as a sign of respect kiss their hands and treat them as they are the real family members of Prophet SAW. Can you please address this issue wether people should be respecting those people because of their present action of their family history with Prophet SAW?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Respect for Syed Family

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Statement: thanks to you and your team for providing Muslims and Non-Muslims with valuable information of Islam and Sharia. I am sure Allah SWT will reward all of you.

May Allah Subhanah reward you with the best of this world and the Hereafter for your kind comments of encouragement for our humble efforts in the propagation of the Truth. We humbly hope, beg, and pray the Merciful Lord accepts our humble and weak efforts, forgives us our shortcomings, and saves you, us, and all the believers from the torment of the Hell Fire. Ameen.

Your Question: Can you please address this issue wether people should be respecting those people because of their present action of their family history with Prophet SAW?

There is absolutely no concept of a particular family being considered ‘holy’ or ‘sacred’ in Islam. The criteria for honor in Islam is laid down by the clear commands of Allah Subhanah in the Glorious Quran:

Allah says in the Holy Quran: Chapter 49 Surah Hujurat verse 13:
O mankind, We created you from one man and one woman, and then divided you into nations and tribes so that you may recognize one another. Indeed, the most honorable among you in the sight of Allah is he who is the most pious of you. Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

Thus regardless of what family or lineage one may claim he belongs to; the most honorable in the sight of Allah Subhanah is the one who has the most ‘taqwa’ or piety or God-consciousness! Allah Subhanah does not look at one’s family, or lineage, or wealth, or looks, etc.; but Allah Subhanah will look at the person’s belief, and his deeds and his piety.

Thus if someone claims to belong to the family of the noble Prophet (saws), but is an evil person, and violates the commands and teachings of Allah and His Messenger (saws); he shall not be respected and honored by the believers simply because of his links and lineage to the Prophet’s (saws) family!

Whoever accepts, obeys, and follows the teachings of Allah and His Messenger (saws) will be respected and honored as a believer; and whoever denies, rejects, and disobeys the teachings and guidance of Allah and His Messenger (saws) will have no honor in the sight of Allah Subhanah; regardless of who and what his family ties are!!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 14 Surah Ibraheem verse 36:

36 (Ibraheem (a.s.) prayed) "O my Lord! They have indeed led astray many among mankind: he then who follows my (ways) is of me, and he that disobeys me, Thou art indeed Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

Allah Subhanah Himself describes and narrates the story of the unrighteous son of one of the greatest Prophets of Allah, Prophet Nuh (a.s.) in the Glorious Quran. The unrighteous son disobeyed and refused to follow the guidance of Allah and His Prophet, and subsequently Allah Subhanah drowned him with the rest of the disbelievers, even though he was the son of Prophet Nuh!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 11 Surah Hud verses 42-47:

42 So the Ark floated with them on the waves (towering) like mountains and Noah called out to his son who had separated himself (from the rest): "O my son! embark with us and be not with the Unbelievers!"

43 The son replied: "I will be take myself to some mountain: it will save me from the water." Noah said: "This day nothing can save from the Command of Allah any but those on whom He hath mercy!" and the waves came between them and the son was among those overwhelmed in the Flood.

44 When the word went forth: "O earth! swallow up thy water and O sky! withhold (thy rain)!" and the water abated and the matter was ended. The Ark rested on Mount Judi and the word went forth: "Away with those who do wrong!"

45 And Noah called upon his Lord and said: "O my Lord! surely my son is of my family! and Thy promise is true, and Thou art the Justest of Judges!"

46 He said: "O Noah! he is not of thy family: for his conduct is unrighteous. So ask not of Me that of which thou hast no knowledge! I give thee counsel lest thou act like the ignorant!"

47 Noah said: "O my Lord! I do seek refuge with Thee lest I ask Thee for that of which I have no knowledge. And unless Thou forgive me and have Mercy on me I should indeed be lost!"

Thus a person should be respected and honored for his noble actions and deeds which are in accordance with the guidance and teachings of Allah and His Messenger (saws); and not because of one’s family ties with the Messenger of Allah (saws) or any other noble and pious personality!

But there is absolutely no doubt that every believer must love and honor the noble family of the Prophet (saws), who followed his way.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan