His Family: The Ahlul Bayt (as)

Love for the Ahlul Bayt: The Prophet (SAW) loved his family deeply, and in Shia Islam his family — the Ahlul Bayt (as) — holds a special place.

The Verse of Purification: The Quran says Allah wishes to purify the Ahlul Bayt and keep them pure (Quran 33:33, the Verse of Purification, as understood in Shia Islam).

The five of the Kisa: At the heart of the Ahlul Bayt are five people, remembered together as the Ahl al-Kisa:

• The Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
• Fatima (sa), his daughter
• Ali (as), his cousin and son-in-law
• Hasan (as) and Husayn (as), his grandsons

The Hadith of Thaqalayn: The Prophet (SAW) also said, in the well-known Hadith of the Two Weighty Things (Thaqalayn): "I leave among you two weighty things: the Book of Allah and my Ahlul Bayt. If you hold fast to both, you will never go astray." In Shia Islam, this Hadith is central — the Quran and the Ahlul Bayt guide the community together.

Fatima, Ali, and the Imams: Fatima (sa) is honoured in Shia Islam as the leader of the women of the worlds, and as the mother of the Imams. Ali (as) is the first Imam after the Prophet (SAW), followed by Hasan (as), Husayn (as), and nine Imams after them, who are studied in Aqaeda and Islamic History.

Example

Love of the Prophet and family: Love of the Prophet (SAW) and love of his family go together. A beginner can start simply: learn their names, love them, and follow their example of honesty, patience, and standing for justice.

• In your home, speak of Fatima (sa), Ali (as), Hasan (as) and Husayn (as) with love and respect.
• When you read the Quran, remember the family Allah purified — and try to live as they lived.

Key Terms

• Ahlul Bayt (اہل بیت) — the Family of the Prophet (SAW)
• Ahl al-Kisa (آل عبا) — the People of the Cloak: the Prophet, Fatima, Ali, Hasan and Husayn
• Thaqalayn (ثقلین) — the Two Weighty Things: the Quran and the Ahlul Bayt
• Imam (امام) — in Shia Islam, the divinely guided leader after the Prophet (SAW)

Quran or Hadith

• Quran 33:33 — the Verse of Purification, about the Ahlul Bayt. — to be checked.
• Quran 42:23 — "Say: I ask no reward from you except love for my near kin." (as commonly translated, understood in Shia Islam as love of the Ahlul Bayt). — to be checked.
• Hadith al-Thaqalayn — "I leave among you two weighty things: the Book of Allah and my Ahlul Bayt." — to be checked (source and wording).

Fresh diagram to be drawn: A family tree: the Prophet (SAW) and Khadija (sa) → Fatima (sa) and Ali (as) → Hasan (as) and Husayn (as). In Project Desk colours.