Hawari (Disciples) of Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) and Aimmah (peace be upon them)
In Islamic teachings, the concept of the Ḥawāriyyūn (Disciples) holds a deep and honorable meaning. The term appears in the Qur’an, history, and narrations, referring to the devoted followers of Prophets and Aimmah (peace be upon them), who remained loyal and steadfast through trials and tribulations.
Meaning of Hawari in Holy Quran and Narrations
Allah says in the Qur’an:
قالَ الْحَوارِیُّونَ نَحْنُ أَنْصارُ اللهِ
“(The Disciples said: We are the helpers of Allah)”
(Surah Aale Imran, 3:52)
These were the disciples of Prophet Isa (peace be upon him) who told him that they will help him in the cause of religion.
The term “Ḥawāriyyūn” (حَوَارِيُّونَ) is explained in Majma ul Bahrayn by Sheikh Fakhrudddin Turayhi
الحَوَارِیُّون: هم صفوة الأنبیاء الذین خلصوا وأخلصوا فی التصدیق بهم ونصرتهم
• The elite followers of Prophets who were purified and sincere in their belief and support.
وقیل سموا حَوَارِیِّینَ لأنهم کانوا قَصَّارين یُحَوِّرُونَ الثیاب أی یقصرونها وینقونها من الأوساخ ویبیضونها، من الحَوَرِ وهو البیاض الخالص
• It is said that they were called Ḥawāriyyūn because they purified — either literally, as bleachers cleansing garments from impurities (from the root ḥawar, meaning pure whiteness), or spiritually, by purifying the souls of people from the filth of sins, raising them from darkness to light.
وعن بعض الأعلام أنهم لم یکونوا قصارین علی الحقیقة، وإنما أطلق الاسم علیهم رمزا إلی أنهم کانوا ینقون نفوس الخلائق من الأوساخ الذمیمة والکدورات ویرقونها إلی عالم النور من عالم الظلمات
• And it has been narrated from some notable scholars that they were not truly bleachers, but rather the name was applied to them symbolically, indicating that they purified the souls of creation from vile filth and darkness, and elevated them to the world of light from the world of darkness.
[Ref: Majmaʿ ul-Baḥrayn, vol. 3, p. 279]
In a narration we find that the narrator asked Imam Ali Reza (peace be upon him):
لِمَ سُمِّيَ اَلْحَوَارِيُّونَ اَلْحَوَارِيِّينَ
Why were the Disciples (al-Ḥawāriyyūn) called Ḥawāriyyeen?
قَالَ أَمَّا عِنْدَ اَلنَّاسِ فَإِنَّهُمْ سُمُّوا حَوَارِيِّينَ لِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَصَّارِينَ يُخَلِّصُونَ اَلثِّيَابَ مِنَ اَلْوَسَخِ بِالْغَسْلِ وَ هُوَ اِسْمٌ مُشْتَقٌّ مِنَ اَلْخُبْزِ اَلْحُوَّارَى
Imam (peace be upon him) said: As for the people, they were called Ḥawāriyyūn because they were bleachers who purified clothes from filth by washing, and it is a name derived from al-khubz al-ḥawwārā (soft, pure bread).
وَ أَمَّا عِنْدَنَا فَسُمِّيَ اَلْحَوَارِيُّونَ حَوَارِيِّينَ لِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا مُخْلَصِينَ فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَ مُخْلِصِينَ لِغَيْرِهِمْ مِنْ أَوْسَاخِ اَلذُّنُوبِ بِالْوَعْظِ وَ اَلتَّذْكِيرِ
But according to us, they were called Ḥawāriyyūn because they were purified within themselves and purified others from the filth of sins through preaching and reminding.
[Ref: Bihar al-Anwar, vol.14, p.272 narrating from Ilal al-Sharae]
Thus, the essence of a Hawari is spiritual purity of oneself in belief, unwavering support to Prophets and Aimmah (peace be upon them) and preaching others.
Hawari of Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) and Aimmah (peace be upon them)
The concept of Hawari is not limited to Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him). The Aimmah (peace be upon them) from the family of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) also had their own Hawariyyūn — the loyal companions who upheld the divine mission with devotion.
قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو اَلْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ)
إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ اَلْقِيَامَةِ نَادَى مُنَادٍ أَيْنَ حَوَارِيُّ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ رَسُولِ اَللَّهِ اَلَّذِينَ لَمْ يَنْقُضُوا اَلْعَهْدَ وَ مَضَوْا عَلَيْهِ فَيَقُومُ سَلْمَانُ وَ اَلْمِقْدَادُ وَ أَبُو ذَرٍّ
Abu al-Hasan Musa ibn Ja’far (peace be upon them both) said: “When the Day of Resurrection comes, a caller will call out: Where are the disciples of Muhammad ibn Abdillah, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his holy progeny), those who did not violate the covenant and continued upon it? Then Salman, al-Miqdad, and Abu Dhar will stand up.”
ثُمَّ يُنَادِي مُنَادٍ أَيْنَ حَوَارِيُّ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ) وَصِيِّ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ رَسُولِ اَللَّهِ فَيَقُومُ عَمْرُو بْنُ اَلْحَمِقِ اَلْخُزَاعِيُّ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَ مِيثَمُ بْنُ يَحْيَى اَلتَّمَّارُ مَوْلَى بَنِي أَسَدٍ وَ أُوَيْسٌ اَلْقَرَنِيُّ
Then a caller will call out: Where are the disciples of Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), the successor of Muhammad ibn Abdillah, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his holy progeny)? Then Amr ibn al-Hamiq al-Khuza’i, Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, Maytham ibn Yahya the date-seller, the slave of Banu Asad, and Uways al-Qarani will stand up.
قَالَ ثُمَّ يُنَادِي اَلْمُنَادِي أَيْنَ حَوَارِيُّ اَلْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ بْنِ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ رَسُولِ اَللَّهِ فَيَقُومُ سُفْيَانُ بْنُ أَبِي لَيْلَى اَلْهَمْدَانِيُّ وَ حُذَيْفَةُ بْنُ أُسَيْدٍ اَلْغِفَارِيُّ
He said: Then the caller will call out: Where are the disciples of al-Hasan ibn Ali, son of Fatimah, daughter of Muhammad ibn Abdillah, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his holy progeny)? Then Sufyan ibn Abi Layla al-Hamdani and Hudhayfah ibn Usayd al-Ghifari will stand up.
قَالَ ثُمَّ يُنَادِي أَيْنَ حَوَارِيُّ اَلْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ (عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ) فَيَقُومُ كُلُّ مَنِ اُسْتُشْهِدَ مَعَهُ وَ لَمْ يَتَخَلَّفْ عَنْهُ
He said: Then the caller will call out: Where are the disciples of al-Husain ibn Ali (peace be upon them both)? Then all those who were martyred with him and did not abandon him will stand up.
قَالَ ثُمَّ يُنَادِي أَيْنَ حَوَارِيُّ عَلِيِّ بْنِ اَلْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ) فَيَقُومُ جُبَيْرُ بْنُ مُطْعِمٍ وَ يَحْيَى اِبْنُ أُمِّ اَلطُّوَيْلِ وَ أَبُو خَالِدٍ اَلْكَابُلِيُّ وَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ اَلْمُسَيَّبِ
Then the caller will call out: Where are the disciples of Ali ibn al-Husain (peace be upon them both)? Then Jubayr ibn Mut’am, Yahya ibn Umm al-Tuwail, Abu Khalid al-Kabuli, and Sa’id ibn al-Musayyib will stand up.
ثُمَّ يُنَادِي أَيْنَ حَوَارِيُّ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ وَ حَوَارِيُّ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ فَيَقُومُ عَبْدُ اَللَّهِ بْنُ شَرِيكٍ اَلْعَامِرِيُّ وَ زُرَارَةُ بْنُ أَعْيَنَ وَ بُرَيْدُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ اَلْعِجْلِيُّ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ وَ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ لَيْثُ بْنُ اَلْبَخْتَرِيِّ اَلْمُرَادِيُّ وَ عَبْدُ اَللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ وَ عَامِرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ بْنِ جُذَاعَةَ وَ حُجْرُ بْنُ زَائِدَةَ وَ حُمْرَانُ بْنُ أَعْيَنَ
Then it will be called out: Where are the disciples of Muhammad ibn Ali and the disciples of Ja’far ibn Muhammad? Then Abdullah ibn Sharik al-Amiri, Zurara ibn A’ayun, Burayd ibn Mu’awiyah al-Ijli, Muhammad ibn Muslim, Abu Basir Layth ibn al-Bakhtari al-Muradi, Abdullah ibn Abi Ya’fur, Amir ibn Abdillah ibn Juda’ah, Hujr ibn Zaydah, and Humran ibn A’yun will stand up.
