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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Islamic Culture and Religious Studies Book - 3 Lesson 14 : the Treasure of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) The Family of the Holy Prophet i.e. the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.), are the Treasure of Prophethood. Allah (S.W.T.) is the source of all the Teachings and Ahkam in Islam. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) received these ahkam through Wahy (Revelation) and it was his duty is to pass the knowledge on to the people.

He was ordered to teach the people at a pace they could follow and ensure that they understood everything that they were being told to do. The most basic problem he faced was trying to explain these teaching to the people at their level. Because they had lived all their lives in ignorance, many found it difficult to understand philosophical and spiritual matters. Even learning the basic laws took time and effort.

In addition to this, the Prophet (s.a.w.w.) was constantly being distracted from his main aim by the various plots of the Kuffar. From the beginning, he was never allowed to freely preach to the people. When Allah (S.W.T.) first commanded him to declare his Message, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) had to approach a few people in secret. Later, he and the Muslims were boycotted by the Mushrikeen and had to live in the Valley of Abu Talib like prisoners.

This together with the tortures that the Muslims faced daily, did not allow them to spend much time of the actual learning of akham. The Muslims had to deal with this persecution for thirteen years in Mecca before Allah (S.W.T.) commanded the Prophet (s.a.w.w.) to migrate to Medina. In the thirteenth year of Be'that, Hijrat took place. This might have provided the Prophet (s.a.w.w.) with the stable base he needed except that the Muskrikeen were not willing to leave him in peace.

They prepared armies to attack Medina and the Muslims found themselves constantly at war, with one battle barely ending before the next began. With all these problems, they again did not have the time to devote to learning more about the teachings of Islam and Ahkam. The Prophet (s.a.w.w.) knew this and he realized that if he wanted to pass the treasures of knowledge at his disposal to all the Muslims, coming generations included, then he would have to make some kind of provision for this.

The tactic he used was to leave the knowledge in the hands of a chosen few who could grasp it easily.