Hadith al-Kisa'

Imam 'Ali (a) First Imam of Shi'a

Life Event of Ghadir • Laylat al-Mabit • Yawm al-Dar • Caliphate • Timeline Heritage Nahj al-Balagha • Ghurar al-hikam • Al-Shiqshiqiyya Sermon Excellences Excellences of Ahl al-Bayt (a) • Al-Wilaya Verse • Ahl al-Dhikr Verse • Ulu l-Amr Verse • Al-Tathir Verse • Al-Mubahala Verse • Al-Mawadda Verse • Al-Sadiqin Verse • Hadith Madinat al-'Ilm • Hadith al-Thaqalayn • Hadith al-Raya • Hadith al-Safina • Hadith al-Kisa' • Al-Ghadir Sermon • Hadith al-Manzila • Hadith Yawm al-Dar • Hadith Sadd al-Abwab • Hadith al-Wisaya • La Fata Illa Ali • The First Muslim Companions 'Ammar b. Yasir • Malik al-Ashtar • Abu Dhar al-Ghifari • 'Ubayd Allah b. Abi Rafi' • Hujr b. 'Adi • others Related Topics Holy Shrine

Hadith al-Kisa' (Arabic: حديث الکساء, the cloak hadith) is one of the virtues of the Prophet (s), Imam 'Ali (a), Lady Fatima (a), Imam Hasan (a), and Imam Husayn (a). The Prophet (s) covered himself, his daughter, his son-in-law, and his two grandsons with his Kisa' and said: "O Allah! These are my Ahl al-Bayt (family) so repel all impurity from them and purify them with a thorough purification." Then the Tathir verse was revealed.

Ahl al-Bayt have mentioned the Hadith as one of their virtues and as a reason for their legitimacy for the caliphate of the Prophet (s).

Story

None of the hadiths about the event of Kisa' have expressed it completely, but each one had mentioned a part of it. The following is the description of the event using the whole of hadiths:

"The Prophet (s) was in the house of one his wives, Umm Salama, he was expecting an important massage about some of his relatives, so he told Umm Salama not to let anyone in. In the same time, Lady Fatima (a), the daughter of the Prophet (s), made a food, named 'Asida, for her father and brought it to him, Umm Salama says: 'I couldn't prevent Fatima from entering', the Prophet (s) told his daughter: 'Go and bring your husband and your two sons', so Fatima (a) went to her home and came back with 'Ali (a), Hasan (a), and Husayn (a): Umm Salama went to a corner and started a prayer by the gesture of the Prophet (s).

The Prophet (s), Ali (a), Fatima (a), Hasan (a), and Husayn (a) sat around a table with the food. The Prophet (s) covered himself and 'Ali (a) and Fatima (a) and Hasan (a) and Husayn (a) with his Kisa' (cloak), raised the palm of his right hand to the sky and said: O Allah! These are my Ahl al-Bayt (family) so repel all impurity from them and purify them with a thorough purification."

Then Jabra'il (Gabriel) came down and revealed the Tathir verse: Indeed Allah desires to repel all impurity from only you, O Ahl al-Bayt (People of the Household), and purify you with a thorough purification.

Umm Salama wanted to enter under the Kisa' but the Prophet (s) prevented her, she asked: 'am I not one of the Ahl al-Bayt?' the Prophet (s) said: 'you are in the path of righteousness and goodness, you are one the wives of the prophet of Allah.'"

Place

Al-'Allama al-Hilli says: the revelation of the Tathir verse in the home of Umm Salama is one of the subjects on which the Islamic Umma has Ijma' (consensus) and it is narrated from Imams (a) and many of the companions.

The place of the revelation of the Tathir verse and the event of Kisa' is undoubtedly the home of Umm Salama. Ibn Hajar says: the verse is revealed in the home of Umm Salama. 'Umar was asked about the Tathir verse, he said: "ask 'Ayisha about it", and 'Ayisha answered: "the verse is revealed in the home of Umm Salam, so ask her because she is aware of it more than me."

Authenticity

The authenticity of the event is not doubted at all, and great Muhaddiths have narrated it in their book. The hadith is Mustafid, and even with boarder research, it could be claimed as Mutawatir. The event was so famous in the Islamic society that the day of it became known as the day of Kisa' and the five persons who were the subject of the special favor of God in the event were known as Ahl al-Kisa' or Ashab al-Kisa' (the people of Kisa').

