Loving Ahl Al-Bayt more than the Companions
8-2-2014 | IslamWeb
Question:
Salam Aleikum. My question is: Is it okey to love Ahlul bayt (household of the Prophet sallalahu aleihi wa sallam) more than the sahaba? I know there is a Hadith about the prophet saw loving first Aisha then Abu bkr than Umar (radiallahu anhom). But I just feel more love towards the hosehold, is this haram? And did the prophet really love Aisha, abu bkr and Umar more than his own family?
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His S lave and Messenger.
It has been authentically reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, loved ‘Aa'ishah the most. It has also been reported that Abu Bakr and ‘Umar 
were the most beloved men to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. ‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas 
reported, “The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, entrusted me to head the Army of Thaat As-Salaasil. I came to him and said, 'Who is the most beloved person to you?' He said: '‘Aaishah." I asked, 'And among the men?' He said: 'Her father (i.e. Abu Bakr).' I said, 'Then who?' He said, '‘Umar.' He then named other men.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
It is incumbent upon a Muslim to love the household of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, because they are his family. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): {Say, [O Muhammad], “I do not ask you for this message any payment [but] only good will through kinship.”} [Quran 42:23]
Usaamah narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to seat him and Al-Hasan ibn 'Ali and say: “O Allaah! I love them, so please love them.” [Al-Bukhari]
‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Mas‘ood reported on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that: “The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, came once carrying Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn, each on one of his shoulders, kissing them alternately until he reached us and said: ‘He who loves them, has loved me, and he who hates them, has hated me.’”
Hence, there is no harm in loving the household of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, more than other honorable Companions. What is impermissible is to have excess love to any person more than the love you have for Allaah, The Exalted, and the Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
Allaah knows best.