(43) Chapter: Showing reverence to the Family of Allah's Messenger (pbuh)

Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) said: "Show reverence to Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) by honouring the members of his family." [Al- Bukhari]. Commentary: In this Hadith, the love and respect for the members of the Prophet's (PBUH) family has been tied with the love and respect of the Prophet (PBUH). In other words, a person who loves and respects the descendants of the Prophet (PBUH) will be deemed to be a lover and admirer of the Prophet (PBUH). On the contrary, one whose heart is devoid of the love of the descendants of the Prophet (PBUH), will be considered devoid of the love and respect of the Prophet (PBUH). But love and respect here does not mean that they are taken for sinless persons and their status is exaggerated beyond reason, as is the case with the Shiites. Their whole religious thinking is founded on the exaggeration of the qualities of the members of the family of Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and they have exhausted their imagination in proving them sinless. While their love and respect lies in adopting the noble features of their character and cherishing their piety. Their love and respect does not lie in sentimental attachment with a particular family and exaggerating its praise beyond all limits.