HAYAT AL-QULUB: Succession to Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) Volume 3

HAYAT AL-QULUB: Succession to Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)8%

HAYAT AL-QULUB: Succession to Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) Author:
Translator: Sayyid Akhtar Husain S.H. Rizvi
Publisher: Ansariyan Publications – Qum
Category: General Books
ISBN: 964-438-462-8

Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 3
  • Start
  • Previous
  • 81 /
  • Next
  • End
  •  
  • Download HTML
  • Download Word
  • Download PDF
  • visits: 32542 / Download: 6199
Size Size Size
HAYAT AL-QULUB: Succession to Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)

HAYAT AL-QULUB: Succession to Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) Volume 3

Author:
Publisher: Ansariyan Publications – Qum
ISBN: 964-438-462-8
English

This book is corrected and edited by Al-Hassanain (p) Institue for Islamic Heritage and Thought


1

2

3

4

PART 14

Traditions that interpret words like Sirat (Path), Sabil (way) to signify the Imams (a.s.)

It is mentioned in theTafsir of Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) andManiul Akhbar that in the explanation of the words of Allah:Keep us on the right path. (1:5) The Hazrat said that it means: Make the divine opportunity (tawfeeq) permanent for us by which we have worshipped You in the past so that in the future life also we may obey You. There are two right paths (Siratul Mustaqeem). One is the path in this world and the other is in the hereafter. The straight path of the world is one which is much lower than a high type of life and it higher than the life of shortage, and it is so straight that there should be no attraction towards any wrong deed. And the second path in the hereafter is the way of the believer towards the Paradise, which is straight and neither does it turn towards Hell nor in any other direction. The Hazrat said that it means our guidance which takes to the right path and towards the way the follower of which is taken to Your love and Your religion and it restrains us from following our selfish desires or that we act according to our opinion and be destroyed.

صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ.

The path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed favors. 1:6

Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said: Say (O Allah!) Guide us to the group whom You have given the divine help (tawfeeq) for Your religion and obedience and thus favored them. It is that group in whose praise the Almighty Allah has said:

وَمَنْ يُطِعْ اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُوْلَئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُوْلَئِكَ رَفِيقًا.

And whoever obeys Allah and the Apostle, these are with those upon whom Allah has bestowed favors from among the prophets and the truthful and the martyrs and the good, and a goodly company are they! 4:69

Amirul Momineen (a.s.) said that these are not those people to whom Allah has given blessings of wealth and physical health, although they also have apparent blessings, even though some are unbelievers and some sinners, and Allah does not command you to pray for guidance to the path of this group, but rather He commands you to pray for guidance to the path of those whom Allah blessed, to bring faith on their Lord and to testify to His Prophets, and to accept the Mastership of Muhammad and the Progeny of Muhammad and their good and chosen companions. And due to the result of their appropriate following remain safe from the mischief of men and the sins and disbelief of the enemies of Allah. In this way be polite to them and do not make them trouble you or the other believers. And recognize the rights of your believing brothers because no one from the male or female servants of Allah are such who befriends Muhammad and Aale Muhammad be inimical to their enemies but that they have secured a strong fort against the punishment of Allah. And every male or female servant of Allah who does this favor to people which is very good, that is its should not have any illegality or harm then Allah gives for each breath the rewards of glorification (Tasbeeh) and accepts their deeds. And for the patience he has maintained to keep our secrets and for restraining their anger which they have controlled after listening to unsuitable talks of Our enemies. Allah gives them the reward similar to one who has smeared himself in his blood in the way of Allah. And that person who depending upon his capacity fulfils the rights of believing brothers and helps them as much as possible and remains pleased with them, in a way that they forgive their faults and mistakes they commit and does not exaggerate them, and forgive their defects then surely the Almighty Allah, on the day of Judgment, will say to them: O My servant, you have fulfilled the rights of your believing brothers and did not force them to fulfil your rights. I am more forgiving and merciful than this. Whatever facility and favor you have given them, I will bestow upon you all that today, which I had promised. Rather due to My vast grace I will give you more than this and whatever shortcomings you had in the fulfilment of my rights, I will not make any reduction in My bestowals upon you. After that Allah will join him to Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and Aale Muhammad and make him one of their proximate Shias.

There is an authentic tradition inManiul Akhbar that Imam Sadiq (a.s.) was asked by some people about ‘Sirat’. He replied that it is the way of Allah and His Ma’refat (recognition) and there are two ‘Sirats’—‘Sirat’ of this world and the ‘Sirat’ of the hereafter. The Imam is Sirat of this world is that whose following is incumbent, for one who recognizes him and follows his guidance. Then he will pass over this Sirat in the Hereafter which is bridge over Hell, and one who does not recognize him in the world, his foot would stumble and he would fall into Hell fire.

