The Seventy-Ninth Assembly, the Assembly of Friday, the Last of Jumada al-Ukhra, 368 AH.

Al-Rida (as) attended a gathering with al-Ma’mun in Marv, who had gathered a group of scholars from the people of Iraq and Khurasan. So, al-Ma’mun said: Inform me of the meaning of this verse, “Then, We bequeathed the Book to Our chosen servants.” (35:32) So, the scholars said: By this, Allah meant this entire Nation (Umma). So, al-Ma’mun said: What do you say, Aba’l Hasan? So, al-Rida (as) said: I do not say as they have said, but rather I say: Allah meant the pure progeny (al-`itra al-tahira). So, al-Ma’mun said: How could have He meant the progeny without the Nation? So, al-Rida (as) said to him: Had He meant the Nation, then it would be going to Paradise in its entirety, as per the saying of Allah, “Some of them wrong themselves, some follow a middle course, and some are foremost in good deeds by the permission of Allah. That is the greatest bounty.” (35:32) Then, He included all of them in Paradise, saying, “They will enter the Gardens of Eternity, where they will be adorned with bracelets of gold” (35:33). Therefore, the bequeathal is to the pure progeny, not to others. Then, al-Ma’mun said: Who are the pure progeny? So, al-Rida (as) said: Those whom Allah described in His Book.
He says, “Surely, Allah only wishes to remove uncleanliness from you, O Ahl al-Bayt, and purify you with a thorough purification.” (33:33) They are the ones about whom the Messenger of Allah (s) said: “Surely, I leave behind the two heavyweights among you: (1) the Book of Allah, and (2) my progeny, my Ahl al-Bayt. Surely, they will not separate until they return to me at the Pond. So, watch how you handle them after me. O people! Do not teach them, for they know more than you.” The scholars said: Inform us, Aba’l Hasan, about the progeny – are they the Family (al-Aal) or are they different than the Family? So, al-Rida (as) said: They are the Family. So, the scholars said: It is reported that the Messenger of Allah (s) said: “My Nation is my Family.” His companions have thoroughly reported that the Family of Muhammad is his Nation, to a point where it cannot be denied. So, Abu’l Hasan (as) said: Inform me: is charity not forbidden for the Family? They said: Yes. He said: So, is it forbidden for the Nation? They said: No. He said: This is a difference that distinguishes the Family from the Nation. Woe to you for where you have been taken to! Have you deviated from the remembrance of the page (the Quran)? Are you an extravagant people?! Do you not know that [these verses on] bequeathal and purity apply to the chosen, guided ones and not the rest of you? They said: From where [did you read this], Aba’l Hasan? He said: From the saying of Allah, “We have sent Nuh and Ibrahim, and We have placed prophethood and the Book in their descendants. Among them are those who are guided, but many of them are transgressors.” (57:26) The inheritors of prophethood and the Book went to those who are guided, not the transgressors. Do you not know that, when Nuh (as) asked his Lord, “So, he said: My Lord! Surely, my son is from my family, and surely, Your promise is true, and You are the most just of the judges.” (11:45) That was when Allah promised to save him and his family. So, his Lord said to him, “O Nuh! He is not of your family. Surely, he is one whose work was other than righteous; so do not ask about that which you have no knowledge of. I exhort you from being of the ignorant.” (11:46) Then, al-Ma’mun said: Has Allah favoured the progeny over the rest of the people? So, Abu’l Hasan (as) said: Surely, Allah demonstrated the favour of the progeny over the rest of the people in the decisive [verses] of His Book.
So, al-Ma’mun said to him: Where is that in the Book of Allah? So, a-Rida (as) said: In His saying, “Surely, Allah has chosen Adam, Nuh, the Family of Ibrahim, and the Family of `Imran over the people. Offspring, one of the other.” (3:33-34) He said in another place, “Do they envy what Allah has given them of His favour? We have given the Family of Ibrahim the Book and the wisdom, and We have given them great authority.” (4:54) Then, He proceeded to address the rest of the believers in context to this, “O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and the Masters of Authority among” (4:59) – meaning, those whom We bestowed with the Book and the wisdom, and they were envied upon that. So, His saying, “Do they envy what Allah has given them of His favour? We have given the Family of Ibrahim the Book and the wisdom, and We have given them great authority” (4:54) refers to obedience to the chosen and pure ones. Authority here refers to obedience to them. The scholars said: Inform us: Has Allah explained chosenness in His Book?
