Hadith al-Kisa': Difference between revisions

'''Ḥadīth al-Kisā'''' (Arabic: {{ia|حَديث الکِساء}}, the cloak hadith) is one of the virtues of the [[Prophet (s)]], [[Imam 'Ali (a)]], [[Lady Fatima (a)]], [[Imam al-Hasan (a)]], and [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]]. This incident occurred in the house of [[Umm Salama]], the Holy Prophet's wife. 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.  

"[[The Prophet (s)]] was in the house of one his wife, [[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) decided to make 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 house immediately and returned with [['Ali (a)]], [[al-Hasan (a)]], and [[al-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), al-Hasan (a), and al-Husayn (a) sat around a cloth spread for the food. The Prophet (s) covered himself and 'Ali (a) and Fatima (a) and al-Hasan (a) and al-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."

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.'"

[[Al-'Allama al-Hilli]] says: the [[revelation]] of the [[Tathir Verse]] in the house 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 [[Sahaba|companions]].

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

In his ''al-Durr al-manthur'', Suyuti quotes Ibn Mardawayh as saying that Umm Salama stated that:"Al-Tathir verse was revealed in my house."  

The authenticity of the event is not doubted at all, and great [[Muhaddith]]s have narrated it in their book. The hadith is [[Mustafid]], and even with broader research, it could be claimed to be [[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').

Also, in [[Shi'a Hadith book]]s the Hadith is narrated, like: ''[[Usul al-kafi]]'' and ''[[Al-Amali (by al-Tusi)|Amali ]]'', etc.

Hadith al-Kisa' is narrated in [[Sunni]] Hadith books as well. The hadith is narrated in ''[[Sahih Muslim]]'': [[Aisha]] says: one day, the [[Prophet (s)]] come, with a kisa' (cloak), woven from black wool, on his shoulder. First, [[al-Hasan (a)]] came and the Prophet (s) covered him with the kisa', then [[al-Husayn (a)]] came, he covered him with the kisa', then [[Fatima (a)]] came and went under the Kisa', and then [['Ali (a)]] 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 ''[[al-Sawa'iq al-muhriqa]]'': it is narrated with authentic [[chain of transmission]] 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 Ahamd Hanbal|Musnad]]'' have narrated the hadith. Ibn Taymiyya writes in ''[[Minhaj al-sunna]]'': "the Hadith al-Kisa' is one of the authentic Hadiths that [[al-Tirmidhi]] has narrated it from [[Umm Salama]], and Muslim had narrated it from Aisha in his ''Sahih''."

Expressing one of the reasons of his legitimacy for the [[caliphate]] of the [[Prophet (s)]], [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] 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! My family and I 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?"…

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