Part 3:

Why Was Ummu Salamah Not Beneath the Kisa'?

Series: Ahlul Kisa'

This article may change the way you understand the momentous event of Ahlul Kisa'.

The story of Ahlul Kisa' does not merely explain who was beneath the cloth. It also raises a deeper question. Why was Ummu Salamah, the noble wife of the Prophet, not included beneath the Kisa'?

Does this indicate that there was a difference in status? Or is there a hidden wisdom behind this decision?

In this article, we will explore the meaning of the Kisa' as an exclusive space.

We will also examine Ummu Salamah's absence from beneath the Kisa' and how the Prophet's words, “You are better with me,” open a new dimension for understanding this momentous event that is still rarely discussed.

Hadith Narrated by at-Tirmidhi 3787

Full Version in Arabic:

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ الأَصْبَهَانِيُّ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ أَبِي رَبَاحٍ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، رَبِيبِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلمَّ ‏:‏ ‏(‏ إنمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا ‏)‏ فِي بَيْتِ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ فَدَعَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَاطِمَةَ وَحَسَنًا وَحُسَيْنًا فَجَلَّلَهُمْ بِكِسَاءٍ وَعَلِيٌّ خَلْفَ ظَهْرِهِ فَجَلَّلَهُ بِكِسَاءٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ اللَّهُمَّ هَؤُلاَءِ أَهْلُ بَيْتِي فَأَذْهِبْ عَنْهُمُ الرِّجْسَ وَطَهِّرْهُمْ تَطْهِيرًا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَتْ أُمُّ سَلَمَةَ وَأَنَا مَعَهُمْ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَنْتِ عَلَى مَكَانِكِ وَأَنْتِ إِلَيَّ خَيْرٍ ‏"‏ ‏. وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ وَمَعْقِلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ وَأَبِي الْحَمْرَاءِ وَأَنَسٍ بْنِ مَالِكٍ ‏.‏ وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ ‏.‏

Malay Translation:

عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، رَبِيبِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم

From 'Umar bin Abi Salamah, the Prophet's step-son who was under his care.

قَالَ نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلمَّ ‏:‏

He said: "This verse was revealed to the Messenger of Allah SAW."

‏(‏ إنمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا ‏)‏

"Indeed, Allah intends to remove impurity from you, O Ahlul Bait, and to purify you with a thorough purification." (Surah al-Ahzab 33:33)

فِي بَيْتِ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ فَدَعَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَاطِمَةَ وَحَسَنًا وَحُسَيْنًا فَجَلَّلَهُمْ بِكِسَاءٍ وَعَلِيٌّ خَلْفَ ظَهْرِهِ فَجَلَّلَهُ بِكِسَاءٍ

"In Ummu Salamah's home, the Prophet SAW called Fatimah, Hassan and Hussin and covered them with a cloth. Ali was behind the Prophet, so he covered Ali with the cloth as well."

ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ اللَّهُمَّ هَؤُلاَءِ أَهْلُ بَيْتِي فَأَذْهِبْ عَنْهُمُ الرِّجْسَ وَطَهِّرْهُمْ تَطْهِيرًا ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Then he said, "O Allah, these are my Ahlul Bait. Remove the impurity from them and purify them with a thorough purification."

قَالَتْ أُمُّ سَلَمَةَ وَأَنَا مَعَهُمْ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ

Ummu Salamah said, "Am I included among them, O Messenger of Allah?"

قَالَ ‏"‏ أَنْتِ عَلَى مَكَانِكِ وَأَنْتِ إِلَيَّ خَيْرٍ ‏"‏ ‏.

He said, "You are in your place and you are better with me."

Ummu Salamah's Position in the Home

The event took place in the home of Ummu Salamah, one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad SAW who was known for her wisdom and loyalty.

However, despite being physically present at the location, Ummu Salamah was not placed beneath the Kisa'.

This shows that the space beneath the Kisa' was exclusive. The Prophet reserved it for specific individuals only, namely Fatimah, Ali, Hassan and Hussin.

Although Ummu Salamah was physically nearby, the space beneath the Kisa' was not merely a place.

It was the space designated for a special purification by Allah SWT, as stated in the verse:

“Indeed, Allah intends to remove impurity from you, O Ahlul Bait, and to purify you with a thorough purification.” (Surah al-Ahzab 33:33)

This can also be seen in the Prophet's supplication in the hadith cited above:

“O Allah, these are my Ahlul Bait. Remove the impurity from them and purify them with a thorough purification.”

The Group Chosen for Purification

The individuals selected to receive this purification were not the household members directly under the Prophet's responsibility. Rather, they were the household members under Ali's responsibility.

This means that those who were purified were Ahlul Bait Ali.

Ali himself, together with Fatimah, Hassan and Hussin, was included among Ahlul Bait Ali and formed the group of Ahlul Kisa'. Based on the Prophet's supplication, all of Ahlul Kisa' were in turn identified as the Prophet's Ahlul Bait.

