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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Story of the Holy Ka’aba Introduction In 1980 we celebrated the 1400 anniversary of the Hijri Calendar and published a short biography of the 14 Ma’sumeen (infallibles). As this was just a one page biography of each Ma’sum, we thought that this time we should make an effort to give the biographies of Ma’sumeen in detail. Our first effort was highly popular and the 3000 copies of our first print were sold out quickly.

We had to reprint and even all copies of the second edition were also sold out. Demand came from all countries from all five continents. Time passed but people still remember our effort and from time to time a call on the phone from Auckland New Zealand or Los Angeles USA reminds us that the need for some detailed biography is still there. Recently many more people asked about the book and we thought that the time has come to make an effort.

Indeed Sheikh Mufid’s Al-Irshad is there, but this is, although authentic, tedious to read and understand. The book appears to be for research scholars only, ordinary people, especially the youth in the West who wish to know about the Ma’sumeen do not have a suitable, extensive, or authentic enough book which tells them who these Ma’sumeen were, what they did and what influence they left on the Muslim society of today.

With this idea in the forefront, the following book is in your hands to read and understand about the 14 Ma’sumeen without taking too much of your time in understanding it. It is a simple, concise biography in simple English with all the necessary references at the end of each biography. Why were these Ma’sumeen called “Ahlul Bayt” ?

Qur’an in 42:23 tells us in the words of , “ I do not ask you for any recompense for this (communication of the revelation) except the love of the near kinship." (Mawaddata fil-Qurba). Asking the believers to love the Prophet and his Ahlul Bayt. In 33:33 there is further elaboration of the Ahlul Bayt and their status.

This state of purity, which distinguished Muhammad (S) and his family (Ahlul Bayt) from the common Muslims, agreed with the elevated ranks of the families of the earlier Prophets, but this elevation was not unconditional, they had to be rightly guided to achieve that status.