The Event of the Cloak
The classical account: at the time of the Mubahala challenge (3:61 — the call to Christians of Najran for mutual imprecation to determine truth), the Prophet was commanded to bring his closest family as his “sons, women, and selves” (anfusana). He brought Hasan and Husayn (as his “sons”), Fatima (as his “women”), and Ali (as his “self/nafs”) — establishing these four as his closest spiritual equivalents.
The specific Hadith al-Kisa’ narrative describes the Prophet gathering them under a Yemeni woolen cloak and praying: “O Allah, these are my Ahl al-Bayt — remove from them all impurity and purify them with complete purification.” The angel Jibril descended and asked permission to be the sixth under the cloak — marking the event’s celestial significance.
Theological Significance
The choice of five: The Prophet did not gather all his wives — he specifically chose the Fatimid household. In Ismaili and Shi’a theology, this was not incidental but intentional: the Prophet was publicly designating the five as those through whom the divine light (nur) and Imamate would continue.
Fatima’s place: Fatima al-Zahra is the only woman among the five. Her inclusion alongside Ali and her sons establishes her as the critical link in the chain: without Fatima, there are no Hasan and Husayn; without Hasan and Husayn, there is no Fatimid Imamate.
In Bohra practice: The Hadith al-Kisa’ is recited in Bohra households, particularly during religious gatherings. The five names are recited in the tawassul (intercession) portion of du’a. The relationship of walayah to the Da’i al-Mutlaq traces through this Fatimid chain.
The Sunni Position
Sunni scholarship accepts the authenticity of the hadith al-kisa’ (it is in Sahih Muslim) and the special status of Ahl al-Bayt — but does not limit the term to only these five. The Prophet’s wives are included in Ahl al-Bayt according to the majority Sunni position (the Quran addresses them in 33:32-34 immediately before the taharah verse).
See also: Prophet Muhammad, Ali Ibn Abi Talib, Fatima Al Zahra, Imam Husayn, Understanding Walayah, Bohra History, Al Ahzab