ভূমিকা

Furthermore, why is the Prophet (SA) specifically asking for a cloak to cover him when he could’ve asked for something to eat or drink? As believers, we are to be reminded that the wisdom of the Almighty Creator (SWT) is greater than what our minds perceive and He (SWT) does not do anything in vain.

If it were not for the Yeminite Cloak (Kisaa) which the Prophet (SA) requested, the Tradition of the Cloak would not have existed, and the purification verse (Ayat Al Tat-heer) which is the ultimate result of this event wouldn’t have been revealed in this incident. The Kisaa is the means by which the members of his household are gathered to set the stage for the revelation of the Purification verse (33:33).

As we will discuss later, it is narrated in the Tradition of the Cloak that the total individuals who were granted permission to enter under the cloak with the Prophet (SA) were four: Ali ibn Abi Talib, Lady Fatima, and their sons Hasan and Husain. In addition, archangel Jibrael (AS) was also given divine and prophetic permission to join the holy five in this exceptional setting.

With the knowledge that all these divine personalities were under the cloak and didn’t enter its protection without the permission of the Prophet (SA), we can better appreciate the significance of the cloak. Though it may be a materialistic item, the Kisaa is a symbol of protection, a sign of unity and purity, and the representation of the infallibility of the Holy Five.

The cloak can be seen as analogous to the “Cave of Refuge” ( كهف الورى ) as they are described in the beautiful invocation of Salawat Sha’baneyah .