So, al-Rida (as) said: He explained this chosenness in twelve apparent places, not including [any] esoteric [places]. The first of those is His saying, “Warn your closest relatives *and your chosen group*” (26:214) – this is in the recitation of Ubay b. Ka`b, and it is firm in the codex of `Abdullah b. Mas`ud. This is an elevated rank, a great favour, and an exalted honour that Allah used when referring to this Family. He mentioned it to the Messenger of Allah (s) – and this is the first [verse]. The second verse in relation to chosenness is His saying, “Surely, Allah only wishes to remove uncleanliness from you, O Ahl al-Bayt, and purify you with a thorough purification.” (33:33) This is a favour that no stubborn person is ignorant of, because favour comes after purity. As for the third, it is when Allah distinguished the pure ones from His creation and ordered His Prophet to the imprecation (mubahala) in the Verse of Imprecation. He said: Say, O Muhammad, “Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, our selves and your selves. Then, we will imprecate, and we will put the curse of Allah over the liars.” (3:61)
So, the Prophet (s) honoured `Ali, al-Hasan, al-Husayn, and Fatima (s) and compared their selves to his self. Do you comprehend the meaning of His saying, “our selves and your selves”? The scholars said: It means themselves.
So, Abu’l Hasan (as) said: You are incorrect. Surely, it only refers to `Ali b. Abi Talib (as). The saying of the Prophet (s) indicates this when he said: “Banu Wali`a will stop or I will send them a man like myself” – meaning, `Ali b. Abi Talib (as). This specifically [is a virtue] that none surpass him in, and a favour that no human will follow him in, and an honour that no creature preceded him in; that he positioned `Ali to his own self – this is the third. As for the fourth: he (s) ordered the people to leave his Mosque with exception to the progeny. The people talked about that, and [even] al-`Abbas [b. `Abd al-Muttalib] talked about it. He said: “O Messenger of Allah! You have left `Ali and you have ordered us to leave!”
So, the Messenger of Allah (s) said: “It was not I who left him and ordered you to leave, but rather it was Allah that left him and ordered you to leave.” In this is an elucidation of his saying to `Ali (as): “You are to me as Harun was to Musa.” The scholars said: Where is this in the Quran? Abu’l Hasan (as) said: Shall I bring it to you from the Quran and recite it to you? They said: Bring it. He said: The saying of Allah, “We revealed to Musa and his brother: settle your people in houses in Egypt and make your houses the qibla.” (10:87) In this verse is the status of Harun to Musa, and likewise therein is the status of `Ali (as) to the Messenger of Allah (s). From this is a clear indication regarding the saying of the Messenger of Allah (s) when he said: “Surely, none can be in a state of janaba in this Mosque except Muhammad and his Family.”
So, the scholars said: O Aba’l Hasan! This interpretation and elucidation is not found except with you, the Ahl al-Bayt of the Messenger of Allah (s). So, he said: Who denies that of us? The Messenger of Allah (s) said: “I am the City of Wisdom and `Ali is its Gate, so whoever wants the City must come to it by its Gate.” We have clarified and explained this favour, honour, pre-eminence, chosenness, and purity in a way that cannot be denied by a stubborn person; and praise be to Allah for that – this is the fourth. The fifth verse is the saying of Allah, “Give those near in kin their right” (17:26) – Allah the Glorious and Powerful specified them in it, and He chose them over the Nation. When this verse was revealed to the Messenger of Allah (s), he said: “Call to Fatima for me.”
