The Historical Development of the Term of Ahl al-Bayt from the First to the Seventh Century AH

The term Ahl al-Bayt is one of the key meanings in understanding Shiite doctrines. This word has undergone conceptual development throughout history. The reason for this development is the influence of the cultural, social, and political functions of the term Ahl al-Bayt in historical events. In this article, the conceptual development of this term is examined in the first seven Hijri centuries and the four periods including prophecy, the first four caliphs, the Umayyad caliphate, and the Abbasid caliphate. It seems that in all periods, the term Ahl al-Bayt has been exchanged between literal, tribal, ideological, and religious meanings. Finally, in the seventh Hijri century, the true sense of Ahl al-Bayt was established in the meaning that the Prophet (S) explained.