The Ahlulbayt ﷺ

In the Qur'an

The Book of Allah Himself names them. These are the four cornerstone verses — read each slowly, as one reads a name engraved in light.

Ayat al-Tathir · the Verse of Purification

آيَة التَّطْهِير

Surah al-Ahzab 33:33

إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا

Allah only wishes to remove all impurity from you, O People of the House, and to purify you with a thorough purification.

Allah testifies to the purity of the Ahlulbayt (ع). The grammar shifts in the middle of the verse — singling them out — and the Prophet ﷺ gathered Ali, Fatima, Hasan, and Husayn (peace be upon them) under his cloak when this was revealed.

Ayat al-Mawaddah · the Verse of Love

آيَة المَوَدَّة

Surah al-Shura 42:23

قُل لَّا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَىٰ

Say: I do not ask of you any reward for it except love of those near of kin.

The Prophet ﷺ asks for no payment for his message — only that the Ummah love his near family. Love for the Ahlulbayt (ع) is the reward of prophethood.

Ayat al-Wilayah · the Verse of Guardianship

آيَة الوِلَايَة

Surah al-Ma'idah 5:55

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

Your guardian is only Allah, His Messenger, and those who believe — who establish prayer and give zakat while they are bowing.

Revealed about Imam Ali (ع), who gave his ring to a needy person while in rukuʿ. Wilayah (guardianship) over the believers is established as a divine appointment.

Ayat al-Mubahalah · the Verse of Mutual Imploration

آيَة المُبَاهَلَة

Surah Aal ʿImran 3:61

فَمَنْ حَاجَّكَ فِيهِ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْا نَدْعُ أَبْنَاءَنَا وَأَبْنَاءَكُمْ وَنِسَاءَنَا وَنِسَاءَكُمْ وَأَنفُسَنَا وَأَنفُسَكُمْ

Whoever disputes with you about it after the knowledge that has come to you — say: come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, our selves and yourselves…

When the Christians of Najran came to debate, the Prophet ﷺ brought only Ali, Fatima, Hasan, and Husayn (ع). 'Our sons' = Hasan and Husayn. 'Our women' = Fatima. 'Our selves' = Ali, who in the Qur'an is called the Prophet's own self.

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