So, she was called for him, then he said: “O Fatima!” She said: “I am at your service, O Messenger of Allah.” So, he (s) said: “Fadak is that which no horse nor camel rushed upon [to seize]. It belongs to me alone and not the Muslims. I have given it to you when Allah commanded me to. So, take it for yourself and your children” – this is the fifth. The sixth verse is the saying of Allah, “Say: I do not ask you for a reward for it except to love those near in kin.” (42:23) This is specifically for the Prophet (s) until the Day of Resurrection, and specifically to the Family and not anyone else. This is because Allah reported what Nuh (as) had said in His Book, “And O my people, I ask not of you for it any wealth. My reward is not but from Allah. And I am not one to drive away those who have believed. Surely, they will meet their Lord, but I see that you are a people behaving ignorantly.” (11:29) He reported what Hud (as) had said, “I do not ask you for any reward. My reward is only from the one who created me. Do you, then, not understand?” (11:51) He said to His Prophet (s), “Say” – O Muhammad – “I do not ask you for a reward for it except to love those near in kin.” (42:23) Allah would not obligate their love without knowing that they will not ever apostate from the religion, nor will they ever go back to misguidance. A man may love a man, but if he is an enemy to a family member of his, the man’s heart will not be at peace with him.
So, Allah did not want anything of malice in the heart of the Messenger of Allah (s) for the believers, thus he obligated loving those near in kin. Whoever fulfills this, loves the Messenger of Allah (s), and loves his Ahl al-Bayt, the Messenger of Allah (s) will not be able to hate him; but whoever abandons this, and does not fulfill it, and hates his Ahl al-Bayt, then it is incumbent on the Messenger of Allah (s) to hate him, for he will have abandoned an obligation set by Allah.
So, what favour and what honour supersedes or [even] comes close to this? When Allah revealed this verse upon His Prophet (s), “Say: I do not ask you for a reward for it except to love those near in kin.” (42:23), the Messenger of Allah (s) stood among his companions, praised Allah and commended Him, and said: “O people! Allah has obligated something for me upon you. Will you fulfill it?” None answered him. Then, he said: “O people! It is not [something fulfilled] by gold, silver, food, or drink.
So, they said: “Give it.” So, he recited this verse, and they said: “As for this, then yes.” However, most of them did not fulfill it. Allah did not send a prophet except that he revealed to him that he is to not ask for a reward from his people, because Allah fulfills the reward of the prophets. For Muhammad (s), Allah obligated the love for his kin for his Nation, and He commanded him to make his reward with them their love for him through his relatives. [This can only be] by recognizing their favour, which Allah obligated for them, for love can only be at the level of recognition of their favour. When Allah obligated this, it was as heavy as the obligation of obeying them. Some who took a covenant with Allah held onto this to fulfill the promise, but the people of discord and hypocrisy were stubborn and disbelieved in it. They took it beyond the limit that Allah limited it with, and they said: “The kin are all the Arabs and the people he called to.” Upon this, the two opinions came about. We know that the love is for the related, and the most related of them to the Prophet (s) is the most rightful of them to the love. The closer the relation is, the more love is in proportion to it. They were unjust to the Prophet of Allah (s) in honouring him and being affectionate to him and that which Allah [obligated] his Nation with regards to him and thanking him in a way that tongues cannot describe. They did not love him through his descendants and his Ahl al-Bayt, and they did not confer a status to them like that of the eye to the head, as a trust to the Messenger of Allah (s) and out of love for His Prophet. How is this when the Quran speaks about it and calls to it? The reports are sound that they are the people of this love, and they are the ones whose love Allah obligated. He promised the reward upon this – there is not one sincere, believing person in this love except that Paradise becomes obligatory for him, as per the saying of Allah in this verse, “And those who have believed and done righteous deeds will be in lush regions of the gardens [in Paradise] having whatever they will in the presence of their Lord. That is what is the great bounty. That is the good news that Allah gives to His servants who believed and did righteous deeds. Say, “I do not ask you any fee for it, except the love of kinship” (42:22-23) – interpreted and clarified. Then, Abu’l Hasan (as) said: My father narrated to me from my grandfather from his forefathers from al-Husayn b. `Ali (as). He said: The Muhajirin and the Ansar gathered to the Messenger of Allah (s) and said: “O Messenger of Allah, you have difficulties and expenses with regards to those who visit you. Here is our wealth and our blood, so manage it how you will in righteousness and reward – give what you wish and withhold what you wish, regardless of any need.” He said: So, Allah sent the Trustworthy Spirit down to him, who said: “O Muhammad! ‘Say: I do not ask you for a reward for it except to love those near in kin.’ (42:23)” – meaning, love my kin after me.
