A hadith has been narrated in Shi’ah books pertaining to the revelation of the Verse of Purification. It is known as the Tradition of the Cloak (hadith al-kisa’) and is recorded in al-Shaykh ‘Abdullah al-Bahrani’s book ‘Awalim al-’Ulum as well as others. This tradition has been narrated by Jabir Ibn Abdillah al-Ansari as follows:

From Fatimah al-Zahra, daughter of the Messenger of Allah (S) who said: “One day my father, the Messenger of Allah (S), came to me and said: ‘Peace be upon you O Fatimah!’ I replied: ‘And upon you be peace.’ Then he said: ‘I find myself feeling weak.’ I said to him: ‘I seek refuge for you with Allah from weakness.’ He (S) said: ‘O Fatimah, bring me the Yemeni cloak and cover me with it.’”1

Fatimah (‘a) said: “I brought the Yemeni cloak for him and covered him it. At this point I noticed that his face was shining like the full moon on a dark night.” Then she (‘a) said: “It was not long before my son al-Hasan (‘a) came. He said: ‘Peace by upon you O mother!’ I replied: ‘And upon you be peace O coolness of my eyes and apple of my heart!’ He said: ‘O mother, I smell a fragrance like that of my grandfather the Messenger of Allah (S).’ I said: ‘Yes my son, your grandfather is resting under the cloak.’ So, al-Hasan approached the cloak and said: ‘Peace be upon you O grandfather, O Prophet of Allah! Do you permit me to come under the cloak with you?’ He (S) replied: ‘And upon you be peace my son and the custodian of my [paradisical] pond, I give you permission [to do so].’ So, he entered under the cloak with him.”

Then Fatimah (‘a) said: “It was not long before my son al-Husayn (‘a) came. He said: ‘Peace by upon you O mother!’ I replied: ‘And upon you be peace O coolness of my eyes and apple of my heart!’ He said: ‘O mother, I smell a fragrance like that of my grandfather the Messenger of Allah (S).’ I said: ‘Yes my son, your grandfather and brother are resting under the cloak.’ So, al-Husayn approached the cloak and said: ‘Peace be upon you O grandfather, O he who has been chosen by Allah! Do you permit me to come under the cloak with you?’ He (S) replied: ‘And upon you be peace my son and the intercessor of my community, I give you permission [to do so].’ So, he entered under the cloak with them.”

Fatimah (‘a) continued: “Shortly after this, Abu al-Hasan Ali Ibn Abi Talib (‘a) came. He said: ‘Peace by upon you O daughter of the Messenger of Allah!’ I replied: ‘And upon you be peace O Aba al-Hasan, O Master of the Faithful!’ He said: ‘O Fatimah, I smell a fragrance like that of my brother and cousin, the Messenger of Allah (S).’ I said: ‘Yes, there he is with your two sons under the cloak.’ So, Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) approached the cloak and said: ‘Peace be upon you O Messenger of Allah! Do you permit me to come under the cloak with you?’ He (S) replied: ‘And upon you be peace my brother, my successor and my flag bearer, you have my permission [to do so].’ So, Ali (‘a) entered the cloak.

Then I myself approached the cloak and said: ‘Peace by upon you O father, O Prophet of Allah! Do you grant me permission to enter the cloak with you?’ He (S) replied: ‘And upon you be peace my daughter and part of my flesh; you have my permission [to do so].’ So, I entered under the cloak with them all.

Once we were all under the cloak, my father, the Messenger of Allah (S), took the edges of the cloak and motioned with his right hand to the sky saying: ‘O Allah, these are my Ahl al-Bayt, my nearest family and closest supporters, their flesh is my flesh, and their blood is my blood. That which hurts them hurts me and that which disturbs them disturbs me2. I am at war with those who are at war with them and at peace with those who are at peace with them. I am the enemy of their enemies and I love those who love them. They are from me, and I am from them. So, bestow Your salutations, blessings, mercy, forgiveness and [divine] pleasure upon me and upon them, and remove all impurity from them and purify them with a thorough purification.’

Allah, the Almighty, said: ‘O My Angels and the inhabitants of My heavens, know that Indeed, I have not created the raised sky, the stretched earth, the bright moon, the illuminating sun, the revolving planets, the flowing river or the sailing ship except for the love of these five people who are under the cloak.’ The trustworthy archangel Jibra’il asked: ‘O my Lord, who are [these individuals] under the cloak?’ Allah, the Almighty, said: ‘They are the household of the Prophet and the wellspring of Prophethood; they are Fatimah, her father, her husband and her sons.’

