Bab Hitta

Bāb Ḥiṭṭa (Arabic: باب حِطَّه) refers to the gate that the Bani Isra'il (Children of Israel) were commanded to enter following their period of wandering in the land of Tiyya. Upon arriving in the Holy Land, God instructed them to pass through this gate, saying the word "Hitta", so that their sins would be forgiven. Most commentators identify Bab Hitta as one of the gates of Bayt al-Muqaddas (Jerusalem) in Palestine. In both Shia and Sunni Hadiths, the Ahl al-Bayt (a) are compared to this gate. These Hadiths suggest that those who take refuge with the Prophet's (s) household will find salvation.

Divine Command to the Bani Isra'il

According to the Qur’an, when the Bani Isra’il were about to enter a town in the Holy Land, God commanded them to enter through a specific gate and to say the word “Hitta” (meaning “forgiveness”). In the narrations, this gate is called Bab Hitta. Most exegetes —even those who interpret Qarya as the city of Jericho (Ariha)—understand the term al-bab (the gate) as referring to one of the gates of Bayt al-Muqaddas (Jerusalem).

The word Hitta means to lower one’s rank in humility and to lift a burden—specifically, to remove the weight of duty or sin from a person’s shoulders. In Majma' al-bayan, al-Tabarsi states that God commanded the Bani Isa’il, as a sign of humility, to enter Bayt al-Muqaddas through Bab Hitta so they would be compelled to stoop as they entered and to say “hitta.” However, they both entered through another gate and also changed the word. In defiance of God’s command and as mockery, they said in Syriac “hāṭā samāqātā … ḥaṭṭā samāqātā,” which means a red wheat mixed with barley.

Comparison of the Ahl al-Bayt with Bab Hitta

In Shia sources, the Ahl al-Bayt (a) are compared to Bab Hitta. For instance, a narration from the Prophet (s) states:

“Whoever adopts my religion, follows my way, and adheres to my tradition must believe in the superiority of the Imams from my household over the entire community. Their likeness among this umma is like Bab hitta among the Bani Isra’il.”

In Sunni sources as well, there is a narration from the Prophet (s), transmitted by Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri:

The parable of my Ahl al-Bayt among you is like that of Bab Hitta among the Bani Isra’il: whoever enters it shall be forgiven.

Regarding this comparison, as follows: just as Bab Hitta served as a measure for testing belief and faith for the Bani Isra’il, the Ahl al-Bayt (a) are the standard for evaluating the faith of the Prophet’s community. According to this hadith, the Ahl al-Bayt (a) stand in the position of that gate: anyone from the Bani Isra’il who sought refuge there had his sins forgiven; similarly, anyone who seeks refuge with the Prophet’s household will attain salvation.

Furthermore, Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, a 10th-century (AH) Sunni scholar, cites the hadith of Bab Hitta. He argues that just as God made entering the gate a cause for forgiveness for the Banī Isrāʾīl, He has made mawadda (love and affection) for the Ahl al-Bayt (a) a reason for forgiveness for the Islamic community.