ثُمَّ يُنَادَى سَائِرُ اَلشِّيعَةِ مَعَ سَائِرِ اَلْأَئِمَّةِ (عَلَيْهِمُ اَلسَّلاَمُ) يَوْمَ اَلْقِيَامَةِ فَهَؤُلاءِ أَوَّلُ اَلسَّابِقِينَ وَ أَوَّلُ اَلْمُقَرَّبِينَ وَ أَوَّلُ اَلْمُتَحَوِّرِينَ مِنَ اَلتَّابِعِينَ
Then the rest of the Shia will be called along with the rest of the Aimmah (peace be upon them) on the Day of Resurrection. These are the foremost of the foremost, the nearest ones, and the first to turn in devotion from among the followers.
[Ref: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 34, p. 275, hadith 1020]
It is important to note that Hawari of all Infallibles (peace be upon them) can be counted on fingers. However, the Hawari of Imam Husain (peace be upon him) are all those who were martyred with him and did not abandon him.
The Superiority of the Hawari of the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them)
عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: إِنَّ حَوَارِيَّ عِيسَى عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ كَانُوا شِيعَتَهُ وَ إِنَّ شِيعَتَنَا حَوَارِيُّونَا
Abu Abdillah, Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: The Disciples of Isa (peace be upon him) were his Shia (followers), and indeed, our Shia are our Disciples.
وَ مَا كَانَ حَوَارِيُّ عِيسَى بِأَطْوَعَ لَهُ مِنْ حَوَارِيِّنَا لَنَا
The Disciples of Isa were not more obedient to him than our Disciples are to us.
وَ إِنَّمَا قَالَ عِيسَى عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ لِلْحَوَارِيِّينَ: «مَنْ أَنْصٰارِي إِلَى اَللّٰهِ قٰالَ اَلْحَوٰارِيُّونَ نَحْنُ أَنْصٰارُ اَللّٰهِ»
Indeed, Isa (peace be upon him) said to his Disciples: “Who are my helpers towards Allah?” The Disciples said: “We are the helpers of Allah.”
فَلاَ وَ اَللَّهِ مَا نَصَرُوهُ مِنَ اَلْيَهُودِ وَ لاَ قَاتَلُوهُمْ دُونَهُ
But, by Allah, they did not support him against the Jews, nor did they fight them on his behalf.
وَ شِيعَتُنَا وَ اَللَّهِ لَمْ يَزَالُوا مُنْذُ قَبَضَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ رَسُولَهُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ يَنْصُرُونَّا وَ يُقَاتِلُونَ دُونَنَا وَ يُحْرَقُونَ وَ يُعَذَّبُونَ وَ يُشَرَّدُونَ فِي اَلْبُلْدَانِ جَزَاهُمُ اَللَّهُ عَنَّا خَيْراً
Whereas our Shia, by Allah, have never ceased — since Allah, Mighty and Majestic be He, took His Messenger (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) — to support us, to fight on our behalf, to be burned, to be tortured, and to be driven away across lands. May Allah reward them on our behalf with goodness.
وَ قَدْ قَالَ أَمِيرُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: وَ اَللَّهِ لَوْ ضَرَبْتُ خَيْشُومَ مُحِبِّينَا بِالسَّيْفِ مَا أَبْغَضُونَا وَ وَ اَللَّهِ لَوْ أَدْنَيْتُ إِلَى مُبْغِضِينَا وَ حَثَوْتُ لَهُمْ مِنَ اَلْمَالِ مَا أَحَبُّونَا
And Ameerul Momineen, Imam Ali (peace be upon him), said: By Allah, if I were to strike the noses of our lovers with the sword, they would not hate us; and by Allah, if I were to draw near to our haters and heap wealth upon them, they would never love us.
[Ref: Al-Kaafi, vol. 8, p. 268]
Thus, the Hawariyyūn of the Ahlul Bayt are seen as more steadfast, loyal, and devoted than even the Hawariyyūn of Isa (peace be upon him).
Conclusion
The title “Hawari” is not just an honorific — it symbolizes purity of the heart, loyalty to divine guidance, and willingness to sacrifice for truth.
Through these narrations, it becomes clear that the companions of the Prophets and the Aimmah (peace be upon them) who bore hardships without wavering are the true Hawariyyūn — and they continue to serve as timeless examples of faith, sincerity, and spiritual excellence.