So, they left. The hypocrites said: “The Messenger of Allah (s) did not abandon what we have presented to him except to urge us [to accept] his kin after him. It is but something that he concocted in his sitting place.” That was a great calumny of theirs, so Allah revealed this verse to Gabriel, “Or do they say that he concocted it? Say: ‘If I have done so, then there is nothing whatsoever you can do to save me from Allah. He knows best what you indulge about it. Sufficient is He as a Witness between you and me. And He is the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’” (46:8)
So, the Prophet (s) sent for them and said: “Did anyone say anything?” They said: “Yes, by Allah, O Messenger of Allah. Some of us said repugnant words that we hated.” So, the Messenger of Allah (s) recited the verse to them, and they wept, and their weeping intensified. Then, Allah revealed, “It is He who accepts repentance from His servants and forgives sins and knows what they do.” (42:25) So, this is the sixth. As for the seventh verse, it is the saying of Allah, “Surely, Allah and His angels bless the Prophet. O you who believe! Bless him and bid peace.” (33:56) Those who were stubborn of them became known when this verse was revealed; it was said: “O Messenger of Allah! We know how to bid you peace (taslim), but how do we bless you?”
So, he said: “You say: ‘O Allah, bless Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad just as You blessed Ibrahim and the Family of Ibrahim. Surely, You are the Praiseworthy, the Great.’” O people! So, is there any among you who disagrees with this? They said: No. Al-Ma’mun said: There is no disagreement in this anyway, as there is a consensus on it. Do you have anything clearer than this in the Quran about the Family [in particular]? Abu’l Hasan (as) said: Yes. Inform me of the saying of Allah, “Yasin. By the Wise Quran, surely, you are of the messengers, upon a Straight Path.” (36:1-4) What did He mean when He said, “Yasin”? The scholars said: Yasin is Muhammad (s). No one doubts this. Abu’l Hasan (as) said: Surely, Allah has granted Muhammad (s) and the Family of Muhammad a favour that none can comprehend or describe except one who intelligizes it: Allah does not give salaam to anyone [in the Quran] except the prophets (as). He says, “Peace be with Nuh among the worlds” (37:79), and He says, “Peace be with Ibrahim” (37:109), and He says, “Peace be with Musa and Harun” (37:120), but He did not say: “Peace be with the Family of Nuh”, nor did He say: “Peace be with the Family of Musa” nor “with the Family of Ibrahim” – yet He says, “Peace be with the Family of Yasin” (37:130), meaning the Family of Muhammad (s). Then, al-Ma’mun said: I knew that in the goldmine of prophethood there was an explanation and clarification of this – so this is the seventh. As for the eighth, Allah says, “Know that when you gain a thing, then a fifth of it is for Allah, the Messenger, and those near of kin.” (8:41), so He compared the portion of those near of kin to His portion and His Messenger’s portion. This is another difference between the Family and the Nation because Allah placed them in a position and placed the people in another position. He willed for them what He willed for Himself, and He chose them therein. He began with Himself, then His Messenger, then those near of kin in regard to the fay’, the spoils, and other than that, decreeing for them what He decreed for Himself and for them. He says, and His saying is true, “Know that when you gain a thing, then a fifth of it is for Allah, the Messenger, and those near of kin.” (8:41) This is a steadfast guarantee and a standing decree for them until the Day of Resurrection, [written] in the Speaking Book of Allah; which falsehood cannot come to before it or behind it, revealed by the Wise, the Praiseworthy. As for His saying, “and the orphans and the poor” (8:41), when the orphan matures, he does not receive the khums and he does not have a right to it. It is the same with the poor: if his poverty goes, then he will not have a right to the khums, and it will not be permissible to take. The portion of those near in kin is established for them until the Day of Resurrection, whether they are wealthy or poor. There is none wealthier than Allah nor His Messenger (s), so He set a portion for Himself and His Messenger. Whatever He willed for Himself and His Messenger, He willed for them. It is the same with the fay’: what He willed for Himself and His Prophet, He willed for those near in kin. He began with Himself, then His Messenger, then them; and He compared their portion with Allah’s portion and His Messenger’s portion. It is like that in obedience – He says, “O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and the Masters of Authority among” (4:59) – He began with Himself, then His Messenger, then his Ah al-Bayt. It is like that in the Verse of Wilaya, “Surely, your wali is only Allah, His Messenger, and those who believe …” (5:55)