Al-Tabari has written in his book Dala'il al-imama: the Muslims have Ijma' that in the time of the revelation of the Tathir verse, the Prophet (s) called 'Ali, Fatima, Hasan, and Husayn and covered them with his Kisa' and supplicated: 'O Allah! These are my family so repel all impurity from them and purify them with a thorough purification'."

In Shi'a Books

The hadith is narrated in Shi'a exegetic books, like: Tafsir al-Qummi, Tafsir Furat al-Kufi, Al-Burhan fi tafsir al-Qur'an, etc.

Also, in Shi'a Hadith books the Hadith is narrated, like: Usul al-kafi and Amali li-al-Shaykh al-Tusi, etc.

In Sunni Books

Hadith al-Kisa' is narrated in Sunni Hadith books. The hadith is narrated in Sahih Muslim: 'Ayisha says: one day, the Prophet (s) come, with a Kisa' (cloak), woven from black wool, on his shoulder. First, Hasan came and the Prophet (s) covered him with the Kisa', then Husayn came, he covered him with the Kisa', then Fatima came and went under the Kisa', and then 'Ali came and the Prophet (s) covered him with the others with the Kisa' and said: "Indeed Allah desires to repel all impurity from only you, O Ahl al-Bayt, and purify you with a thorough purification."

Ibn Hajar in Sawa'iq al-muhriqa: it is narrated with authentic chain of narration that the Prophet (s) covered the four with a Kisa' and said: "O Allah! These are my Ahl al-Bayt and special people to me, so repel all impurity from them and purify them with a thorough purification.". Ibn Athir in Usd al-ghaba and Ahmad b. Hanbal in his Musnad have narrated the hadith. Ibn Taymiyya writes in Minhaj al-sunna: "the Hadith al-Kisa' is one of the authentic Hadiths that Tirmidhi had narrated it from Umm Salama, and Muslim had narrated it from 'Ayisha in his Sahih."

Hadith al-Kisa' is also narrated in Sunni exegetic books by: al-Zamakhsahri in al-Kashshaf, Fakhr al-Razi in al-Tafsir al-Kabir, and al-Qurtubi, Ibn Kathir, and al-Suyuti in their exegetic books. Al-Qurtubi in the exegesis of the Tathir verse, narrated from Umm Salama: when the Tathir verse was revealed, the Prophet (s) called 'Ali, Fatima, Hasan, and Husayn and covered them with a Kisa'.

Argumentation of Imams using Hadith al-Kisa'

Imam 'Ali (a) expressing one of the reasons of his legitimacy for the caliphate of the Prophet (s), mentioned the Hadith al-Kisa' and told Abu Bakr: "the Tathir verse is revealed about me and my family or you and your family?" he answered: "indeed, about you and your family", Imam 'Ali (a) asked: "I swear you to Allah! I and my family were the subject to the supplication of the Prophet (s) that: 'O Allah! These are my Ahl al-Bayt who are coming toward you, not toward the fire' or you?"…

Also, Imam 'Ali (a) mentioned Hadith al-Kisa' as a reason for his priority for ruling and for the caliphate of the Prophet (s), in the council which 'Umar b. al-Khattab had set for assigning the next caliph.

Once the companions of the Prophet (s) were boasting about their virtues, Imam 'Ali (a) mentioned Hadith al-Kisa', expressing the superiority of himself and his family.

After the peace of Imam Hasan with Mu'awiya, and after the speech of Mu'awiya, Imam Hasan (a), in his speech, mentioned the Mubahala verse and Hadith al-Kisa' as the virtues of Ahl al-Bayt.

Books about Hadith al-Kisa'

Some of Shi'a scholars have written books about the authenticity of Hadith al-Kisa', like:

• Sanad-i Hadith-i Kisa', Ayatollah Mar'ashi Najafi, 1356/1937.

• Ayat al-Tathir fi al-khamsat ahl al-Kisa', Muhyi al-Din al-Musawi al-Ghurayfi, 1377/1957.

• Hadith al-Kisa' 'Ind ahl al-sunna, Sayyid Murtada 'Askari, first publication: 1395/1975, the second publication with the addition of Shi'a sources: 1402/1982.

Also there are commentaries about Hadith al-Kisa', like:

• Al-Tuhfa al-kisa'iyya, Shaykh Bafghi Yazdi (d. 1310/1892)

• Kashf al-Ghita' 'an Hadith al-Kisa', Shaykh 'Ali Al 'Abd al-Ghaffar al-Kashmiri (d. 1345/1926)

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• The material for this article is mainly taken from حدیث کساء in Farsi Wikishia.