The Messenger of Allah - may Allah bestow peace and benedictions

upon him and his Progeny - said: "Verily, I am leaving behind two

 precious things (thaqalayn) among you: the Book of God and my

 kindred (`itrah), my household (Ahl al­Bayt), for indeed, the two will

 never separate until they come back to me by the Pond (of al­Kawthar on the Judgement's Day