So, He made their wilaya, alongside the obedience owed to the Messenger, like the obedience owed to Him; just as He made their portion alongside the portion of the Messenger like His portion in the spoils and the fay’. May Allah be glorified and exalted for making His blessing over this Ahl al-Bayt great! When the delineation for charity came, He exempted Himself, His Messenger, and his Ahl al-Bayt. He says, “Surely, charity is only for the poor, the needy, those employed to collect it, those whose hearts are attracted [to Islam], for freeing slaves, for those in debt, for Allah’s cause, and for wayfarers. This is obligated by Allah.” (9:60) Do you see anything in this that is apportioned for Himself, His Messenger, or those near of kin? Because when He exempted Himself, His Messenger, and His Ahl al-Bayt from charity, He forbade it for them, for charity is forbidden for Muhammad and His Family. It is the impure [wealth] that is in the hands of the people, and it is forbidden for them, because they are purified from every uncleanliness and dirtiness. When Allah purified and chose them, He willed for them what He willed for Himself, and He disliked for them what He disliked for Himself. So, this is the eighth. As for the ninth: we are the People of the Reminder (Ahl al-Dhikr) about whom Allah says in the decisive [verse] of His Book, “So, ask the People of the Reminder if you do not know.” (16:43) The scholars said: With this, He means the Jews and the Christians. So, Abu’l Hasan (as) said: May Allah be glorified! Is that permissible? They would call us to their religion, and say that it is better than the religion of Islam. Al-Ma’mun said: Do you have an interpretation that opposes what they have said, Aba’l Hasan? So, he (as) said: Yes. The Reminder is the Messenger of Allah (s), and we are his family (ahl). That is clarified in the Book of Allah where He says in Surat al-Talaq, “Allah has prepared a severe punishment for them.
So, fear Allah, O people of intellect and belief. Allah has bestowed a Reminder unto you; a messenger reciting Allah’s revelation to you, making things clear” (65:10-11) The Reminder is the Messenger of Allah, and we are his family, so this is the ninth. As for the tenth: it is the saying of Allah in the Verse of Prohibition, “Forbidden to you for marriage are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters …” (4:23) – to the end of the verse.
So, inform me: had the Messenger of Allah (s) been alive, would he be able to marry my daughter or the daughter of my son from the progeny of the Messenger of Allah (s)? They said: No. He said: So, inform me: had the Messenger of Allah (s) been alive, would he be able to marry your daughter or the daughter of your son? They said: Yes. He said: In this is a sign, for I am from his Family, and you are not from his Family. Had you been from the Family, then he would have been prohibited from your daughters just as he is prohibited from my daughters, because I am from his Family and you are from his Nation.
So, this is a difference between the Family and the Nation, because the Family is from him, and the Nation – those who are not from the Family – are not from him.
So, this is the tenth. As for the eleventh: it is the saying of Allah in Surat al-Mu’min, which speaks about a believing man from the Family of Pharaoh, “A believing man from Pharaoh’s Family, who was hiding his faith, argued, ‘Will you kill a man for saying: My Lord is Allah, while he has in fact come to you with clear proofs from your Lord? …’” (40:28) – to the end of the verse. He was maternal cousin of Pharaoh. He is related to Pharaoh in lineage but not in religion [and was called his Family member]. This is how we were specified as being part of the Family of the Messenger of Allah (s) through our birth from him. We are of the same religion as the people, but this is a distinction between the Family and the Nation.
So, this is the eleventh. As for the twelfth: it is the saying of Allah, “And enjoin prayer upon your family and be steadfast therein.” (20:132) Allah specified us in particular. He ordered us to establish prayer along with the Nation, then He specified us without the Nation. The Messenger of Allah (s) would come to the door of `Ali and Fatima for nine months after this verse was revealed, at the call to the five daily prayers. He would say: “The prayer – may Allah have mercy on you.” Allah did not honour anyone of the descendants of the prophets in the way that He honoured us; and he specified us among all the people of his household.
So, al-Ma’mun and the scholars said: On behalf of this Nation, may Allah reward you, the Ahl al-Bayt of your Prophet, with goodness. We did not find an explanation or an elucidation to quell our doubts except with you.