Zaid. you have been able to acquire a great virtue that you saw Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) listened to his talk, fought by his side in (different) battles, offered prayer behind me. Zaid, you have in fact earned a great virtue. Zaid, narrate to us what you heard from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). He said: I have grown old and have almost spent my age and I have forgotten some of the things which I remembered in connection with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), so accept whatever I narrate to you, and which I do not narrate do not compel me to do that. He then said: One day Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) stood up to deliver sermon at a watering place known as Khumm situated between Mecca and Medina. He praised Allah, extolled Him and delivered the sermon and. exhorted (us) and said: Now to our purpose. O people, I am a human being. I am about to receive a messenger (the angel of death) from my Lord and I, in response to Allah's call, (would bid good-bye to you), but I am leaving among you two weighty things: the one being the Book of Allah in which there is right guidance and light, so hold fast to the Book of Allah and adhere to it. He exhorted (us) (to hold fast) to the Book of Allah and then said: The second are the members of my household I remind you (of your duties) to the members of my family. He (Husain) said to Zaid: Who are the members of his household? Aren't his wives the members of his family? Thereupon he said: His wives are the members of his family (but here) the members of his family are those for whom acceptance of Zakat is forbidden. And he said: Who are they? Thereupon he said: 'Ali and the offspring of 'Ali, 'Aqil and the offspring of 'Aqil and the offspring of Ja'far and the offspring of 'Abbas. Husain said: These are those for whom the acceptance of Zakat is forbidden. Zaid said: Yes.
The Book of the Merits of the Companions - Sahih Muslim 2408a
This narration from Zaid ibn Arqam concerns the Prophet's farewell sermon at Ghadir Khumm, where he emphasized two crucial matters before his departure: the Book of Allah and his Ahl al-Bayt (family).
Contextual Analysis
The location at Khumm between Mecca and Medina signifies the importance of this declaration, made during the Prophet's return from his Farewell Pilgrimage. The Prophet's acknowledgment of his mortality demonstrates his concern for the community's guidance after his passing.
The Two Weighty Things (Thaqalayn)
The Quran is described as containing "right guidance and light," establishing it as the primary source of divine guidance. The Ahl al-Bayt are presented as the second fundamental pillar for the Muslim community's guidance and protection from deviation.
Definition of Ahl al-Bayt
Zaid clarifies that while the Prophet's wives are generally considered part of his family, the specific Ahl al-Bayt referenced here are those prohibited from receiving Zakat: Ali and his descendants, Aqil and his descendants, Ja'far's descendants, and Abbas's descendants. This definition is based on the legal ruling that distinguishes them from other relatives.
Scholarly Significance
This hadith establishes the enduring authority of both the Quran and the Prophet's purified household. The conjunction between them indicates their inseparable connection in preserving authentic Islamic teachings. Classical scholars emphasize that adherence to both ensures protection from misguidance.
Zaid's Reliability
Zaid's humility in acknowledging potential memory lapses due to age demonstrates the Companions' scrupulous honesty in narration. His explicit conditions for acceptance reflect the rigorous standards of hadith transmission practiced by the early Muslim community.