WHO ARE THE "AHLULBAYT" IN THE VERSE?

[Taqavi]

Who are the “Ahlulbayt” in the verse " إِنَّما يُريدُ اللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَ يُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهيراً"?

 

In order to understand the answer to the question, one must first comprehend the meaning of Ahlulbayt in the word. Ahlulbayt is composed of two words. The first word "Ahl" means gathering and uniting. This uniting can be linked to lineage, religion, or occupation. The second word "Bayt" means home. Therefore, if a man lives in the same home with other people, those people are considered his family.[1] Some have taken Ahlulbayt to mean kinship.[2]

Based on the evidence that will be presented, it can be concluded that the term "Ahlulbayt" used in this verse does not have a literal meaning. Instead, it refers to certain individuals from the Prophet's family as designated by God.

According to Umm Salama's narration, the Messenger of God once gathered Fatimah, Hasan, Hussain, and Ali under his cloak and declared, "These are my Ahlulbayt." Umm Salama says, "I also wanted to join them, but the Messenger of God stopped me and said, 'You are a virtuous woman, but this verse is about me, my brother, Ali, his two sons and nine descendants of Hussain, not including anyone else".[3] This narration clearly specifies that only these individuals are the Ahlulbayt of the Prophet mentioned in the verse. In another narration, the same answer was given to Umm Salma.[4]

Abi Saeed Khodri says the Messenger of God stated, that this verse was revealed to five individuals.[5] Another account from Anas states that for six months, during prayer time, the Messenger of God would visit Fatimah's house and recite this verse while reminding them that it was time for prayer.[6]

Abu al-Hamra also testified as a servant of the Messenger of God in this matter.[7] It has been narrated that Imam Ali himself referred to the verse of purification (Ayah Tathir) in the event of “Fadak” in opposition to Abu Bakr, and said, “Do you seek a witness who God has testified to her purity, and yet you accept that this verse pertains to us.”[8]

Based on what has been said, it is proved that the Ahlulbayt in this verse means five people: the Messenger of God, Commander of the Faithful, Lady Fatimah, Imam Hasan, and Imam Hussain (a.s.), Other traditions also suggest that the Imams who came after Imam Hussain (a.s.) should also be considered as part of the Ahlulbayt.

In a narration, Imam Sadiq (a.s.) first identifies the Ahlulbayt in the verse of purification as five individuals, but then in the interpretation of this verse, with reference to the verse of Ulu al-Arham ‘kinship’, he includes all the Imams of the Shia and considers obedience to them as obedience to God and disobedience to them as disobedience to God.”[9]

In another narration, Imam Sajjad (a.s.) also considered himself part of the Ahlulbayt, using the same verse as evidence.[10] Therefore, all twelve Imams are included in this verse.  According to what has been said, the verse of purification specifically refers to the five members of the household of the Prophet and then extends to include the twelve infallible Imams, but not the rest of the relatives and kin of the Messenger of God (SW).

 

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[1] . Al-Mufradat fi Ghareeb Al-Quran : Al-Raghib Al-Isfahani; Vol: 1;P: 29

[2] . Al-Misbah Al-Muneer:  Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ali; Vol: ; P: 20

[3] . Kamal Al-Din wa Tamam Al-Ni’mah: Al-Sheikh Al-Saduq; Vol: 1; P: 278 - Al-Amali: Al-Sheikh Al-Tusi;Vol: 1; P: 565

[4] . Tafsir Noor Al-Thaqalayn: Al-Aroosi Al-Hawizi, Al-Sheikh Abdul Ali; Vol: 4; P: 274

[5] . Tafsir Al-Jami Al-Bayan: Al-Tabari, Ibn Jarir; Vol: 20; P: 263

[6] . Ibid

[7] . Tafsir Al-Qummi: Al-Qummi, Ali ibn Ibrahim; Vol: 2; P: 67

[8] . Tafsir Noor Al-Thaqalayn: Al-Aroosi Al-Hawizi, Al-Sheikh Abdul Ali; Vol: 4; P: 274, 275

[9] . Al-Kafi: Al-Sheikh Al-Kulayni; Vol: 1;P: 287

[10] . Al-Ehtijaj: Al-Tabrasi, Abu Mansour; Vol: 2; P: 33, 3