Jibra’il said: ‘O Lord, do You grant me permission to descend to the earth So, that I can join them and be the sixth one [under the cloak]?’ Allah, the Almighty, said: ‘I grant you permission.’ So, Jibra’il descended [to earth] and said: ‘Peace be upon you O Messenger of Allah! The Most Exalted Lord has sent His salutations and has conveyed His greetings to you, and says: “By My Honour and Glory, I have not created the raised sky, the stretched earth, the bright moon, the illuminating sun, the revolving planets, the flowing river or the sailing ship except for your sake;” and He has permitted me to enter under the cloak with you, So, do you permit me to enter O Messenger of Allah?’

The Prophet of Allah (S) said: ‘And upon you be peace O trusted custodian of divine revelation, I permit you [to enter].’ So, Jibra’il entered under the cloak with us. Then he said: ‘Allah has revealed unto you saying3: Indeed, Allah wishes to remove all impurity from you, the household [of Prophethood], and to purify you with a thorough purification.’ Ali Ibn Abi Talib said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, tell me about this gathering of ours under the cloak and its significance in the sight of Allah.’ The Prophet (S) replied: ‘By Him who appointed me a Prophet in truth and chose me to deliver the message of salvation [to mankind], whenever this event is recounted in any gathering of the people of this world wherein our followers and friends are present, the mercy of Allah descends upon them and angels surround them, seeking forgiveness for them until they disperse.’

Ali (‘a) said: ‘Then Indeed, by the Lord of the Ka’bah we are successful as are our followers!’

Then the Messenger of Allah (S) said again: ‘By Him who appointed me a Prophet in truth and chose me to deliver the message of salvation [to mankind], whenever this event is recounted in any gathering of this world wherein our followers and friends are present, if there is anyone amongst them who is grieved, Allah shall remove his grief, and if there is anyone who is distressed, Allah shall alleviate his distress, and if anyone has any needs, Allah will fulfil his needs. Ali (‘a) said: Then Indeed, by the Lord of the Ka’bah, we are successful and our Shi’ah are also successful and felicitous both in this world and the next!’”

The Shi’ah And Hadith Al-Kisa’

It has been the practice among the Shi’ah, throughout the ages, to recite hadith al-kisa’ in their gatherings, meetings, and assemblies, for blessings, fulfilment of needs and to receive divine mercy. Many amazing results have been witnessed by the recitation of this great hadith, from the sick being healed to the fulfilment of [legitimate] desires and the alleviation of hardships and distress.

The Tradition of the Cloak has been narrated in the following sources:

• Ghurar al-Akhbar by al-Daylami (the author of Irshad al-Qulub) who was an eight-century (A.H.) scholar.

• Al-Muntakhab by al-Turayhi (the author of Majma’ al-Bahrayn).

• Nahj al-Mahajjah fi Fadha’il al-A’immah by Shaykh Ali Naqi Ibn Ahmad al-Ahsa’i (a twelfth century scholar).

• ‘Awalim al-’Ulum by Shaykh ‘Abdullah Afandi al-Bahrani - He has narrated it using strong and complete chains from a group of great scholars such as ‘Allamah al-Hilli, Shaykh al-Tusi, Shaykh al-Mufid, Ibn Qulawayh, Ali Ibn Ibrahim (the author of Tafsir al-Qummi), Shaykh al-Kulayni and others.

At the same time, there are certain scholars who have written entire works about this hadith, its meaning, and the ways through which it has reached us. Whoever seeks further details should refer to the book Ihqaq al-Haqq by al-Qadhi Nurullah al-Tustari4.

