Ahl al-Bayt:The Celestial Beings on the Earth
Chapter3
Dispensing Justice
Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha (a. s) was asked, “O son of Allah’s Messenger! Who is the support of you Ahl al-Bayt? ” The Imam said:
الرَّابِعُ مِنْ وُلْدی... یُطَهِّرُ اللَّهُ بِهِ الأرْضَ مِنْ کُلِّ جَوْرٍ... فَإذَا خَرَجَ أشْرَقَتِ الأرْضُ بِنُورِهِ، وَوُضِع مِیزَانُ الْعَدْلِ بَیْنَ النَّاسِ فَلأ یَظْلِمُ أحَدٌ أحَداً.
It is the fourth of my sons. Through him, Allah will remove injustice from the Earth. When he reappears, the eart
will be illuminated with his heavenly light. He will dispense justice among people so much so that no one will do any injustice to others. [1]
Quoting his father, Ali ibn Aqabah has reported:
إذَا قَامَ الْقَائِم، ُ حَکَمَ بِالْعَدْلِ وَارْتَفَعَ فِی أیَّامِهِ الْجُورْ... وَرَدَّ کُلَّ حَقٍّ إلَى أهْلِهِ.
When Al-Mahdi rises up, he will rule with justice; there will be no injustice in his time and he will restore justice to its owner. [2]
Quoting Allah’s Messenger, Imam Ali has expressly said:
آخِرُهُمْ إسْمُهُ عَلَى اسْمِی. یَخْرُجُ فَیَمْلأُ الأرْضَ عَدْلاً کَمَ مُلِئَتْ جَوْراً وَظُلْما
The last of them (i. e. the Imams) has my names. He will reappear and fill the earth with justice when it is replete with injustice. [3]
Quoting Allah’s Messenger, Imam Ali has reported:
... وَمُنَادٍ یُنَادِی: هَذا الْمَهْدِیُّ خَلِیفَةٌ اللَّهِ فَاتَّبِعُوهُ. یَمْلأُ الأرْضَ قِسْطاً وَعَدْلاً کَمَا مُلِئَتْ جَوراً وَ ظُلْماً. وَذَلِکَ عِنْدَمَا یَصِیرُ الدُّنْیَا هَرَجاً وَ مَرَجاً، وَ یَغَارُ بَعْضُهُم عَلَى بَعْضِ؛ فَلأ الْکَبِیرُ یَرْحَمُ الصَّغِیرَ وَلأ القَوِیُ یَرْحَمُ الَّعِیفَ، فَحِینَئِذٍ یَأذَنُ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِالْخُرُوجِ.
The herald will call: This is al-Mahdi, Allah’s caliph. Follow him. He will make the earth replete with justice when it is filled with injustice. Allah will permit him to reappear at a time when chaos will overwhelm the world - some will attack the others by night, the grown-ups will have no mercy on the small ones, nor will the powerful be kind to the weak. [4]
Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) has reported:
أوَّلُ مَا یُظْهِرُ الْقَائِمُ مِنَ الْعَدْلِ أنْ یُنَادِی مُنَادِیَهُ أنْ یُسَلِّمَ صَاحِبِ الْفَرِیضَةٍ الْحَجَرَ الأسْوَدَ وَ الطَّوَافَّ.
The first sign of al-Mahdi's justice is
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that a herald on his behalf will call: One who is performing minor Hajj should give his place to one on whom major Hajj is incumbent. [1]
There are a hundred and twenty narrations on how al-Mahdi will make the earth replete with justice.
Peace and Security
Imam Ali (a. s. ) has reported:
وَلَوْ قَدْ قَامَ قَائِمُنَا... لَذَهَبَتِ الشَّحْنَاءُ مِنْ قُلُوبِ الْعِبَادِ
When our support rises up, enmity will leave the people’s hearts. [2]
Imam al-Baqir (a. s) has reported:
فَیَبْعَثُ الثَّهلاثَمِائَةٍ وَالبِضْعَةَ رَجُلاً إلَى الآفَاقِ کُلِّهَا... حَتَّى تَخْرُجَ الْعَجُوزُ مِنْ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبَ فَلا یَنْهَاهَا أحَدٌ.
When three hundred and odd companions of the Imam rule across the world, a feeble old woman in the east will set off for the west in peace and security. [3]
Quoting his father, Ali ibn Aqabah has reported:
إذَا قَامَ الْقَائِمُ... أُمِّنَتْ بِهِ السُّبُلُ
Should the Rising Imam rise up, all roads will become safe. [4]
Public Welfare
Imam al-Baqir (a. s. ) has reported:
مَنْ أدْرَکَ قَائِمِ أهْلِ بِیتِی مِنْ ذِی عَاهَةٍ بَرَأ وَمِنْ ذِی عَاهَةٍ وَمِنْ ذِی عَاهَةٍ بَرَأ وَمِنْ ذِی ضَعَفٍ قَوِیَ.
Should those who have been hurt see the support of the Ahl al- Bayt, they will be relieved; and the feeble ones who see him will become powerful. [5]
Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) has reported:
إنْ قَامَ قَائِمُنَا... یَطْلُبُ الرَّجُلُ مِنْکُمْ مَنْ یَصِلُهُ بِمَالِهِ وَیَأخُذُ مِنْ زَکَاتِهِ فَلأ یُجَدُ أحَدٌ یَقبَلُ مِنْهُ ذَالِکَ. إسْتَغْنَى النَّاسُ بِمَا رَزَقَهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ.
Should our support (al-Mahdi) rise up, a man from among you will look for a needy person to help him and to take alms from what is incumbent to him; but he will not be able to find such a
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person to accept it from him; and people will become independent due to what Allah has given them out of His grace. [1]
Quoting the Holy Prophet, Imam Ali has reported:
یَاتِیهِ الرَّجُلُ وَالْمَالُ کُدْسٌ فَیَقُولُ؛ خُدْ.
Everyone will go to him with wealth accumulated beside him and will ask al-Mahdi, “Grant something to me. ” And he will say, “Take whatever you wish. ” [2]
Imam al-Baqir (a. s. ) has reported:
إذَا ظَهَرَ الْقَائِمُ... یُعْطِی النَّاسَ عَطَایَا مَرَّتَینِ فِی السَّنَةِ وَ یَرْزُقُهُمْ فِی الشَّهْرِ رِزْقُهُمْ فِی السَّنَةِ وَیَرِّزُقُهُمْ فِی الشَّهَرِ رِزْقَیْنِ وَیُسَوِّی بِیْنَ النَّاسِ حَتَى لأتَرى مُحْتَاجاً إلَى الزَّکَاةِ. وَ یَجِیءُ أصْحَابُ الزَّکَاةِ بِزَکَاتِهِم ْ إلَى الْمَحَاوِیجِ مِنْ شِیعَتِهِ فَلأ یَقْبَلُونَهَا. فَیُصِرُّونَهَا وَیَدُورُونَ فِی دُورِهِمْ فَیَخْرُجُونَ إلَیْهِمْ فَیَقُولُونَ: لأحَاجَةَ فِی دَرَاهِکُم!
When the Rising Imam reappears, he will give away to people twice a year and he will provide people with sustenance twice a month equally so that you will not find anyone in need of alms. The alms-payer will come to the needy followers of al-Mahdi but the needy will not accept his alms. The alms-money will be put in a purse to be taken to the houses of the Shiites, who will come out of their houses, addressing them: We are not in need of your money!
Imam al-Baqir (a. s. ) has further reported:
وَیَجْتَمِعُ إلَیْهِ أمْوَالُ أهْلُ الدُّنْیَا کُلِّهَا مِنْ بَطَنِ الأرضِ وَظَهْرِهَا، فَیُقَالُ لِلنَّاسِ: تَعَالَو إلَی مَا قَطَعْتُمْ فِیهِ الأرْحَامَ فِیهِ الدَّمَ الْحَرَامَ وَ رَکَبْتُمْ فِیهِ المَحَارِمِ، فَیُعْطِهِ أحَدٌ قَبْلَهُ.
All the people’s wealth, both inside and outside the earth will be accumulated for al-Mahdi and then they will be
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said: Come to what for which you became merciless and shed the blood unlawfully and for which committed sins. Here, Imam al-Mahdi will award to people such a grant that no one has ever awarded.
The Holy Prophet has said:
یَکُونُ فِی آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ خَلِفَةٌ یُعْطی الْمَالَ وَلا یَعِدُّه عَدّاً.
At the end of the world, there will be a caliph who will divide the wealth without counting them. [1]
Allah’s Messenger (S) has also said:
وَ یَمْلأُ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَ أُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ غَنِىً.
At the time of al-Mahdi, Allah will make the hearts of the community of Muhammad free from want. [2]
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[1]: Kamal al-Din: 371/2, Chapter: 35, H. 5
[2]: Al-Irshad by al-Mufid: 384/2
[3]: Bihar al-Anwar: 379/52, Chapter: 27, H. 186
[4]: Bihar al-Anwar: 380/52, H. 182
[1]: Al-Kafi: 427/4, H. 1
[2]: Al-Khisal: 626/2, H. 10
[3]: Bihar al-Anwar: 341/5, H. 91
[4]: Al-Irshad by al-Mufid: 384/2
[5]: Bihar al-Anwar: 335/52, H. 68
[1]: Al-Irshad by al-Mufid: 386/2
[2]: Bihar al-Anwar: 379/52, H. 186
[1]: Aqd al-Durar fi Akhbar al-Muntadhar: 161
[2]: Ibid
Removing Harms From Shiites
Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha (a. s. ) has said:
(ألْمَهْدِیُّ) یَکُونُ رَحْمَةً لِلمؤْمِنِینَ وَعَذَاباً عَلَى الْکَافِفرِینَ.
Al-Mahdi is a source of mercy for believers and punishment for the unbelievers. [3]
Imam Ali ibn Husayn Zayn al-Abidin (a. s. ) has said:
إذَا قَامَ قَائِمُنَا أذْهَبَ اللَّهُ عَنْ شِیعَتِنَا الْعَهَةَ.
When the Rising Imam rises up, Allah will remove all harms from the Shiites. [4]
Imam al-Baqir (a. s. ) has said:
(نْ قَامَ قَائِمُونَا) یُوسَعُ اللَّهُ عَلَى شِیعَتِنَا، وَلَو لأ مَا یُدْرِکُهُمْ مِنَ السَعَادَةِ لَبَغَوْا.
At the time of al-Mahdi, Allah will improve the situation of the Shiites, for if they are not happy, they will rebel. [5]
Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn (a. s. ) has said:
إذَا قَامَ الْقَائِمُ أذْهَبَ اللَّهُ عَنْ کُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ الْعَاهَةَ وَ رَدَّ إلَیهِ قُوَّتَهُ.
When our support rises up, he will remove harms from believers and restore them their power. [6]
Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) has said:
إذَا قَامَ الْقَائِمُ جَاءَتِ الْمُزَامَلْةٌ؛ وَ یَأتِی الرَّجُلُ إلَى کِیسِ أخِیهِ فَیَأخُذُ حَاجَتَهُ لأیَمْنَعُهُ.
When our support rises up, the era of concord will come about and every
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person takes what he needs from the purse of his brother without being prevented. [1]
Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) has also said:
لَمَّا أسْرِی بِی أوْحَى إلَیِ رَبِّی... وَ بِهِ (الْمَهْدِیِّ) أنْتَقِمُ مِنْ أعْدَائِ وَهُوَ رَاحَةٌ لأِوْلِیَائ، وَهُوَ الَّذِی یَشْفِی قُلُوبَ شِیعَتِک مِنَ الظَّالِمِینَ وَالْجَاحِدِینَ وَالکَافِرِینَ.
During the Night of Ascension, Allah said to Holy Prophet (S) about al-Mahdi: I will take revenge from enemies through him. He is the source of tranquility for My friends and it is he who will calm the Shiites from experiencing of revenge of oppressors and unbelievers. [2]
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[3]: Kamal al-Din: 376/2, H. 7
[4]: Bihar al-Anwar: 317/52, Chapter: 22, H. 12
[5]: Bihar al-Anwar: 341/52, Chapter: 27, H. 91
[6]: Bihar al-Anwar: 364/52, Chapter: 27, H. 138
[1]: Al-Ikhtisas: 26
[2]: Kamal al-Din: 251/1, H. 2
Promoting Intellect, knowledge and Morality
Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) has said:
إذَا قَامَ قَائِمُنَ وَضَعَ یَدَهُ عَلَی رُؤوسِ الْعِبَادِ، فَجَمَعَ بِهِ عُقُولَهُمْ، وَأکْمَلَ بِهِ أخْلأقَهُمْ.
When our support rises up, he puts his hand on the heads of the servants whereby he promotes their wisdom and morality. [3]
Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) has said:
إذَا قَائِمَنَا إذَا قَامَ مَدَّ اللَّهُ لِشِیعَتِنَا فِی أسْمَاعِهِمْ وَأبْصَارِهِمْ حَتَّی لأیَکُونَ بَیْنَهُمْ وَبَینَ الْقَائِمِ بَرِیدٌ؛ یُکَلِّمُهُمْ فَیَسْمَعُونَ وَ یَنْظُرُونَ إلَیْهِ.
When our support rises up, Allah will strengthen the Shiites’ vision and hearing where by there is no need for a link between them and the standing Imam. He will speak to them while they listen to and look at him. [4]
Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) has also said:
ألْعِلْمُ سَبْعَةَ وَ عِشْرُونَ حَرْفاً. فَجَمِیعُ مَا جأءَتْ بِهِ الرُّسُلُ حَرْفَانِ. فَلَمْ یَعْرِفِرالنَّاسُ حَتَى الْیَوْمَ غَیْرَ الْحَرْفَینِ فَإذَارقَامَ قَائِمُنَا أخْرَجَ الْخَمَسَةَ وَالْعِشْرِینَ حَرْفاً فَبَثَهَا فِی النَّاسِ وَ ضَمَّ إلَیهَا الْحَرْفَیْنِ حَتَّى یَبُثَّهَا سَبْعَةَ وَ عِشْرِینَ حَرْفاً.
Knowledge has twenty-seven parts. What the prophets have brought are two parts and people do not know more than these two parts
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to date. When our support rises up, he will bring with him the other twenty-five parts and spread the m among people so that they will become twenty-seven parts all together. [1]
Final Rule
Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) has said:
إنَّ دَوْلَتَنَا آخِرُ الدَّولِ. وَلَمْ یَبْقَ أهْلُ بَیتٍ لَهُم دَوْلَةٌ لأ مَلَکوا إلأ مَلَکُوا قَبْلَنَا، لِئَلأ یَقُولُوا إذَا رَأوا وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِین سِیرَتَنَا: إذَا مَلَکْنَا سِرْنَالابِمِثْلِ سِیرَةِ هَئُلأءِ! وَهُوَا قَوْلُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى:
Our rule is the last one. No dynasty will come after our rule lest they will say if the rule were ours we would act like them. This is the meaning of Allah’s saying:
The good end is for those who guard against evil. [2]
How to Salute Imam al-Mahdi?
Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) has said:
Should you survive as to see him, when you look at him, say:
أسَّلأمُ عَلَیْکُمْ أهْلَ بَیْتِ الرَّحْمَةِ وَنُّبُوَّةِ وَمَعْدِنَ الْعِلْمِ وَمَوضِعِ الِّسَالَةِ السَّلأمُ عَلَیکَ یَا بَقِّیَّةَ اللَّهِ فِی أرْضِهِ.
Peace be upon you, O people of the House of the Prophet and of Mercy, source of knowledge, and seat of Divine Mission. Peace be upon you, O Allah’s Reminder on the earth.
Ahl Al-Bayt And Altruism
point
Self-sacrifice and preferring others interests above their own is an inherent feature of Ahl al-Bayt (a. s. ). It can be seen in the life of each of them so much so that they helped both those who were and those who were not entitled to it. The Holy Prophet has said:
إنَّا لَنُعطِی َیْرَ الْمُسْتَحِقِّ حَذَراً مِنْ رَدٍرالْمُسْتَحِقِّ.
We give away to all out of fear of rejecting a needy person. [3]
Abu Tamzah Thamali says: I heard Imam Zayn
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al-Abidin (a. s. ) saying to his slave-girl, “Feed any needy person who passes by my house. ” At this time, I said to the Imam, “But everyone who wants something and stretches out his hand is not needy. ” The Imam said,
أخَافُ أنْ یَکُونَ بَعْضُ مَنْ یَسْألُنَا مُحِقاً فَلا نُطْعِمُهُ، وَنَرُدُّهُ، فَیَنْزِلُ بِنَا أهْلَ البَیْتِ مَا نَزَلَ بِیَعْقُوبَ.
“I fear to reject the one who asks for help as a needy and we fail to feed him. Then it may happen to us Ahl al-Bayt, what had happened to Prophet Jacob. ” [1]
Ahl al-Bayt’s self-sacrifice was such that they sometimes gave away whatever they had in the way of Allah.
Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) has said,
إنَّ الْحَسَنَ بْنَ عَلِیٍّ قَاسَمَ رَبَّهُ ثلأثَ مَرَّاتٍ حَتَّى نَعْلاً وَنَعْلاً وَثَوْباً وَ ثَوباً وَدِینَاراً وَدِینَاراً.
