I just have a few questions on the issue of who is included in the ahlul bayt. I’ve heard arguments from other sects in Islam that in the Quran allah has mentioned in surah Hud ayah 73 that Sarah the wife of the prophet Ibrahim was blessed on by Allah and referred to her as the people of the house. So why isn’t the wives of the Prophet Muhammad part of the ahlul bayt. Next argument is surah al-ahzab the ayahs before ayah 33 and the ayah itself talks about the wives of the prophet, so it’s thought they are included in the ahlul bayt. What’s the imami school of thoughts opinions on both these arguments?

by

“They said: “Do you wonder at Allah’s decree? The grace of Allah and His blessings on you, O people of the House! Verily He is Praise worthy, Glorious. ”(Hud:73)

Question: Considering the fact that in the above verse, the angels addressed Abraham’s wife using the phrase Ahl-ul-Bayt, and since, naturally, everyone’s wife is considered as part of one’s household, why is it then that in the verse of Tathir in the Surah Al Ahzab, No. 33, verse 33,1 the wives of the Prophet Muhammad (S) are not included in his household?

Answer: Regarding only the literal meaning of the word, it would be natural for the word Ahl-ul-Bayt to include reference to one’s wife.

However, we have firm grounds regarding the fact that someone can be excluded from this denotation even when normally they would be included in its purview, like in the verse saying: “Verily he is not of your household” where Noah’s son is not counted as a member in Noah’s household.

Sometimes it also happens that there could be a reason to include someone who would normally not be considered as a member of the household, as has been said of Salman:

“Salman belongs to our household (Ahl-ul-Bayt)”

There are numerous narrations concerning the verse of Tathir which say that the blessed Prophet (S) had taken certain people under his cloak calling them his Ahl-ul-Bayt, while he did not allow his wife, the pious Umm-us-Salamah, to enter.

This Divine favor and blessings were not confined to that time and place. It has continued in this family, too. What Divine blessing can be superior to that bestowed upon the Prophet (S) and the Immaculate Imams (as) who have emerged from this household?

As related by Sunni and Shi'ah 'ulama', the Holy Prophet (S) has stated:

"The parable of my Ahl al-Bayt is that of Nuh's ark; those who boarded were saved while those who did not board were drowned".

In another successive hadith, related by Sunni and Shi'ah 'ulama', the Holy Prophet (S) has stated:

"I leave two valuable things for you which will never be separated from each other till they meet me at Hawd al-Kawthar. They are the Allah's Book, Quran and the Ahl al-Bayt. You will not go astray after me as long as you remain in touch with them intimately and seek refuge under these two".
Does any Sunni scholar can prove that the wives of Holy Prophet (saw) had such position that they can be guide for all humanity and they were free from any mistake?

I just have a few questions on the issue of who is included in the ahlul bayt. I’ve heard arguments from other sects in Islam that in the Quran allah has mentioned in surah Hud ayah 73 that Sarah the wife of the prophet Ibrahim was blessed on by Allah and referred to her as the people of the house. So why isn’t the wives of the Prophet Muhammad part of the ahlul bayt. Next argument is surah al-ahzab the ayahs before ayah 33 and the ayah itself talks about the wives of the prophet, so it’s thought they are included in the ahlul bayt. What’s the imami school of thoughts opinions on both these arguments?

by

Sarah was prophet Ibrahim’s (as) cousin thus was blood related.

The beginning part of verse 33:33 addresses the women where as the the grammatical structure changes from feminine to masculine when it addresses the Ahl ul Bayt (as). See this video below for more detailed grammatical explanation if you like

https://youtu.be/3RFY1mImv9c