Also according to a good chain of narrators Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said in the explanation of this verse:

اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ.

Keep us on the right path. 1:5

That ‘the Right Path’ is Ali (a.s.) and the proof of his recognition is that the Almighty Allah says:

وَإِنَّهُ فِي أُمِّ الْكِتَابِ لَدَيْنَا لَعَلِيٌّ حَكِيمٌ.

And surely it is in the original of the Book with Us, truly elevated, full of wisdom. 43:4

That Ali (a.s.) is the ‘original of the book’ (mother of the book), which is the chapter of ‘The Opening’ (Al-Hamd) whose verse:Keep us on the right path … mentions him and ‘Siratul Mustaqeem’ is Ali. He is the knower of the laws and the learned one of divine realities.

The commentators have referred the pronoun to Quran and considered ‘original of the book’ (Ummul Kitab) to be the Protected Tablet (Lauhe Mahfuz), which is with us, which has a esteemed position and stability, or which is to show the wisdom. On the basis of this whatever we have derived earlier that Ali (a.s.) is the ‘speaking book of Allah’ can be matched with the apparent meaning of the verse also.

Also it is narrated from Imam Zainul Aabedeen (a.s.) that the Imam of the time is between Allah and his hujjat (proof), there is no veil or curtain between them. We are doors of divine knowledge, and we are the Straight Path and we are the treasure chest of the Allah’s knowledge and we the informants of divine revelation and we are the pillars of the oneness of Allah (monotheism) and we are the repositories of divine secrets.

Also according to authentic sources Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said in the explanation of:The path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed favors. (1:7)

The Imam said that it means Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and his progeny.

Ali Ibne Ibrahim has authentically narrated from Imam Sadiq (a.s.), that he said: Those whose obedience has been commanded by Allah, and whoever wants to choose that path, by Allah there is no way for them except to turn to us. By Allah! The path and the way, that you have been commanded to follow by Allah are we; and by Allah we are the Straight Path.

Also from the same Imam according to a reliable tradition, the last of the Surah was read like this:

اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ. صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

Keep us on the right path. The path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed favors. Not (the path) of those upon whom Thy wrath is brought down, nor of those who go astray. 1:7

The Imam said: Those who were the recipients of Allah’s wrath are the Nasibi, that is all the opponents (of the Shias), except those who are weak in faith and those harbour enmity to the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) and the astrayed are the Jews and the Christians.

Also according to authentic tradition from the same Imam ‘upon whom Thy wrath is’ are the Nasibi and ‘those who go astray’ are those who doubt and who do not recognize the Imam.

Ibne Shahr Aashob has quoted fromTafsir of Wakee, who is Sunni commentator regarding this verse:

Keep us on the right path. 1:6

That Ibne Abbas said: O! People say: Guide us towards the love of Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and His Ahle Bayt (a.s.).

InTafsir of Thalabi it is narrated by Abu Buraida that ‘the Straight Path’ is the path of Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and Aale Muhammad.

InKashful Ghumma Muhaddith Haski has quoted from others that Anas has narrated in the same way from Buraida.

Ali Ibne Ibrahim says in the explanation of the verse:

وَأَنَّ هَذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ.

And (know) that this is My path, the right one therefore follow it, and follow not (other) ways, for they will lead you away from His way; this He has enjoined you with that you may guard (against evil). 6:153

The Imam said that in this verse ‘this is My path, the right one’ is the Imam, and the different paths which are mentioned in the verse —to follow which has been prohibited - are the paths of other than the Imam.

…for they will lead you away from His way…

It means be not divided on the matter of Imamate and do not create a difference.

It is narrated in the explanation of this that Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) said: We are the path of Allah. Those who dislike it are on the other paths (Sobol), whom Allah has restrained to follow.

Also in the explanation of the verse:

وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَهَادِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ.

…and most surely Allah is the Guide of those who believe into a right path. 22:54

The Imam said that it means Allah guides the believers towards the Imam.

In the bookTawilul Aayaat an authentic narration from Imam Baqir (a.s.) says in explanation of the verse:

And (know) that this is My path…6:153

That it means the path of Imamate, so you must follow it.

…and follow not (other) ways…6:153

They are those paths other than that of the Imamate.

InNahjul Iman there is a tradition by Buraida Aslami, that when this verse was revealed the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: I prayed to Allah to make this verse (exclusive) in praise of Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.), and He did so.

