What's the point of following Ahlul Bayt?

as-salaamu alaikum brothers,

I am a 12er that is interested in Zaydi Islam. Noting the differences between 12ers and Zaydi on Imamate has made me question what the point of following the ahlul bayt is in the Zaydi sect. In 12er as we all know there are 12 infallible divinely guided Imams. Since Zaydi imams can be fallible. What difference would it make for us to follow a sayyid or non-sayyid imam? Why not just have the sunni system/method of choosing caliphate?

Thank You

Walaykom Alsalam,

I am also a twelver who very recently converted to Zaidism. The points are indeed many respected brother, however, the ones which I will list Insha’Allah are what I believe are the most substantial.

• The Hadith of the Holy Prophet (صل الله عليه واله وسلم) our dear and beloved Prophet advised us to cling on to the two weighty things and they are the book of Allah (عز وجل) and his kindred, the Ahlulabyt.

• It is necessary to maintain this firm hold as Allah (عز وجل) intended guidance for us through the tongue of the Holy Prophet and to forsake such instruction would be a great disservice not only to ourselves, but to the Islamic Ummah which is in great need for the guidance of the Prophets’ progeny.

• How can you reconcile Hadith Al-Thaqalayn if you don’t follow the Ahlulbayt, as a current twelver yourself it is clear that the arguments for the significance of this decree is not a mere, “take care of my household” rather one which instructs the believers to follow them in our religion.

As for Zaydi Imams being fallible, this doesn’t then mean they’re going to commit great errors in the matters of the religion, especially those matters which pertain to usool ul-deen.

• Narrated in both Shia and Sunni books, the Prophet advises to follow his companions and when asked who these companions were he responds: “My Ahlulbayt” and with their ikhtilaf (differences in matters of jurisprudence) there is wisdom, but there is never an (إجماع) consensus of the Ahlulabyt unless it is the correct decree which pertains to the religion of Allah.

• The Zaidi Imams be they Husseini or Hassani are the flag bearers of those infallible Imams - of course infallibility in the Zaidi understanding - the Imams of the cloak, in which their guidance has been taken and promulgated from generation to generation, century to century.

All I can simply conclude is this and I believe this is the fundamental benefactor that separates the Zaydiyyah from the Imammiyah and Ahlul-Sunnah and it is that the Zaidi have the Salaf which is the Ahlulabyt.

(a) not the salaf in their erroneous instances
(b) not the twelve Imams whose guidance seemingly ends with the occultation and is left in the hands of supposed companions and fallible jurists.

Infallible guidance can be relayed through fallible beings, for it is the Quran and Intellect that judge rightly. The Zaidi Imams are the lanterns of light for you to see and they are the arks of salvation that take you to Allah and not to themselves.

Insha’Allah the respected brothers can further elaborate where they deem fit and May Allah forgive me for any erroneous statements.

اللهم صل على محمد وعلى آل محمد

Thank you for the response akhi. I would love to hear of your story of converting to zaydi Shia. Do you have it posted anywhere? Or care to share some of the great points that lead you to conversion?

At your service my dear brother, honestly it was simply reading the works of الكاظم الزيدي that truly aided me. If you can read Arabic I recommend checking out his blog.

alkazemalzaidy2013.wordpress.com/