It has been narrated from Alī ibn al-Husayn that he held this ruling to apply generally to the Prophet’s household: the punishment of any one of them is multiplied, as are his good deeds, just as punishment and reward are multiplied for someone in the Sacred Mosque and for someone who does the same during the month of Ramadan (1), and in similar circumstances.

All of this demonstrates that Allah Most High honors [His servants] (2) solely on account of piety. This is stated in the hadith reported in the Sunan, in which the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“No Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab; nor does a Black person (3) have any superiority over a white person, or a white person over a Black person, except through piety. All people are descended from Adam, and Adam was created from dust.” (4)

He also said:

“Allah Most High has removed from you the arrogance of the Age of Ignorance and its boasting about forefathers. People are of two kinds: a pious believer and a wicked wretch.” (5)

Invoking blessings upon the family of Muhammad is therefore a right due to them from the Muslims, and, by virtue of this lineage (6), it is a cause of Allah Most High’s mercy toward them, because this entails that each of the descendants of