and light.’ He then urged adherence to the Book of Allah.” Another version reads:

“It is the rope of Allah: whoever follows it is rightly guided, and whoever abandons it goes astray. And my kindred, the members of my household. I remind you of Allah concerning my household; I remind you of Allah concerning my household; I remind you of Allah concerning my household.”

Zayd ibn Arqam was asked, “Who are the members of his household?” He replied, “His household are those forbidden to receive charity: the family of al-ʿAbbās, the family of ʿAlī, the family of Jaʿfar, and the family of ʿAqīl.” The scriptural texts requiring adherence to the Quran are too numerous to recount here.

It has also been narrated from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, through several good chains of transmission, that he said concerning his household:

“By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, they will not enter Paradise until they love you for my sake.”

Allah has commanded us to invoke blessings upon the family of Muhammad, kept them pure from charity—which is the impurities people cast off—and assigned them a share in the fifth of war spoils and in property acquired without battle. As authentically recorded in the Sahīh, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Allah chose the descendants of Ishmael, chose Kināna from the descendants of Ishmael, chose Quraysh from Kināna, chose Banū Hāshim from Quraysh, and chose me from Banū Hāshim. Thus I am the best of you in person and the best of you in lineage.”

Were we to recount what has been narrated concerning the rights of the Prophet’s relatives and the rights of the Companions, the discussion would become lengthy, for the Quran and Sunnah contain abundant evidence on this subject. Hence, Ahl al-Sunnah wa-l-Jamāʿa have agreed upon upholding the rights of the Companions and the Prophet’s relatives. They have disavowed the Nāsiba, who declare ʿAlī ibn Abī Tālib an unbeliever and brand him a sinner