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Introduction
In 1980 we celebrated the 1400 anniversary of the Hijri Calendar and published a short
biography of the 14 Masoomeen (infallibles). As this was just a one page biography of each
Masoom, we thought that this time we should make an effort to give the biographies of
Masoomeen in detail. Our first effort was highly popular and the 3000 copies of our first
print were sold out quickly. We had to reprint and even all copies of the second edition
were also sold out. Demand came from all countries from all five continents. Time passed
but people still remember our effort and from time to time a call on the phone from
Auckland New Zealand or Los Angeles USA reminds us that the need for some detailed
biography is still there. Recently many more people asked about the book and we thought
that the time has come to make an effort.
Indeed Sheikh Mufid’s Al-Irshad is there, but this is, although authentic, tedious
to read and understand. The book appears to be for research scholars only, ordinary
people, especially the youth in the West who wish to know about the Masoomeen do not have
a suitable, extensive, or authentic enough book which tells them who these Masoomeen were,
what they did and what influence they left on the Muslim society of today.
With this idea in the forefront, the following book is in your hands to read and
understand about the 14 Masoomeen without taking too much of your time in understanding
it. It is a simple, concise biography in simple English with all the necessary references
at the end of each biography. Why were these Masoomeen called “Ahlulbayt” ?
Qur’an in Sura 42,V 23 tells us in the words of Prophet Muhammad, “ I do not
ask you for any recompense for this (communication of the revelation) except the love of
the near kinship." (Mawaddata fil-Qurba). Asking the believers to love the Prophet
and his Ahlulbayt.
In Sura 33 (Ahzab) V.33 there is further elaboration of the Ahlulbayt and their status.
This state of purity, which distinguished Muhammad (SA) and his family (Ahlulbayt) from
the common muslims, agreed with the elevated ranks of the families of the earlier
Prophets, but this elevation was not unconditional, they had to be rightly guided to
achieve that status. This guidance was confirmed by the following verses, Verse 33 goes
like this:
"God desires only to remove any impurities from you, o’people of the House
(Ahlulbayt) and to purify you completely.”
Who are the people of the House (Ahlulbayt)? The pronoun referring to them is in the
masculine plural, while the preceding part of the verse is in the feminine plural. This
change in gender has evidently pointed the finger to the Five people of the mantle (Ahl
Al-Kisa) i.e. Muhammad-Ali-Fatima-Hasan-Hussain. For this Verse was revealed when the
Prophet (SA) was in the house of his daughter Fatima under a Kisa. She is the narrator of
this Tradition. When these Five persons were under the Kisa she used a sentence “Fa
Lamma Aktamalna” And when we were complete (Under the Kisa). She did not use the word
Ajtam’ana, i.e. when were all gathered or assembled together for it would show the
possibility of addition or subtraction from the Five. The word 'Aktamalna' clarified the
position that these Five had completed the assembly without further additions.
Tabari in his commentary and Imam Fakhruddin Razi in his Tafsee-e-Kabir in their
commentaries on this verse support this interpretation and the names of Five people with
the exclusion of the wives of the Prophet.
The Ahlulbayt of Muhammad (SA) meant, as was consistent with the general usage of the
term at the time, primarily his blood relations, the same people who were also forbidden
to receive Alms ( Sadaqa) in order that their state of purity not be soiled or questioned.
This also elevates them to the status of infallible (Masoom), that is, free of mistakes in
all avenues of life.
To further confirm the names of these Five persons, in Sura III,V.61, the Verse of
Mubahela clarifies this position in front of the large audience of muslims as well as
Christians.. This Verse goes like this:
“ If one disputes with you in this matter (concerning Jesus) after the knowledge
which has come to you, come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women,
ourselves and yourselves, then let us swear an oath and place the curse of God on those
who lie.”
And the personalities Muhammad (SA) took with him were the same Five people of the
Kisa.
He himself as Prophet of God, his Daughter Fatima (SA) as the women of the family, his
two grand sons as the sons and his cousin Ali (AS) as the “Self” of the Prophet.
When the Bishop of Najran saw these faces he realised the truthfuof the Prophet and
refrained from verbal confrontation of curse on those who lie. Qur’an’s logic
plays a great part in understanding what God wanted us to know and what to do when matters
are under dispute or subject to various interpretations. Sura III V.31 tells us,
“ Say (O’ Muhammad) if you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you
and forgive your sins.”
In this Verse, the Prophet is introduced as an exemplar to whose behaviour and morality
people should conform their own behaviour and morality, and whom they should take as their
precedent. This in itself is a proof of the Prophet’s immunity from sin and error,
because, if it were possible for sin and error to proceed from him, there would be no
purpose in God, introducing him as a leader and a precedent.
This position then after the Prophet, passed to the Household (Ahlulbayt) and according
to a Hadith, which many Sunni and Shi’i scholars have narrated in their books on the
life of the Prophet, in histories and in their own books on Hadith from nearly thirty
companions of the Prophet. The Prophet chose his Household (Ahlulbayt) for the leadership
and Imamate. He said,
“ I leave among you two precious things: the Book of Allah and my Ahlulbayt. These
two will not be separated until they encounter me at the pool of Kawther (in paradise). Do
not run ahead of them, for you will be ruined, do not neglect them, for you will be ruined
and do not seek to instruct them for they are wiser than you.”
Looking at the above Verses of the Holy Book, let there be no doubt in the minds of any
readers, believers or non believers, that the Prophet on orders of the Qur’an was a
Masoom and so were his Ahlulbayt. Hence the lives of The Fourteen Masoomeen (AS) for you
to read, understand and follow, because following their footsteps will lead us to Love
God. This should be the aim of every Human being on earth to achieve salvation.
The Present book is my life’s ambition which is to give authentic and correct
information about the Ahlulbayt of the Prophet in the language that todays youth
understands. I pray that the Imam Sahibuz -Zaman Aalaihissalam will accept this small
offering from one of his humble servants.
