Do Sunnis really love Ahlul Bayt?

As the tenth of Muharram approaches, many may want to know whether or not Sunnis really love Ahlul Bayt. Mohamed Hoblos gives a brief explanation of the high attributes of Ahlul Bayt and their exalted status in Sunni Islam.

Ahlul Bayt meaning ‘The People Of The House’, refers to the family of the Prophet ﷺ. Muslims are undoubtedly required to love the family of the Prophet ﷺ. This includes the great sahaba such as Ali, Hassan & Hussein, Fatima as well as his wives such as A’isha and Hafsa and his close companions and extended family such as Abu Bakr Al-Saddiq, Umar ibn Al-Khattab and Uthman ibn Affan who were also part of the family of the Prophet ﷺ.

Love for Ahlul Bayt

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Love Allah for what He nourishes you with of His Blessings, love me due to the love of Allah, and love the people of my house due to love of me.”

Love for Sahaba

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Do not revile (curse) my Companions, do not revile (curse)my Companions. By Him in Whose Hand is my life, if one amongst you would have spent as much gold as Uhud it would not amount to as much as one much on behalf of one of them or half of it.”

Sahih Muslim

Love for The Wives of The Prophet ﷺ

ٱلنَّبِىُّ أَوْلَىٰ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ وَأَزْوَٰجُهُۥٓ أُمَّهَـٰتُهُمْ ۗ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَىٰ بِبَعْضٍۢ فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ إِلَّآ أَن تَفْعَلُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَوْلِيَآئِكُم مَّعْرُوفًۭا ۚ كَانَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مَسْطُورًۭا

❝The Prophet has a stronger affinity to the believers than they do themselves. And his wives are their mothers. As ordained by Allah, blood relatives are more entitled ˹to inheritance˺ than ˹other˺ believers and immigrants, unless you ˹want to˺ show kindness to your ˹close˺ associates ˹through bequest˺.1 This is decreed in the Record.❞

Quran 33:6