“Hasan ibn Ali gave away his shoes, garments and dinars in the way of Allah. ” [2]
An Extraordinary Example of Altruism
Hasan Basri says: One day, Imam Husayn (a. s. ) approached his orchard to find his slave sitting and eating some bread. He sat under a palm-tree closely observing him. The slave threw a piece of bread for a dog nearby for every piece of bread, which he ate himself. At the end, he thanked Allah saying, “O Allah, bless me and my master as You blessed his parents. You are the best of the Merciful. ”
At this time, Imam Husayn rose up and called him by name. The slave who was frightened rose up and said, “My master! O master of all believers! I did not notice you. Forgive me. ” The Imam said, “You should
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forgive me, for I entered the orchard without permission! ” The slave said, “Are you saying this because of your excellence, magnanimity and generosity? ” The Imam said, “I saw you feeding the dog while you were eating yourself. Why? ” The slave said, “My master, while I was eating, the dog was looking at me and I was ashamed of its look. Besides, it is the dog, which guards your orchard and I am your slave. We both live on what you give us. ”
Imam Husayn started crying and said, “You are free in the way of Allah and I give away one thousand dinars to you! ” The slave said, “Even if you set me free, I would like to work in your orchard. ” The Imam said, “One must practice what one preaches. I entered the orchard without your permission and I am now giving it away to you with whatever in it. ” The slave said, “If you have given away this orchard to me, I too will give it to your followers. ” [1]
Generosity under the hardest conditions
It is noteworthy that Ahl al-Bayt did not cease to give away even under the hardest conditions. In this connection, they have related: When a needy person heard that a community had gathered in the desert of Ninawa on the Day of Ashura, he set off for that place. Seeing him, Imam Husayn asked about his situation. The man said, “I am a needy man and I have heard that a large group of people have gathered here. I said
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to my self perhaps they might give me something. ” The Imam said, “Stand here and do not go away. ” The Imam went to his camp and wrapped in a cloth what the man needed and gave it to him. The man became happy and went away!
Forgiving The Guilty
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[3]: Bihar al-Anwar: 336/52, chapter: 27, H. 71
[4]: Bihar al-Anwar: 336/52, Chapter: 27, H. 72
[1]: Bihar al-Anwar: 336/52, Chapter: 27, H. 73
[2]: Al-Irshad by al-Mufid: 384/2
[3]: Uddat al-Dai: 101
[1]: Ilal al-Sharau: 45/1, Chapter: 41, H. 1
[2]: Tahdhib al-Ahkam: 11/5, H. 29
[1]: Maqtal al-Husayn: 153/1
Ubaydullah ibn al-Hurr al-Jufi was a moody person who was for justice at one moment and for injustice at another. Sometimes, he was neutral too! Although he was from Iraq, he rushed to help Muawiyah in the Battle of Siffin. He was at the service of Ahl al-Bayt’s archenemy that is Muawiyah throughout the battle and fought against Imam Ali (a. s. ). Thinking that he could not live in Iraq any longer, Ubaydullah went to Syria along with Muawiyah after the end of the battle.
There was a rumor in Iraq that Ubaydullah ibn al-Turr had been killed in the battle. Hence, his wife married Ikrimah ibn al-Khabis. Hearing this news, Ubaydullah who was very fond of his wife decided to return to the city of Kufah to make his wife divorce her new husband. Muawiyah warned him against going to Kufah, saying, “If you go there, you will be killed by Ali’s sword! ” Yet, he answered, “I have no fear of going there, for I am going towards justice. Ali’s morality is different from yours. He is heavenly and will dispense justice. ”
So, Ubaydullah came to Kufah. First, he went to see the new husband of his wife but the man refused to divorce her. Ubaydullah, who
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could not resist him, went to Kufah Mosque to see Ali (a. s. ). He found a large group of people surrounding Imam Ali and lodged his complaint. Imam Ali (a. s. ) said, “Aren't you the same person who helped Muawiyah against me in the Battle of Siffin and drew sword against believers? ” He answered “I have not come here to be questioned rather I have come here to find a solution. Return my wife to me. ”
Imam Ali ordered to his servant to bring the husband of the woman. He called on him to divorce his wife so that she will marry her first husband. The man said, “My wife is pregnant. ” Imam Ali ordered a house to be hired and the woman was transferred there. A nurse too was hired at the cost of Amir al-Muminin to take care of her until the time of delivery so that she will later marry her first husband after observing all the legal procedures. [1]
Forgiving offences and ignoring unkindness of others was an act of manliness for the Ahl al-Bayt. Allah’s Messenger has said:
مُرُوءَتُنَا أهلَ الْبَیتِ الْعَفْوُ عَمَّنْ ظَلَمَنَا وَإعْطَاءُ مَنْ حَرَمَنَا.
The manliness of us, Ahl al-Bayt, means to forgive one who has done injustice to us and to give to one who has withheld from us.
Ahl al-Bayt did not utter this truth just verbally. They always practiced it. Imam al-Baqir (a. s. ) has reported: A Jew woman poisoned a piece of meat and brought it to the Holy Prophet (S) so as to kill him.
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When her plot was divulged, the Holy Prophet interrogated her, “What made you to do this? ” She said, “I said to myself that this meat will not harm him if he is Allah’s Messenger and will rid people of his rule if he is a king. ” Hearing this, the Holy Prophet pardoned her. [1]
Ibn Abil-Hadid, in Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah, describing Imam Ali, has said: He was the most tolerant in forgiving the offenders and the most forgiving towards the guilty ones. The truth of this claim is proved in the Battle of the Camel when he defeated Marwan ibn Hakam, the most hostile enemy, but forgave him. [2]
Forgive Me for the Sake of Hasan and Husayn
Allah’s Messenger ordered an offender to be arrested to punish him. The fugitive offender tried to hide himself in one house then another to escape punishment. He kept himself from being seen by the people for sometime but it was hard to continue with this act. One day, he was looking through a small window when he saw Hasan and Husayn (a. s. ) passing by. He opened the door, came out, put them on his shoulder and set out for the Prophet’s Mosque. When he entered the mosque, the Holy Prophet was on the pulpit. So he loudly said, “O Allah’s Messenger! I ask you by these two honorable persons to forgive me. ” The Holy Prophet forgave him with kindness and tolerance. [3]
Forgiving the corrupt on the Earth and Anti-Islam Fighters
A person who was in the presence of Imam Ali in Basrah asked him, “What is the punishment of a person who enters battle against
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Allah? ” The Imam said, “Banishment, amputation of hand or foot, or execution, based on the Quranic order. ” He asked, “If this person is Harithah ibn Zayd, what will be the order? ” The Imam said, “He is subject to the same order. ” He said, “O Amir al-Muminin! Harithah had come to ask you for forgiveness! ” The Imam said, “Let him come here. ” When Harithah entered, he fell to Imam Ali’s feet, but the Imam took his arms and said, “Rise up! Allah has forgiven you. ” [1]
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[1]: Al-Kamil: 287/4
[1]: Tuhaf al-Uqul: 38
[2]: Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah: 22/1
[3]: Bihar al-Anwar: 318/43, Chapter: 13, H. 2
[1]: Fiqh al-Quran: 368/1
Ahl Al-Bayt And Humbleness
Humbleness is an outstanding feature in the lives of Ahl al-Bayt.
Ibn Masud reports: A person came to the presence of Allah’s Messenger and when he started to speak, he was trembling. The Holy Prophet (S) said,
هَوِّنْ عَلَیْکَ! فَلَسْتُ بِمَلِکٍ.
“Calm down; I am not a king. ” [2]
Another person reports: A group of people and I went to the presence of the Holy Prophet (S) and said, “You are our master. ” The Holy Prophet said,
السَّیِّدُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَکَ وَ تَعَالى.
“Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, is the Master. ” [3]
Abu-Basir reports: Imam al-Sadiq went to the public bath whose owner said, “Let me evacuate the public bath for you! ” Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) said,
لأ حَاجَةَ لِی فِی ذَالِکَ. ألْمُؤمِنُ أخَفُّ مِنْ ذَالِکَ.
“No, it is not necessary. The pious believer does not bother for those things. ” [4]
It is also reported that Imam al-Ridha (a. s. ) went to a public bath. A person who had not recognized him said, “O gentleman! Rub me with this flannel! ” Imam al-Ridha (a. s. ) did so. At this time people who were in the
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bath introduced Imam al-Ridha to him, the man became ashamed; he made an apology and an attempted to draw himself aside. However the Imam calmed him with his words and kept on rubbing him with the flannel! [1]
Humility is like a seed, which when sown in the earth will bear abundant fruits. With their humility, the Ahl al-Bayt made the realm of obedience come to fuition. Some of these fruits are knowledge, awareness and vision. They have been chosen as leaders of guidance until the Judgment Day because of their in-depth insight into the truth of universe. Hence, all should be aware that to take lead ahead of them will cause perdition and to ignore them will cause bewilderment. The Holy Prophet has said:
فَلأ تَسْبِقُوهُمْ فَتَهْلِکُو، وَلأ تُعَلَّمُوهُمْ فَهُمْ أعْلَمُ مِنْکُمْ.
Do not take lead ahead of my Ahl al-Bayt, for you will come to perdition nor do your teach them, for they are more knowledgeable than you. [2]
He has also said:
فإنَّهُمْ أحْلَمُکُمْ صِغَاراً وَ أعْلَمَکُمْ کِبَاراً. لأیُدْخِلُونَکُمْ فِی ضَلألَةٍ وَلأ یُخْرِجُونَکُمْ مِنْ هُدىً.
Be aware that Ahl al-Bayt are the wisest in childhood and the most knowledgeable in their maturity. They will never misguide you nor will they take you out of true guidance. [3]
Imam al-Baqir (a. s. ) said to Salamah ibn Kuhayl and Hakam ibn Utaybah:
شَرِّقَا وَ غَرِّبَا، فَلأ تَجِدَانِ عِلْماً صَحِیحاً إلأ شَیْئاً خَرَجَ مِنْ عِنْدِنَا أهْلَ الْبَیْتِ.
You will never attain sound knowledge neither in the east nor in the west but with us, Ahl al-Bayt. [4]
The Imam has also said:
نَحُنْ خزَّانُ عِلْمِ
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اللَّهِ.
We, the Ahl al-Bayt, are treasures of Divine knowledge. [1]
Imam Husayn has said:
مَا نَدْرِی مَا یَنْقِمُ النَّاسُ مِنَّا! إنَّا لَبَیْتُ الرَّحْمَةِ وَ شَجَرَةُ النُّبُوَّةِ وَ مَعْدِنُ الْعِلْمِ.
We do not know why people harbor enmity against us while we are from the House of mercy, the tree of Prophethood and the source of knowledge. [2]
Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) reports: When it was noontime, Ali ibn Husayn performed his prayer and then was engaged in invocations and greeted the Holy Prophet (S) and Ahl al-Bayt (a. s. ) as follows:
أللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ: شَجَرَةِ النُبُوَّةِ وَ مَوْضِعِ الرِّسَالَةِ وَمُخْتَلَفِ الْمَلأئِکَةِ وَ مَعْدِنِ الْعِلْمِ وَأهْلِ بَیْتِ الْوَحْیِ.
O Allah; Send greetings on Muhammad and on the descendents of Muhammad, the evergreen tree of Prophethood, the destination of the Divine messages, the academy where angels came to learn and know, the depository of wisdom, and the household of Divine Revelation.
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[2]: Makarim al-Akhlaq: 16
[3]: Sunan Abi-Dawud, 254/4
[4]: Al-Kafi: 503/6, H. 37
[1]: Al-Manaqib: 362/4
[2]: Al-Kafi: 294/1, H. 3
[3]: Bihar al-Anwar 23: 144
[4]: Al-Kafi: 399/1, H. 3
[1]: Al-Kafi: 192/1, H. 3
[2]: Nuzhat al-Nadhir: 85
Culture Of Ahl Al-Bayt: Excerpts
Ahl al-Bayt’s culture is the most perfect moral, ideological, socio- political, educational and scientific culture, a large section of which has been compiled by the believing Shiite narrators. Such books as al-Kafi, Man-La-Yahdhuruhu-l-Faqih, Tahdhib al-Ahkam, al- Istibsar, Basair al- Darajat, al-Mahasin by al-Barqi, al-Amali by Shaykh al-Mufid, al-Amali by Shaykh al-Tusi, al-Khisal, Jami al- Akhbar, Ilal al-Sharai, al-Wafi, al-Shafi, Nur al-Thaqalayn, Bihar al-Anwar, Wasail al-Shiah, Mustadrak al-Wasail, al-Awalim, al- Mahajjah al-Baydha…. etc. contain narratives on the culture of Ahl al-Bayt, the practice of which will ensure good life in this world and the hereafter, as well as Allahss pleasure and the eternal Paradise. The Holy Prophet has said:
مَا
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خُلِقْتُمَ لِلْفَنَاءِ، بَلْ خُلِقْتُمْ لِلْبَقَاءِ. وَإنَّمَا تُنْقَلُونَ مِنْ دَارِ.
You were not born for extinction, rather for survival. With death, you are only displaced; that is you are transferred from one house to another house. [1]
He has also said:
إنَّ أخْوَفَ مَا أخَافُ عَلَى أمَّتِی الْهَوَى وَطُولُ الأمَلِ.
I fear two things for my ummah: carnal and far-away desires. [2]
He has also said:
عِزُّ الْمُؤْمِنِ اسْتِغْنَاؤُهُ عَنِ النَّاسِ، وَفِی الْقِنَاعَةِ الْحُرِّیَةٌ وَالْعِزُّ.
A believer’s honor lies in his independence from people and his freedom and honor lie in contentment. [3]
Imam Ali (a. s. ) has said:
الْمَرْءُ یُوزَنُ بِقَولِهِ وَیُقَوَّمُ بِفِعْلِهِ؛فَقُلْ مَا تَرْجَحُ زِنَتُهُ، وَافْعَلْ مَا تَجِلُّ قِیمَتُهُ.
Man is evaluated by his words and assessed by his deeds. Therefore, say what makes your words weighty and act in such away that makes your behavior valuable. [4]
He has also said:
تَحَلَّوا بالأخْذِ بالْفَضْلِ وَالْکَفِّ عَنِ الْبَغْیِ وَالعَمَلِ بالْحَقِّ وَالإنْصَافِ مِنَ النَّفْسِ.
Adorn yourself with moral virtues and avoid tyranny. Behave justly and be fair to all.
He further says:
یَنْبَغِی لِلْعَاقِلِ أنْ یَحْتَرِسَ مِنْ سُکْرِ المَالِ وَسُکْرِ الْقُدْرَةِ وَسُکْرِ الْعِلْمِ وَسُکْرِ المَدْحِ وَسُکْرِ الشَّبَابِ؛ فَإنَّ لِکُلِّ ذَلِکَ رِیَاحاً خَبِیثَةَ تَسْلُبُ الْعَقْلَ وَ تَسْتَخِفُّ الوَقَارَ.
Man should preserve himself from being intoxicated with wealth, power, knowledge, praise, flattery and youth, for each of these intoxications are poisoned winds which obliterates wisdom and reduces a man’s dignity. [5]
Lady Fatimah (a. s) has said:
إنِّی أحِبُّ مِنْ دُنْیَاکُمْ ثَلأثاً: الإنْفَاقَ فِی سَبِیلِ اللَّهِ، وَتِلأوَةَ کِتَابِ اللَّهِ، وَالنَّظَرَ إلَى وَجْهِ أبِی رَسُولِ اللَّهِ.
I love three things of your world: giving away in the way of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah, and looking at the
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face of my father - Allah’s Messenger. [1]
Imam Hasan (a. s. ) was asked the meaning of magnanimity; he replied:
شُحُّ الرَّجُلِ عَلَى دِینِهِ، وَ إصْلأحُهُ، وَقِیَامُهُ بالْحُقُوقِ.
Zeal for faith, rectification of wealth, observation of Allah's and people's rights, as well as manliness and fairness. [2]
Addressing Imam Husayn (a. s. ) , a man said, “I am a sinner. I cannot refrain from committing sin. Give me an advice. ” The Imam said:
إفْعَلْ خَمْسَة أشْیَاءَ وَأذْنِبْ مَا شِءتَ. فأوَّلُ ذَلِکَ: لأ تَأکُلْ رِذْقِ اللَّهِ وَأذنِبْ مَا شِئْتَ. وَالثَانِی: أخْرُجْ مِنْ وِلأیَةِ اللَّهِ وأذْنِبْ مَا شِئْتَ. وَالثَلِثُ: أطْلُبْ مَوْضِعاً لأیَرَاکَ اللهُ وَأذْنِبْ مَا شِئتَ. وَالرَّابِعُ: إذَا جَاءَ مَلَکُ لِیَقْبِضَ رُوحَکَ فَادْفَعْهُ عَنْ نَفْسِکَ وَأذْنِبْ مَا شِئْتَ. وَالْخَامِسُ: إذَامَالِکٌ فِی النَّارِ فَلأ تَدْخُلْ فِی النَّارِ وَأذْنِبْ مَا شِئْتَ.
