✦ The True Meaning of Surah al-Aḥzāb, Verse 33 and the Myth of 'Infallible Imams' ✦
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Vol. 1 – Kitāb al-ʿAqāʾid, p. 174
In Surah al-Aḥzāb (33:33), Allah ﷻ tells the Prophet ﷺ that He has purified his Ahl al-Bayt (household).
What is the actual meaning of this purification?
Some groups use this verse as evidence for the belief in ‘Infallible Imams’ (Aʾimmah Maʿṣūmīn).
Is this interpretation valid?
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنه said:
“This verse was revealed concerning the wives of the Prophet ﷺ.”
(Tafsīr Ibn Abī Ḥātim; Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr 3/491; alternate edition 5/169)
✔ The chain of narration is graded as ḥasan (good).
✔ Imām ʿIkrimah, a prominent student of Ibn ʿAbbās, was willing to engage in mubāhalah (invoking Allah's curse) to affirm this interpretation—that the verse refers to the wives of the Prophet ﷺ.
Absolutely. The Qur’an itself proves that wives are part of a man’s household (Ahl al-Bayt).
In Sūrah Hūd, verses 71–73, the wife of Prophet Ibrāhīm عليه السلام is addressed as:
"رَحْمَتُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ"
“The mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you, O people of the household!”
(Sūrah Hūd: 73)
✔ This directly affirms that wives fall under the term "Ahl al-Bayt" in Qur’anic language.
The word "tathīr" (purification) in this verse does not imply sinlessness or infallibility. This interpretation:
✘ Has no basis among the Companions,
✘ Is not supported by the Tābiʿīn,
✘ Nor affirmed by the Imāms of Ahl al-Sunnah.
Instead, it refers to:
◈ Purification from sins and immoralities
◈ Protection from shirk and satanic influence
◈ Cleansing from bad character and evil deeds
Qāḍī Abū Bakr ibn al-ʿArabī رحمه الله said:
“This purification refers to cleansing from sins, shirk, satanic influence, evil deeds, and bad morals.”
(Aḥkām al-Qurʾān, p. 429)
The notion that twelve imams are maʿṣūm (infallible) is a fabricated Rāfiḍī (Shia) belief.
There is no support for this concept in the Qur’an or authentic Sunnah.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ himself was not declared infallible in every worldly matter, though he was protected in delivering divine revelation (waḥy).
✘ To extend infallibility to others—without clear revelation—is a clear innovation.
The purification mentioned in Surah al-Aḥzāb (33:33) does not mean the Ahl al-Bayt are infallible.
Rather, it refers to their being cleansed of sins, immoral character, and corrupt beliefs.
The belief in “Infallible Imams” is baseless in the Qur'an and Sunnah and is a Rāfiḍī innovation that must be rejected.
وَصَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَىٰ نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ
ھٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Vol. 1 – Kitāb al-ʿAqāʾid, p. 174
❖ Question:
In Surah al-Aḥzāb (33:33), Allah ﷻ tells the Prophet ﷺ that He has purified his Ahl al-Bayt (household).
What is the actual meaning of this purification?
Some groups use this verse as evidence for the belief in ‘Infallible Imams’ (Aʾimmah Maʿṣūmīn).
Is this interpretation valid?
❖ Answer:
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
✦ Statement of ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنه:
Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنه said:
“This verse was revealed concerning the wives of the Prophet ﷺ.”
(Tafsīr Ibn Abī Ḥātim; Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr 3/491; alternate edition 5/169)
✔ The chain of narration is graded as ḥasan (good).
✔ Imām ʿIkrimah, a prominent student of Ibn ʿAbbās, was willing to engage in mubāhalah (invoking Allah's curse) to affirm this interpretation—that the verse refers to the wives of the Prophet ﷺ.
✦ Are Wives Included in "Ahl al-Bayt"?
Absolutely. The Qur’an itself proves that wives are part of a man’s household (Ahl al-Bayt).
In Sūrah Hūd, verses 71–73, the wife of Prophet Ibrāhīm عليه السلام is addressed as:"رَحْمَتُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ"
“The mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you, O people of the household!”
(Sūrah Hūd: 73)
✔ This directly affirms that wives fall under the term "Ahl al-Bayt" in Qur’anic language.
✦ What Does “Purification” Mean Here?
The word "tathīr" (purification) in this verse does not imply sinlessness or infallibility. This interpretation:
✘ Has no basis among the Companions,
✘ Is not supported by the Tābiʿīn,
✘ Nor affirmed by the Imāms of Ahl al-Sunnah.
Instead, it refers to:◈ Purification from sins and immoralities
◈ Protection from shirk and satanic influence
◈ Cleansing from bad character and evil deeds
Qāḍī Abū Bakr ibn al-ʿArabī رحمه الله said:“This purification refers to cleansing from sins, shirk, satanic influence, evil deeds, and bad morals.”
(Aḥkām al-Qurʾān, p. 429)
✦ The Fabricated Belief of ‘Infallible Imams’:
The notion that twelve imams are maʿṣūm (infallible) is a fabricated Rāfiḍī (Shia) belief.
There is no support for this concept in the Qur’an or authentic Sunnah.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ himself was not declared infallible in every worldly matter, though he was protected in delivering divine revelation (waḥy).
✘ To extend infallibility to others—without clear revelation—is a clear innovation.
❖ Conclusion:
The purification mentioned in Surah al-Aḥzāb (33:33) does not mean the Ahl al-Bayt are infallible. Rather, it refers to their being cleansed of sins, immoral character, and corrupt beliefs. The belief in “Infallible Imams” is baseless in the Qur'an and Sunnah and is a Rāfiḍī innovation that must be rejected.وَصَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَىٰ نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ
ھٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
