Self-Purification Makes Ahl al-Bayt Allah’s Favorites

Ahl al-Bayt’s being purified from uncleanness and endowed with good qualities is the reason for their being Allah’s favorites. In the Holy Qur’¡n, Allah has praised them with the best quality which is a thorough purification and their access to the hidden truth:

None shall touch it save the purified ones. (56:79)

Due to their knowing the hidden truth, Ahl al-Bayt are aware of the whole universe and active in relation to Divine decrees and the best deeds. These features show that the devotees have been trained and chosen directly by Allah. Self-purification, awareness of the hidden truths and realization of Allah’s commands have made Ahl al-Bayt Allah’s favorites:

He loves those who purify themselves. (2:222)

Ahl al-Bayt’s morality is the manifestation of their self-purification. Such morality like justice, reliance on Allah, patience, faith, certainty, repentance, jih¡d and self-sacrifice have made Ahl al-Bayt Allah’s most favorites:

Surely, Allah loves those who turn much to Him. (5:42)

Surely, Allah loves those who trust Him (3:159)

The Favorites with the Holy Prophet

As Ahl al-Bayt were the favorites with Allah, they were the favorite with the Holy Prophet, for he did not love but what Allah loved. Umm-Salamah has reported that one day Allah’s Messenger was sitting at home. F¡§imah brought a small pot with dish of flour in it. Allah’s Messenger asked, “Where is `Al¢ and his two sons?” F¡§imah answered, “They are at home.” He said, “Tell them to come here.” After some time, `Al¢, °asan, °usayn and F¡§imah were walking towards Allah’s Messenger. As soon as he saw then, he took his cloak (kis¡’) which was on the bed and covered them, saying:

أللَّهُمَّ هَؤُلأءِ أهْلُ بَيْتِي، فَأذْهِبْ عَنْهُمُ الرِّجْسَ وَطَهِّرْهُمْ تَطْهِيراً.

O Allah! These are my household and my favorite ones; so, remove wickedness from them and make them pure a perfect purification.

At this time, Almighty Allah revealed the Verse of Purification:

Allah only desires to keep away the uncleanness from you, O people of the House, and to purify you a thorough purifying. (33:33)[1]

Imam `Al¢ (a.s) has said:

أتَى رَجُلٌ إلَى النَّبِيِّ 3 فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، أيُّ الْخَلْقِ أحَبُّ إلَيْكَ؟ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ 3 ـ وَأنَا إلَى جَنْبِهِ ـ: هَذَا وَابْنَاهُ وَأُمُّهُمَا. هُمْ مِنِّي وَأنَا مِنْهُمْ. وَهُمْ مَعِي فِي الْجَنَّةِ هَكَذَا ـ وَجَمَعَ بَيْنَ إصْبِعَيْهِ ـ.

A man came to Allah’s Messenger saying, “O Allah’s Messenger! Who is your most favorite one?” The Holy Prophet said, “This (`Al¢), his two sons and their mother are. They are from me and I am from them. In Paradise, they will be as close as two fingers to me.”[2]