Do five things and then commit any sin you wish: Firstly, do not eat sustenance given by Allah and then commit any sin you wish. Secondly, come out of the guardianship of Allah and then commit any sin you wish. Thirdly, go to a place where Allah cannot see you and then commit any sin you wish. Fourthly, when the Angel of Death comes to take your life, escape from him and commit any sin you wish. Fifthly, when the gatekeeper of the Hell intends to throw you into it, do not enter and then commit any sin you wish. [3]
Imam Zayn al-Abidin (a. s. ) has said:
وَأمَّا حَقُّ وَلَدِکَ فَتَعْلَمَ أنَّهُ مِنْکَ وَمُضَافٌ إلَیکَ فِی عَاجِلِ الدُنْیَا بِخَیرِهِ وَشَرِّهِ، وَأنَّکَ مَسْئولٌ عَمَّا ولِّیِتَهُ مِنْ حُسْنِ الأدَب وَالدِّلالَةِ عَلَى رَبِه وَالْمَعُونَةِ لَهُ عَلَى طَاعَتِهِ فِی نَفْسِهِ، فَمُثابٌ
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عَلى ذَلِکَ وَ مُعَاقَبٌ، فَاعْمَلْ فِی أمْرِهِ عَمَلَ الْمُتَزَیِّنِ بِحُسْنِ أثرِهِ عَلَیهِ فِی عَاجِلِ الدُّنْیَا، الْمُعْذِرِ إلَى رَبهِ فِیمَا بَیْنَکَ وَبَیْنَهُ بِحُسْنِ الْقِیَامِ عَلَیهِ وَالأخْذُ لَهُ مِنْهُ.
The right of your child is that you should know that he is from you and will be ascribed to you, through both his good and his evil, in the immediate affairs of this world. You are responsible for what has been entrusted to you, such as educating him in good conduct, pointing him in the direction of his Lord, and helping him to obey Him. So, act towards him with the action of one who knows that he will be rewarded for good doing toward him and punished for evildoing. [1]
Imam al-Baqir (a. s. ) has said:
إنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِلشَّرِّ أقْفَلاً، وَجَعَلَ مَفَاتِیحَ تَلْکَ الأقْفَالِ الشَّرَابَ. وَالْکَذِبُ شَرٌّ مِنَ الشَّرَابِ.
Allah has set locks for evil things so as to protect men from their harms. Wine, this intoxicating liquid, is the key to all evil things. Telling lie is worse than drinking wine. [2]
Imam al-Baqir (a. s. ) says:
إنَّ مُدْمِنَ الْخَمْرِ کَعَابِدِ وَثَنٍ؛ وَتُورِثُهُ الإرْتِعَاشَ وَتَهْدِمُ مُرُوئَتَهُ وَ تَحْمِلُهُ عَلَى التَّجَسُّرِ عَلَى الْمَحَارِمِ مِنْ سَفْکِ الدِّمَاءِ وَرُکُوبِ الزِّنَا.
A habitual drunkard is as an idolater. One who always drinks wine will be afflicted with palsy and his morality will diminish. Drinking wine makes man so bold in committing sin that he will not refuse to shed blood nor engage in adultery. [3]
Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) has said:
إحْذَرْ مِنَ النَّاسِ ثَلأثَةً: الْخَائِنَ وَالظَّلُومَ وَالَّمَّامَ؛ لأنَّ مَنْ خَانَ خَانَکَ، وَمَنْ ظَلَمَ لَکَ سَیَظْلِمُکَ، وَمَنْ
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نَمَّ إلَیْکَ سَیَنِمُّ عَلَیْکَ.
Avoid three groups of people when associating with and making friends: traitor, oppressor, and talebearer. One who commits treason in your interest one day will commit treason against you another day. One who oppresses another for your sake will oppress you soon. One who tells tales to you about others will tell tales to others about you soon. [1]
Imam Musa al-Kadhim (a. s) passed by a dark-colored man. He saluted him, sat beside him, spoke to him for a while and expressed his readiness to meet his needs. Some people who were watching this scene, said, “O son of Allah’s Messenger! Do you associate with this person and ask about his needs? ” The Imam said:
عَبْدٌ مِنْ عَبِیدِ اللَّهِ وَأخٌ فِی کِتَاب اللَّهِ وَ جَارٌ فِی بِلأدِ اللَّهِ. خَیْرُ الآبَاءِ آدَمُ وَأفْضَلُ الأدْیَانِ الإسْلأمُ.
He is one of the servants of Allah and based on the Holy Quran, he is our brother-in-faith and our neighbor in the cities of Allah. Adam who is the best father and Islam, which is the best religion, have linked us to him. [2]
Imam al-Ridha (a. s. ) has said:
وَلْیَکُنْ نَفَقَتُکَ عَلَى نَفْسِکَ وَعِیَالِکَ قَصْداً.
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[1]: Bihar al-Anwar: 78/58
[2]: Al-Khisal: 51/1, H. 62
[3]: Waram Collection: 169/1
[4]: Ghurar al-Hikam: 317
[5]: Ghurar al-Hikam: 66
[1]: Musnad Fatimah al-Zahra
[2]: Tuhaf al-Uqul: 235
[3]: Jami al-Akhbar: 130
[1]: Man-La-Yahdhuruhul-Faqih: 621/2, H. 3214
[2]: Al-Kafi: 338/2, H. 3
[3]: Al-Amali, H. 1
[1]: Tuhaf al-Uqul: 315
[2]: Tuhaf al-Uqul: 413
Be moderate in your expenditures on yourself and your family. [3]
Imam al-Jawad (a. s. ) has said:
مَنْ أطَاعَ هَوَاهُ أعْطَى عَدُوَّهُ مُنَاهُ.
One who obeys his carnal desires has realized the desires of his enemy. [4]
Imam al-Hadi (a. s. ) has said:
إذَا کَانَ زَمَانٌ الْعَدْلُ فِیهِ أغْلَبُ مِنَ الْجَورِ، فَحَرَامٌ أنْ یُظَنَّ بِأحَدٍ سُوءاً حَتَّى یُعْلَمَ ذَلِکَ مِنْهُ. وَإذَا کَانَ زَمَانٌ الْجَوْرِ، أغْلَبُ مِنَ الِّعَدْلِ، فَلَیْسَ لأِحَدٍ أنْ یَظُنَّ بِأحَدٍ
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خَیْراً مَا لَمْ یَعْلَمْ ذَلِکَ مِنهُ.
When justice prevails in a society rather than injustice, it is unlawful to be suspicious of any person unless he commits an evil act. But when injustice prevails in society, it is not good to be optimistic about anyone unless his good act is witnessed. [1]
The Holy Prophet has said:
Parents will be rewarded greatly by Allah. They say, “Our Lord! What is all this favor for? Our good deeds are not worthy of such a reward. ” They will be replied, “All this reward is for teaching the Holy Quran to your children and for making them aware of Islamic culture. ” [2]
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[3]: Fiqh al-Ridha: 254, 37
[4]: Alam al-Din: 309
[1]: Alam al-Din: 312
[2]: Tafsir al-Imam al-Askari: 449, H. 297
Ahl Al-Bayt And The Holy Quran
Beyond doubt, understanding the Holy Quran does not depend solely on knowing the meaning of the Arabic words or on being familiar with the Arabic literature. Were it so, Allah would not have introduced in His Book the people of the Reminder, who are Ahl al-Bayt according to the narrations related by both Shiite and Sunni Muslims, as the teachers of the Holy Quran.
Considering that Allah has introduced teacher for the Holy Quran, understanding the main parts of this Book which according to Imam Ali contain “Its permission and prohibitions, its obligations and discretion, its repealing injunctions and the repealed ones, its permissible matters and compulsory ones, its permissible and the general ones, its clear and obscure ones” is not a layman’s job. [3]
People from all walks of life, whether academicians or theologians, intellectuals or non-intellectuals, scholars or laymen, mystics or philosophers need to refer to valid
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narrations and reports by Allah’s Messenger and Ahl al-Bayt so as to enter the profound sea of the Holy Quran. They have to board the ship of their knowledge in order to find the truth.
Should they choose a path other than this, they will have to impose their own findings on the Quranic verses as the meaning of this Divine Book; hence they will inflict irreparable damage on themselves and on Muslims by doing so.
Commenting on the Holy Quran, Allah’s Messenger has said:
ظَاهِرُهُ أنِیقُ وَبَاطِنُهُ عَمِیقٌ. لأتُحْصَى عَجَائِبُهُ وَلأتَبْلَى غَرَائِبُهُ.
It has a well-arranged and well-decorated appearance and it has a profound inward aspect. Its marvels cannot be counted and its wonders will never get old. [1]
How can we possibly understand the Holy Quran when Allah’s Messenger describes it as such? Only those should speak of the interpretation of the Holy Quran who are firmly rooted in knowledge as described by the Divine Book itself. According to valid and genuine narrations, those firmly rooted in knowledge are no one but the Holy Prophet and his purified Ahl al-Bayt. Should the implicit verses of the Holy Quran be interpreted and the interpretation accepted without seeking help from Ahl al-Bayt, it would certainly lead man to atheism and perdition. These verses must be interpreted by those firmly rooted in knowledge and literal meaning must be avoided.
As for the interpretation of abrogating and abrogated, dependent and independents as well as general and particular verses, it should be done by Ahl al-Bayt. Any personal interpretation of
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the Quranic verses will make man afflicted with an irreparable loss. As an example, we read the following in the Holy Quran,
یَدُ اللَّهِ فَوْقَ أَیْدِیهِمْ
The hand of Allah is above their hands. (48: 10)
Hand does not mean a physical hand rather it means ‘Power’. Should we take hand as the real hand, we have thought of Allah as having a body, which is an evident blasphemy. Therefore, the interpretation of the above-mentioned verse is: the power of Allah is above all powers.
Another example is 17: 72 of the Quran:
وَمَنْ کَانَ فِی هَٰذِهِ أَعْمَىٰ فَهُوَ فِی الْآخِرَةِ أَعْمَىٰ وَأَضَلُّ سَبِیلًا
And whoever is blind in this world, he shall also be blind in the hereafter; and more erring from the way. (17: 72)
If we take the literal meaning of ‘blind’, we have to believe that those believers who stood at a high rank in terms of faith and good deeds and were favored by the Prophets and the Imams are deprived of seeing the scenes in Paradise - a belief that does not conform with 43: 71 of the Quran:
وَفِیهَا مَا تَشْتَهِیهِ الْأَنْفُسُ وَتَلَذُّ الْأَعْیُنُ
Therein shall be what their souls yearn after and wherein eyes shall delight (43: 71)
Therefore, we should give in to the Ahl al-Bayt’s interpretation of the word, which is ‘blind-hearted’ not ‘physically blind’.
Thus, we realize that the implicit verses need an interpretation not based on the appearance and the literal meaning of the word but it must be interpreted in another way. This is exactly what Allah has entrusted to those firmly rooted in
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knowledge:
وَمَا یَعْلَمُ تَأْوِیلَهُ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ۗ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِی الْعِلْمِ
None knows its interpretation except Allah and those who are firmly rooted in knowledge. (3: 7)
Those who are firmly rooted in knowledge are those who enjoy a firm and true knowledge in which there is no change. It is knowledge that Allah has caused to shine in the hearts of His servants; namely, the Prophets and the Imams. In this relation, Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) has said:
نَحْنُ الرَّاسِخُونَ فِی الْعِلْمِ وَ نَحْنُ نَعْلَمُ تَاوِیلَهُ.
We are firmly rooted in knowledge and we know how to interpret the Holy Quran. [1]
Truly the only knowledge, which is not subject to change and is different from the knowledge of all scientists and scholars, is the knowledge of the Prophets and the Imams, which is fixed until the Resurrection Day. This is so because their knowledge is Divine and based on intuition; that is to see the truth with the eyes of the heart. Beyond doubt such hearts never make an error in realizing the truths and in finding the manifest and hidden secrets of the universe.
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[3]: Nahj al-Balaghah: 52, First Sermon
[1]: Al-Kafi: 298/2, H. 2
[1]: Al-Kafi: 213/1, H. 1
Ahl Al-Bayt, The World And The Hereafter
Ahl al-Bayt were extremely active in all aspects of life for the good of this world and the Hereafter and did not give up the struggle. Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) has said:
لأتَکْسَلُوا فِی طَلَبِ مَعَایشِکُمْ، فَإنَّ آبَاءَنَا کَانُوا یَرْکُضُونَ فِیهَا وَ یَطْلُبُونَهَا.
Do not be lazy in earning a living, for our forefathers were running after it while seeking it.
Amir al-Muminin, Imam Ali has reported: Once in Medina, I became very hungry and to find a
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job, I went to the vicinity of Medina when I saw a woman gathering a lump of clay to be mixed with water. I went to her and agreed that for each bucket of water, she would give me a date. Hence, I filled sixteen buckets with water in a way my hands were blistered. I washed my hands and went to the woman and said: “See the blisters in the palms of my hands! ” The woman gave me sixteen dates and I went to see the Holy Prophet to whom I told the story and he shared the dates with me. [1]
Abdullah ibn Hasan says:
وَاللَّهِ، أعْتَقَ عَلِیٌّ ألْفَ أهْلِ بَیْتٍ بِمَا مَجَلَتْ یَدَاهُ وَ عَرَقَ جَبِینُهُ.
By Allah (I swear) , Ali set free one thousand slaves in the way of Allah with the wage he had earned with blisters in the palms of his hand and the sweat of forehead. [2]
Abd al-Ala says:
On a hot day of summer, I met Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) who was working hard. I said, “May I be your ransom! You have a high rank before Allah; why are you giving yourself so much trouble? ” The Imam said,
یَا عَبْدَا الأعَلَى! خَرَجْتُ فِی طَلَبِ الرِّزْقِ لأسْتَغْنِیَ عَن مِثْلِکَ.
“O Abd al-Ala! I have come out seeking my daily bread so as to be independent of your like. ” [3]
Ali ibn Hamzah says: I saw Imam Musa al-Kadhim (a. s. ) working on a farmland. While his two feet were soaked with sweat, I said, “May I be your ransom! Where are your men? ”
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He said, “One who was better than my father and me worked with his hands on this farmland. ” I asked who he was. The Imam replied, “Allah’s Messenger, Amir al-Muminin and my forefathers who worked with their hands. This is the duty of the Prophets, Messengers, their successors and the righteous ones. ” [1]
Ahl al-Bayt, in addition to working hard for earning a living, were working hard for the Hereafter so much so that no one could be their equal in terms of praying and spirituality. They encouraged their followers to pray and act piously; they considered salvation in the Hereafter contingent on submission to Allah and prayer and bewared them of desiring for salvation without having piety and fear of Allah.
Imam al-Baqir (a. s. ) has been quoted by Jabir al-Jufi to say:
یَا جَابِرُ، أیکْتَفِی مَنِ أتَّخَذَ التّشَیُّعِ أنْ یَقُولَ بِحُبِّنَا أهْلَ الْبَیْتِ؟ فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا شِیعَتُنَا إلأمَنِ إتَّى اللَّهَ وَ أطَاعَهُ. وَمَا کَانُو یُعَرَفُونَ إلأ بِالتَّوَاضُعِ وَالتَّخَشُّعِ وَأداءِ الأمَانَةِ وَکَثَرَةِ ذِکْرِ اللَّهِ، وَالصَّوْمُ وَالصَّلأةِ، وَالْبِرِّ بِالْوَالِدَیْنِ، وَتَّعَهُّدِ لِلْجِیرَانِ مِنَ الفُقَرَاءِ وَأهْلِ الْمَسْکَنَةِ وَالْغَارِ مِینَ وَالأیْتَامِ، وَصِدْقِ الْحَدِیثِ، وَتِلأوَةِ الْقُرْآنِ، وَکَفِّ الألْسُنِ عَنِ النَّاسِ إلأ مِنْ خَیْرٍ، وَ کَانُوا أمَنَاءَ عَشَائِرِهِمْ فِی الأشْیَاءِ.
O Jabir, do you think that it is sufficient for those who claim being Shia to say that they cherish us; the Prophet’s Household? By Allah I swear, our Shia are only those who fear and obey Allah. Their signs are modesty, submission, fulfillment of the trusts, very much reference to Allah, fasting, offering prayers, piety to (their) parents, aiding the
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neighbors especially the poor, the destitute, the indebted, and the orphans, truth, reciting the Quran, and avoiding mentioning people except for praising. In addition, they are the most trustful of the people of their tribes.
I said, “O son of Allah’s Messenger! Today, we do not know anyone who is having all these features. ” The Imam said:
یَا جَابِرُ، لأتَدْهَبَنَّ بِکَ الْمَذَاهِبُ! حَسَبُ الرَّجُلُ أنْ یَقُولَ أُحِبُّ عَلِیَّاً صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَیْهِ وَأتَولأه؟ فَلَوْ قَالَ إنِّی أُحِبُّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَیْهِ وَ آلِهِ، وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ خَیرٌ مِنْ عَلِیٍّ عَلَیْهِ السَّلأمُ ثُمَّ لأیَتَّبِعُ سِیرَتَهُ وَلأ یَعْمَلُ بِسُنَّتِهِ مَا نَفَعَهُ حُبُّهُ إیَّاهُ شَیْئاً، فَاتَّقُواللَّهَ وَاعْمَلُو الِمَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ. لَیْسَ بَیْنَ وَبَینَ أحَدٍ قَرَابَةٌ. أحَبُّ الْعِبَادِ إلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ أکْرَمُهُمْ عَلَیْهِ أثْقَاهُمْ لَهُ وَأعْمَلُهُم لَهُ وَأعمَلُهُمْ بِطَاعَتِهِ. یَاجَابِرُ، مَا یَتَقَرَّبُ الْعَبْدُ إلَى اللَّهِ تَبَارَکَ وَ تَعَالَى إلأ بِالطَّاعَةِ. مَا مَعَنَا بَرَاءَةٌ مِنَ النَّارِ، وَلأ عَلَى اللَّهِ لأِحَدٍ مِنْکُمْ حُجَّةٌّ. مَنْ کَانَ للَّه مُطِیعاً فَهُوَ لَنَا وَلِیٌ، وَمَنْ کَانَ للَّهِ عَاصِیاً فَهُوَ لَنَا عَدُوٌّ، وَلأتُنَالُ وِئلأیَتُنَا إلأ بِالْعَمَلِ وَالْوَرَعِ.
