special properties of the household of the prophet as superiors in the viewpoints of ebn al-hanbal and ebn al-taymiyyah

ebn al-hanbal in his books including al-mosnad and fazael al-sahabeh and his traditional contents in history and chronology has paid a dignifying, supporting and respectful look at the household of the prophet. although he has been amongst prime movers of traditionalism and salafism, he played a significant role in shattering anti-ali atmosphere of ottoman and that of marvan.  his role and effort in quadrature (being four) of the leader caliphs, terminating in imam ali’ succession, are noticeable. the viewpoints of ebn al-taymiyyah, the successor of ebn al-hanbal, in spite of numerous commonalities with him, are, sometimes different and sometimes in contrast. ebn al-taymiyyah viewpoints are also different from those of sunni’s learned authorities regarding the respect and rank of the household. his position concerning the household is also supporting and dignifying, in spite of that, occasionally he has been occupied with effortless discussions and making light of the household’s right while touched by some factors. shiites are of the opinion that the household of the prophet are perfect man and manifestation of divine attributes and qualities. in sunnis, however, no one is in favor of this opinion. even these two sunni thinkers, although believe in the household of the prophet as superior and of high rank in human and islamic societies, are against the shiite opinion.  in the current research, we light upon the viewpoints of these two hanbali thinkers dealing with the respect of the household.