A Comprehensive Analysis of the Verse of Affection (Ayat al-Mawaddah) in Light of the Qur'an, Sunnah, and the Exegetical Perspectives of Both Islamic Sects

Document Type : Original Article

Author

AL Mostafa international university, mojtama ali fiq

Abstract

This paper presents a critical and comparative study of the exegetical and theological dimensions of verse 23 of Surah al-Shura, namely: "Say, I do not ask you for any reward except love for [my] near relatives (al-Qurbā)". This verse holds a central place in Islamic beliefs and the status of the Ahl al-Bayt (family of the Prophet ﷺ). Through a linguistic and grammatical analysis, as well as by examining the context of revelation, the surrounding verses, and the Qur’anic style, the paper establishes that “al-mawaddah fī al-qurbā” is not merely a moral exhortation, but a Qur’anic mandate in which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked the ummah for love of his near kin as the only compensation for his Prophethood.
The paper further elaborates on the verse in the light of pivotal prophetic traditions such as Hadith al-Kisāʾ, Hadith al-Thaqalayn, Hadith al-Safīnah, and Hadith al-Mubāhalah, all of which reinforce the notion that love for the Ahl al-Bayt is not merely recommended affection but a divinely mandated obligation. Furthermore, the verse’s negation of any material reward and exclusive emphasis on mawaddah points to the fact that love for the Ahl al-Bayt is integral to the very mission of Prophethood.

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