No, Jabir. Do not misunderstand the matter. Is it enough for a man to claim that he loves and follows Ali? If he claims that he loves the Prophet (S) , who is preferable to Ali (a. s. ) , but he does not follow his traditions and does not act upon his instructions, his claim will be definitely useless. Hence, you should fear Allah and work for the cause of obtaining that which He has in possession. There is no relation between Allah and anybody. The most
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favorable and honorable servants of Allah are the most fearing and pious.
O Jabir, the only means through which a servant seeks to gain Allah’s favor is obedience to Him. We - the Prophet's Household - do not carry a patent for saving from Hell. Likewise, none of you has a claim against Allah. He who obeys Allah is only our disciple and whoever disobeys Him is our enemy. The loyalty to us cannot be gained except by means of diligent work and piety. [1]
Addressing Fudhayl, Imam al-Baqir (a. s. ) said:
بَلِّغْ مَنْ لَقِیتَ مِنْ مَوَالِینَا عَنَّا السَّلأمَ وَ قُلْ لَهُمْ: إنِّی لأ أغْنِی عَنْکُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ شَیْئاً إلأبِوَرَعٍ. فَاخْفَظُوا ألْسِنَتَکُمْ وَکُفُّوا أیْدِیَکُمْ. وَعَلَیْکُمْ. وَ عَلَیْکُمْ بِاصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلأةِ، إنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِینَ.
Send greetings to our friends and say: We cannot remove Allah’s chastisement unless you adopt piety. Therefore, hold your tongues, cease to commit any sin, be patient and perform prayer, for Allah is with the patient. [2]
Imam al-Sadiq has said:
مَعَاشِرِ الشِّیعَةِ! کُونُو الَنَا زَیْناً وَلأ تَکُونُوا عَلیْنَا شَیئاً. قُولُو الِلنَّاسِ حُسْناً، وَاحْفَظُوا ألْسِنَتَکُمْ وَکُفُّوهَا عَنِ الْفُضُولِ وَ قَبِیحِ الْقَولِ.
O Shiite community! Be an ornament for us! Do not do anything indecent! Speak to men good words! Hold your tongues! Avoid being talkative and using a foul language. [3]
Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) further says:
یَابْنَ جُنْدَبٍ! بَلِّغْ شِیعَتَنَا وَ قُلْ لَهُم: لأتَدْهَبَنَّ بِکُم ااْمَذَاهِبُ! فَوَ اللَّهِ لأ تُنَالُ وَ لأیَتُنَا إلأبِالْوَرَعِ وَالإجْتِهَادِ فِی الدُّنْیَا وَ مُوَاسَاةِ الإخْوَانِ فِی اللَّهِ وَاَیسَ مِنْ شِیعَتَنَا مَنْ یَظْلِمُ النَّاسَ.
O son of Jundab! Convey our message to our followers and say to them:
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Let not other trends mislead you, for, by Allah, our friendship cannot be attained save by piety and hard work in the world as well as sympathy with brothers-in-faith. One who oppresses people is not our follower. [1]
Ahl al-Bayt (a. s) say: Committing sins and indecent acts are features of our enemies. Our followers avoid such things. The Shiites are neither usurers nor usurpers; they are neither adulterers nor thieves; they are neither traitors nor breakers of promise; they are neither oppressors nor deniers of people's rights; they are neither tormentors of their wives nor tormentors of their children, they neither break anyone's heart nor slander people.
What Ahl al-Bayt taught people specially their followers who believed in Allah, giving people their due rights, practicing according to the Holy Quran, following the Holy Prophet, obeying his rightful successors and keeping away from all sins. Addressing Abd al-Adhim al-Tasani, Imam al-Ridha (a. s. ) has said:
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[1]: Man-La-Yahdhuruhul-Faqih: 157/3, H. 3575
[2]: Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal: 286/1
[3]: Al-Gharat: 91/1
[1]: Al-Kafi: 75/5, H. 10
[1]: Al-Kafi: 74/2, H. 3
[2]: Daa’im al-Islam: 133/1
[3]: Al-Amali: 400, H. 17
[1]: Tuhaf al-Uqul: 303
أبْلِغْ عَنِّی أوْلِیَائِی السَّلأمَ وَقُلْ لَهُمْ أنْ لأ یَجْعَلُوا للشَّیْطَانِ عَلَى أنْفُسِهِمْ سَبِیلاً. وَ مُرُهُم بِاصِّدْقِ فِی الحَدِیثِ وَأدَاءِ الأمَانَةٍ. وَالْمُرْهُمْ بِالسُّکُوتِ وَ تَرَکِ الْجِدَالِ فِیمَا لأیُعْنِیهِم وَإقْبَالِ بَعْضِهِمْ عَلَى بَعْضِ وَالْمُزَاوَرَةِ، فَإنَّ ذَلِکَ قُرْبَةٌ، وَلأ یَشْغَلُوا أنْفُسَهُم بِتَمْزِیقِ بَعْضِهِم بَعْضاً.
Convey my greetings to my friends and say to them: Expel Satan from yourselves. Be honest and truthful. Avoid idle talks and keep silent. Visit each other most often. By this, you can attain nearness to me. Avoid dispersion and don't vex others. [2]
Ahl al-Bayt have always warned their followers against committing sin and oppression, saying:
وَإیَّاکُمْ وَمَعَاصِیَ اللَّهِ أنْ تَرَکَبوهَا، فَإنَّهُ
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مَنِ إنْتَهَکَ مَاصِیَ اللَّهِ فَرَکِبَهَا فَقَدْ أبْلَغَ فِی السأءَةِ إلَى نَفْسِهِ.
Beware of sins, for whoever commits sin will be unjust to himself.
The only way to avoid loss and perdition is to follow Ahl al-Bayt, which entails Allah’s pleasure, Ahl al-Bayt’s intercession as well as happiness in this world and the hereafter.
In a letter to the Shiite community, Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) has given important guidelines on ideological, moral and social issues as well as family life, peaceful coexistence in this world and issues related to the hereafter the excerpts of which are as follow:
وَاعْلَمُوا أنّهُ لَیْسَ یُغْنِی عَنَّکُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ أحَدٌ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ شَیْئاً؛ لأ مَلَکٌ مُقَرَّبٌ وَلأ نَبِیٌّ مُرْسَلٌ وَلإ مَنْ دُونَ ذَلِکَ. فَمَنْ سَرَّهُ أنْ تَنْفَعَهُ شَفَاعَةٌ الشَّافِعِینَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ فَلْیَطْلُبْ إلَى اللَّهِ أنْ یَرْضَى عَنْهُ. وَاعْلَمُوا أنَّ أحَداً مِنْ خَلْقِ اللَّهِ لَمْ یُىصِبْ رِضَا اللَّهِ إلأ بِطَاعَتِهِ وَ طَا عَةِ رَسُولِهِ وَ طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ، وُلأةِ أمْرِهِ مِنْ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، صَلْوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَیْهِمْ. وَمَعْصِیَتُهُم مِنْ مَعْصِیَةِ اللَّهِ، وَ لَمْ یُنْکِرْ فَضْلاً عَظَمَ أو صَغُرَ.
Know that none of the Allah’s creatures including Archangels and Prophets can remove an iota of Allah’s punishment from you. Therefore, anyone who wishes to benefit from the Intercessors’ mediation should ask Allah to be pleased with him. Be it known to you that none of Allah’s creatures won His pleasure save by obedience to Him, His Messenger and the Imams from the Household of Prophet Muhammad. Disobedience to them is as disobedience to Allah; hence, their virtues should not be denied. [1]
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[2]: Al-Ikhtisas: 247
[1]: Al-Kafi: 11/8, H. 1
Followers Of Ahl Al-Bayt
Love For Ahl Al-Bayt
point
We who are strongly in need of Allah’s mercy, favor and special attention must choose a path the final stage of which is Allah’s pleasure hence Paradise. In order to win Allah’s favor, we need mediation to find the truth. Based on Quranic verses, this mediation is love for Ahl al-Bayt and compliance with their teachings.
In order to love Ahl al-Bayt, we should first get to know them. When we see their moral virtues and spiritual beauty we will automatically love them. This love makes human receive baptism of Allah and become like the Beloved One in all aspects. One must note that love and friendly relations will come about only when we get to know our Beloved. Even in metaphorical examples of love, one never falls in love unless he sees the beauty of the beloved.
When one loves, one will automatically do one’s best to comply with whatever the beloved wishes and will be baptized by the Beloved in a way that both the lover and the beloved become identical.
The Holy Prophet’s words “Salman is from us, Ahl al-Bayt” is the best proof. Love for Ahl al-Bayt is a valuable truth, which Allah has determined as a reward for the mission of the Holy Prophet:
قُلْ لَا أَسْأَلُکُمْ عَلَیْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِی الْقُرْبَىٰ
Say: I do not ask of you any reward for it but love for my near relatives. (42: 23)
Based on narrations related by Shiite scholars and others related by Sunni scholars, the near relatives are Ahl al-Bayt.
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The important point in this Quranic verses is the word love intermingled with obedience.
Is it not surprising that Allah has not refered to performing prayer, Hajj, fast, almsgiving and poor-rate as reward for the mission of the Holy Prophet (S). Instead He has stipulated the word love in order to show the love for Ahl al-Bayt and obedience to them are above all other truths. Should there be no love for Ahl al-Bayt, there would be no virtues for the abovementioned acts.
The Holy Prophet is quoted as saying:
لِکُلِّ شَیْءٍ أسَاسٌ، وَأساسُ الإسْلأمِ حُبُّنَا أهْلَ الْبَیْتِ.
There is a basis for everything; and love for us, Ahl al-Bayt, is the basis of Islam. [1]
Imam Ali (a. s) has said: I heard Allah’s Messenger say:
أنَا سَیِّدُ وُلْدِ آدَمَ. وَأنْتَ یَا عَلِیُّ وَالأئِمَّةٌ مِنْ بَعْدِکَ سَادَةُ أُمَّتِی. مَنْ أحَبَّنَا فَقَدْ أحَبَّ اللَّهَ، وَمَنْ أبْغَضَنَا فَقَدْ أبْغَضَنَا فَقَدْ أبْغَضَ اللَّهَ، وَمَنْ وَالأنَا فَقَدْ وَالَى اللَّهَ، وَمَنْ أطَاعَنَا فَقَدْ أطَاعَ اللًّهَ، وَمَنْ عَصَانَا فَقَدْ عَصىَ اللَّهَ.
Ali. I am the master of Adam’s children and you, and the Imams after you are the masters of my ummah. Whoever loves us has loved Allah. Whoever is hostile to us has been hostile to Allah. Whoever obeys us has obeyed Allah and whoever disobeys us has
disobeyed Allah. [2]
Love for Ahl al-Bayt is a gift, which Allah bestows on the pure hearts of worthy people. Imam al-Baqir (a. s. ) has said:
إنِّی لأعْلَمُ أنَّ هَذَا الْحُبَّ الَّذِی تُحِبُّونَنَا لَیسَ بِشَیْءٍ صَنَعْتُمُوهُ؛ وَلَکِنَّ اللَّهَ صَنَعَهُ.
I know the reason why you love us. It is not something
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spontaneous; rather, it is a love made by Allah. [1]
Imam al-Sadiq (a. s) has said:
إنَّ حُبَّنَا یُنْزِلُهُ اللَّهُ مِنَ اللَّهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مِنْ خَزَائِنَ تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ کَخَزَانِنَ الْذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ، وَلأیُنْزِلُهُ إلأ بِقَدَرٍ، وَلأیُعْطِیهِ إلأ خَیرَ الْخَلَقِ. وَإنَّ لَهُ غَمَامَةً کَغَمَامَةِ الْقَطْرِ؛ فَإذَا أرَادَ اللَّهُ أنْ یَخُصَّ بِهِ مَنْ أحَبَّ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ أذِنَ لِتِلْکَ الْغَمَامَةِ فَتَهَطَّلَتْ کَمَا تَهَطَّلُ السِّحَابُ فَتُصِیبُ الْجَنِینَ فِی بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ.
Allah sends down love for us from the reasuries underneath His throne, like the treasuries of gold and silver. This love is sent down only to a certain extent to the best of people. It is like a cloud bringing rain with it. So, whenever Allah wills, He sends it down so as to come to an embryo in a mother’s womb. [2]
Since love for Ahl al-Bayt is a heavenly gift and the gift is offered only to friends, love for them is a sign of Allah’s love for human being.
Signs of Love For Ahl al-Bayt
Love for Ahl al-Bayt is not only a sign of Allah’s love for man, but it is also a sign of other truths as follows:
First: Based on several narrations, love for Ahl al-Bayt is a proof of one’s noble birth. Imam Ali (a. s. ) quotes the Holy Prophet as having said to Abu- Dharr:
یَا أبَا ذَرٍّ! مَنْ أحَبَّنَا أهْلَ الْبَیْتِ فَلْیَحْمِدِ اللَّهَ عَلَى أوَّلِ... الْنِّعَمِ... طِیبِ الوِلأدَةِ. إنَّهُ لأ یُحِبُّنَا إلأ مَنْ طَابَ مَوْلِدُهُ.
Whoever loves us, Ahl al-Bayt, must thank Allah for the first blessing… Nobility of birth; for whoever loves us is of noble (i. e. legitimate) birth. [3]
Imam al-Baqir (a. s. )
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has said:
مَنْ أصْبَحَ یَجِدُ بَرْدَ حُبِّنَا عَلى قَلْبِهِ فَلْیَحْمِدِ اللَّهَ عَلَى بَادِئِ النَّعَمِ... طِیبِ الْمَوْلِدِ.
Whoever wakes up in the morning and feels the cool breeze of our love must thank Allah for the first blessing; purity and nobility of birth. [1]
Second: Love for Ahl al-Bayt is a proof of purity of heart. Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) says:
وَاللَّهِ وَاللَّهِ، لأ یُحِبُّنَا عَبْدٌ حَتَى یُطَهِّرَ اللَّهُ قَلْبَهُ
By Allah, none loves us unless those whose hearts have been purified by Allah. [2]
Third: Love for Ahl al-Bayt is a sign of true belief and acceptance byAllah. Allah’s Messenger has said:
عَاهَدَنِی رَبِّی أنْ لأ یَقْبَلَ إیمَانَ عَبْدٍ إلأ بِمَحَبَّةِ أهْلِ بَیْتِی.
My Lord made a promise to me that He will not accept any of His servants’ belief without love for Ahl al-Bayt. [3]
Amir al-Muminin (a. s. ) has said:
إنَّهُ لَعَهْدُ النَّبِیِّ الأُمِّیِّ إلَیَّ أنَّهُ لأیُحِبُّنِی إلأ مُؤْمِنٌ وَلأ یُبْغِضُنِی إلأ مُنَافِقٌ.
The Ummi Prophet expressly said to me that no one but a believer loves me and no one but a hypocrite harbors rancor against me. [4]
He has also said:
لَوْ ضَرَبْتُ خَیْشُومَ الْمُؤْمِنِ بِسَیفِی هَذَا عَلَى أنْ یُبْغِضَنِی مَا أبْغَضَنِی؛ وَلَوْ صَبَبْتُ الدُّنْیَا بِجَمَّاتِهَا عَلَى الْمُنَافِقِ عَلَى الْمُنَافِقِ عَلَى أنْ یُحِبَّنِی مَا أحَبَّنِی؛ وَذَلِکَ أنَّهُ قُضِیَ فَانْقَضَى عَلَى لِسَانِ النَّبِیِّ الأُمِّیِّ، صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَیهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ، أنَّهُ قَالَ: یَا عَلِیُّ! لأ یُبْغِضُکَ مُؤمِنٌ وَلأ یُحِبُّکَ مُنَافِقٌ.
Even if I strike the nose of a believer with my sword to oblige him to hate me, he will never hate me; and even if I pile all the wealth of the world before a hypocrite
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[1]: Al-Kafi: 46/2, H. 2
[2]: Al-Amali: 476, H. 16
[1]: Al-Mahasin: 149/1, H. 62
[2]: Tuhaf al-Uqul: 313
[3]: Al-Amali by Shaykh al-Tusi: 455, H. 1018
[1]: Al-Amali, 475, H. 13
[2]: Da’aim al-Islam: 73/1
[3]: Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal: 204/1
[4]: Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha: 60/2, Chapter: 31, H. 235
to love me, he will never love me. This is because it is a verdict pronounced by the tongue of the Prophet - may Allah bless him and his descendants - as he said: O Ali, a believer will never hate you and a hypocrite will never love you. [1]
Requirements of Love for Ahl al-Bayt
point
Ahl al-Bayt are not in need of superficial love; rather, they require love which has its medium with it so as to reveal its amazing signs. Here are some requirements of the love for Ahl al-Bayt:
1. Acting according to the decrees
One of the requirements of love for Ahl al-Bayt is that a lover should never stop endeavoring in the way of Allah by making Ahl al- Bayt’s behavior and deeds as models for his life. The Ahl al-Bayt have said:
مَنْ أحَبَّنَا فَلْیَعْمَلْ بِعَمَلِنَا.
