The provided text explores the Ahl al-Bayt, or "People of the House," a central concept in Islam whose definition and significance profoundly separate Sunni and Shi'i traditions. The document begins by examining the term's etymology and its appearance in the Qur'an, highlighting ambiguities that laid the groundwork for differing interpretations. It then details key Qur'anic verses (Purification, Mawadda, and Mubahala) and foundational Hadith narratives (the Cloak and Two Weighty Things), explaining how these texts are interpreted to support either a restricted Shi'i definition (the Prophet, Fatima, Ali, Hasan, and Husayn, plus the Imams) or a broader Sunni understanding (including the Prophet's wives and wider clan). The article also discusses the doctrinal implications of these definitions, particularly concerning the Shi'i belief in the infallibility (ismah) and divine appointment (Imamate) of the Ahl al-Bayt, contrasting it with the Sunni concept of human fallibility and the Caliphate. Finally, the text illustrates how the historical events of succession, Karbala, and the Imams' intellectual consolidation shaped these theological divergences, which continue to manifest in distinct rituals and cultural practices, such as Ashura commemorations and Ziyarat pilgrimages.
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