Tafsir al-Mizan Volume 35

When we look at all the narrations which have been transmitted by both sects from the Prophet instructing people to refer to his Household (ahl al-bayt) to understand the Book of God and its teachings, these leave no room for doubt that loving them is a religious obligation. Making their love the Prophet’s reward for conveying God’s message was only to guarantee that people would refer to them because of the preeminent religious knowledge. From this, it should be clear that the command to love them as a reward for the Prophet conveying his message had no purpose behind it save ensuring that this message would endure and continue after the Prophet.