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Part 2:
Ummu Salamah’s Home and the Exclusive Space Beneath the Kisa'
Series: Ahlul Kisa'
The event of Ahlul Kisa' refers to the moment when the Prophet Muhammad SAW covered Fatimah, Ali, Hassan and Hussin beneath a single cloth. In that event, he referred to all four of them as “Ahlul Bait purified by Allah”. Nevertheless, why was Ummu Salamah, his wife who was also the hostess and a witness to the event, not included in this group?
This event is not only rich in symbolism but also opens the way for a deeper discussion of the position of Ahlul Bait and the implicit message behind the action of the Prophet Muhammad SAW.
To what extent do we truly understand the meaning contained in this event?
This article will examine the location, setting and specific space in which the event of Kisa' took place.
Reference Hadith
This hadith has consistently served as the primary reference in discussions of Ahlul Kisa'. Let us revisit Hadith 3787 narrated by at-Tirmidhi. The full version appears in Part 1.
Malay Translation
عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، رَبِيبِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم
From 'Umar bin Abi Salamah, the step-son of the Messenger of Allah SAW who was under his care.
قَالَ نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةُ 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 wishes to remove impurity from you, O Ahlul Bait, and purify you with a complete 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 the home of Ummu Salamah, the Prophet SAW called Fatimah, Hassan and Hussin and then covered them with a cloth. Ali was behind the Prophet and he then covered Ali with the cloth.”
ثُمَّ قَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ هَؤُلاَءِ أَهْلُ بَيْتِي فَأَذْهِبْ عَنْهُمُ الرِّجْسَ وَطَهِّرْهُمْ تَطْهِيرًا " .
Then he said, “O Allah, these are my Ahlul Bait. Remove impurity from them and purify them with a complete 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.”
Location: Ummu Salamah’s Home
The location of the event of Ahlul Kisa' is highly significant from both historical and spiritual perspectives. This location is not merely a physical backdrop to the event but also forms part of the context that helps us understand its meaning and arrangement.
The event took place in the home of Ummu Salamah, one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. Ummu Salamah’s home was part of the residential quarters of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, located near the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.
Although these homes were physically small, they served as important centers of the social and spiritual life of the Muslim community.
The Role of Ummu Salamah
Ummu Salamah was known for her wisdom, piety and close relationship with the Prophet Muhammad SAW.
Among the Prophet’s wives, the three who stand out most for their intelligence and wisdom, based on the legacy they left to us, are Khadijah, Aisyah and Ummu Salamah.
In Madinah, the choice of Ummu Salamah’s home rather than Aisyah’s as the place where this event took place demonstrates the Prophet’s trust in her and her elevated position in Islam.
This explanation is not intended to deny Aisyah’s position. However, at that time, Aisyah was still very young, in her teenage years, whereas Ummu Salamah was a more mature woman in her thirties.
There are many other reasons that could be discussed. However, in this matter, Ummu Salamah’s testimony is more important. You may understand what I mean more clearly if you know the history of the Battle of Jamal.
The Sanctity of the Home
From the perspective of location, the account of Ahlul Kisa' shows that this home was not merely the site where an event took place. It also functioned as a private space that revealed the exclusive nature of the Kisa' event.
For this reason, we must preserve the home and make it a sacred place.
When the sanctity of the home is preserved, it can become a constructive spiritual space for cultivating a relationship between us and the Rabb.
Setting: Inside the Home
The hadith above clearly states that the event took place inside Ummu Salamah’s home. This detail shows that the event occurred in a closed, protected and private environment.
I have explained the characteristics of Bait in the following writings:
If you wish to read the complete discussion, begin with this article.
The Two Weighty Things (Tsaqalain)
The explanation of this location and arrangement highlights several important aspects.
The Home as a Sacred Space
In Islam, the household is where faith, character and spiritual growth are cultivated.
By choosing a domestic space inside the home as the setting for the event of Ahlul Kisa', the Prophet Muhammad SAW emphasised the sanctity of the family institution and its role in the purification of the qalbu.
The Relationship between Nuzul Wahyu and a Familiar Environment
The connection between the purification verse, namely Ayat Tathir in Surah al-Ahzab 33:33, and Ummu Salamah’s home reinforces the idea that the actions of the Rabb often take place in ordinary environments where we regularly live.
The closest and best environment is our home. Therefore, if we wish to draw closer to the Rabb, one of the things that must be safeguarded is the household.
Space and Spatial Dynamics
Space and spatial dynamics in this event are crucial to understanding its meaning and implications.
This analysis involves the position of each individual, the use of the cloth, blanket or Kisa' and the interaction between those inside and outside the space:
1. The Meaning of Space
Space refers to a specific location inside the home where the event of Kisa' took place.
In the event of Ahlul Kisa', this space was the area inside Ummu Salamah’s home that served as the physical location of the event.
More specifically, it was the area beneath the cloth or Kisa' formed by the Prophet within the physical setting of Ummu Salamah’s home.
2. The Meaning of Spatial Dynamics
Spatial dynamics, in turn, refers to the individuals and elements within that space and the way they interact, move, are arranged and relate to one another.
Through an assessment of spatial dynamics, we can examine the following:
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- How the Prophet Muhammad SAW formed the Kisa' as an exclusive space within the home.
- How the Prophet Muhammad SAW arranged Fatimah, Hassan, Hussin and Ali beneath the cloth as an exclusive space.
- Ummu Salamah remained outside the cloth yet witnessed the event. This position signifies that she was not part of Ahlul Kisa' but nevertheless remained in a good place.
- The Prophet’s movement from inside the Kisa' to outside it marks a transition from the exclusive space, namely beneath the Kisa', to a social space involving interaction with Ummu Salamah.
