Quranic Proofs

The illustrious status of the Ahlulbayt was also made clear in several Quranic verses. Here are five such verses, with supporting Hadith and references.
1. Ayat al-Tathir (Verse of Purification)
Known as Ayat al-Tathir, or the Verse of Purification, verse 33:33 in the Qur’an is highly significant in Islamic theology and is often cited in discussions about the spiritual and moral purity of the Prophet Muhammad’s family.
The relevant portion of the verse is as follows:

Arabic:

إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا

Transliteration:
Innama yuridu Allahu liyudhhiba ‘ankumu al-rijsa Ahlulbayti wa yutahhirakum tathira.

Translation:
“Indeed, Allah intends to remove from you the impurity [of sin], O people of the [Prophet’s] household, and to purify you with [thorough] purification.”

There is a consensus among Islamic scholars that the term “Ahlulbayt” in this context refers to the family of the Prophet Muhammad. Shia Muslims place a particular emphasis on this verse, seeing it as a clear indication of the infallibility and purity the Prophet’s immediate family, which underscores the special spiritual status of these individuals.

Supporting Hadith

Several Hadith, known as Hadith al-Kisa or Hadith of the Cloak, narrate that Prophet Muhammad (S) gathered Fatimah, Ali, Hasan, and Hussain under his cloak, emphasising their purification and declaring them as his Ahlulbayt. This supports the view that the verse primarily refers to these individuals.

The Hadith of the Cloak is found in Sahih Muslim, Sahih Tirmidhi, al-Suyuti and Tafsir Ibn Kathir, citing several narrations explaining that the verse was revealed in honour of the Prophet’s family.

Scholarly References

Tafsir Al-Tabari includes various reports and interpretations that highlight the significance of the verse in relation to the Ahlulbayt.
Whilst all Muslims regard the Ahlulbayt as exemplary figures, for Shias, Ayat al-Tathir supports the doctrine of the infallibility of the Ahlulbayt, meaning they are free from sin and error. It follows that their lives and teachings provide guidance for all Muslims.

2. Ayat al-Wilayah (Verse of Guardianship)
The verse of guardianship is widely reported to have been revealed when the first Imam, Imam Ali, whilst bowing in prayer, gave charity to a beggar by extending his finger for the beggar to remove his ring.

Qur’an 5:55

إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَ

Translation:

“Your guardian (wali) is none but Allah and His Messenger and those who believe, those who establish prayer and give zakah (charity) while they bow [in worship].”

Supporting Hadith

The Hadith of Guardianship supports the circumstances under which this verse was revealed, and it has been cited in Tirmidhi and Musnad ibn Hanbal, who state that Prophet Muhammad said: “Ali is from me, and I am from him. He is the guardian of every believer after me.”

Scholarly References

This verse and associated hadith have been reported by Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Al-Nasa’i in Al-Sunan al-Kubra, and Al-Ghazali in Ihya Ulum al-Din, amongst several others.
3. Ayat al-Mubahala (Verse of the Mutual Invocation of Curses)

Qur’an 3:61

فَمَنْ حَاجَّكَ فِيهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْا نَدْعُ أَبْنَاءَنَا وَأَبْنَاءَكُمْ وَنِسَاءَنَا وَنِسَاءَكُمْ وَأَنْفُسَنَا وَأَنْفُسَكُمْ ثُمَّ نَبْتَهِلْ فَنَجْعَلْ لَعْنَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْكَاذِبِينَ

Translation

“Then whoever argues with you about it after [this] knowledge has come to you – say, ‘Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves, then supplicate earnestly [together] and invoke the curse of Allah upon the liars [among us].'”

Supporting Hadith

Hadith al-Mubahala (Hadith of the Mutual Invocation of Curses) supports the circumstances under which this verse was revealed. This verse is associated with the famous event of Mubahala, a contest between the nascent Muslim community and Christians from the province of Najran. In response to the revelation of the above verse, Prophet Muhammad (S) brought Ali, Fatimah, Hasan, and Hussain to take part in this contest.

Though biologically his grandsons, in this context, Imam Hasan and Imam Hussain are considered to be the Prophet’s sons, Lady Fatima “our women”, and Imam Ali was considered to be the self of the Prophet.

Scholarly References

Amongst those who have reported this verse and associated Hadith are Sahih Muslim, Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Tafsir al-Qurtubi, Tafsir al-Razi, Al-Zamakhshari in Al-Kashshaf and Ibn Kathir.

4. Ayat al-Ikmal (Verse of Completion)

Qur’an 5:3

الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا

Translation:

“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have approved for you Islam as your religion.”

Supporting Hadith

Hadith Ghadir Khumm supports the circumstances under which this verse was revealed.
It is reported that this verse was revealed after the completion of the Prophet’s final Hajj pilgrimage at a place known as Ghadir Khumm, where he declared Imam Ali as his successor and the leader of Muslims after him. Imam Ali’s appointment is seen as the completion of the religious message.
The Prophet asked the multitude of Muslim pilgrims gathered there if they had more authority over them, than they had over themselves, to which they responded in the affirmative. Holding Imam Ali’s hand high in the air, he then declared: “Whoever I am his mawla (guardian/ leader), Ali is his mawla.” It is then that the Verse of Completion was revealed, reaffirming the importance of Imam Ali’s successorship and his authority as integral to Islam.

Scholarly References

Amongst those who have reported this verse and associated Hadith are Sahih Tirmidhi, Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Tafsir al-Qurtubi, Tafsir al-Tabari, Al-Suyuti in “Tarikh al-Khulafa” and Ibn Kathir.
5. Ayat al-Imamah (Verse of Leadership)

Qur’an 4:59

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ

Translation:

“O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and the “ulil amr” (those in authority among you.)”

Supporting Hadith

Hadith of Ulil Amr supports the contention that Imam Ali was given the guardianship of the Muslim community. 

Scholarly References

For Shia scholars, those in authority are the Imams from the Prophet’s Ahlulbayt. Amongst those who have discussed this verse and associated Hadith in reference to the Ahlulbayt are Tafsir al-Razi, Tafsir al-Qurtubi and Al-Tabari.