InTafsir of Furat, there is a tradition from Imam Baqir (a.s.) about:

And (know) that this is My path, the right one…6:153

That it means Ali Ibne Abi Talib and the Pure Imams (a.s.), who are from the descendants of Fatima (s.a.). Only they are the path of Allah. Those who love them, do not tread other paths.

Ibne Shahr Aashob has narrated from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) regarding the verse:

…and follow not (other) ways…6:153

That we are the path of Allah, for one follows us, and we are the ones who guide towards Paradise, and we are the chains and ropes of Islam.

Also, it is narrated from the same Imam regarding verse:

وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا.

And (as for) those who strive hard for Us, We will most certainly guide them in Our ways… 29:69

The Imam said that this verse was revealed in praise of Aale Muhammad and their Shias.

Also from the same Imam:

وَاتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ مَنْ أَنَابَ إِلَيَّ.

…and follow the way of him who turns to Me…31:15

It means: Follow the way (path) of Muhammad and Ali.

Ali Ibne Ibrahim narrates in the explanation of the following verse:

وَإِنَّكَ لَتَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ.

And most surely you invite them to a right way. 23:73

That the Imam said that it means to the Wilayat of Amirul Momineen (a.s.).

Also regarding the verse:

وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ عَنْ الصِّرَاطِ لَنَاكِبُونَ.

And most surely those who do not believe in the hereafter are deviating from the way. 23:74

It is narrated that they are the ones who turn away from the Imam.

InManaqib it is narrated from Imam Baqir (a.s.) that the ‘way’ denotes the Wilayat of Ahle Bayt (a.s.).

Also it is quoted inManaqib from Ibne Abbas regarding the verse:

فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ أَصْحَابُ الصِّرَاطِ السَّوِيِّ وَمَنْ اهْتَدَى.

So you will come to know who is the follower of the even path and who goes aright. 20:135

That the Imam said: By Allah! The ‘follower of the even path’ are Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and His Ahle Bayt and those ‘who go aright’ are the companions of Muhammad (s.a.w.s.).

It is narrated in theTafsir of Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: Among the servants of Allah, every servant and from the maids of Allah that maid who has apparently given oath of allegiance to Amirul Momineen but broken the oath inwardly and is firm on his/her hypocrisy, when the angel of death comes to take his soul, at that time Satan and his helpers will appear and show the fire of Hell and different types of Chastisements. And also show the Paradise and its stages which was fixed for them if he had remained steadfast on his oath and faith; then he would have settled there. At this the angels of death will say: See the Paradise, the luxury and the blessings, whose value is known only to Allah, which was reserved for you if you had remained firm on the allegiance of the Wilayat (Mastership) of Muhammad’s brother. You would have gone towards those blessings on the day of Qiyamat, but you broke your oath and opposed them, that is why this Chastisement, fire, open-mouthed snakes, scorpions ready to sting, fangs barred wild animals and all such types of punishments are for you and your return is to them. He would say:

يَا لَيْتَنِي اتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ الرَّسُولِ سَبِيلًا.

O! Would that I had taken a way with the Apostle… 25:27

Alas if only I had followed the path of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.), and accepted whatever he had said and made incumbent upon me regarding the Wilayat (Mastership) of Ali (a.s.).

Ibne Mahyar has narrated from Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) regarding the verse:

وَيَوْمَ يَعَضُّ الظَّالِمُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ يَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي اتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ الرَّسُولِ سَبِيلًا. يَا وَيْلَتِي لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ فُلَانًا خَلِيلًا.

And the day when the unjust one shall bite his hands saying: O! Would that I had taken a way with the Apostle. O woe is me! Would that I had not taken such a one for a friend! 25:27-28

That the first tyrant will say this to the second tyrant.

In another tradition from Imam Sadiq (a.s.): By Allah at no other place in the Quran has Allah used the allusion of ‘fulan’ (such a one). Rather it is in this way:O woe is me! Would that I had not taken (the second caliph) for a friend! And very soon when that Quran becomes apparent the people would recite it this same way.

Kulaini has narrated from Imam Baqir (a.s.) that Imam Ali (a.s.) recited a Sermon and said that the two greatest tyrants removed the dress of caliphate from my body and donned it themselves and debated with me in the matter in which they had no right at all. And due to ignorance and misguidance they committed that evil deed. Thus they chose for themselves a very bad place and arranged punishment for themselves. They will curse each other and will express disdain for each other. The second one will say to his companion and confidant, the first one, when they meet each other:

يَا لَيْتَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ بُعْدَ الْمَشْرِقَيْنِ فَبِئْسَ الْقَرِينُ.

