the Blessed and Most High...

the Blessed and Most High, has said: I do not ask of you any reward for it except love for (my) kin; and whoever earns good, We will give him more of good. Therefore, earning good is showing love for us, Ahlul Bayt.”[^1] Imam al-Shafi‘i has referred to the meaning of this verse, saying: O Family of Allah’s Messenger, love for you is a religious duty Allah has revealed in the Qur’an.

Al-Fakhr al-Razi has said: “If this (verse) has been established (that it was revealed in respect of Ali, Fatima, and her two sons), then they must be singled out with great magnification. Many verses are proofs on that. The first is these words of Him, the Exalted: except love for (my) kin. The sense of the proof of this is the first part of the verse. It is that which He has already mentioned that the affair of the family of Muhammad (a.s) returns to him.

So all those whose affair strongly and perfectly returned to him were the Aal (the family). Without doubt, the relationship between Fatima, Ali, al-Hasan, and al-Husayn and Allah’s Apostle (a.s) was the strongest of all relationships. This is well known through the traditions ensured by many narrations. Therefore, they must be al-Aal (the family). The second, without doubt, the Prophet (a.s) showed love for Fatima, peace be on her. He (a.s) said: ‘Fatima is a part from me.

What hurts her hurts me.’ It has been established through the traditions ensured by many lines of transmission that Muhammad (a.s) showed love for Ali, al-Hasan, and al-Husayn, peace be on them. If that has been established, then it is obligatory on the community to do the same.

That is due to these words of Him, the Exalted: “And follow him so that you may walk in the right way.[^2]” And due to these words of Him, the exalted: “Therefore, let those beware who go against his order.”[^3] And due to these words of Him, the exalted: “Say: If you love me, then follow me, Allah will love you.”[^4] And due to these words of Him, the exalted: “Certainly you have in Allah’s Apostle an excellent example.” [^5] The third is that the supplication for al-Aal (the Prophet’s family) is a great position.

For this reason the supplication is regarded as the end of al-tashahud in prayer; that is his words: “O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and have mercy on [^1] Al-Hakim, Mustadrak, vol. 3, p. 172. Majjma‘ al-Zawa’id, vol. 9, p. 146. al-Sawa‘iq al-Muhriqa, p. 101. Majjma‘ al-Bayan fi Tafseer Surat al-Shura, vol. 9, p. 29. [^2] Qur’an, 7, 158.