Whoever loves us must do whatever we do. [2]
Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) has said:
إنَّمَا شِیعَةٌ جَعْفَرٍ مَنْ عَفَّ بَطْنَهُ وَ فَرْجَهُ وَ عَمِلَ لِخَالِقِهِ وَ رَجَا ثَوَابَهُ وَخَافَ عِقَابَهُ.
A partisan (Shia) of Jafar is only he who guards his body and desires from what is unlawful, endeavors for his creator, hopes for His reward, and fears His punishment. [3]
2. Taking Ahl al-Bayt’ s Friends As Friends (Tawalli)
Amir al-Muminin (a. s. ) has said:
فإنْ کَانَ یُحِبُّ وَلِیَّنَا فَلَیْسَ بِمُبْغِضٍ لَنَا، وَإنْ کَانَ یُبْغِضُ وَلِیَّنَا فَلَیْسَ بِمُحِبٍّ لَنَا.
If he takes our friend as a friend, he is not our enemy; and if he is the enemy of our friend, he will not be our friend. [4]
Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) has said:
مَنْ تَوَلَّى مُحِبَّنَا فَقَدْ أحَبَّنَا.
One who loves our friend will be certainly our friend. [5]
3. Disavowal of Ahl al-Bayt’s enemies (Tabarri)
One of the requirements of love for Ahl al-Bayt is
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to take their enemies as enemy. Imam Ali (a. s. ) has said:
فَمَنْ أحَبَّ أنْ یَعْلَمَ حَالَهُ فِی حُبِّنَا فَلْیَمْتَحِنْ قَلْبَهُ، فَإنْ وَجَدَ فِیهِ حُبَّ مَنْ ألَّبَ عَلَیْنَا فَلْیَعْلَمْ أنَّ اللَّهَ عَدُوُّهُ وَ جِبْرِیلَ وَ مِیکَائِیلَ، وَاللَّهُ عَدُوُّ الکَافِرِینَ.
One who wishes to know whether he love us should test his heart. If he feels love in his heart for those who make people our enemy, then he must know that Allah, Gabriel and Michael are his enemies. After all, Allah is the enemy of the unbelievers. [1]
He has also said:
فَإنْ شَارَکَهُ فِی حُبِّنَا حُبُّ عَدُوِّنَا فَلَیْسَ مِنَّا وَلَسْنَا مِنْهُ.
If one who loves us loves our enemies, he will certainly not belong to us nor do we belong to him. [2]
4. Tribulations and Calamity
point
Nothing is more effective than tribulations and calamity in purifying a man and improving his character. Allah tests His devoted servants with tribulation, calamity, poverty, hunger, bereavement and other incidents so as to make them steadfast on patience, resistance, and endurance; hence, He paves the way for them to enter Paradise. The Holy Prophet, addressing Abu-Said Khidri who was complaining from poverty, said:
إصْبِرْ! فَإنَّ الْفَقْرَ إلَى مَنْ یُحِبُّنِی مِنْکُمْ أسْرَعُ مِنَ السَّیْلِ عَلَى أعْلَى الْوَادی وَ مِنْ أعْلى الْجَبَلِ إلَى أسْفَلِهِ.
Be patient, for poverty rushes toward those who love me with a speed more hasty than that of a flood coming down from the peak of a mountain. [3]
Abu-Dharr expressed his love for the Holy Prophet (S) who replied:
اللَّهَ اللَّهَ! فأعِدَّ لِلْفَقْرِ تِجْفَافاً، فَإنَّ الْفَقْرَ أسْرَعُ إلَى مَنْ یُحِبُّنَا مَنْ یُحِبُّنَا مِنَ السَّیْلِ مِنْ أعْلَى
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الأکَمَةِ ألَى أسْفَلِهَا. ُّّ
If so, then prepare yourself a cover for indigence! Indigence comes to one who loves us with a speed more hasty than that of a flood coming down from the peak of a hill. [1]
Difficult Test
A narration reads: One day, Allah’s Messenger came across a man of Ansar who said, “May my parents be your ransom, O Allah’s Messenger! The expression I see in you visage makes me sad. What is the story? ” Looking at the man’s face, the Holy Prophet said, “It is Hunger! ” Hearing this, the man became restless; he rushed to his house to find something and bring it for the Holy Prophet, but he could not.
So, he rushed to Banu-Quraydhah to draw water from well and receive dates as wage. After collecting the dates, he came to the Holy Prophet, placing the dates politely in front of him, and asked him to eat. Allah’s Messenger asked, “Where did you get these dates from? ” The man told him the whole story. The Holy Prophet said, “I suppose that you love Allah and His Messenger. ” The man said, “I truly do. I swear it by Him Who appointed you as Prophet with the truth; I love you more than my children, my family and all my wealth. ” Addressing the man, the Holy Prophet said, “If so, then prepare yourself for indigence, patience, and a cover for tribulation. Verily, by Allah Who appointed me as Prophet, poverty and tribulation come to one who loves me with a
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speed more hasty than a flood coming down from the top of mountain. ”
Imam Ali (a. s. ) has said:
مَنْ أحَبَّنَا أهْلَ الْبَیْتِ فَلْیَسْتَعِدَّ عِدَّةً لِلْبَلأءِ.
One who loves us must prepare himself for tribulation. [1]
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[1]: Nahj al-Balaghah: 447, Saying: 45
[2]: Tuhaf al-Uqul: 104
[3]: Sifat al-Shia: 11
[4]: Al-Amali, 334, H. 4
[5]: Al-Muqniah: 485
[1]: Al-Amali: 148, H. 243
[2]: Tafsir al-Qummi: 171/2
[3]: Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal: 85/4
[1]: Al-Mustadrak: 367/4
[1]: Al-Gharat: 401/2
Imam al-Baqir visiting Muhammad ibn Muslim
Muhammad ibn Muslim, one of the best companions of Imam al-Baqir (a. s. ) , narrates: Although I did not feel well, I traveled to Medina. When Imam al-Baqir was informed of my arrival, he sent me a bowl of syrup through his servant who said, “Drink this, for the Imam has told me not to return before you drink of it. ” I drank from that syrup which was scented with musk. After drinking it, when I rose up and did not feel sick anymore.
So I decided to go and see the Imam who welcomed saying, “May you be healthy, come in, come in. ” I entered the room, greeted the Imam and kissed his hands and head. He asked, “Why are you crying? ” I replied, “May I be your ransom. I cry because of being away from my home, the journey to the hereafter, indigence and the fact that I cannot stay with you. ” The Imam said, “As for indigence, Allah has decreed it for our friends. Tribulation and calamity rush towards them. As for being away from home, set Imam Husayn who is in a faraway land near the Euphrates as an example. As for the journey to the hereafter, know that a believer is always lonely in this world until he departs to the land of Allah’s mercy. As
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for saying that you would love to stay with us, know that Allah is aware of what is in your heart and He will reward you for it. [1]
5. Mutual Love
It is noteworthy that a man’s love for Ahl al-Bayt will lead to their love for him too. Even if love for Ahl al-Bayt has no other blessing, it will cause them to have love for him. So which asset is more valuable than this?
Imam al-Sadiq (a. s) has reported: One day, my father and I entered the Prophet’s Mosque. He was passing by groups of people but he paid no attention to them until he stood near a few people and said, “By Allah, I love your good scent and your souls. ” [2] These people were Shia.
Ahl al-Bayt’s love for their devotees is to the extent that if one ignores the devotee of Ahl al-Bayt, they will ignore him.
In a gathering, Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) said, “Why do you make light of us? ” A man from Khorasan said, “We seek refuge to Allah from making light of you. ” The Imam said, “You are one of those who made light of us. Did you not hear such and such man who asked you to give him a ride but you ignored him? By Allah, You made light of him. So anyone who makes light of a believer has disrespected Allah. ” [3]
6. Love for Ahl al-Bayt eases agony of Death
One of the hard moments in human life is when man is at the point of death. At this stage, all veils are removed
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before his eyes. Based on his beliefs and morality, man sees truths, which can be painful or joyful. A man becomes happy when he sees the result of his love for Ahl al-Bayt.
Abdullah ibn Walid says: Under Marwan’s rule, I went to the presence of Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) who asked me about my identity. I said, “I am a man from Kufa. ” The Imam said:
مَا مِنْ بَلْدَةٍ مِنَ ابُلْدَانِ أکْثَرُ مُحِبّاً لَنَا مِنْ أهْلِ الْکُوفَةِ وَلأ سِیَّمَا هَذِهِ الْعِصَابَةِ. إنَّ اللَّهَ جَلَّ ذِکْرُهُ هَدَاکُمْ لأمْرِ جَهِلَهُ النَّاسُ، وَأحْبَبْتُمُونَا وَأبْغَضَنَا النَّاسُ، وَاتَّبَعْتُمُونَا وَ خَالَفْنَا النَّاسُ، وصَدَّقْتُمُونَا و کَذَّبَنَا النَّاسُ، فَأحْیَاکُمْ اللَّهُ مَحْیَانَا وَ أمَاتَکُمْ مَمَاتَنَا. فَأشْهَدُ عَلَى أبِی أنَّهُ کَانَ یَقُولُ: مَا بَیْنَ أحَدِکُمْ وَ بَیْنَ أنْ یَرَى مَا یُقِرُّ اللَّهُ بِهِ عَیْنَهُ وَأنْ یَغْتَبِطَ إلأ أنْ تَبْلُغَ نَفْسَهُ هَذِهِ وَ أهْوَی بِیَدِهِ إلَى حَلْقِهِ.
People of no city are fonder of us than the people of Kufa, especially this Shiite group. Allah has guided you to a truth of which other people are unaware. That is why you befriended us and others harbored our enmity. You confirmed us while the others denied us. May Allah make your living and death like those of us. I bear witness that my father said: There is no distance between one you and the source of delight and the envied but the soul's reaching the throat. [1]
In a narration, the Holy Prophet (S) describes the moment when a believer dies and enters the hereafter as such:
The Angel of Death says to the believer, “Look
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above your head. ” Then he will see stages of Paradise and the castles therein that the people of the world cannot comprehend. The Angel of Death will say, “These are the blessings, wealth, your dependents and your worthy issues who will be with you. Are you pleased with Allah’s favor in place of what you will leave in this world? ” The believer will say, “Yes, by Allah. ”
Then the Angel of Death will say, “Look. ” And the believer will look and see Muhammad (S) , Ali (a. s. ) and the purified ones of the Household of Muhammad and Ali in the uppermost of heaven. The Angel of Death will say, “Can you see them? They are your masters and Imams who are your companions. Are you pleased with them instead of being separated from the world? ” The believer will say, “Yes, by my Lord. ” [1]
Evidently it is in this state that man considers leaving this world and departing to the hereafter as something pleasant and never wishes to come back to this world. Some other truths which the devotees of Ahl al-Bayt will see at the moment of death are the angels of mercy who convey Allah’s good tidings and His greeting to them:
إِنَّ الَّذِینَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَیْهِمُ الْمَلَائِکَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِی کُنْتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ نَحْنُ أَوْلِیَاؤُکُمْ فِی الْحَیَاةِ الدُّنْیَا وَفِی الْآخِرَةِ ۖ وَلَکُمْ فِیهَا مَا تَشْتَهِی أَنْفُسُکُمْ وَلَکُمْ فِیهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ نُزُلًا مِنْ غَفُورٍ رَحِیمٍ
As for those who say: Our Lord is Allah, then
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continue in the right way, the angels descend upon them, saying: fear not, nor be grieved, and receive good news of the garden that you were promised. We are your guardians in this world's life and in the hereafter, and you shall have therein what your souls derive and you shall have therein what you ask for: A provision from the Forgiving, the Merciful. (41: 30-32)
Being at the point of death, Abu-Dharr who had lost his endurance asked his daughter to search for water and food in the desert, for he was starving! Because he was a devotee of Ahl al-Bayt, he had been banished to the desert of Rabadhah by the tyrannical rule. He had been deprived of everything but since he loved Ahl al-Bayt, he tolerated all the calamities and hardships.
When his daughter came back empty-handed, she said to her father, “I could not find any water nor any food. ” Finding him in the agony of death, she put his head on the lap and listened to his words, “Unto Him is Peace, upon Him is peace, He is peace, through Him is peace and from Him is peace. ” She asked, “O father; none is here. ” Abu-Dharr said, “My daughter, the Angel of Death is here saying, ‘Allah has said: salute Abu-Dharr before taking his life:
Peace: a word from a Merciful Lord. (36: 58) ’
I am greeting back the salutation of my Beloved! ”
Truly the one who loves Ali and his Household, will be loved not only by them
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but also by Allah.
7. Presence of Ahl al-Bayt at the point of death
One of the horrible moments in a human life is when he parts with everything. With the arrival of the Angel of Death beside deathbed, man feels the bitter experience of being away from home; but for a devotee of Ahl al- Bayt, the situation is quite different, for he will see his guardians and an indescribable joy overwhelms him.
Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) was asked, “Is a believer displeased when his soul is taken? ” The Imam said, “By Allah, a believer is restlessly - Page320 - Ahl al-Bayt:The Celestial Beings on the Earth
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[1]: Al-Ikhtisas: 52
[2]: Al-Amali, 722, H. 522
[3]: Al-Kafi: 89/8, H. 73
[1]: Al-Kafi: 81/8, H. 38
[1]: Tafsir al-Imam al-Askari: 239, H. 117
waiting for the Angel of Death to come and to take his soul. The Angel of Death will say: ‘O friend of Allah! Be patient. I swear by Him Who appointed Muhammad (S) as a Prophet, I am more compassionate to you than your father. Open your eyes and see the Prophet, Ali, Fatimah, Hasan and Husayn and the Imams before you. ’ Then the believer opens his eyes and will see Ahl al-Bayt. ” [1]
8. Immunity from Chastisement
A man who is immune from pollutions and evil acts due to his love for Ahl al-Bayt in this world and is immune from fear and sorrow at the point of death will certainly be immune from chastisement on the Judgment Day. The Holy Prophet is reported to have said:
فَیُوحِی اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إلَیهَا: یَا فَطِمَةُ! سَلِینِی أُعْطِکِ، وَتَمَنَّیْ عَلَىَّ أرْضِکِ. فَتَقُولُ: ألَهِی! أسْألُکَ أنْ لأ تُعَذَّبَ مُحِبِّیَّ وَمُحِبِّی عِتْرَتِی بِالنَّارِ. فَیُحِی اللَّهُ إلَیهَا: یَا فَاطِمَةٌ! وَ عِزَّتِی وَ جَلألِی وَارْتِفَاعِ مَکَانِی، لَقَدْ آلیْتُ عَلَى نَفْسِی مِنْ قَبَلِ أنْ أخْلُقَ السًّمَاوَاتِ وَالأرْضَ
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بِألْفَىْ عَامٍ أنْ لأ أعَذِّبَ مُحِبِّیکِ وَ مُحِبِّی عِتْرَتِکِ بِالنَّارِ.
On the Judgment Day, Allah will address Lady Fatimah (a. s. ) as such: ‘O Fatimah! Ask me and I will grant to you, and wish something and I will make you pleased. ’ Lady Fatimah will say: ‘I ask You not to punish the devotees of my progeny and me with fire. ’ Allah will say: ‘O Fatimah! By My honor, glory and grandeur I took an oath on Myself two thousand years before the creation of heavens and the earth that I would not punish the devotees of your progeny and you with the fire. ’ [1]
Bilal ibn Hamamah reports: One day, the Holy Prophet was coming towards us happily. Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf asked, “O Allah’s Messenger; what is the reason for your being happy? ” The Holy Prophet said, “A good news has come to me from my Lord: When Allah willed to give Fatimah to Ali in marriage, He ordered an angel to shake the tree of Tuba whereby written leaves were spread. Allah ordered angels to collect those leaves. When the Judgment Day will come, this angel will look for the devotees of Ahl al- Bayt to give them one of these leaves with the following inscription on it: This is a letter of respite from hellfire by my brother, my cousin and my daughter for the safety of men and women among my ummah from fire. " [2]
Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) has said:
وَاَللَّهِ، لأ یَمُوتٌ عَبْدٌ یُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَ رَسُولَهُ وَ یَتَوَلَّی الأئِمَّة فَتَمَسُّهُ
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النَّارُ.
By Allah (I swear) , every servant who loves Allah and His Messenger and accepts the leadership of the Imams and then dies, hellfire will not touch him. [1]
One of the results of loving the Ahl al-Bayt (a. s. ) and following them is immunity from hellfire on the Judgment Day.
The Holy Prophet has said:
مَنْ أحَبَّنَا أهْلَ الْبَیْتِ حَشَرَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى آمِناً یَوْمَ الْقِیَمَةِ.