O would that between me and you there were the distance of the East and the West; so evil is the associate! 43:38

Hearing this that tyrant would reply in a terrible condition:

يَا وَيْلَتِي لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ فُلَانًا خَلِيلًا. لَقَدْ أَضَلَّنِي عَنْ الذِّكْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ جَاءَنِي وَكَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ لِلْإِنسَانِ خَذُولًا.

O woe is me! Would that I had not taken such a one for a friend! Certainly he led me astray from the reminder after it had come to me; and the Shaitan fails to aid man. 25:28-29

After that the Imam said: I am that ‘reminder of Allah’, from which they were ‘led astray’. And I am that path and way of Allah, from which they turned away. And I am that faith, which they denied and I am that Quran from which they distanced themselves and I am that religion which they falsified and I am that right path from which they turned away.

FromManaqib a tradition of Imam Sadiq (a.s.) says regarding this verse:

أَفَمَنْ يَمْشِي مُكِبًّا عَلَى وَجْهِهِ أَهْدَى أَمَّنْ يَمْشِي سَوِيًّا عَلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ.

What! Is he who goes prone upon his face better guided or he who walks upright upon a straight path? 67:22

Those ‘who goes prone upon his face’ are our enemies and those who ‘walk upright’ are Salman, Abu Zar, Miqdad, Ammar, and the special companions of Ali (a.s.).

Muhammad Ibne Abbas has narrated from Imam Baqir (a.s.) that the person who walks on the right path at night, by Allah it is Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.) and his successors.

Ali Ibne Ibrahim narrates from Imam Baqir (a.s.) regarding this verse:

إِذْ يَقُولُ الظَّالِمُونَ إِنْ تَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا رَجُلًا مَسْحُورًا. انظُرْ كَيْفَ ضَرَبُوا لَكَ الْأَمْثَالَ فَضَلُّوا فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ سَبِيلًا.

…when the unjust say: You follow only a man deprived of reason. See what they liken you to! So they have gone astray and cannot find the way. 17:47-48

The Imam said that this verse was revealed in this way:

…when the unjust (on the Aale Muhammad and those who grabbed their rights) say and said that the second verse is in this way:

…when the unjust (towards Aale Muhammad) say:

It means that they do not find any way to the Wilayat of Ali and Ali is the path towards Allah.[49]

Kulaini has narrated with authentic chains from Imam Baqir (a.s.) regarding the verse:

قُلْ هَذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ عَلَى بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا وَمَنْ اتَّبَعَنِي وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَمَا أَنَا مِنْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ.

Say: This is my way: I call to Allah, I and those who follow me being certain, and glory be to Allah, and I am not one of the polytheists. 10:108

The Imam said it is those who follow the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and in place of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) invite people to the true religion (and they are we the Ahlul Bayt).

InTafsir Furat there is a tradition from Imam Baqir (a.s.) that in this verse ‘way’ (Sabil) denotes the Wilayat of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.), none denies this except the astrayed ones and none condemns Ali except those who are astrayed.

According to another tradition regarding this verse:

فَاسْتَمْسِكْ بِالَّذِي أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ إِنَّكَ عَلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ.

Therefore (O Apostle) hold fast to that which has been revealed to you; surely you are on the right path. 43:43

The Imam said that it is the Wilayat of Ali Ibne Abi Talib, and Ali is ‘the right path’. And the Almighty Allah says in Surah Hijr:

قَالَ هَذَا صِرَاطٌ عَلَيَّ مُسْتَقِيمٌ.

He said: This is a right way with Me: 15:41

Often reciters put fatha (a) on the ‘laam’ in ‘Alaa’ and the ‘yaa’ is having tashdeed (doubling a letter). This means that the Oneness of Allah is the way incumbent upon me to follow. Some reciters put ‘kasra’ (i) on the ‘laam’ in ‘Alaa’ and use ‘rafa’ or ‘tanvin’ on the ‘yaa’ which means the esteemed path. And inTaraif it is narrated from Hasan Basri that he use to recite it by ‘Kasre’ (e) on the ‘laam’ and tashdid on the ‘yaa’ and used to say this is the path of Ali Ibne Abi Talib and his path and his religion is straight and clear and there is no crookedness in it. So follow it and be attached to it.

Kulaini has also chosen this recitation. And narrated from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) regarding this recitation:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمْ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنْتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ. نَحْنُ أَوْلِيَاؤُكُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِي أَنفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ.