Hadith Al-Kisa’ And The Poets

Throughout history, poets played an important role in presenting this noble tradition in the form of beautiful rhyming verse in Arabic, Farsi, and Urdu. Among these, the honourable Sayyid Muhammad al-Qazwini, son of Sayyid Mahdi al-Qazwini al-Najafi al-Hilli, has presented this noble hadith in the following poetic form:

روت لنا فاطمة خير النسا

حديث أهل الفضل أصحاب الكسا

تقول: إنّ سيّد الأنامِ

قد جاءني يوماً من الأيامِ

فقال لي: إنّي أرى في بدني

ضعفاً أراه اليوم قد أنحلني

قومي عَليَّ بالكسا اليماني

وفيه غطّيني بلا تواني

قالت: فجئته وقد لبّيته

مسرعةً وبالكسا غطيّته

وكنت أرنو وجهه كالبدرِ

في أربعٍ بعد ليالٍ عشرِ

فما مضى إلاَّ يسير من زمن

حتى أتى أبو محمد الحسن

فقال: يا أُمّاه إنّي أجدُ

رائحةً طيّبةً أعتقدُ

بأنّها رائحة النبيِّ

أخ الوصي المرتضى عليِّ

قلت: نعم هاهو ذا تحت الكسا

مدثَّرٌ به، مغطىً واكتسى

فجاء نحوه ابنه مسلِّما

مستأذناً قال له: ادخل مكرما

فما مضى إلاَّ القليل إلاّ

جاء الحسين السبط مستقلاّ

فقال يا أُمّ أشمّ عندكِ

رائحةً كأنّها المسك الذكي

وحقِّ مَن أولاك منه شرفا

أظنّها ريح النبيّ المصطفى

قلت: نعم تحت الكساء هذا

بجنبه أخوك فيه لاذا

فأقبل السبط له مستأذنا

مسلّماً قال له: ادخل معنا

وما مضى من ساعةٍ إلاَّ وقدْ

جاء أبوهما الغضنفرُ الأسدْ

أبو الأئمّة الهداة النُّجبا

المرتضى رابع أصحاب الكسا

فقال يا سيّدة النساءِ

ومَن بها زُوِّجتُ في السماءِ

إنّي أشمّ في حماك رائحه

كأنّها الورد النديّ فايحه

يحكي شذاها عرف سيّد البشرْ

وخير مَن لبَّى وطاف واعتمرْ

من الملائك الذين صدقوا

تحرسهم في الدهر ما تفرّقوا

كلاّ وليس فيهم مغموم

إلاَّ وعنه كُشفت همومُ

كلاَّ ولا طالب حاجة يرى

قضاءها عليه قد تعسّرا

إلاَّ قضى الله الكريم حاجتَه

وأنزل الرضوان فضلاً ساحتَه

قال عليٌ: نحن والأحبابُ

أشياعنا الذين قِدماً طابوا

فُزنا بما نلنا وربِّ الكعبه

فليشكرنَّ كلُ فَردٍ ربَّه

يا عجباً يستأذنُ الأمينُ

عليهمُ ويهجمُ الخئونُ

قال سُليمٌ: قلتُ: يا سلمانُ

هل دخلوا ولم يك استئذانُ

فقال: أي وعزَّة الجبّارِ

ليس على الزهراءِ من خمارِ

لكنّها لاذت وراء البابِ

رعايةً للستر والحجابِ

فمذ رأوها عَصَروها عصره

كادت - بروحي - أن تموت حسره

تصيح: يا فضةُ أسنديني

فقد وربّي قتلوا جنيني

فأسقطت بنت الهدى وا حزنا

جنينها ذاك المسمَّى مُحسنا

Fatimah, the best of women, has narrated to us

the narration about the lofty personages, the Ashab al-Kisa’

She says: Verily the master of humankind

came to me on one day of days

And said: I surely feel in my body

weakness that has today enfeebled me

Fetch me the Yemeni cloak

and cover me with it quickly

She said: I brought it answering his call

quickly, and covered him with the cloak

I was gazing at his face [which was] like the full moon

on the fourth after ten nights had passed5

Only a short while had passed

until Abu Muhammad al-Hasan came

He said: O mother I surely sense

the sweet fragrance that I believe

To be the fragrance of the Prophet

the brother of his trustee al-Murtadha, Ali

I said: Yes, this is him under the cloak

wrapped up in it, covered and shrouded

So, his [grand]son came close to him, offering salutation [and]

seeking permission [to enter]. He (S) said: Enter thou with honour

Not much time passed thereafter

when his grandson al-Husayn alone did come

He said: O mother, I smell next to you

a fragrance like that of redolent musk

And by the right of the One who has bestowed you with honour

I believe it is the fragrance of the Prophet al-Mustafa (S)

I said: Yes, [he is] under this cloak

and next to him is your brother, resting

His grandson approached him, seeking permission

and offering greetings. He (S) said to him: Enter with us

Much time had not passed when

came their father, the brave lion [of Islam]

