Ahlalbayt

Chosen People of the House of the Prophet (pbuh):
The household of the Prophet (s), consisting of Ali, Fatima, al-Hasan, al-Husayn and the 9 Imams descending from al-Husayn (peace be upon them all).


"Allah only desires to keep away uncleanliness from you, O People of the House (ahl al-bayt), and to make you as pure as possible." (Qur'an 33:33)

The prominent scholars of Islam and the narrators of the Prophetic tradition unanimously agree that ahl al-bayt (the household of the Prophet (pbuh&hf)) which Almighty Allah uses in the Holy Qur'an refers to the daughter of the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf), Lady Fatima al-Zahra' (pbuh); his cousin, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (pbuh); and their children Hasan and Husayn (pbut).[al-Durr al-Manthur, al-Suyuti]
Tabarani narrates from one of the respected wives of the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf), Um Salamah, that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh&hf) once told his daughter Lady Fatima (pbuh) to call her husband 'Ali and their two sons, Hasan and Husayn. When they came, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh&hf) covered them with a cloak, put his hand on them, and said: "O Allah, these are the Al-i-Muhammad (the family of Muhammad), so shower Your blessings and favors upon the Al-i-Muhammad just as You showered them on the Al-i-Abraham. You are the Praiseworthy, the Glorious." Um Salamah says that she raised the cloak to join them, but the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf) took it from her hand, saying: "You are also on the right."[Manaqib Ahl al-bayt, Tirmidhi, 2:308 ]



To emphasize that the phrase ahl al-bayt in this verse refers only to five people - Muhammad, 'Ali, Lady Fatima, Hasan, and Husayn - narrators say that the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf), when passing his daughter Lady Fatima's house on the way to the mosque for the dawn prayers, used to stop there and call: "To prayer, O ahl al-bayt, to prayer. Allah desires to keep away uncleanliness from you, O ahl al-bayt, and to make you as pure as possible."

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Ibn Mardawayh, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Tirmidhi, ibn Mundir, Tabarani. For more details, refer to al-Mizan, Tabataba'i, under the explanation of verse 33:33


Imam Anas ibn Malik adds that the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf) did this for six months every day on his way to the morning prayers at the mosque.

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Fadha'il Ahl al-bayt, al-Miqrizi, p. 21

The name of Ahl al Bayt are not limited to Imam `Ali, Bibi Faatima, Imam al Hasan and Imam al Husayn `Alayhimu Ssalaam because Rasul Allah (Salla~llahu `Alayhi Wa Aalihi wa Sallam) is reported to have prophesied the names of the Imams from his Ahl al-Bayt that would follow. In a Hadith reported, he publicly announced them by name; and then each one of them is reported to have announced his successor. The Twelve names that Rasul Allah Salla~llahu `alayhi wa Aalihi wa Sallam announced are: (1) Imam `Ali ibn abi Talib (2) Imam al-Hasan ibn `Ali (3) Imam al-Husayn ibn `Ali (4) Imam `Ali ibn al-Husayn (Zayn al Aabidin) (5) Imam Muhammad ibn `Ali (al-Baqir) (6) Imam Ja`fer ibn Muhammad (al-Saadiq) (7) Imam Musa ibn Ja`fer (al-Kaazim) (8) Imam `Ali ibn Musa (al-Rida) (9) Imam Muhammad ibn `Ali (al-Jawaad) (10)Imam `Ali ibn Muhammad (al-Haadi) (11)Imam Hasan ibn `Ali (Hasan al-Askari) (12) Imam Muhammad ibn Hasan (al-Mahdi) May Allah's Peace be upon all of them as we await the return of our Twelfth Imam, also as per prophesy from Rasul Allah Salla~llahu `Alyhi wa Aalihi wa sallam. By virtue of the above Hadith, they too are part of the Ahl al Bayt. Since they are the Imams appointed, they too are beyond making any sins,and therefore, Ma`sum. As to your question of why are they sinless or what does the sinlessness mean, I think it is very important to know that their sinlessness does not mean that they are not humanbeings like ourselves. We are not allowed to exaggerate anything about Imams and it is our fundamental belief that they are human beings like ourselves and are bound by all the Laws and Hukm of Allah Subhanahu wa ta`ala. They do not commit sins because they are honoured servants of Allah; and Allah Subhanahu wa ta`ala has honoured them and has given them great dignity and authority. Allah has protected them from all kinds of uncleanliness and has throroughly purified them (see Qur'an 33:33). They have the highest perfection and are endowed with `ilm al-ladunni and chastity. They are endowed with all virtues, bravery, chastity and quality. Further, they are the carriers and transmitters of the correct Sunnah of Rasul~Allah. They are therefore our Imams. They are the guides and they have the authority after Rasul Allah(Salla~llahu `Alayhi wa Aalihi wa Sallam) in the matters in which we require help and guidance; in religious commandments, in Judgment, in legislation, in the commentary of the Qur'an and in the interpretation of the Qur'an.

