Allah [—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—] had ties of kinship among them (1). Hence Allah’s words: ‘Say, “I ask no reward of you for it, except that you show affection to me on account of the kinship between you and me.”’” (2).

Ibn Abbās was a leading member of the Prophet’s household and the most knowledgeable among them concerning the interpretation of the Quran. This interpretation is authentically established from him. This is also indicated by the fact that He did not say, “except affection for close relatives” (3), but rather, “except affection on account of kinship” (4). Do you not see that when He meant the Prophet’s close relatives, He said:

“Know that one-fifth of whatever spoils you take belongs to Allah, the Messenger, and close relatives.”

[Sūrat al-Anfāl: 41]

One does not say, “affection concerning close relatives” (5); rather, one says, “affection for close relatives” (6). How could that be, (* when He said, “Say, ‘I ask no reward of you for it, except affection on account of kinship’” (7)?! This is further shown by the fact that the Messenger [—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—] asks for no reward whatsoever; his reward is only *) (8) with Allah. Muslims are required to show loyalty to the Prophet’s household, but on the basis of other evidence, not