Who are ahlulbayt?
The Apostle of Allah (PBUH) said (approved as strong hadith by all the Islamic schools):
“I am leaving among you two weighty things: the one being the Book of Allah in which there is right guidance and light, so hold fast to the Book of Allah and adhere to it. He exhorted (us) (to hold fast) to the Book of Allah and then said: The second are the members of my household I remind you (of your duties) to the members of my family.” [1]
Yazid b. Hayyan the attributed narrator of this hadith added: “He (Husain) said to Zaid: Who are the members of his household? Arent his wives the members of his family? Thereupon he said: His wives are the members of his family (but here) the members of his family are those for whom acceptance of Zakat is forbidden. And he said: Who are they? Thereupon he said: Ali and the offspring of Ali, Aqil and the offspring of Aqil and the offspring of Jafar and the offspring of Abbas. Husain said: These are those for whom the acceptance of Zakat is forbidden. Zaid said: Yes.
Islamic nation is asked to hold fast of two weighty things after the Prophet (PBUH): the Quran, the only infallible book lasting on the earth, which will guide them to the right path and unify the nation word. It have the word of ALLAH (glory for Him) and the law that the people should follow to be successful believers whether material, spiritual or any other dimension.
ALLAH says:
“This is the Book (the Quran), whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqûn [the pious and righteous persons who fear Allah” Quran 2:2
Thence, the Quran is guidance light to Islamic nation that will take them from the darkness of ignorance to light of knowledge and wisdom. The Quran with it is eloquent meanings and powerful message have left the generations since the revelation to ponder on its great knowledge which encompasses in this World, where the human being live within, and the Hereafter. Many scholars and interpreters have produced several encyclopedias of interpretation and tried to extend the human understand in both relatively and irrelatively from time, place and the overseen world.
Therefore, a revealed book with such powerful contents requires an infallible messenger to state and explain its correct meaning in relative to people capacity. Cause the case is similar to the constitution books, which requires law experts for deriving the right meaning and project the appropriate rule.
The Prophet (PBUH), the best mankind, was chosen by ALLAH (glory for him) to accomplish this mission, that He perfectly did complete it in the best way and appliance.
But as the practice of ALLAH (glory for him) never changes (refer to Quran verse 33:62), so there should be always a Guider :
“Surely We have sent you with truth as a bearer of good news and as a warner, and there was no nation without a warner having passed among them.” Quran 35:24
The nation requires always a divinely guided person to show the people the right way and to unify them to the right word to what they do continuously dispute. Thence, the necessity of the second weighty element in the hadith of the Prophet (PBUH), by having an infallible guidance throughout time. Nations cannot suffice only with the Quran, as the Holy book contains enormous knowledge and people could easily misinterpret it if they are not fully aware of the verses constraints and deep meaning. So the mission of the Prophet (PBUH) was not completed till He announced what ALLAH (glorify for Him) asked, by assigning the successor after Him(PBUH) who will be responsible on guiding the nation and deriving the rightful law for new occasions from the Quran and the Prophet path.
“O Messenger, convey all that has been sent down to you from your Lord. If you do not, then you shall not have conveyed His message (at all). Allah shall protect you from the people. Surely, Allah does not lead the disbelieving people to the right path.” Quran 5:67
Therefore, the Prophet (PBUH) assigned Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb, His cousin and the gate of his knowledge [2] to be his successor for guiding the nation after Him. (refer to Ghadir Khum event for further details [3]).
And so the guiders of this nation after the Prophet (PBUH), as mentioned in the above hadith, are twelve (hadith of the twelve Imams [4]) Imam Ali (PBUH) and His offspring (PBUTH):