As for one who loves us - the Ahl al-Bayt, Allah will make him to associate with us on the Day of Judgment. [2]
9. Passing The Sirat
Immunity from slipping off the Sirat is a result of loving Ahl al-Bayt. The Holy Prophet (S) has said:
أثْبَتُکُمِّ قَدَماً عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ أشَدُّ کُمْ حُبّاً لِأهْلِ بَیْتِی.
The most steadfast of you on the Sirat is one who loves my Ahl al-Bayt more. [3]
He has also said:
مَا أحَبَّنَا أهْلَ الْبَیْتِ أحَدٌ فَزَلَّتْ بِهِ قَدَمٌ إلأ ثَبَّتَتْهُ قَدَمٌ أُخْرَى، حَتَّى یُنْجِیَهُ اللَّهُ یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَةِ.
Everyone who loves Ahl al-Bayt, even if one of his feet slips, his other foot will keep him steadfast and firm until Allah will save him on the Day of Judgment.
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[1]: Al-Kafi: 127/3, H. 2
[1]: Interpretation of Manifest Verses: 474
[2]: Yanabi al-Mawaddah: 460/2
[1]: Rijal al-Najashi: 39
[2]: Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha: 88/2, Chapter: 31, H. 220
[3]: Fadha’il al-Shia: 6, H. 3
10. Ahl al-Bayt and Forgiveness
Love in human being is an actuating motor, which motivates him to go forwards to his Beloved. This love compels him to purify himself from all pollutions, repent and turn towards all moral virtues. If we read in narrations that love for Ahl al-Bayt will lead to forgiveness of our sins, we should not have the impression that it will give us permission to commit sins. If our love for Ahl al-Bayt be true, it will give
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us the ability to purify ourselves.
Al-Hurr ibn Yazid al-Riyahi, with a moment of reflection, loved Imam Husayn. This love made him give up his high-ranking position and the worldly riches. He repented with a true repentance so that his sins were forgiven and he was engaged in jihad, the most praiseworthy deed, and experienced the most sacred truth, that is martyrdom. This is only the result of love! Based on this reality, Allah’s Messenger said:
حُبُّنَا أهْلَ الْبَیْتِ یُکَفِّر الذُّنُوبَ وَ یُضَاعِفُ الْحَسَنَاتِ.
Love for Ahl al-Bayt will remove all sins and increase virtues. [1]
Imam Hasan (a. s. ) has said:
وَإنَّ حُبَّنَا لَیُسَاقِطُ الذُّنُوبَ مِنِ إبْنِ آدَمَ کَمَا یُسَاقِطُ الرِّیحُ الْوَرَقَ مِنِ الشَّجَرِ.
Surely, love for us will make sins fall down away from the children of Adam as the wind make the leaves fall down from trees. [2]
Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) has said:
مَنْ أحَبَّنَا لِلَّهِ وَأحَبَّ مُحِبَّنَا لأ لِغَرَضِ دُنْیاً یُصِیبُهَا مِنْهُ وَ عَادَى عَدُوَّنَا لأ لإحْنَةٍ کَانَتْ بَیْنَهُ وَبَیْنَهُ ثُمَّ جَاءَ یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَةِ وَعَلَیْهِ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ مِثْلَ رَمْلِ عَالِجٍ وَ زَبَدِ الْبَحْرِ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى لَهُ.
Whoever loves our devotees and us for the sake of Allah, and not for a worldly purpose, he antagonizes our enemy, not because of personal rancor. His sins will be forgiven on the Judgment Day even if they are as many as the sands of a desert and foams of the seas. [3]
11. Associating with Ahl al-Bayt
Shiites, who have received the baptism of Ahl al-Bayt due to their love for them, expect to be associated with Ahl al-Bayt on the Judgment Day. The Holy Quran supports
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this truth:
وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصِّدِّیقِینَ النَّبِیِّینَ مِنَ عَلَیْهِمْ اللَّهُ أَنْعَمَ الَّذِینَ مَعَ فَأُولَٰئِکَ وَالرَّسُولَ اللَّهَ یُطِعِ وَمَنْ رَفِیقًا أُولَٰئِکَ وَحَسُنَۚ وَالصَّالِحِینَ
And whoever obeys Allah and the Apostle, these are with those upon whom Allah and the Apostle, have bestowed favors from among the prophets and the truthful and the martyrs and the good, and a goodly company are they! (4: 69)
Imam al-Ridha (a. s. ) is reported as saying:
حَقٌ عَلَى اللَّهِ أنْ یَجْعَلَ وَلِیَّنَا رَفِیقاً لِلنَّبِیِّینَ وَالصِّدِّیقِینَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصّاَلِحِینَ، وَ حَسُنَ أُلَئکَ رَفِیقاً.
It is up to Allah to make our friend associate with the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs and the righteous. What a goodly company are they!
The Holy Prophet has said:
مَنْ أحَبَّنَا أهْلَ الْبَیْتِ فِی اللَّهِ حُشِرَ مَعَنَا.
One who loves us for the sake of Allah will be associated with us. [1]
Abu-Dharr went to the presence of the Holy Prophet saying, “I love certain people but I do not like them practically. ” The Holy Prophet said, “Man will associate with one whom he loves. ” Abu-Dharr said, “I love Allah, His messenger, and his Ahl al-Bayt. " The Holy Prophet said,
الْمَرْءُ مَعَ مَنْ أحَبَّ.
“You will associate with one whom you love. ” [2]
Imam Husayn (a. s. ) has said:
مَنْ أحَبَّنَا لِلَّهِ وَ رَدْنَا نَحْنُ وَهُوَ عَلَى نَبِیِّنَا هَکَذَا وَضَمَّ إصْبِعَیْهِ.
Whoever loves us for the sake of Allah; we will meet the Prophets together. [3]
Yazid ibn Muawiyah has reported: I was in the presence of Imam al-Baqir (a. s) when a man who had come from Khorasan on foot entered the room. Showing blisters on his feet, the man said, “By Allah, nothing
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but love for Ahl al-Bayt has brought me here. ” The Imam said,
وَاللَّهِ، لَوْ أحَبَّنَا حَجَرٌ اللَّهُ مَعَنَا.
“By Allah, even if a stone love us, Allah will make it associate with us. ” [1]
Hakam ibn Utaybah has reported: I was in the presence of Imam al-Baqir (a. s. ) while the room was packed with people. All at once, an old man with a walking stick in his hand entered the room saying, “Peace be upon you, O son of Allah’s Messenger, and the Mercy of Allah and His blessings. ” He said nothing more. The Imam greeted him back. Addressing the crowd, the old man said, “Peace be upon you. ” He kept silent. Those who were present greeted him back. Then the old man turned to the Imam and said, “By Allah, I do love you and love your devotees. By Allah, I love you not for a worldly purpose but my love is pure. By Allah, I hate your enemies. By Allah my hate is not because of a personal rancor. By Allah, what is lawful to you is lawful for me and what is unlawful to you is unlawful to me. Now, may I be your ransom. Is there any hope of salvation for me? ”
The Imam said, “Come near, come near. ” The Imam made the old man sit beside him. He then said, “O gentleman! A man came to my father, Ali ibn al-Husayn asking the same question. My father replied: ‘If you die, you will meet Allah’s Messenger, Ali, Hasan and
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Husayn and Ali ibn al- Husayn. Your heart will become glad and your eyes bright. When your death comes, you will welcome it happily with the honorable recorders; and if you survive, Allah will make you with us in the highest rank. ’ ”
Hearing this, the old man started crying loudly which made others present cry too. At this moment, the Imam wiped the tears off the old man’s face. The old man said to the Imam, “O son Of Allah’s Messenger! May I be your ransom. Give me your hand. ” The old man kissed the Imam’s hand, put it on his eyes, bid him farewell and went away.
The Imam who was looking behind him turned to the crowd and said,
“Anyone who wishes to see a man of Paradise should look at this man. ” [1]
12. Paradise, Reward of Love For Ahl al-Bayt
point
Love for Ahl al-Bayt, which is a heavenly gift, is to act according to Ahl al-Bayt’s teachings. The reward of such will be Paradise.
In an excellent narration, Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) is reported to have said: Once when the Holy Prophet was traveling, he dismounted and performed five prostrations. When he mounted again, one of the companions asked, “O Allah’s Messenger! We have noticed something which you did for the first time. ” The Holy Prophet said, “Yes, Gabriel came to me and gave the good news:
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[1]: Al-Amali: 164, H. 274.
[2]: Al-Ikhtisas: 82
[3]: Al-Amali 156, H. 259
[1]: Tafsir al-Ayyashi: 256/1, H. 189
[2]: Kifayat al-Athar: 300
[3]: Al-Amali 632, H. 1303
[1]: Tafsir al-Ayyashi; 167/1, H. 27
[1]: Al-Kafi: 76/8, H. 30
Ali is a man of Paradise; that is why I prostrated before Allah. When I raised my head, he said: Fatimah too is among the people of Paradise; that is why I prostrated, and
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when I raised my head he said: Hasan and Husayn are the leaders of the youths of Paradise; that is why I prostrated before Allah, and when I raised my head, he said that the devotees of them too are people of Paradise. That was why I prostrated myself. When I raised my head, he said that the devotees of their devotees too are people of Paradise. I again prostrated myself before Allah. ” [1]
Imam Zayn al-Abidin once became ill. A group of companions came to visit him enquiring after his health. He thanked Allah and asked after their health. They all said, “By Allah, we love you. ” The Imam said:
مَنْ أحَبَّنَا لِلَّهِ أسْکَنَهُ فِی ظِلٍّ ظَلِیلٍ یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَةِ، یَوْمَ لأظِلَّ إلأ ظِلُّهُ.
Allah will place whoever loves us for the sake of Allah under a shade on the Judgment Day when there is no shade save that of Him. [2]
Yunus said to Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) , “My love and friendship for you and the way Allah made me know your rights is more beloved to me than the whole world. ” When he finished, the sign of vexation was visible in the face of the Imam who said,
یَا یُونُسُ! قِسْتَنَا بِغَیْرِ قِیَاسٍ. مَا الدُّنْیَا وَ مَا فِیهَا؟ هَلْ هِیَ إلأ سَدُّ فَوْرَةٍ أوْ سِتَرُ عَورَةٍ؟ وَ أنْتَ لَکَ بِمَحَبَّتِنَا الْحَیَاةُ الدَّائِمَةٌ.
“O Yunus! You made an improper comparison. What is the world and what is therein? Is it anything other than eating to a full or covering of private parts whereas through your love for us,
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you will attain eternal life? ”
Truly, love for Ahl al-Bayt is source of eternal life, which begins with a happy death and continues until eternity:
ألأ وَمَنْ مَاتَ عَلَى حُبِّ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ بَشَّرَهُ مَلَکُ الْمَوتِ بِالْجَنَّةِ، ثُمَّ مُنکَرٌ وَنَکِیرٌ. ألأ وَمَنْ مَاتَ عَلَى حُبِّ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ یُزَفُّ إلَى الْجَنَّةِ تُزَفُّ الْعَرُوسُ إلَى بَیْتِ زَوْجِهَا.
Whoever dies with love for the Household of Muhammad will be given the good news of entering Paradise by first the Angel of Death and then by Munkar and Nakir (Two interrogators in grave). Whoever dies with the love of the household of Muhammad will be taken to heaven just as a bride is taken to the bridegroom’s house. [1]
Keep Company With Ahl al-Bayt
Muhammad ibn Walid says: I asked Imam al-Jawad, “Is there any reward for doing a service for Ahl al-Bayt? ” The Imam said, “Imam al-Sadiq had a slave who used to look after his mule when the Imam would the mosque. One day, he was sitting beside the mule when a group of people came from Khorasan. A man from among them said to the slave, "Can you tell Imam al-Sadiq to replace you with me and in exchange for this I will give all my wealth to you? ” The slave said, “I should first consult with the Imam. ”
The slave came to the Imam saying, “May I be your ransom. You know about my long service to you. Do you prevent me from having a wealth if Allah gives such a wealth to me? ” The Imam said,
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“I will give to you of my wealth and keep you from others. ” The slave told the Imam the whole story. The Imam said, “If you are reluctant to serve us and that man is willing to do so, we will accept it. ”
When the slave went away, the Imam called him saying, “For your long services, I will advise you and then you can choose between the two. When the Judgment Day comes, the Holy Prophet will be hanging from Allah’s light and Amir al-Muminin will resort to Allah’s Messenger; the Imams will resort to Amir al-Muminin; and our followers (Shia) will resort to us; they will enter where we will enter; and they will abide where we will abide. ” The slave said, “No, I will not leave you but remain at your service, for I prefer the hereafter to this world. ”
The slave came out of the house with his answer. The man who was waiting for the slave said, “You have come back with an expression in your face different from that you went in! ” The slave told him the story and took him to Imam al-Sadiq who accepted his loyalty and ordered one thousand dinars to be given to the slave. After a while, the man rose up to bid the Imam farewell. He asked him to pray for him and the Imam did. ” [1]
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[1]: Al-Amali: 21, H. 2
[2]: Tuhaf al-Uqul: 379
[1]: Bisharat al-Mustafa: 197
[1]: Al-Kharaij wal-Jara’ih: 388/1, Chapter: 10
13. Love For Ahl al-Bayt Put s Hearts at Rest
Love for Ahl al-Bayt not only resolves difficulties at the point of death and the hereafter but also relieves worldly problems. One of the blessings
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of the love for Ahl al-Bayt is that it puts the hearts at rest, which is a blessing for the man who lives in this world of anxiety and restlessness. Imam Ali (a. s) says:
" قَالَ: مَنْ أحَبَّ اللَّهَ إنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآیَةُ " أَلَا بِذِکْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوب
وَرَسُولَهُ وَأحَبَّ أهْلَ بَیْتِی صَادِقاً غَیْرَ کَاذِبٍ وأحَبَّ الْمُؤْمِنِینَ شَاهِداً وَغَائِباً، ألأ بِذِکْرِ اللَّهِ یَتَحَابُّونَ.
When the verse –
“now surely by Allah’s remembrance are the hearts set at rest,” (13: 28)
was revealed, Allah’s Messenger said: This is about one who loves Allah and His Messenger, loves my Ahl al-Bayt truly and not falsely, loves believers both in the past and in the future. By Allah’s remembrance they love one another. [1]
Truly one whose love for Allah, the Holy Prophet, Ahl al-Bayt and the believers is true has tranquility and peace of mind. Any traitor, thieves, oppressors, usurpers, bribe-takers, usurers, ogles, adulterers, corrupts, defrauders, deceivers, and sinners can never enjoy peace of mind and tranquility. However, the lovers of Ahl al-Bayt who are clean from all these pollutions enjoy peace of mind and their hearts are set at rest.
Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) reports: The Holy Prophet asked Ali, “Do you know about whom the following verse was revealed:
those who believe and whose hearts are set at rest by the remembrance of Allah; now surely by Allah’s remembrance are the hearts at rest (13: 28)? ”
Imam Ali replied, “Allah and His Messenger know better. ” The Holy Prophet said,
(نَزَلَتْ)
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فِی مَنْ صَدَّقَ لِی وَآمَنَ بِی وَ أحَبَّکَ وَ عَشِیرَتَکَ مِنْ بَعْدِکَ وَ سَلَّمَ الأمْرَ وَ لِلأئِمَّةِ مِنْ بَعْدِکَ
“It is about one who acknowledges me, believes in me, loves you and your family, and submits his affairs to you and the Imams after you. ” [1]
Anas ibn Malik, an authentic narrator for Sunnis, says: the Holy Prophet recited the above-mentioned verse and said, “Do you know who these people are? ” I said, “O Allah’s Messenger, who are they? ” The Holy Prophet said, “They are the Ahl al-Bayt and our followers. ” [2]
Resort To The Ahl Al-Bayt
point
When a devotee of and one who is obedient to Ahl al-Bayt faces a difficulty which external factors fail to resolve, it will be certainly resolved if he truthfully beseeches Ahl al-Bayt to intercede for him with Allah.
Holding Mourning Sessions For Ahl al-Bayt
One of the subjects highlighted by Ahl al-Bayt is to hold sessions for propagating their life-giving culture and commemorating the tragic events they went through, especially that of Karbala. After the martyrdom of Imam Husayn in Karbala, the Shiites, encouraged by Ahl al-Bayt, have tried to hold mourning ceremonies whereby to teach people the Quranic concepts, narrations, true sciences of Islam and injunctions related to jurisprudence and to hold the torch of guidance with the help of Allah.
The devotees of Ahl al-Bayt have established many mosques, schools, charitable institutes, interest-free funds and orphanages, thanks to these sessions. Millions of people have enjoyed the blessings of such institutions.
Addressing Fudhayl ibn Yasar, Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) asked, “Will you get together and talk about us? ” I said, “Yes. ”
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The Imam said,
إنَّ تِلْکَ الْمَجَالِسَ أحِبُّهَا. أحْیُو أمْرَنَا، فَرَحِمَ اللَّهُ مَنْ أحْیَا أمْرَنَا.
