Short answer
Ahl al-Bayt means the people of the Prophet's ﷺ household. In Sunni belief it includes his wives, his daughter Fatimah, Ali, al-Hasan and al-Husayn and their descendants, and in a wider sense the believing families of Banu Hashim, such as the families of Ali, Aqil, Ja'far and al-Abbas.
Sunni creed holds that love and respect for the Ahl al-Bayt is part of faith, that the Prophet's ﷺ wives are included (33:33 addresses them), and that the hadith of the cloak names Ali, Fatimah, al-Hasan and al-Husayn. Zakat may not be given to Banu Hashim.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Banu al-Muttalib are also barred from zakat, along with Banu Hashim.
Explanation
Surah al-Ahzab addresses the Prophet's ﷺ wives and then says: "Allah only intends to remove impurity from you, O people of the household, and to purify you thoroughly" (33:33). The context of the verse is his wives, so Sunni scholars include them.
Aisha reports that one morning the Prophet ﷺ came out wearing a patterned cloak of black hair. Al-Hasan came and he took him under it, then al-Husayn, then Fatimah, then Ali, and he recited the same verse. This is the hadith of the cloak in Sahih Muslim. So Sunni scholars include these four by his own words, alongside the wives by the Quran's context.
At Ghadir Khumm he said: "I remind you of Allah regarding my household," three times. Zayd ibn Arqam, who narrated it, was asked whether the wives were among his household. He said they were, but that his household here meant those barred from receiving zakat after him: the families of Ali, Aqil, Ja'far and al-Abbas. That is why, in Hanafi fiqh, zakat cannot be given to the Banu Hashim.
Sunni Muslims send blessings on the Prophet's ﷺ family in every prayer. Imam al-Tahawi lists love of the Ahl al-Bayt and of all the Companions as part of correct belief. See Who was Fatimah?, Who were Hasan and Husayn?, the family tree and Wives of the Prophet.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Ahzaab 33:33
وَقَرْنَ فِى بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ ٱلْجَٰهِلِيَّةِ ٱلْأُولَىٰ ۖ وَأَقِمْنَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتِينَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَطِعْنَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ ٱلرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ ٱلْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًۭا ﴿٣٣﴾
And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance. And establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah intends only to remove from you the impurity [of sin], O people of the [Prophet's] household, and to purify you with [extensive] purification.
The Quran's verse on the household.
Quran, Surah Al-Ahzaab 33:6
ٱلنَّبِىُّ أَوْلَىٰ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ وَأَزْوَٰجُهُۥٓ أُمَّهَٰتُهُمْ ۗ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَىٰ بِبَعْضٍۢ فِى كِتَٰبِ ٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُهَٰجِرِينَ إِلَّآ أَن تَفْعَلُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَوْلِيَآئِكُم مَّعْرُوفًۭا ۚ كَانَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِ مَسْطُورًۭا ﴿٦﴾
The Prophet is more worthy of the believers than themselves, and his wives are [in the position of] their mothers. And those of [blood] relationship are more entitled [to inheritance] in the decree of Allah than the [other] believers and the emigrants, except that you may do to your close associates a kindness [through bequest]. That was in the Book inscribed.
The wives' special rank.
Sahih Muslim 2424
Sahih... إنما يريد الله ليذهب عنكم الرجس أهل البيت ...
"Allah only intends to remove impurity from you, O people of the household."
The hadith of the cloak naming Ali, Fatimah, al-Hasan and al-Husayn.
Sahih Muslim 2408
Sahih... أذكركم الله في أهل بيتي ...
"I remind you of Allah regarding my household."
His instruction at Ghadir Khumm, with Zayd ibn Arqam's explanation.
Sahih Muslim 1072
Sahih... إن الصدقة لا تنبغي لآل محمد ...
"Charity is not fitting for the family of Muhammad."
The family is barred from zakat.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Aqida al-Tahawiyya, Section on the Companions and the Prophet's household. Love for the Ahl al-Bayt and the wives is part of Sunni belief.
- Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Commentary on Surah al-Ahzab 33:33. Shows the verse includes the wives and the people of the cloak.
- al-Hidaya (al-Marghinani), Kitab al-Zakat, chapter on those to whom zakat may be paid. Bars zakat to Banu Hashim.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.