Ahl al-Kisa

Ahl al-Kisa, also known as the 'Al al-Aba, are the Islamic prophet Muhammad, his daughter Fatima, his cousin and son-in-law Ali, and his two grandsons Hasan and Husayn. The name has its origins in the hadith of the and the event of the , both widely reported by Sunni and Shia authorities as evidence of the high spiritual rank of the Ahl al-Kisa in Islam. Ali, Hasan, and Husayn are the first three imams in Shia Islam, where they are viewed as the rightful political and spiritual successors of Muhammad. Non-Zaydi Shias also regard the Ahl al-Kisa as infallible and believe in the redemptive power of their pain and martyrdom.
Origins of the name
Hadith of the
According to the hadith of the , at least on one occasion, the Islamic prophet Muhammad gathered his daughter Fatima, her husband Ali, and their two sons Hasan and Husayn, under his cloak, and then prayed, "O God, these are my and my closest family members; remove defilement from them and purify them completely," where this last statement is a reference to verse 33:33 of the Quran, known also as the verse of purification. These five have thus become known as the Ahl al-Kisa. Variants of this tradition can be found in and , all canonical collections in Sunni Islam. Other versions are reported by the Sunni scholars Ibn Kathir, al-Wahidi, Qadi Baydawi, al-Baghawi, al-Suyuti, al-Hakim al-Nishapuri, and al-Tabari, and by the Shia exegete Muhammad H. Tabatabai, among many others.
Event of the
After an inconclusive debate about Jesus between Muhammad and a Christian delegation from Najran, both parties decided to engage in , where they would pray to invoke God's curse upon whoever was the liar. Linked to this ordeal is verse 3:61 of the Quran, also known as the verse of the , which instructed Muhammad,
The delegation withdrew from the challenge and negotiated for peace. The majority of reports indicate that Muhammad appeared for the occasion of the , accompanied by Ali, Fatima, Hasan, and Husayn. Such reports are presented by the early scholars Ibn Ishaq, al-Razi, Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj, al-Hakim al-Nishapuri, and Ibn Kathir, among others. Some traditions about the add that Muhammad, Ali, Fatima, Hasan, and Husayn stood under Muhammad's cloak, and the five have thus become known as the Ahl al-Kisa.
In the Quran
Families of the past prophets hold a prominent position in the Quran. Therein, their descendants become spiritual and material heirs to keep their fathers' covenants intact. Muhammad's close kin are also mentioned in the Quran in various contexts.
Verse of purification
Also known as the verse of purification, the last passage of verse 33:33 reads, "God only desires to remove defilement from you, O Ahl al-Bayt, and to purify you completely." Muslims disagree as to who belongs to the Ahl al-Bayt. Shia Islam limits the Ahl al-Bayt to the Ahl al-Kisa, namely, Muhammad, Fatima, Ali, Hasan and Husayn. The verse of purification is thus regarded in Shia Islam as evidence of the infallibility of the Ahl al-Kisa. Shias also believe in the redemptive power of the pain and martyrdom endured by the Ahl al-Bayt (particularly by Husayn) for those who empathize with their divine cause and suffering. There are various views in Sunni Islam, though a typical compromise is to also include Muhammad's wives in the Ahl al-Bayt.
Verse of the
Known as the verse of the , verse 42:23 of the Quran contains the passage, "[O Mohammad!] Say, 'I ask not of you any reward for it, save affection among kinsfolk.'" The Shia-leaning historian Ibn Ishaq narrates that Muhammad specified in this verse as Ali, Fatima, and their two sons, Hasan and Husayn. This is also the view of some Sunni scholars, including al-Razi, Baydawi, and Ibn al-Maghazili. Most Sunni authors, however, reject the Shia view and offer various alternatives, chief among them is that this verse enjoins love for kinsfolk in general.
Verses 76:522
Verses 76:5-22 are connected to the Ahl al-Kiso in most Shia and some Sunni sources, including the works of the Shia exegete al-Tabarsi, and the Sunni scholars al-Qurtubi and al-Alusi. According to these authors, verses 76:522 were revealed to Muhammad after Ali, Fatima, Hasan, Husayn, and their maidservant Fidda gave away their only meal of the day to beggars who visited their home, for three consecutive days. In particular, verses 76:712 read,
See also
Footnotes
References
Fatima
Hadith
Islamic terminology