(As for) those who say: Our Lord is Allah, then continue in the right way, the angels descend upon them, saying: Fear not, nor be grieved, and receive good news of the garden which you were promised. We are your guardians in this world’s life and in the hereafter, and you shall have therein what your souls desire and you shall have therein what you ask for. 41:30-31

Also Ibne Mahyar and Kulaini have narrated from Imam Sadiq (a.s.), he said: By Allah! ‘then continue in the right way’ means the mastership (Wilayat) of the Pure Imams one after the other; that is to believe in all the Imams.

Ibne Mahyar has narrated through reliable chain of narrators from Imam Baqir (a.s.) that he said: By Allah! It means the True Religion. That which you Shias follow and the angels would descend and give the good news at the time of death and on the day of Judgement.

InMajmaul Bayan it is narrated from Imam Reza (a.s.) that it means the Shias. It is related from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that the giving of good news by the angels shall be at the time of death.[50]

Also it is narrated from Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) regarding the explanation of the verse:

We are your guardians in this world’s life and in the hereafter… 41:31

In theTafsir of Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) there is a tradition from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) that the faithful are always afraid about the hereafter and when the angels of death arrive to capture their soul, they were not having the certainty of reaching upto the pleasure of Allah because the angels of death come to the believer when he is in a severe pain and he is shocked due to the separation from his wealth and family. He is worried about all those who were connected to him and in his heart remain the aspirations and longings for his wife and children that had not materialised, at that time the angels of death say to him: Why are you so much aggrieved? He says: Because of the nervousness and worry and the breaking up of the ambitions. The angels of death say: Does any sane person laments the loss of a spurious (dirham) coin, in exchange of which, he is given thousands of dinars. The man will say: No. Then the angels of death would tell him to look up and when he does so he sees the palaces and levels of Paradise, which are better than what the people desire in this world. The angels say: These houses, blessings, wealth, wife and children are all yours and all those pious wives and children would be with you, do you agree to leave those things of the world to get these in the hereafter? He says: Yes, I agree. Then the angels ask him to look up again. When he looks up, he sees the Prophet (s.a.), Ali and his purified progeny in the most elevated position (Aala-e-Illiyeen), and the angels tell him: These are you masters and guides and they would be with you in these gardens of Paradise and give you company and be your friends, don’t you agree that they give you company instead of your worldly companions? He would say: Indeed by Allah, I agree. This is the explanation of the verse:

…the angels descend upon them, saying: Fear not nor be grieved… 41:30

It means do not be aggrieved. Whatever you have left in the world; children, wife, wealth, is compensated by what you have seen in the Paradise. So be happy with the Paradise that you were promised, which you have seen, and all those noble personages would be your friends and companions.

The Almighty Allah says in Surah Jinn:

وَأَلَّوْ اسْتَقَامُوا عَلَى الطَّرِيقَةِ لَأَسْقَيْنَاهُمْ مَاءً غَدَقًا. لِنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ.

And that if they should keep to the (right) way, We would certainly give them to drink of abundant water. So that We might try them with respect to it… 72:16-17

In the explanation of this verse, the following points have come in the traditions of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.).

Firstly, that Ibne Mahyar narrates from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that if they had in the spiritual plane (Aalam-e-Arwah), when Allah has taken oath for His oneness, the Prophethood of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and the Imamate of the purified Imams (a.s.). Then if they remained steadfast on Wilayat, then surely We would put plenty of sweetness in their dust ‘Teenat’(from which they are created) and not the bitter water which We put in the ‘Teenat’ of the unbelievers and the hypocrites.

Imam Baqir (a.s.) has been reported to have said in similar terms and said that at the end that the examination and tests are in the Wilayat of Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.).

Secondly the metaphor of water refers to knowledge because knowledge is the basis of the life of the soul just as the water is the basis for the life of the body. Thus in many authentic traditions it is narrated from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that: If they remain firm on the Wilayat of Ahle Bayt (a.s.), surely We would shower them heavily with knowledge, that they learn from the Imams (a.s.).

In some traditions it is mentioned that the pronoun in ‘try them’ points to the hypocrites, it means: We will examine the hypocrites.

PART 15

Quranic verses based on the variations of the word ‘Truth’

There are many verses in this regard:

First Verse:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ.

O you who believe! be careful of (your duty to) Allah and be with the true ones. 9:119

Shaykh Tabarsi has said that in the recitation of Ibne Masood and Ibne Abbas it is: ‘be with the true ones.’ means that ‘follow the religion of the one practices what he preaches and be their friend and companion’.

