Muhammad bin Sulayman al-Kufi also narrated this on the authority of Salama bin al-Akwa‟ in three different transmissions.

Imam al-Mansur Billah, upon him be peace, narrated it in ash-Shāfi on the authority of the Commander of the Believers, upon him be peace: ((The People of my House are like the stars. Whenever a star falls, another rises)). In the Nahjul Balagha, it says: “The Family of Muhammad is like the stars. Whenever a star falls, another rises.”

In Al-Amāli it says on the authority of Nasr bin Mazāhim, who said:

I heard Shu‟ba say that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny, said: ((The People of my House are like the stars to my community. Whenever a star falls, another rises)).

„Abdullah bin Hamza also narrated this on the authority of „Ali bin Bilāl on the authority of Shu‟ba.

Al-Murshid Billah narrated with his chain of authority going to Musa al-Kādhim—his ancestors—‟Ali bin Abi Tālib—the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny, said:

((The People of my House are a means of safety to the People of the earth just as the stars are a means of safety to the people of the heavens. Woe to those that forsake and oppose them!))

All of the above is quoted from our shaykh, may Allah bless him, in the Lawama’ al-Anwār.

Verse of Affection

Regarding the clarification of the Verse of Affection, there is a narration by an-Nāsr, the author of Al-Jayl, as well as ad-Daylam that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny, was asked: “Who are your „kin‟ in whom affection is obligatory for?” He, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny, replied: ((„Ali, Fātima, and their descendants)).

Al-Murshid Billah narrated with his chain of authority going to Ibn „Abbās that when the verse: {Say: I ask you for no reward but only affection toward the kin} (42:23) was revealed, the people asked: “O Messenger of Allah, who are your „kin‟ in whom affection is obligatory for?” He, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny, replied: ((„Ali, Fātima, and their descendants)). This is also narrated in al-Kashāf [by az-Zamakhshari], by al-Hākim al-Haskāni in Shawāhid at-Tanzīl with a chain of authority going to Ibn „Abbās through about eight different chains of transmission.

Al-Kanji related it on the authority of Ibn „Abbās and stated:

This is related by at-Tabarāni in al-Kabīr. It is also similarly narrated by al-Hākim in Manāqib ash-Shāfi’, Ibn Abi Hātim, Ibn Hajar al-Asqalāni, and at-Tabarāni on the authority of Ibn „Abbās.

Muhammad bin Sulayman al-Kūfi narrated in Al-Manāqib with a chain of authority going to Ibn „Abbās. Ath-Tha‟labi narrated it in his Qur‟ānic exegesis (tafsīr), al-Maghāzali in his Manāqib, Ahmed in his Musnad, and al-Hākim narrated it in three different chains of transmission.

Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated this on the authority of Sa‟id bin Jubayr that the exegesis of “kin” in this verse refers to the Family of Muhammad, Allah‟s peace and blessings be upon them all. In Kitāb Faža’il al-Khamsa, it says:

Al-Muhib at-Tabari narrated in Dhakhā`ir al-A’qba (p. 25) on the authority of Ibn