The father of the Imams, the noble guides,

al-Murtadha, the fourth companion of the cloak

He said: O mistress of all women

and she to whom I was wed in the heavens

Indeed, I smell in your sanctuary a fragrance

like that of a fresh redolent rose-flower

Whose uniqueness tells of the presence of the master of mankind

and the greatest person to have responded [to the call],

circumambulated [the Ka’bah] and performed pilgrimage

I said: Yes, he has covered himself with the cloak

and your two sons have joined him under it

So, he approached while asking permission

from him (S) to enter. He (S) said: Enter quickly

She said: Then I went towards them offering my salutations,

He (S) said: Enter my beloved [daughter] with honour

And when the place had been illuminated by their presence,

all having come together under that one cloak

The Lord of all creation, the Mighty the High, announced

to all the angels in the highest heavens

I swear by My Power and Glory,

by My ascendancy above every high one

There is no elevation that I have raised as a firmament

and there is no land has been spread out on earth

Nor have I created the bright moon,

no, and neither the illuminating sun

Nor the seas in which waters flow,

no, and neither the ships that on the seas sail

But for the sake of those who are under the cloak,

Those whose affair is not doubtful

The trusted one said: I asked: ‘O Lord! And who

is under the cloak? By their right, tell us!’

He answered me: ‘They are the wellspring of Prophethood

and the place of descent for revelation and majesty’

He said: ‘They are Fatimah, her husband,

al-Mustafa and her sons, al-Hasanan’6

I said: ‘O Lord! Do you permit me

to go down to earth - to that house?

So that I can become the sixth under the cloak,

just as I was made a servant and protector?’

He said: ‘Yes.’ So, he came to them offering salutations,

seeking permission, and reciting to them [the verse of] “innama”7

Saying: ‘Indeed, Allah has distinguished you with it,

a miracle for the one who pays heed

The Exalted Lord sends you His salutations,

and bestows upon you the greatest honour

And He says, announcing and informing

His illustrious angels of what we have just said’

Ali said: I said [to the Prophet], ‘O my beloved

what share [of benefit] is there in our meeting thus?’

The Prophet (S) said: ‘By He who has chosen me

and distinguished me with revelation and selected me

News of this [event] is not recounted

in the gathering of Shi’ah, the best community

But that the Lord sends down mercy

and they are surrounded by a large host

Of angels who are true

protecting them until they disperse

Never is there any amongst them aggrieved

but that his grief is from him removed

Never amongst them does any have a need

which he finds difficult to attain

But that Allah, the Bountiful, fulfils his need

and sends down, out of His grace, His divine pleasure’

Ali said: ‘We and those who love us,

our Shi’ah, who have been made good from antiquity

Are successful by what we have gained, by the Lord of the Ka’bah’

So, each individual must thank his Lord!8

Amazing it is that the trusted archangel seeks permission

from them [to enter] whereas the treacherous one attacks them

Sulaym said: I asked, ‘O Salman,

did they enter when they were not granted permission?’

He said, ‘Yes, [I swear] by the Majesty of the all-Omnipotent Lord,

and at that time al-Zahra did not have a veil

But she hid herself behind the door

out of concern for her veil and covering

The moment they saw her, they squeezed her [behind it] tightly;

By my life – she almost died of sorrow

Crying out: ‘O Fidhdhah lift me up

for by my Lord, they have killed my baby!’

The daughter of the Guide miscarried, O what grief,

her child; he who had been named Muhsin’

• 1. ‘Awalim al-’Ulum, vol. 11, p. 931.
• 2. And in another version: ‘...and that which makes them sad makes me sad.’.
• 3. In another version: ‘Then he said to my father, “Indeed, Allah sends a revelation upon you saying:...”’.
• 4. Nurullah Ibn Sharaf al-Din al-Tustari (d. 1019 A.H.), Ihqaq al-Haqq wa Izhaq al-Batil, vol. 2, p. 558.
• 5. Meaning on the fourteenth night (Tr.).
• 6. Meaning al-Hasan and al-Husayn (‘a) (Tr.).
• 7. Referring to the Verse of Purification (Tr.).
• 8. Husayn Ali Al al-Shaykh Sulayman al-Biladi al-Bahrani, Riyadh al-Madh wa al-Ratha’, p. 11.