Ahlul Bait Ali was within the Prophet's Bait while Ummu Salamah was in that Bait as the occupant of the home. However, Ahlul Kisa' was separated from the space of the Bait and placed beneath the Kisa'.

This separation was not intended to diminish Ummu Salamah's honour. Rather, it emphasised the specific role of Ahlul Kisa' as the individuals chosen to receive this purification.

The Prophet's Compassionate Answer

When Ummu Salamah asked the Prophet:

“Am I included among them?”

The Prophet replied with compassion:

“You are in your place and you are better with me.”

What Is Meant by “You Are Better with Me”?

1. Ummu Salamah's Elevated Position

This answer indicates that Ummu Salamah was already where she was meant to be and would remain in a special position in the Prophet's presence.

She was a respected and noble wife as well as one of the Prophet's Ahlul Bait.

2. A Difference in Roles

Ummu Salamah was not placed beneath the Kisa' because that space had been designated for a specific purpose of purification relating to Ahlul Kisa'.

In another hadith, Ahlul Kisa' or the Ahlul Bait consisting of Ali, Fatimah, Hassan and Hussin would face severe trials after the Prophet's absence in the future.

Ummu Salamah was already in a position of distinction. Therefore, the words “You are better with me” do not diminish her honour in any way. She continued to have an exclusive relationship with the Prophet through a different dimension of that relationship.

The Function and Special Status of the Space within the Kisa'

The space beneath the Kisa' carries a meaning greater than that of a merely physical space. Outwardly, it was small and formed only by a single piece of cloth.

Yet its position carried a wider meaning.

1. A Space of Purification

The purification granted to the individuals beneath the Kisa' demonstrates Allah SWT's love for them. Distinguished generations would emerge from this group afterwards.

This is where we begin to see the connection to the inherited trust of Tsaqalain.

2. A Difference in Roles

Fatimah, Ali, Hassan and Hussin held a distinct position as Ahlul Bait.

Ummu Salamah's absence from beneath the Kisa' reinforces the understanding that this space was designated for a highly specific and long-term purpose.

Since you are all students of end-time events, I believe the connection between this event and those matters will become increasingly clear.

A Question for Reflection

Before we continue, what is your view of this event?

Does the space of the Kisa' and Ummu Salamah's position raise new questions in understanding the event of Ahlul Kisa'?

Let us reflect on this matter together.

Imam Mahdi, Islah and the Kisa'

Imam Mahdi comes from the lineage of Ahlul Kisa'. Therefore, he is Ahlul Bait through genetic lineage. Is Imam Mahdi connected to the concept of the Kisa'?

Could the islah of Imam Mahdi be a purification of the qalbu through the method of the Kisa', as happened to his forebears Fatimah, Ali, Hassan and Hussin?

Could Imam Mahdi, as one who communicates with Rabb through Method 1, also communicate through a veil, Method 2?

Or could Imam Mahdi undergo Mi'raj, as the Prophet met Allah in the heavens, through Method 3?

Imam Mahdi, Islah and the Kisa'

Conclusion

The event of Ahlul Kisa' cannot be understood merely by identifying the individuals who were beneath the cloth. The location of Ummu Salamah's home, the exclusive nature of the Kisa' space and the arrangement of the individuals within it form an interconnected chain of meanings.

The Kisa' was not merely a cloth covering several individuals. It became a specific space in which the Prophet entrusted certain Ahlul Bait to Rabb to receive purification through the methodology of communication from behind a veil.

Ummu Salamah's absence beneath the Kisa' also cannot simply be interpreted as an indication that her status or honour was lower. On the contrary, the Prophet's answer, “You are in your place and you are better with me,” shows that Ummu Salamah occupied a good and special position in the Prophet's regard.

However, Ummu Salamah's position remained different from that of the group placed beneath the Kisa'. This difference reveals a difference in role and purpose, not a denial of her honour.

Fatimah, Ali, Hassan and Hussin were the group united beneath the Kisa' and identified by the Prophet as his Ahlul Bait. From this arrangement, it can be seen that purification and the inherited trust are not linked solely to genetic lineage. Although Ali was not from the Prophet's bloodline, he was part of Ahlul Kisa' through marriage and held an important position in that arrangement.

This event also connects the discussion of Ahlul Kisa' with the inherited trust of Tsaqalain. When the meaning of the space, the purification and the arrangement of the individuals are examined together, we can see that the Kisa' does not stand as an event separate from questions concerning the future.

For this reason, the question of Imam Mahdi, islah and his connection to the Kisa' must be examined more deeply. Could the islah of Imam Mahdi be connected to purification of the qalbu through Method 1? Could he also communicate with Rabb through a veil, namely Method 2? Or could he undergo Mi'raj as the Prophet met Allah in the heavens through Method 3?

Therefore, the question concerning Ummu Salamah is not a secondary matter. It opens the way to understanding who was placed beneath the Kisa', why that space was reserved and how that purification was connected to a greater trust.

From a single question about a piece of cloth, we are led to examine the relationship between Ahlul Bait, purification of the qalbu, Allah's communication and the journey of the ummah towards the end of time. This is where the significance of the event of Ahlul Kisa' lies.