Ahl al-Bayt: Chosen People of the House of the Prophet (pbuh):
The household of the Prophet (s), consisting of Ali, Fatima, al-Hasan, al-Husayn and the 9 Imams descending from al-Husayn (peace be upon them all).
"Allah only desires to keep away uncleanliness from you, O People of the House (ahl al-bayt), and to make you as pure as possible." (Qur'an 33:33)
The prominent scholars of Islam and the narrators of the Prophetic tradition unanimously agree that ahl al-bayt (the household of the Prophet (pbuh&hf)) which Almighty Allah uses in the Holy Qur'an refers to the daughter of the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf), Lady Fatima al-Zahra' (pbuh); his cousin, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (pbuh); and their children Hasan and Husayn (pbut).[al-Durr al-Manthur, al-Suyuti]
Tabarani narrates from one of the respected wives of the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf), Um Salamah, that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh&hf) once told his daughter Lady Fatima (pbuh) to call her husband 'Ali and their two sons, Hasan and Husayn. When they came, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh&hf) covered them with a cloak, put his hand on them, and said: "O Allah, these are the Al-i-Muhammad (the family of Muhammad), so shower Your blessings and favors upon the Al-i-Muhammad just as You showered them on the Al-i-Abraham. You are the Praiseworthy, the Glorious." Um Salamah says that she raised the cloak to join them, but the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf) took it from her hand, saying: "You are also on the right."[Manaqib Ahl al-bayt, Tirmidhi, 2:308 ]
To emphasize that the phrase ahl al-bayt in this verse refers only to five people - Muhammad, 'Ali, Lady Fatima, Hasan, and Husayn - narrators say that the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf), when passing his daughter Lady Fatima's house on the way to the mosque for the dawn prayers, used to stop there and call: "To prayer, O ahl al-bayt, to prayer. Allah desires to keep away uncleanliness from you, O ahl al-bayt, and to make you as pure as possible."
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Ibn Mardawayh, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Tirmidhi, ibn Mundir, Tabarani. For more details, refer to al-Mizan, Tabataba'i, under the explanation of verse 33:33
Imam Anas ibn Malik adds that the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf) did this for six months every day on his way to the morning prayers at the mosque.
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Fadha'il Ahl al-bayt, al-Miqrizi, p. 21

AHL al-Bayt: Chosen People of the House of the Prophet (pbuh):
The household of the Prophet (s), consisting of Ali, Fatima, al-Hasan, al-Husayn and the 9 Imams descending from al-Husayn (peace be upon them all).
"Allah only desires to keep away uncleanliness from you, O People of the House (ahl al-bayt), and to make you as pure as possible." (Qur'an 33:33)
The prominent scholars of Islam and the narrators of the Prophetic tradition unanimously agree that ahl al-bayt (the household of the Prophet (pbuh&hf)) which Almighty Allah uses in the Holy Qur'an refers to the daughter of the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf), Lady Fatima al-Zahra' (pbuh); his cousin, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (pbuh); and their children Hasan and Husayn (pbut).[al-Durr al-Manthur, al-Suyuti]
Tabarani narrates from one of the respected wives of the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf), Um Salamah, that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh&hf) once told his daughter Lady Fatima (pbuh) to call her husband 'Ali and their two sons, Hasan and Husayn. When they came, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh&hf) covered them with a cloak, put his hand on them, and said: "O Allah, these are the Al-i-Muhammad (the family of Muhammad), so shower Your blessings and favors upon the Al-i-Muhammad just as You showered them on the Al-i-Abraham. You are the Praiseworthy, the Glorious." Um Salamah says that she raised the cloak to join them, but the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf) took it from her hand, saying: "You are also on the right."[Manaqib Ahl al-bayt, Tirmidhi, 2:308 ]
To emphasize that the phrase ahl al-bayt in this verse refers only to five people - Muhammad, 'Ali, Lady Fatima, Hasan, and Husayn - narrators say that the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf), when passing his daughter Lady Fatima's house on the way to the mosque for the dawn prayers, used to stop there and call: "To prayer, O ahl al-bayt, to prayer. Allah desires to keep away uncleanliness from you, O ahl al-bayt, and to make you as pure as possible."
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Ibn Mardawayh, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Tirmidhi, ibn Mundir, Tabarani. For more details, refer to al-Mizan, Tabataba'i, under the explanation of verse 33:33
Imam Anas ibn Malik adds that the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf) did this for six months every day on his way to the morning prayers at the mosque.
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Fadha'il Ahl al-bayt, al-Miqrizi, p. 21