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The verse of purification

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The verse of purification

The verse of purification (Arabic:آیه تطهیر ) is verse (sura) in the Qur'an. The verse has special importance for Shiite Muslims due to giving information about Ahl al-Bayt of Muhammad. Shiite reportedly believe it to designate the "People of the House" as being Ismah, infallibility. Within Sunni Islam this viewpoint is seen as either rejected or partially supported such as the case of Sufism. Some verses refer to Muhammad's wives.

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وَقَرْ‌نَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّ‌جْنَ تَبَرُّ‌جَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الْأُولَىٰ ۖ وَأَقِمْنَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتِينَ الزَّكَاةَ وَأَطِعْنَ اللَّـهَ وَرَ‌سُولَهُ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِ‌يدُ اللَّـهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ الرِّ‌جْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَ‌كُمْ تَطْهِيرً‌ا

"And stay quietly in your houses, and make not a dazzling display, like that of the former Times of Ignorance; and establish regular Prayer, and give regular Charity; and obey Allah and His Messenger. And Allah only wishes to remove all abomination from you, ye members of the Family, and to make you pure and spotless."

Academic view

The previous verses include instructions to the wives of Muhammad, and the verbs and pronouns are in the feminine plural. However, in this verse, the pronouns are in the masculine plural. Therefore, it is no longer a discussion of the prophet’s wives or of them alone. Thus, the expression Ahl al-bayt must mean family of Muhammad. The privilege then refers to those nearest to him.

There is a story narrated in many traditions according to which Muhammad sheltered under his cloak, in varying circumstances including the Mubahala, his grandchildren Hasan ibn Ali and Husayn ibn Ali, his daughter Fatimah and his son-in-law Ali and so it is those five who are given the title Ahl al-Kisa or people of the mantle.

Some have attempted to add Muhammad's wives to the list; however, the number of the privileged is limited to those five.

Shia view

Each ayah is an individual sign of Allah. Ayah or aayah is the Arabic word for evidence or sign:

The ayah uses the words Ankum (from you) and Yutahhirakum (to purify you), which are both in the masculine plural form. Though it is known that in Arabic masculine is unisex, there is a problem since the fact that the previous sentence in reference to the wives used only feminine verbs and pronouns while this sentences uses the masculine. The feminine for the above would be Ankunna and Yutahhirakunna. The sudden change in grammatical gender reference means that it is not about the wives. The similar use of switching subjects after Ayahs is found all throughout the Quran. A great example of this is Surah Haqqah, which does so in nearly every ayah. Allah says 'Allah keep away bad things (rijs) from Ahlulbaiyt'.. We can believe the Ahlulbaiyt keep away from any (someone) Bad things (rijs).. Muhammad says 'After me only two things are remained who that guide people in every generation 1st: Quran 2nd:Ahlulbaiyt'

References

The verse of purification Wikipedia