“I am fond of these assemblies. Enliven our affair with them. May the mercy of Allah be upon one who enlivens our affair. ” [1]
Imam al-Baqir (a. s. ) has said:
رَحِمَ اللَّهُ إجْتَمَعَ مَعَ آخَرَ فَتَذَاکَرَ أمْرَنَا، فَإنَّ ثَالِثَهُمَا مَلَکٌ یَسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُمَا. وَمَا إجْتَمَعَ مَعَ مَعَ آخَرَ فَتَذَاکَرَ أمْرَنَا، فَإنَّ ثَالِثَهُمَا مَلَکٌ یَسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُمَا. وَمَاإجْتَمَعَ إثْنَانِ عَلَى ذِکْرِنَا إلأ بَاهَى اللَّهُ بِهِمَا الْمَلأئِکَةَ، فَإذَا اجْتَمَعَ إثْنَانِ عَلَى ذِکْرِنَا إلأ بَاهَى اللَّهُ بِهِمَا الْمَلأئِکَةَ فَإذَا اجْتَمَعْتُمْ فَاشْتَغِلُوا بِالذِّکْرِ، فَإنَّ فِی إجْتِمَاعِکُمْ وَمُذَاکَرَتِکُمْ إحْیَاءَنَا.
May Allah have mercy on a person who sits with another and speaks about our traditions. When two persons speak about our affair, the third of them will be an angel who will pray forgiveness for them. When two persons get together and commemorate us, Allah will be proud of them before angels. When you get together, be engaged in commemorating us, for in this way you will enliven us. [2]
Imam al-Ridha (a. s. ) has said:
مَنْ جَلَسَ مَجْلِساً یُحْیی فِیهِ أمْرَنَا لَمْ یَمُتْ قَلْبُهُلایَوْمَ تَمُتْ قَلْبُهُ یَوْمَ تَمُوتُ الْقُلُوبُ.
Whoever sits in an assembly where our affair is enlivened, his heart will not die when all hearts die. [3]
Weeping For Ahl Al-Bayt
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--------------------
[1]: Al-Durr al-Manthur: 642/4
[1]: Tafsir Furat: 207, H. 274
[2]: Interpretation of Manifest Verses: 239
[1]: Qurb al-Isnad: 18
[2]: Al-Amali: 224, H. 390
[3]: Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha: 294/14, Chapter: 28, H. 48
point
Weeping is a state that comes about when man faces a certain event. We weep when our hearts are broken or sometimes, we weep for joy. Weeping is a truth that the Prophets, Imams and Allah’s favorite servants have been involved in especially at dawns when they were engaged in supplications and invocations. It has been
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considered as cure for some esoteric pains such as separation. Allah’s favorite servants found relief for their afflicted and grieved hearts with it. Today, weeping is considered in the West as treatment for curing certain psychological cases and psychologists prescribe it.
Allah mentions weeping as a sign of true believers:
وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ تَرَىٰ أَعْیُنَهُمْ تَفِیضُ مِنَ الدَّمْعِ مِمَّا عَرَفُوا مِنَ الْحَقِّ ۖ یَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا فَاکْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِینَ
And when they hear what has been revealed to the apostle, you will see their eyes overflowing with tears on account of the truth. (5: 83)
There are many narrations about weeping for fear of Allah at midnights and dawns as related by Ahl al-Bayt, which can be collected together as a book.
Amir al-Muminin (a. s. ) , in the supplication of Kumayl, says:
یَا إلَهِی وَ رَبِّی وَ سَیِّدی وَمَوْلای! لأیِّ الأُمُورِ إلَیکَ أشْکُو؟ وَلِمَا مِنْهَا أضِجُّ وَأبْکِی؟ لألِیمِ الْعَذَابِ وَ شِدَّتِهِ؟ أمْ لِطُولِ الْبَلاءِ وَمُدَّتِهِ؟
My God! My Lord! My Master! My Protector! For which things would I complain to You, and for which of them would I lament and weep? Is it for the pain and severity of chastisement or for the length and period of tribulation?
In Dua Abi-Hamzah Thamali, Imam Zayn al-Abidin (a. s. ) says:
فَمَا لِی لا أبْکِی؟ أبْکِی لِخُروجِ نَفْسِی، أبْکِی لِظُلْمَةِ قَبْرِی، أبْکِی لِضَیقِ لَحْدی، أبْکی لِسُؤالِ مُنْکَر وَ نَکِیر إیَّایَ، أبْکی لِخُرُوجی مِنْ قَبْری عُرْیَاناً ذَلِیلاً حَامِلاً ثِقْلِی عَلى ظَهْرِی.
Why should I not cry? I am sad on account of my departing soul. I cry in fear of the darkness of the
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grave. I cry in dread of the narrowing walls inside the dugout hole. I cry in awe of the questioning Munkar and Nakir would direct at me. I cry over my plight when I will come out naked, in shame, from my grave, loaded with burden on my back.
One of the instances of weeping is to weep for the calamities, which befell the Ahl al-Bayt especially the master of the martyrs, Imam Husayn, which is considered as a prayer and has a great reward. It is a cure for mental disturbances, preparation for repentance, and a cause of Allah’s mercy.
In an authentic narration, Imam al-Ridha (a. s. ) has said:
مَنْ تَذَکَّرَ مُصَابَنَا وَبَکَى لِمَا ارْتُکِبَ لِمَا ارتُکِبَ مِنَّا کَانَ مَعَنَا فِی دَرَجَاتِنَا یَومَ الْقِیَامَةِ. وَمَنْ ذُکِّرَ بِمُصَابِنَا فَکَى وَ أبْکَى لَمْ تَبْکِ عِینُهُ یَومَ تَبْکِی الْعُیُونُ.
One who remembers our calamities and weeps for what has befallen us will have the same rank with us on the Judgment Day. And one who reads our calamities and weeps or makes others weep will not weep when all eyes are full of tears. [1]
Addressing Musmi, Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) said, “You are from Iraq. Have you visited the grave of Imam Husayn? ” Musmi said, “There are many enemies of Ahl al-Bayt in Basrah. I fear they will report me to the rulers hence I will be persecuted. ” The Imam said, “Do you ever remember what was done to Husayn? ” Musmi said, “Yes, I do. ” The Imam said, “Do you lament? ” Musmi said, “Yes. By Allah, I lament
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in a way my family see its signs on my face. In that state, I can’t eat. ”
The Imam said, “May Allah have mercy on you for your lamentation. You are one of those who will be happy when we are happy and you will be sad when we are sad. Beyond doubt you will meet my forefathers when you will die. You will be recommended to the Angel of Death; you will be given news about something delightful before you die and the Angel of Death will be more kind to you than your mother. ” [1]
Imam Ali (a. s. ) said, addressing Imam Husayn (a. s. ):
“You are a lesson (of weeping) for every believer! ”
“Am I, father? ” Imam Husayn (a. s. ) asked.
“Yes, my son”, answered Imam Ali (a. s. )
Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) has said:
مَنْ ذَکَرَنَا أوْ ذُکِرْنَا عِنْدَهُ فَخَرَجَ مِنْ عَینِهِ دَمَهٌ مِثْلُ جَنَاحِ بَعُوضَةٍ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ ذُنُوبَهُ وَلَوْ کَانَتْ مِثْلَ زَبَدِ الْبَحْرِ.
Whoever remembers us and weeps, Allah will forgive his sins even if they are as much as foam of sea. [2]
Imam al-Sadiq has also said:
نَفْسُ الْمَهْمُومِ لِظُلْمِنَا تَسْبِیحٌ، وَهَمُّهُ لَنَا عِبَادةٌ، وَکِتْمَانُ سِرِّنَا جِهَادٌ فِی سَبِیلِ اللَّهِ... یَحِبُ أنْ یُکْتَبَ هَذَا الْحَدِیثُ بِالذَّهَبِ.
A moment of sorrow for the injustice done to us is like the glorification of Allah. Grieving over us is as prayer and hiding our secrets is considered as holy war. These words should be written with gold. [3]
Harun Makfuf (the blind) has reported Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) to say:
وَمَنْ ذُکِرَ الْحُسَینُ عِنْدَهُ فَخَرَجَ مِنْ عَینَیْهِ مِنَ الدُّمُوعِ مِقْدَارَ جَنَاحٍ ذُبَابٍ کَانَ ثَوَابُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ
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وَجَلَّ وَ لَمْ یَرْضُ لَهُ بِدُونِ الجَنَّةِ.
One who remembers Husayn and weeps for him will be rewarded; and Allah is not content with anything less than Paradise for him. [1]
Imam al-Ridha (a. s. ) has said:
فَعَلَى مِثْلِ الحُسَینِ فَلْیَبْکِ الْبَاکُونَ، فَإنَّ الْبُکَاء عَلِیهِ یَحُطُّ الذُّنُوبَ الْعِظَامَ.
A weeper should lament over Husayn, for weeping for him will do away with sins. [2]
Addressing Ibn Shabib, Imam al-Ridha (a. s. ) has said:
إنْ کُنتَ بَاکِیاً لِشَیْءٍ فَابْکِ لِلْحُسَینِ بْنِ عَلِیِّ بْنِ أبِی طَالِبٍ بَکَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ السَّبْعُ وَالأرضُونَ لِقَتْلِهِ... إنْ بَکَیْتَ عَلَى الْحُسَینِ حَتَّى تَصِیرَ دُمُوعُکَ عَلَى خَدَّیْکَ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَکَ کُلَّ ذَنْبٍ.
If you wish to weep for anything, weep for Husayn ibn Ali ibn Abi-Talib, for heavens and the earth wept for him when he was slain. If you weep for Husayn to the extent that your tears run on you cheek, Allah will forgive all your sins. [3]
From narrations that recommend weeping for Imam Husayn, we can infer the following points:
• Weeping is accepted from believers. In this case, Allah grants a great reward.
• Weeping of a believer is valuable to the extent of his adherence to Ahl al-Bayt.
• Weeping of man will be valuable if his intention is pure in seeking the pleasure of Allah, the Holy Prophet and Ahl al-Bayt.
• Weeping of man will be valuable if he does not commit sin, does not rebel against Allah, does not have an immoral life and is not a source of evil and misfortune for people.
• Based on Quranic verses and narrations, on the Judgment Day, a believer’s
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weeping will turn into Allah’s mercy and forgiveness as well as Ahl al-Bayt’s intercession.
In order to make you believe as to how one thing may change into another, we ask you to pay special attention to the following article:
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--------------------
[1]: Al-Amali: 73, H. 4
[1]: Kamil al-Ziyarat: 101, Chapter: 32, H. 6
[2]: Tafsir al-Qummi: 292/2
[3]: Al-Amali, 115, H. 178
[1]: Kamil al-Ziyarat; 100, Chapter: 32, H. 3
[2]: Al-Amali: 128, H. 2
[3]: Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha: 299/1 Chapter: 28, H. 58
The Question of Transformation in the Holy Quran
point
The Holy Quran expressly speaks about changing of one thing into another (transformation) at Allah’s will in the material and spiritual fields.
In Material Field
وَإِنَّ لَکُمْ فِی الْأَنْعَامِ لَعِبْرَةً ۖ نُسْقِیکُمْ مِمَّا فِی بُطُونِهِ مِنْ بَیْنِ فَرْثٍ وَدَمٍ لَبَنًا خَالِصًا سَائِغًا لِلشَّارِبِینَ
And most surely there is a lesson for you in the cattle; We give you to drink of what is in their bellies-- from betwixt the feces and the blood-- pure milk, easy and agreeable to swallow for those who drink. (16: 66)
Is it not wonderful that, when Allah wills, pure and agreeable milk with different valuable products comes from between feces and bellies, which man hate? Reflection on this issue brings man out of ignorance to the knowledge of Allah.
The Holy Quran says about the bees:
ثُمَّ کُلِی مِنْ کُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ فَاسْلُکِی سُبُلَ رَبِّکِ ذُلُلًا ۚ یَخْرُجُ مِنْ بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٌ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ فِیهِ شِفَاءٌ لِلنَّاسِ ۗ
Then eat of all the fruits and walk in the ways of your Lord submissively. There comes forth from within it a beverage of many colors, in which there is a healing for men; most surely there is a sign in this for a people who reflect. (16: 69)
What does Allah’s will really do? A tiny insect flies miles from its hive, eats of the fruits, while knowing them
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precisely, returns to its hive without losing its way and gives us a nutritious material!
Allah’s will brings out of water, soil, air and light, fruits, seeds, cereals, grain, vegetables, flowers, herbs for animals which cannot be counted nor can their quality and quantity be measured.
No one is aware of how water, soil, air and light change into all these wonderful blessings! The Holy Quran says:
رِزْقًا الثَّمَرَاتِ مِنَ بِهِ فَأَخْرَجَ مَاءً السَّمَاءِ مِنَ وَأَنْزَلَ بِنَاءً وَالسَّمَاءَ فِرَاشًا الْأَرْضَ لَکُمُ جَعَلَ الَّذِی
. لَکُمْ
Who made the earth a resting place for you and the heaven a canopy and who sends down rain from the cloud, then brings for the subsistence for you. (2: 22)
The question of changing one thing into another in the material field is as noteworthy as the universe itself and it cannot be discussed within the short space of this book.
In Spiritual Field
Reflection on Quranic verses proves that any good deed done by human beings will be changed into Allah’s pleasure and will be sent to heaven. Likewise, every evil act done by human beings will turn into eternal torment.
True repentance will turn Allah’s wrath into mercy. True prayer will turn vices into virtues. Fasting will turn into a shield against Hellfire on the Judgment Day.
What is given as rewards to the righteous and punishment to the evildoers on the Day of Judgment is an embodiment of their deeds changed into Paradise or hell:
أَمَدًا وَبَیْنَهُ بَیْنَهَا أَنَّ لَوْ تَوَدُّ سُوءٍ مِنْ عَمِلَتْ وَمَا مُحْضَرًا خَیْرٍ مِنْ عَمِلَتْ
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مَا نَفْسٍ کُلُّ تَجِدُ یَوْمَ بَعِیدًا
On the day that every soul shall find present what it has done of good and what it has done of evil, it shall wish that between it and that evil, there were a long duration of time. (3: 30)
یُظْلَمُونَ لَا وَهُمْ کَسَبَتْ مَا نَفْسٍ کُلُّ تُوَفَّىٰ ثُمَّ ۖ اللَّهِ إِلَى فِیهِ تُرْجَعُونَ یَوْمًا وَاتَّقُوا
And guard yourselves against a day in which you shall be returned to Allah; then every soul shall be paid back in full what it has earned, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly. (2: 281)
This is even more evident than all in the verse on eating the property of orphans, which will turn into fire in the bellies of the unjust:
نَارًا بُطُونِهِمْ فِی یَأْکُلُونَ إِنَّمَا ظُلْمًا الْیَتَامَىٰ أَمْوَالَ یَأْکُلُونَ الَّذِینَ إِنَّ
As for those who swallow the property of the orphans unjustly, surely they only swallow fire into their bellies and they shall enter burning fire. (4: 10)
Whatever we do will remain in an invisible world and one day we will see them face-to-face. If our deeds are beautiful, they will change into paradise and if they are ugly, they will turn into fire of hell.
It is related that a woman came to the Holy Prophet asking a question. She was short and when she left, Aishah referred to her being short with her hands. Allah’s Messenger said, “Take a tooth-pick to remove bits of meat from between your teeth! ” Aishah said, “But I have not eaten
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anything! ” The Holy Prophet asked her to do what he had said. Aishah did so and a bit of meat came out of her mouth! Actually the Holy Prophet showed to Aishah the invisible result of backbiting in this world:
ۚفَکَرِهْتُمُوهُ مَیْتًا أَخِیهِ لَحْمَ یَأْکُلَ أَنْ أَحَدُکُمْ أَیُحِبُّ بَعْضًا بَعْضُکُمْ یَغْتَبْ وَلَا
…nor let some of you backbite others. Does one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? But you abhor it. (49: 12)
In a Hadith, we read:
إنَّمَا هِیَ أعْمَالُکُم تُرَدُّ إلَیْکُم.
All torments are the deeds that you have done and they return to you.
Visitation On To The Graves Of Ahl Al-Bayt
Visiting the graves of Ahl al-Bayt from near and far distance, especially enduring hardships on this way, has been recommended to the believers; an act which will have great reward.
On visiting the Holy Shrine of the Holy Prophet, it has been related:
If people abandon visiting the grave of the Holy Prophet, Muslim leaders have the duty to encourage them to do so, for abandoning visitation to his holy shrine is unkindness to him, which is unlawful to Muslims. [1]
Quoting Imam al-Sadiq, Sheikh Saduq has reported:
إذَا حَجَّ أحَدُکُمْ فَلْیَخْتِمُ حَجَّهُ بِزِیَارَتِنَا لأنَّ ذَلِکَ مِنْ تَمَامِ الْحَجِّ.
Whoever performs Hajj rites must complete it with paying visit to us, for to visit our graves makes Hajj perfect. [2]
Imam Ali (a. s. ) is reported as saying:
أتِمُّوا بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَیْهِ وَآلِهِ حَجَّکُمْ إذَا خَرَجْتُم إلَى بَیْتِ اللَّهِ، فَإنَّ تَرْکَهُ جَفَاءٌ، وَبِذَالِکَ أمِرْتُمْ. وَأتِمُّا بِالْقُبُورِ الَّتِی ألْزَمَکُمُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ زِیَارَتَهَا وَ حَقَّهَا وَاطْلُبُوا الرِّزْقَ عِنْدَهَا.
