▪︎Question: Why do Shia focus on the Ahl al-Bayt (as) ?
Answer: We can mention few points explaining the reason why Shia focus on the Ahlul-Bayt (as).
1. The Shia school of thought, was built on two important foundations, the holiness and the oppression of the Imams of the Ahlul-Bayt (as). And thus, for the sake of promoting righteousness and recruiting people to the school, there had to be a focus on the Ahl al-Bayt (as) in an attempt to connect the school to them. This is a political tactic that can be understandable as a practical method of promotion.
2. Shia went through severe oppression in history, and in certain times, they had no power to speak out regarding their beliefs. This made the followers of the school focus on the remembrance of the Ahlul-Bayt (as) more than any other topic, so they may reserve their religious identity and pass it to the next generation.
3. The oppression against the Imams of the Ahlul-Bayt (as), and cursing them on the pulpit in the past, made the Shia feel responsible for defending their leaders and spreading their merits. And thus, there was more focus on the Ahl al-Bayt (as).
4. When we study the historical line of Islamic exaggeration, we notice its existence in the Sunni school before the Shia school. Some Sunni scholars exaggerated in the status of our Master Prophet Muhammad (sawa), claiming that they are lying for him and not at him! Then they exaggerated in the status of the companions. When Shia witnessed the attempt of exaggerating regarding the companions, they responded with a campaign of exaggerations regarding the Imams (as). This may had led to spreading some lies and making up some unacceptable stories.
5. Although some wish to condemn the Shia for focusing on the Ahlul-Bayt (as), however, this is indeed a merit that they should be proud of. The mentioning of the Ahlul-Bayt (as) is a great sunnah, which pleases Allah (swt) and both Islamic schools would agree on the religious recommendation of respecting and remembering the Ahlul-Bayt (as). And for that, we should encourage others to focus more on the Ahlul-Bayt (as) for their own salvation.
Therefore, focusing on the Ahlul-Bayt (as), is not a matter to be condemned. However, we may mention some points that make it problematic.
1. Books of Hadith may be full of unreliable stories that have no authenticity. It is a major problem when someone attributes a narration to the Imams (as) without studying and proving its sources. This led to the appearance of some exaggerations in the status of the Imams (as), and in some cases, it caused some creeds to be adopted, although it lacks enough evidence.
2. The Ahlul-Bayt (as), and especially the holder of the blessed flag, Imam Ali (as), are the door of the divine city of our Master Prophet Muhammad (sawa). It is through them we learn the pure Islam and the authentic Tawhid. However, some get stuck on the door admiring and praising it, yet they don't step inside the city to benefit from the knowledge. Such idealisation of the door, and regarding it as an end rather than a means towards the divine, can be considered a major problem.