Is it permissible to say that Imams Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn are the sons of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, based on his saying, "This son of mine is a master," or do they fall under the generality of the noble verse, "Muhammad is not the father of any of your men"? And is the sonship mentioned in the Hadith real or metaphorical?

The noble verse, "Muhammad is not the father of any of your men" (Al-Ahzab: 40), speaks about negating the lineal fatherhood between the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and Zayd ibn Harithah after the prohibition of adoption. This was to clarify that his marriage to Zaynab after her divorce from Zayd was permissible.

The verse intends to negate the real fatherhood from which lineage rulings derive, not metaphorical fatherhood. Therefore, the verse does not contradict the fact that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was the father of Al-Qasim, Al-Tayyib, Al-Tahir, and Ibrahim, who died in infancy before reaching manhood. Nor does it contradict his saying to Al-Hasan, "Indeed, this son of mine is a master," because that was metaphorical fatherhood.

The verse came to abolish the ruling of adoption and to negate that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, had a grown son among men from whom lineage rulings would derive. For this reason, his sons who died in infancy were not included, nor were his grandsons Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn, because they were related to their father Ali ibn Abi Talib. Their being alive after the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and no one claiming prophethood for them, confirms that prophethood was sealed with him, peace and blessings be upon him.