Question:
Were the ancestors of the Prophet (s) believers?
Answer:
Out of adab towards The Best of Creation, sall-Allahu `alayhi wa sallam, we are under obligation, as Ahl as-Sunnah wa ‘l-Jama`ah, and as those striving to be lovers of Sayyidina Muhammad (s), in any way possible, through the ijtihad of the scholars, to show that not only were the parents of the Prophet (s) muwahidoon (believing in Allah Alone as Creator and the sole object of worship), in Paradise with him, but so were all of his ancestors all the way to Sayyidina Adam (as).
Shaykh Hisham Kabbani, in his Encyclopedia of Islamic Doctrine states:
“the majority of the scholars is that the Prophet’s parents are of the dwellers of Paradise as Ahl al-Fitra, the People of Primordial State.” and he cites Imam Suyuti’s statement, “The majority of the scholars have agreed to the preceding, namely that the Prophet’s parents are in Paradise…”
Shaykh Hisham then cites Imam Razi, in Asrar al-tanzil that some scholars have said that Azar [who debates with Sayyidina Ibrahim (as) regarding idols] was not Ibrahim’s father but his uncle because, among other proofs, the parents of prophets are not unbelievers. Proving the latter, is the verse:
الَّذِي يَرَاكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ وَتَقَلُّبَكَ فِي السَّاجِدِينَ
{[Your Lord] Who sees you when you stand, and your turning (taqallubak) among those who prostrate themselves} (26:218-219),
i.e. your descent through the loins of your ancestors, who are called: worshippers.
Imam Razi continues:
And what proves that the Prophet’s parents were not idolaters is his saying:
لم أزل أنقل من أصلاب الطاهرين إلى أرحام الطاهرات
“I was carried from the loins of the pure men into the wombs of the pure women” Therefore it is necessary that none of his ancestors be a mushrik. [end of cite of Imam Razi]
In addition, to claim that they are in hellfire contradicts the Qur’an since they both died before the Prophet’s mission and therefore are from Ahl al-Fatra [the People of the Prophetless Era]:
وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّى نَبْعَثَ رَسُولاً
{nor would We visit with Our Wrath until We had sent an apostle (to give warning).}(al- Najm, 17:15)
Shaykh Hisham Kabbani then states:
I remind you of his status as the Imam of Ahl al-Sunna among his contemporaries, the principal upholder of belief against the various sects of innovators, the one who defended the truth of the Ash`ari creed in his time, and the Mujaddid (renewer) of this Umma in the sixth century.
While those of other creeds may adopt another stance, based on their proofs, out of adab, we seek the most appropriate proof from our greatest `ulama, and we don’t debate with the opposers about this topic, for their deplorable statements would only harm our Prophet (s) and themselves.
Taher Siddiqui
