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:

I am seeking some information for an Arabic word and very hope that you will help me in this regard. The word for which I want to obtain information is "AAL'" that is used in drood-e-ibrahimi. And my questions are given below.

1- Meaning of "AAL'" in dictionary

2- In which senses and meanings Arab use this word

3- for what kind of meaning it is used in Hadees

(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:

Meaning of Aal

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

In the Arabic language, depending on the context of the sentence, the term ‘Aal’ is used for both: the family or descendants of a person, or the people or followers of a person.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 12 Surah Yusuf verse 12:

6 (And Prophet Yaqoob (a.s.) said:) Thus will thy Lord choose thee (O Yusuf) and teach thee the interpretation of stories (and events) and perfect His favor to thee and to the ‘Aale-Yaqoob’ (descendants of Yaqoob) even as He perfected it to thy fathers Ibraheem and Ishaaq aforetime! For Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom."

In the above quoted verse of Surah Yusuf, the term ‘Aale-Yaqoob’ clearly implies the descendants of the Noble Prophet Yaqoob (a.s.).

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 40 Surah Mumin verses 45-46:

45 Then Allah saved him from (every) ill that they plotted (against him), but the brunt of the Penalty encompassed on all sides the ‘Ale-Firaun’ (People and followers of the Pharaoh)

46 In front of the Fire will they be brought morning and evening: and (the sentence will be) on the Day that Judgment will be established: "Cast ye the ‘Aale-Firaun’ (People and followers of the Pharaoh) into the severest Penalty!"

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 50:

50 And remember We divided the sea for you and saved you, and drowned ‘Aale-Firaun’ (people of the Pharaoh) within your very sight.

But in the above quoted verses of Surah Mumin and Surah Baqarah, the term ‘Aale-Firaun’ is not restricted to the family or descendants of the Pharaoh, but implies the nation or people or followers of the Pharaoh.

Your Question: The word for which I want to obtain information is "AAL'" that is used in drood-e-ibrahimi.

The scholars and jurists in Islam are unanimous in their opinion that when the terms ‘Aale-Ibraheem’ and ‘Aale-Mohamed’ are used during the recitation of the durood, it implies the believers amongst the noble families of the two Prophets as well as the sincere followers of the two Prophets.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan