How Should the Hadith “People Dislike Mentioning ʿAlī and Fāṭimah (AS)” Be Explained?

There is no doubt that the warning given by His Eminence concerns the danger posed by the Nasibis. Sunnis should not be conflated with Nasibis. Many Sunnis love the Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them; some even name their children after them. What gives cause for concern is provocative speech, conduct and gestures—not remembering the Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them.

The Nasibis, of whom ISIS is considered an offshoot, are blind-hearted people of dubious character and lineage. Because of their vile, satanic traits, they are counted among the enemies of God and the friends of God.

Remembering the Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them, is among the most beautiful acts of worship. Promoting the teachings of the Prophet’s family, like the Qur’an, is among the most important duties, and all believers are charged with fulfilling it.

To abandon remembrance of the Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them, under any pretext is to abandon the Qur’an and bring an end to the religion of God.

We should speak gently and graciously as we recount the virtues, teachings and exalted station of the Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them. This is the finest service we can render even to those who oppose them: it can guide them towards a world of light and illumination.

Can one disregard the verses of the Qur’an revealed in honour of the Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them, and refrain from reciting them?

Can one defy the command to proclaim the authority of the Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them, which the Messenger of God, peace be upon him, so emphatically stressed?

Al-Aʿrāf, 69: ... فاذکروا آلاء الله لعلکم تفلحون
“…So remember God’s blessings, that you may prosper.”

عن أبی عبد الله ع قال: تلا علینا أبو عبد الله ع هذه الآیه فاذکروا آلاء الله‏
قال أ تدری ما آلاء الله قلت لا قال هی أعظم نعم الله على خلقه و هو ولایتنا.
بصائر الدرجات فی فضائل آل محمد صلى الله علیهم، ج‏1، ص: 81

Someone recited this verse in the presence of Imam al-Sadiq, peace be upon him: “Remember God’s blessings.” The Imam asked, “Do you know what God’s blessings are?” The person replied, “No.” He said, “They are the greatest of God’s blessings upon His creation: our divinely appointed authority.”

A man said to Imam Zayn al-ʿĀbidīn, peace be upon him: “O son of the Messenger of God, peace be upon him, when we stand at ʿArafāt and Minā, we remember God, glorify Him, invoke blessings upon Muḥammad and his pure, immaculate family, and also remember our forefathers—their noble deeds, virtues and distinguished works—intending thereby to fulfil their rights.”

Imam Zayn al-ʿĀbidīn, peace be upon him, replied: “Shall I tell you what is more complete in fulfilling those rights?” They said, “Yes, O son of the Messenger of God.” He said: “What is more excellent and more fitting is that you renew within yourselves the remembrance of God’s oneness and your testimony to it; remember Muḥammad, the Messenger of God, and bear witness that he is the foremost of God’s prophets; remember ʿAlī, the friend of God, and bear witness that he is the foremost of the legatees; and remember the pure Imams from the good family of Muḥammad, bearing witness that they are God’s sincere servants…”

قال رجل لعلی بن الحسین ع یا ابن رسول الله ص إنا إذا وقفنا بعرفات و منى و ذکرنا الله و مجدناه و صلینا على محمد و آله الطیبین الطاهرین ذکرنا آباءنا أیضا بمآثرهم و مناقبهم و شریف أعمالهم نرید بذلک قضاء حقوقهم فقال علی بن الحسین ع أ و لا أنبئکم بما هو أبلغ فی قضاء الحقوق من ذلک قالوا بلى یا ابن رسول الله قال أفضل من ذلک و أولى أن تجددوا على أنفسکم ذکر توحید الله و الشهاده و ذکر محمد رسول الله و الشهاده له بأنه سید النبیین و ذکر علی ولی الله و الشهاده بأنه سید الوصیین و ذکر الأئمه الطاهرین من آل محمد الطیبین بأنهم عباد الله المخلصین [المخلصون‏] و ...
بحار الأنوار (ط - بیروت)، ج‏96، ص: 259

قال رسول الله ص :
ذکر الله عز و جل عباده و ذکری عباده و ذکر علی عباده و ذکر الأئمه من ولده عباده ...
الإختصاص، النص، ص: 224

The Messenger of God, peace be upon him, said: “Remembering God, Mighty and Majestic, is an act of worship; remembering me is an act of worship; remembering ʿAlī is an act of worship; and remembering the Imams among his descendants is an act of worship…”

عن أبی عبد الله قال قال لفضیل تجلسون و تحدثون قال نعم جعلت فداک قال إن تلک المجالس أحبها فأحیوا أمرنا یا فضیل فرحم الله من أحیا أمرنا یا فضیل من ذکرنا أو ذکرنا عنده فخرج من عینه مثل جناح الذباب غفر الله له ذنوبه و لو کانت أکثر من زبد البحر
السرائر الحاوی لتحریر الفتاوی (و المستطرفات)، ج‏3، ص: 626