And it is related from Ibne Abbas that ‘be with Ali and his companions’.

It is related from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that be with the Aale Muhammad.

In Basair it is related from Imam Baqir (a.s.) that ‘Sadeqeen’ means ‘We.

And it is narrated from Imam Reza (a.s.) that ‘sadeqoon’ means the Holy Imam (a.s.) who with their obedience are going to completely verify Allah and His Prophet (s.a.w.s.).

And inManaqib , from Sunni chains of narrators, it is narrated from Ibne Umar that ‘be with Muhammad and Ahle Bayt (a.s.).

In the bookKamaluddeen there is a tradition from Imam Ali (a.s.) that when this verse was revealed, Salman (r.a.) asked: O Messenger of Allah, is this verse general or special? The Prophet replied: It is ordered for all general people and all the Believers ordered to this. And ‘Sadeqeen’ are specially my brother Ali and after him his successors the day of judgement.

Shaykh Tusi inMajalis has narrated from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that ‘be with the true ones. ’ means ‘be with Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.)’.

Ali Ibne Ibrahim has said that ‘Sadaqeen’ are the Holy Imams.[51]

Second Verse:

وَمَنْ يُطِعْ اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُوْلَئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُوْلَئِكَ رَفِيقًا.

And whoever obeys Allah and the Apostle, these are with those upon whom Allah has bestowed favors from among the prophets and the truthful and the martyrs and the good, and a goodly company are they! 4:69

InMisbahul Anwar it is narrated by Anas, that one day the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) prayed the morning prayers with us and after that turned his holy face towards us, so I asked the Prophet about the Tafsir of this verse. He replied: ‘prophets’ refers to me, ‘the truthful’ refers to my brother Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.), ‘martyrs’ refers to my uncle Hamza, ‘pious’ refers to my daughter Fatima (s.a.) and both her sons, Hasan and Husain (a.s.).

Kulaini has related from Furat Ibne Ibrahim and he from Imam Ali (a.s.), that when Allah will gather the future and the past people, from them we seven will be the best people who are from the children of Abdul Muttalib. The Prophets (a.s.) are the best amongst the creatures of Allah, and our Prophet are better than all of them. After this are the vicegerents of the Prophets who are the best in the nations and the Vicegerents of our Prophets are better than all the previous Vicegerents and after the vicegerents our martyrs are best of all the martyrs and Hazrat Hamza is the leader of the martyrs and he is great and Hazrat Ja’far whom Allah has bestowed two wings, with which he flies with the angels in Paradise, Allah has not given this blessing to anyone before him and it is that affair that Allah has blessed the Ummat of Muhammad Mustafa (s.a.w.s.). Then both the grandsons of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.), Hasan and Husain (a.s.) and then is the Mahdi of this Ummat, and Allah will make anyone He wishes the Mahdi from our Ahlul Bayt. And then he recited this verse:

أُوْلَئِكَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ.

These are they on whom Allah bestowed favors…19:58

Also Sulaiman Dailami narrated that he says that I was in the presence of Imam Sadiq (a.s.), suddenly his great companion Abu Baseer entered and he was breathing heavily and when he sat down the Imam asked: O! Aba Muhammad, why are you breathing so heavily? He replied: May I be sacrificed for you, my breathing has come up and my bones have become thin and my death has come near. I don’t know what would be my condition in the hereafter. Imam said: O, Aba Muhammad, you talk like this! He said: Why I should not say so? The Imam said: Allah has mentioned you in the Quran, when He said:

And whoever obeys Allah and the Apostle, these are with those upon whom Allah has bestowed favors from among the prophets and the truthful and the martyrs and the good, and a goodly company are they! 19:58

In this verse the ‘prophets’ refers to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and we are ‘the truthful’ and you (all Shias) are the ‘good’. After saying this the Imam said: You keep your name ‘good’ as Allah has named you thus.

Kulaini has narrated from Abu Saba through reliable chains of narrators that Imam Baqir (a.s.) told him: Help me through piety. Whoever from you meets Allah with piety, for him there will be salvation and opening near Allah, because Allah says:

And whoever obeys Allah and the Apostle…

The Apostle is from us; from us are the truthful, martyrs, pious and it is incumbent upon Allah that He gathers our Shias and friends with the prophets, the truthfuls, the martyrs and the pious.

There is a tradition inKhisal that the Prophet (s.a.) said that there are three truthful ones: Ali Ibne Abi Talib, Habib Najjar and the believer of the people of Firon.

