When this blessed verse [from Surah al-Shūrā, Juzˈ 25] was revealed:

قُلْ  لَّاۤ اَسْـَٔلُکُمْ عَلَیْہِ  اَجْرًا  اِلَّا الْمَوَدَّۃَ  فِی الْقُرْبٰی ؕ

Say, “I do not ask you for any recompense for ˹the message˺, except love for ˹our˺ kinship.”^[1]

The noble Companionsرَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُم  asked, "O Messenger of Allah  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! Who are those relatives of yours whose love is necessary upon us?"

The beloved Prophetصَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  replied: "ꜤAlī al-Murtaḍā, Fāṭimah al-Zahrāˈرَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا and their two sons [i.e., Imam Ḥasan and Imam Ḥusayn رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا]."^[2]

Dear Islamic brothers! It is understood that love for the Ahl al-Bayt        رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُم is obligatory. For every Muslim, the pure Ahl al-Bayt رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُم should be more beloved than their own life, wealth, honour, parents, and children. Love for these blessed personalities is love for the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, and love for the noble Prophetصَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  is a sign of perfect faith.

The noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated: لَا یُوْمِنُ عَبْدٌ حَتّٰی اَکُوْنَ اَحَبَّ اِلَیْہِ مِنْ نَفْسِہٖ, "No servant can be a perfect believer until I am more beloved to him than his own self," وَذَاتِیْ اَحَبَّ اِلَیْہِ مِنْ ذَاتِہِ "and my being is more beloved to him than his own self," وَتَکُوْنَ عِتْرتِیْ اَحَبَّ اِلَیْہِ مِنْ عِتْرَتِہِ "and my progeny are more beloved to him than his own offspring," وَاَہْلِیْ اَحَبَّ اِلَیْہِ مِنْ اَہْلِہِ " and my Ahl al-Bayt رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُم are more beloved to him than his own family."^[3]