3. The Space Beneath the Blanket (Kisa'): A Space Designated for Purification
The Prophet Muhammad SAW gathered Fatimah, Hassan, Hussin and Ali beneath the blanket.
This did not happen by chance. Rather, it was deliberate, guided and planned and was laden with symbolism.
Through the Kisa', he formed a space enclosed from above.
At the same time, this space represented unity among the individuals beneath the Kisa'.
At this point, we need to recall the three methodologies of Allah’s communication with human beings.
Allah’s communication with those beneath the Kisa' is the second methodology, namely communication from behind a veil. In this event, the Kisa' is that veil.
4. Kisa' as a Protective Veil and a Space of Purification
The blanket or Kisa' has a clear symbolic function. It represents physical protection and serves as a veil and boundary.
The Kisa' signifies a special status for those brought inside it or placed beneath it.
This meaning becomes clearer when you examine Surah al-Ahzab 33:33, the verse stating that Allah wishes to purify Ahlul Bait. That is the communication.
Analysis of Positions within the Kisa' Space
If we analyse the scenario in this hadith according to the sequence of events stated and consider the possible arrangement of each individual within the Kisa' space, one possible explanation can be set out as follows:
1. Ali’s Position Before the Prophet Exited the Kisa'
a. At the initial stage, the Prophet Muhammad SAW brought Fatimah, Hassan and Hussin into the Kisa'. At that point, Ali was “behind the Prophet” but was still “outside the Kisa'”.
b. The Prophet then drew the Kisa' and included Ali with the others. Therefore, while the Prophet was still inside the Kisa', Ali was “behind the Prophet” while Fatimah, Hassan and Hussin were in front of him, positioned in a line or close together before him.
2. The Prophet Exited the Kisa' to Speak with Ummu Salamah
The Prophet first supplicated to the Rabb and entrusted his Ahlul Bait, who were inside the Kisa', to the Rabb by saying:
“O Allah, these are my Ahlul Bait. Remove impurity from them and purify them with a complete purification.”
Ummu Salamah then asked:
“Am I included among them, O Messenger of Allah?”
The Prophet Muhammad SAW possessed noble character. He was praying and entrusting his Ahlul Bait to the Rabb so that they would be purified by Allah beneath the Kisa' through Allah’s communication methodology.
Therefore, because of his noble character, he would not answer another person while he was communicating with Allah.
The Prophet then exited the Kisa'. With his departure, the position he had previously occupied inside the Kisa' became vacant. In this situation:
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- Ali, who had originally been “behind the Prophet”, would automatically take the “foremost position” within the Kisa'.
- Fatimah, Hassan and Hussin, who had been in front of the Prophet, would remain in their respective positions.
- Therefore, after the Prophet exited the Kisa', Ali would be positioned in front of Fatimah, Hassan and Hussin.
3. Implications of Ali’s Position at the Front
From this spatial arrangement, particularly Ali’s position at the front, we can identify two main lessons:
a. The Lesson of Leadership
Ali’s position at the front within the Kisa' reflects his role as a protector and leader after the Prophet.
Fatimah was the Prophet’s daughter and at the same time a genetic member of Ahlul Bait and a successor to the Prophet. Hassan and Hussin, in turn, were Fatimah’s children.
Ali was not of the Prophet’s bloodline. However, he was the Prophet’s son-in-law and cousin.
Viewed through the concept of Ahlul Bait, Fatimah, Hassan and Hussin were genetic members of Ahlul Bait whereas Ali was an individual from outside the lineage who became part of the Prophet’s Ahlul Bait through marriage.
Does this situation resemble our own situation today?
There are many genetically descended members of the Prophet’s Ahlul Bait whereas we are ordinary people who have a connection to the Prophet’s Ahlul Bait. Some of us have this connection through marriage.
This means that leadership is not limited to individuals of genetic descent. Anyone, whether genetically related or not, can take on the role of a leader.
b. The Lesson of Purification
Ahlul Kisa' refers to individuals purified by Allah SWT through the communication methodology of Allah SWT.
This means that the Prophet’s Ahlul Bait, whether they are of direct descent or not, can also be among those who are purified.
Therefore, genetic and non-genetic Ahlul Kisa' are regarded as equal in terms of purification in the sight of Allah.
Conclusion
The event of Ahlul Kisa' cannot be adequately understood merely by identifying the individuals who were beneath the cloth. The sequence of events, the location of Ummu Salamah’s home and the arrangement of each individual’s position within the Kisa' space are also highly significant. The Kisa' formed an exclusive space that separated the individuals beneath it from the space outside it. Within that space, a process of purification took place, entrusted by the Prophet Muhammad SAW to the Rabb through the methodology of communication from behind a veil.
When the Prophet exited the Kisa' to answer Ummu Salamah’s question, the position he had occupied within that space became vacant. Within the arrangement described above, Ali then came to be positioned in front of Fatimah, Hassan and Hussin.
This position offers two principal lessons. First, leadership is not limited to individuals from the Prophet’s genetic lineage. Second, purification in the sight of Allah may also involve Ahlul Kisa' who have a genetic relationship as well as those who became part of Ahlul Bait through marriage.
Accordingly, Ummu Salamah’s position outside the Kisa' should not simply be understood as an inferior position. The hadith nevertheless shows that she remained in a good position in the Prophet’s regard. However, she was not placed beneath the Kisa' space designated for the group whom the Prophet identified as his Ahlul Bait.
The question that remains to be answered is why Ummu Salamah, who was in her own home and witnessed the event, was not beneath the Kisa'. The answer to this question will lead us to the next discussion in Part 3.
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