In Uyoon Akhbar Reza it is narrated from the Hazrat that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said that in every Ummah there is one ‘truthful’ (Siddiq) and one ‘discriminator’ (Farooq) and the ‘truthful’ and the ‘discriminator’ of this Ummah is Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.).

Ali Ibne Ibrahim has narrated that ‘prophets’ means the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.), ‘truthful’, Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.), ‘martyrs’, Hasan and Husain (a.s.) and ‘good’ are the other holy Imams (a.s.).

and a goodly company are they …is the Qaem Aale Muhammad (Imam Mahdi).

Ibne Mahyar has narrated from Abu Ayyub Ansari that ‘truthful’ (Siddiq) are three: Hizqeel, the believer of the people of Firon, Habib Najjar, the person of Yasin and Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.), and he is the best of all.

It is narrated from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that once an angel having twenty heads came to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.). The Prophet wanted to kiss his hand but he stopped him and said that you are the most respected one near Allah among all the creatures of this world and of the heavens. The name of that angel was Mahmud. When the angel turned, the Prophet saw that it was written between his shoulders:

There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of Allah and Ali is the greatest truthful (Siddiq-e-Akbar).

The Prophet asked him: My friend, since when is this written between your shoulders. He replied: Ten thousand years before Allah created Adam.

Third Verse:

مِنْ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ رِجَالٌ صَدَقُوا مَا عَاهَدُوا اللَّهَ عَلَيْهِ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ قَضَى نَحْبَهُ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَنْتَظِرُ وَمَا بَدَّلُوا تَبْدِيلًا.

Of the believers are men who are true to the covenant which they made with Allah: so of them is he who accomplished his vow, and of them is he who yet waits, and they have not changed in the least. 33:23

Traditions on the circumstances of the revelation of this verse mention two aspects:

First: the verse was revealed in praise of Imam Ali (a.s.) and his near ones. As mentioned inMajmaul Bayan there is a tradition from Imam Ali (a.s.) that: I, my uncle Hamza, my brother Ja’far, the son of my uncle, Ubaidah, had promised to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) that for the pleasure of Allah and His Prophet they would fulfil the task, so my companions were steadfast and they were the first martyrs in the way of Allah and after that I was left for some assignments that Allah wished to complete through me. So Allah, sent this verse:

…so of them is he who accomplished his vow…

So those who fulfilled their promises were Hamza, Ja’far and Ubaidah and I, by Allah, am waiting for martyrdom because I have not change anything in religion.

In the same way Ibne Mahyar and Ali Ibne Ibrahim have narrated from Imam Baqir (a.s.), and in the tradition of Ali Ibne Ibrahim ‘Nahab’ denotes death.

Secondly this verse is said to be in praise of the perfect believer as Kulaini narrates in an authentic tradition from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that the faithful are of two types. The first is the one who has made a covenant to Allah and has fulfilled his promise completely, as Allah says:

Of the believers are men who are true to the covenant which they made with Allah… 33:23

And is that believer who is not afraid of the terrors of this world and the hereafter and his example is like that of stalk of grass, sometimes it bents due to the wind and sometimes it is straight. In the same way sometimes he is under the pressure of the self and is sometimes he is protected. It is this believer who is fearful of the terror of the world and the hereafter and he is in need of intercession and he himself is unable to intercede for others, but his end is good.

Also, there is a tradition of Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that he said to Abu Baseer that: Allah has mentioned you in the Quran, when He said:

Of the believers are men who are true to the covenant which they made with Allah… 33:23

Then he said: Indeed, you have fulfilled your promise that Allah had taken from you, that is our Wilayat; and you have not chosen others in our place.

Also, it is narrated by the same Imam (a.s.) that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: O Ali one who befriends you has certainly fulfilled his promise and the one who doesn’t befriends you, so he waits and everyday the sun which rises on him is related to the sustenance and faith.

It has come in many traditions that when Imam Husain (a.s.) was in the desert of Kerbala, whenever any of his companions was martyred and another used to bid farewell, the Imam used to recite this very verse.

Fourth Verse:

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ أُوْلَئِكَ هُمْ الصِّدِّيقُونَ وَالشُّهَدَاءُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ وَنُورُهُمْ.

