AHL AL-BAYT. The conception of the ahl al-bayt, "people of the house," "family," or "household" of the prophet Muḥammad plays a vital role in Islamic thought and piety. In the tashahhud portion of the ritual prayers, Muslims of all persuasions supplicate daily, "O God! Bless Muḥammad and his family (āl), as you blessed Abraham and his family."

Qurʾanic prophetology is pregnant with the notion of a hallowed lineage. God's chosen messengers among the Israelites are believed to have been descended from one another, as the Qurʾān states: "Truly, God chose Adam, Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of ʿImrān above all the worlds, offspring, one after the other" (III:33–34). The Qurʾān portrays the chosen among the families and descendants (āl, ahl, qurbā, and dhurrīya) of the prophets as supportive of the messengers during their missions and included...