What is the interpretation of the Hadith Qudsi which includes Allah's turning away a group from the Prophet's (peace be upon him) Ummah from His Hawd (Cistern), and the Prophet saying: "O Lord, my Ummah, my Ummah," whereupon Allah responds: "You do not know what they did after you"?

The muhaddithun (hadith scholars) have termed the hadith mentioned here as "Hadith al-Hawd" (Hadith of the Basin). It has multiple narrations that agree in meaning, stating that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, will precede his followers to the Basin, and some people whom he knows and who know him will come to him. Then they will be prevented from reaching him. He will say, "Indeed, they are from me," and it will be said to him, "You do not know what they innovated after you." Then he will say, "Far removed, far removed, is he who changed after me."

Those who will be driven away from the Basin are several groups: Among them are those who apostatized from Islam after the death of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, or in the last years of his life. Also, the hypocrites who outwardly showed Islam but inwardly concealed disbelief. And the people of desires who altered the Sunnah and guidance of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, such as the Rawafid (Shi'a) and the Khawarij. Some scholars also include among them those who committed major sins but died upon tawhid (monotheism).

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, recognized his Ummah by their radiant faces and white limbs (due to ablution), which is a special mark for them. This indicates that those who are expelled from his Ummah, peace and blessings be upon him, are indeed from it, especially since the words "my Ummah," "my Companions," and "my little Companions" in the ahadith indicate this.

Scholars have interpreted these expelled individuals to be the hypocrites and apostates, or those who apostatized after the death of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, or the people of sins, major sins, and innovations whose innovations did not take them out of Islam.

The preceding ahadith refute the claims of the Rawafid that the noble Companions like Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman were apostates. This is because Abu Bakr was the one who fought the apostates, and major Companions participated with him. Moreover, the Muhajirun and Ansar were promised Paradise, and all these Companions will drink from the Basin of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.