Make your Hajj rites perfect by visiting
--------------------
[1]: Wasail al-Shia: 24/11, H. 14149
[2]: Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha: 262/2, H. 28
the Holy Prophet’s grave, for to abandon that would be an unkind act and against courtesy. You have been enjoined to perform this visitation. Also visit the graves, which Allah has made obligatory and seek your sustenance beside those graves. [1]
Quoting his grandfather, Yazid ibn Abd al-Malik has reported: One day I went to the presence of Lady Fatimah. She greeted me and asked, “What have you come here for? ” I said, “Seeking blessings and reward. ” Lady Fatimah said (a. s. ) , “My father told me that whoever salutes him and me for three days, Allah will make Paradise obligatory to him. ” I asked, “During his and your life? ” She said, “Yes, and also after our death. ” [2]
Imam al-Sadiq is reported as saying:
مَنْ زَارَنِی غُفِرَتْ لَهُ ذُنُوبُهُ وَلَمْ یَمُتْ فَقِیراً.
Whoever visits my grave; his sins will be forgiven and will not die as poor or distressed. [3]
Imam Askari has said:
مَنْ زَارَ جَعْفَراً وَأبَاهُ لَمْ یَشْکُ عَیْنَهُ وَلَمْ یُصِبْهُ سَقَمٌ وَلَمْ یَمُتْ مُبْتَلَىً.
Whoever visits the tombs of Imam al-Sadiq and Imam al-Baqir will not have defect in his eye, will not be diseased, and will not die afflicted. [4]
The Holy Prophet has said:
مَنْ زَارَ الحَسَنَ فِی بَقِیعِهِ ثَبُتَ قَدَمُهُ عَلَى الصِّراطِ یَوْمَ تَزِلُّ فِیهِ الأقْدَامُ.
Whoever visits Imam Hasan in Baqi Cemetery, his foot will remain steadfast on the Sirat when his other feet will slip. [5]
Imam al-Baqir (a. s. ) is reported by Muhammad ibn Muslim as saying:
مُرُوا شِیعَتَنَا بِزِیَارَةِ قَبْرٍ الحُسَینِ بْن عَلِیٍّ، فَإنَّ إتْیَانَهُ مُقْتَرَضٌ عَلَى کُلٍّ مُؤْمِنٍ یُقِرُّ لِلْحُسَیْنِ بِلأمَامَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.
Enjoin our followers
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to visit the grave of Imam Husayn, for visiting his grave is incumbent upon every believer who admits his Imamate. [1]
Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) is reported as saying:
مَنْ زَارَ قَبْرَ الحُسَیْنِ لِلَّهِ وَفِی اللَّهِ، أعْتَقَهُ اللَّهُ مِنَ النَّارِ وَ آمَنَهُ یَوْمَ الْفَزَعِ الأکْبَرِ وَلَمْ یَسَالِ اللَّهَ حَجَةَ مِنْ حَوَائِجِ الدُّنْیَا وَالآخِرَةِ إلأ أعْطَاهُ.
Whoever visits the grave of Imam Husayn for the sake of Allah and in His way will be set free from hellfire, spared on the Day of the Greater Lamentation, and Allah will grant him whatever his needs are in this world and the hereafter. [2]
Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) has also said:
مَنْ لَمْ یَاتِ قَبْرَ الْحُسَینِ حَتَى یَمُوتَ کَانَ مُنْتَقَصَ الدِّینِ مُنْتَقَصَ الإیمَانِ، وَإنْ أدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ کَانَ دُونَ المُؤْمِنِینَ فِی الجَنَّةِ.
Whoever does not visit the grave of Imam Husayn before his death, his faith is not perfect. Even if he enters Paradise, his rank will be lower than that of other believers. [3]
Imam al-Ridha (a. s. ) has said:
مَنْ زَارَ قَبْرَ الْحُسَینِ بِشَطِّ الْفُرَاتِ کَانَ کَمَنْ زَارَ اللَّهَ فَوْقَ عَرْشِهِ.
Whoever visits the grave of Husayn at the bank of the Euphrates is like the one who has visited Allah on His Throne. [4]
How To Thank The Blessing Of Ahl Al-Bayt
point
In the Holy Quran, all human beings have been asked to offer thanks for all material and spiritual blessings that Allah has given to them and to avoid being ungrateful to these blessings. Based on narrations related by Ahl al-Bayt, offering thanks means to avoid using these blessings where Allah is not pleased and that blessings must be used in the same way that
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Allah has ordered.
There are two Quranic verses, which make offering thanks obligatory on human beings:
وَلِوَالِدَیْکَ لِی اشْکُرْ أَنِ عَامَیْنِ فِی وَفِصَالُهُ وَهْنٍ عَلَىٰ وَهْنًا أُمُّهُ حَمَلَتْهُ بِوَالِدَیْهِ الْإِنْسَانَ وَوَصَّیْنَا
ۖتُطِعْهُمَا فَلَا عِلْمٌ بِهِ لَکَ لَیْسَ مَا بِی تُشْرِکَ أَنْ عَلَىٰ جَاهَدَاکَ إِنْ وَ الْمَصِیرُ إِلَیَّ
کُنْتُمْ بِمَا فَأُنَبِّئُکُمْ مَرْجِعُکُمْ إِلَیَّ ثُمَّ ۚإِلَیَّ أَنَابَ مَنْ سَبِیلَ وَاتَّبِعْ ۖمَعْرُوفًا الدُّنْیَافِی وَصَاحِبْهُمَا
تَعْمَلُونَ
And we have enjoined man in respect of his parents - his mother bears him with faintings upon faintings and his weaning takes two years, saying: Be grateful to Me and to both your parents; to Me is the eventual coming. And if they contend with you that you should associate with Me what you have no knowledge of, do not obey them, and keep company with them in this world kindly, and follow the way of him who turns to Me, then to me is your return, then will I inform you of what you did. (31: 14-15)
These Holy verses address all human beings, man and woman, young and old, scholar and layman. The part, which reads,
“Be grateful to Me and to both parents” –
is in imperative form that has to be complied with. Beyond doubt, disobeying such command is a grave sin for which Allah has promised a certain torment.
In this Holy verse, Allah has not provided any condition for being grateful to one's parents. In this relation, Imam al-Sadiq is reported as saying: A man came to the Holy Prophet saying, “O Allah’s Messenger! Enjoin me. ” The Holy Prophet
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said:
لاَ تُشْرِکْ بِللَّهِ شَیْئاً وَ إنْ حُرِّقْتَ بِالنَّارِ وَعُذِّبْتَ إلاَّ وَ قَلْبُکَ مُطْمَئِنٌّ بِالإیمَانِ. وَوَالِدَیْکَ فَأطِعْهُمَا وَبِرَّهُمَا حَیَّینِ کَانَا أوْمَیِّتَیْنِ وَ إنْ أمَرَاکَ أنْ تَخْرُجَ مِنْ أهْلِکَ وَ مَالِکَ فَافْعَلْ، فَإنَّ ذَلِکَ مِنَ الإیمَانِ.
Do not associate anything with Allah and even if they burn or torment you as regards monotheism, endure it while you heart is sure of your faith; be kind to your parents both when they are living or dead and even if they asked you to give up your family and wealth, do so, for acceptance of this shows your faith. [1]
Out of the four persons of fighting in the battlefield, Miqdad said to the Holy Prophet, “My father is in the front against us: he has entered battle against you; would you give me permission to attack and kill him? ” The Holy Prophet replied, “Let someone else do it, for if you kill your father in the way of Allah, your life will become short! ”
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[1]: Tahdhib al-Ahkam: 9/9, Chapter: 3, H. 11
[2]: Al-Muqniah: 474, Chapter: 20
[3]: Al-Muqniah: 474, Chapter: 20
[4]: Tahdhib al-Ahkam: 78/6
[5]: Bihar al-Anwar: 141/97, Chapter: 1, H. 14
[1]: Kamil al-Ziyarat: 121
[2]: Kamil al-Ziyarat; 145, Capter 57, H. 7.
[3]: Kamil al-Ziyarat: 193, Capter: 57, H. 2
[4]: Thawab al-Amal wa-Iqab al-Amal: 85
[1]: Al-Kafi, 158/2, H. 2
Thanking the Blessing of Ahl al-Bayt
When the position of parents – whether they be Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, or laic - is so high, how much higher will be the position of Ahl al-Bayt who have a right of Imamate, loyalty and educational leadership on all human beings? They are Noah’s Ark in this world and the hereafter and obedience to them will guarantee a man’s happiness and prosperity.
To give Ahl al-Bayt’s their due right is to get to know them, to love them, to consider them as Noah’s Ark, and to obey their commands in all aspects of
life. This is the way to offer our thanks for the blessing of Ahl al-Bayt.
Conclusion
Point
A perfect recognition of the Ahl al-Bayt is beyond human capacity. With numerous translations and interpretations of the Holy Quran throughout centuries, every new generation realizes that there are concepts in the Holy Quran, which have not been discussed as yet. The same thing can be said about Ahl al-Bayt.
All throughout the past fourteen centuries, many books and dissertations have been written on them; yet, there are still many things that have not yet been written or said. From narrations related by Ahl al- Bayt, we infer that getting to know Ahl al-Bayt has many stages.
The Holy Prophet has said:
یَا عَلِیُّ! مَا عَرَفَ اللَّهَ وَ أنْتَ: وَ مَا عَرَفَنِی إلأَّ اللَّهُ وَ أنْتَ: وَمَا عَرَفَکَ إلأَّ اللَّهُ وَ أنَا.
O Ali! No one knows Allah save you and me; no one knows me save Allah and you; no one knows you save Allah and me. [1]
The Holy Prophet has also said:
مَنْ مَاتَ وَلَمْ یَعْرِفْ إمَامَ زَمَانِهِ مَاتَ مِیتَةً جَاهِلِیَّة.
One who dies and does not know his Imam has died the death of one who lived in the era of ignorance (i. e. has not recognized Islam). [2]
The Holy Prophet has introduced dying without knowing the Imam of the time as dying in the pre-Islamic era of ignorance. On one hand he has counted the knowing of Ahl al-Bayt at a very limited level and the level of knowing Allah and Ahl al-Bayt on another.
From these
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narrations, we infer that human beings have different capacities of getting to know the Ahl al-Bayt. Salman, the Persian is quite different from Abu-Dharr in terms of knowing Ahl al-Bayt. Abu-Dharr’s knowledge of Ahl al-Bayt is different from that of Miqdad.
Quoting his great grandfather Ali ibn Husayn, Imam al-Sadiq (a. s. ) has reported:
وَاللَّهِ، لَوْ عَلِمَ أبُوذَرٍ مَا فِی قَلْبِ سَلْمَانَ لَقَتَلَهُ! وَلَقَدْ آخِى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ بَیْنَهُمَا، فَمَا ظَنُّکُمْ بِسَائِرِ الْخَلْقِ؟ إنَّ عِلْمَ الْعُلَمَاءِ صَعْبٌ مُسْتَصْبٌ لاَ یَحْتَمِلُهُ إلأ نَبِیٌ مُرْسَلٌ أوْ مَلَکُ مُقَرَّبٌ أو عَبْدُ مُؤْمِنٌ إمْتَحَنَ اللَّهُ قَلْبَهُ لِلأیمَانِ. وَإنَّمَا صَارَ سَلْمَانُ مِنَ الْعُلَمَاءِ لأنَّهُ امْرُؤٌ مِنَّا أهْلَ الْبَیتِ فَلِذَلِکَ نَسَبْتَهُ إلَى الْمَاءِ.
By Allah (I swear) , if Abu-Dharr knew what was in the heart of Salman, he would kill him, though Allah had made a contract of brotherhood between them. How would you then judge about other people? Surely the scholars’ knowledge is hard to understand and burdensome! No one can endure it but a Prophet, an archangel or a believing servant whose heart Allah has tested with faith. Only Salman became a man of knowledge, for he was from us, Ahl al-Bayt. That is why I attributed him to the scholars. [1]
On one occasion, Imam Ali (a. s. ) said to Abu-Dharr:
إنَّ سَلْمَانَ لَوْ حَدَّتَکَ بِمَا یَعْلَمُ لَقُلْتَ: رَحِمَ اللَّهُ قَاتِلَ سَلْمَانَ!
If Salman informed you of what he knew, you would say: May Allah have mercy on Salman’s killer. [2]
It has been reported that faith has ten ranks: Salman was in the tenth rank, Abu-Dharr in the ninth and Miqdad in the
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eighth. [1]
As it is seen, faith is based on knowledge. Therefore, ranks of faith are deeply rooted in the ranks of knowledge.
Exaggeration - A Threat To Faith
Throughout history of Shiism, exaggeration has been a potential danger threatening the Shia faith. We can say that there has never been an epoch in the history of Shia without exaggerators being there. There has never been a time when the Imams of Ahl al-Bayt have not resisted against this destructive current of exaggeration and have not condemned it. Surprisingly, we still witness exaggerators here and there in our time, which is the age of the technology of data and advanced sciences.
Exaggeration has its roots in two factors: lacking sufficient capacity for learning the knowledge of Ahl al-Bayt and overflowing of emotions and its dominance over intellect.
The Holy Prophet has said:
لَوْلأَ أنْ یَقُولَ الضَّالُّونَ مِنْ أمَّتِی مَا قَالَتِ النَّصَارَى فِی عِسَى بْنِ مَرْیَمَ، لَقُلْتُ فِیکَ قَوْلاً لاَ تَمُررُّ بِمَلإٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ إلاَّ أخَددذُوا اْتُّرَابَ مِنْ تَحْتِ قَدَمَیکَ یَسْتَشْفُونَ بِهِ.
Were it not for fear that exaggerators of my ummah say about you what Christians said about Jesus, son of Mary, I would say something about you that you would not pass by any people unless they would take the soil under you feet to be healed therewith. [2]
A man by the name of Sa’d asked Imam al-Baqir (a. s. ) , “Who is an exaggerator? ” The Imam said,
(الْغَالُونَ) قَومٌ یَقُولُونَ فِینَا مَا لاَ نَقُولُهُ فِی أنْفُسَنَا. فَلَیسَ أُولَئِکَ مِنَّا وَلَسْنَا مِنْهُمْ.
“They are people who say something about us which we do not
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say about ourselves. They are not from us and we are not from them either. ” [1]
Imam al-Sadiq has said:
شِیعَتُنَا مَنْ لاَ یَمْدَحُ بِنَا غَالِیاً.
Our followers are those who do not eulogize us exaggeratedly. [2]
In another narration, Imam al-Sadiq is reported as saying:
وَ أحِبُّوا أهْلَ بَیْتِ نَبِیِّکُمْ حُبَّاً مُقْتَصِداً وَلاَ تَغْلُوا.
Be moderate in loving the Household of your Prophet and do not exaggerate. [3]
Evidently, the young generation who are the great support of every school of thought, every society and every culture, if exposed to exaggerators inroad, the biggest blow will be dealt to the Muslim society, the school of thought and culture.
The Imams of Ahl al-Bayt, with their Divine insight have warned the new generations against the blight of exaggeration. In this relation, Imam al- Sadiq (a. s. ) has said:
إحْذَروا عَلَى شَبَابِکُمُ الغُلاَةَ لاَ یُفْسِدُوهُمْ، فَإنَّ الغُلاَةَ شَرُّ خَلْقِ اللَّهِ.
Beware of exaggerators who might ruin the youngsters, for exaggerators are the worst creatures. [4]
In another Hadith, after speaking about Allah’s attributes, Imam al-Ridha says:
نَحْنُ آلَ مُحَمَّدٍ النَّمَطُ الأوْسَطُ الَّذِی لاَ یُدِکُنَا الْغَالِی وَ لاَ یَسْبِقُنَا الْتَّالِی.
We, the family of Muhammad, are moderate people. Those who overstate our position do not understand us. And, those who understate our position fail to supersede us. Know that the Imams of Ahl al-Bayt have made the right path distinct from the wrong; no excuse is accepted from anyone.
اَللَّهُمَّ أحْیِنَا حَیَاةَ مُحَمَّدِ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَ أمِتُنَا مَمَاتَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَارْزُقَنَا فِی الدُّنْیَا زِیَارَةَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَفِی الآخِرَةِ شَفَاعَةَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَ لاَ
تُفَرِّقْ بَیْنَنَا وَ بَیْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَ اجْعَلْنَا مِنْ شِیعَةِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ.
O Allah, make me live like Muhammad (S) and his household lived. And, make me die like Muhammad (S) and his household died. And - Page349 - Ahl al-Bayt:The Celestial Beings on the Earth
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[1]: Interpretation of Manifest verses; 139/1, H. 18
[2]: Al-Kafi: 19/2
[1]: Al-Kafi: 401/1, H. 2
[2]: Bihar al-Anwar: 373/22, Chapter: 11, H. 2
[1]: Al-Khisal, Tadiths: 48-49
[2]: Yanabi al-Mawaddah: 200/1
[1]: Bihar al-Anwar: 101/67, Chapter: 47, H. 6
[2]: Bihar al-Anwar: 164/65, H. 16
[3]: Bihar al-Anwar: 269/25, H. 12
[4]: Al-Amali: 650, H. 1349
make the visitation of the grave of Muhammad (S) and those of his household, the intercession of Muhammad (S) and his household in the hereafter available to us. And make no separation between us and Muhammad (S) and his household and place us among the followers of Muhammad (S) and the household of Muhammad (S).