And (as for) those who believe in Allah and His apostles, these it is that are the truthful and the faithful ones in the sight of their Lord: they shall have their reward and their light… 57:19

InKhisal there is a tradition from Amirul Momineen (a.s.), that there is no Shia who would do such a thing that we have refrained him from. And he would not die until a misfortunate befalls him, so that it will be a compensation for his sins, or his wealth is destroyed or his child dies or some disease inflicts him. Or some misfortune befalls him. And if any sin remains on him, his soul comes out of the body very painfully. Whoever from our Shias dies, he is either a Truthful or a Martyr, because he has verified our Mastership. And his friendship is for us and his enmity is on account of us, and his aim with it, is the pleasure of Allah and he has brought the right faith on Allah and His Prophet. Allah says:

And (as for) those who believe in Allah and His apostles…

InMajmaul Bayan there is tradition of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) in the explanation of this verse:

…they shall have their reward and their light…

That for them there is the reward for their worship and the light for their faith, with which they get the guidance for Paradise.

Ayyashi has narrated from Minahal Qassab that: I said to Imam Sadiq (a.s.): O Hazrat, pray that Allah gives me martyrdom. The Imam replied that on whatever condition a believer dies, he is a martyr. Then to prove his point he recited the same verse.

Also there is a tradition from Haris bin Mughira that once I was present in the service of Imam Baqir (a.s.) when he said that whoever from you is aware of the Shia religion and who awaits for our pleasure and does good work, he is as if he is in the service of Qaem Aale Muhammad (a.s.) and he has fought with his sword, Nevertheless by Allah he I like that person who has been in the service of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) has fought along with him with his sword, by Allah it is as if he were with the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) in his tent and then was martyred in the way of Allah. And there is a verse in the Quran in your praise. The narrator asked: May I be sacrificed for you, which verse is it? He replied:And (as for) those who believe in Allah and His apostles…

Then he said by Allah you are the truthful and the martyr in the view of Allah.

There is a tradition inTahzib that a person said that I was in the service of Imam Zainul Aabedeen (a.s.), when a discussion about martyrs was in progress. One of those present said: If a person dies due to dehydration, he is a martyr. Another said: If a wild beast tears a person he is also a martyr. In the same way some other said: I don’t believe that a person killed in any way to be a martyr except in the way of Allah. The Imam said: If it is so, martyrs would be very less. Then he recited the above verse and said: This verse is in praise our Shia.

Barqi inMahasin has narrated from Imam Husain (a.s.) that he said: There is no Shia but he is either a ‘truthful’ or a martyr. Zaid Ibne Arqam said: May I be sacrificed for you, who is a martyr? Although many of them die on the bed. Imam said: May be you have not read the Quran that Allah says in Surah Hadid:

And (as for) those who believe in Allah and His apostles…

Zaid says: I felt as if I have never read this verse in the Quran. Then the Imam said: If martyrdom was limited to what they say, the martyrs would be very few.

Fifth Verse:

فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنْ كَذَبَ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَكَذَّبَ بِالصِّدْقِ إِذْ جَاءَهُ أَلَيْسَ فِي جَهَنَّمَ مَثْوًى لِلْكَافِرِينَ. وَالَّذِي جَاءَ بِالصِّدْقِ وَصَدَّقَ بِهِ أُوْلَئِكَ هُمْ الْمُتَّقُونَ.

Who is then more unjust than he who utters a lie against Allah and (he who) gives the lie to the truth when it comes to him; is there not in hell an abode for the unbelievers? And he who brings the truth and (he who) accepts it as the truth… these are they that guard (against evil). 39:32-33

Shaykh inMajalis and Ibne Shahr Aashob inManaqib have narrated from Amirul Momineen (a.s.) that ‘Sidq’ (truthfulness) refers to the Wilayat of we Ahlul Bayt (a.s.).

Ali Ibne Ibrahim says: After this Imam mentioned about the enemies of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) and about those who attribute false things to Allah and the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and claim the position they do not deserve. Then he said:

Who is then more unjust than he who utters a lie against Allah and (he who) gives the lie to the truth when it comes to him…

It means the one who desires the right of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) which was brought by the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.). Then Allah mentioned the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and Amirul Momineen (a.s.):And he who brings the truth and (he who) accepts it as the truth… 39:33

In a tradition from Amirul Momineen (a.s.) inMajmaul Bayan and according to other Imams (a.s.) it means: ‘he who brings the truth ’ refers to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and ‘(he who) accepts it’ refers to Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.).

Sixth Verse:

وَبَشِّرْ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنَّ لَهُمْ قَدَمَ صِدْقٍ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ.

…and give good news to those who believe that theirs is a high rank with their Lord. 10:2

Kulaini from Ali Ibne Ibrahim and Ayyashi has narrated that ‘a high rank’ means the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and the Holy Imams (a.s.) that is their intercession and Mastership. Kulaini has also narrated from the same Imam that it refers to the Wilayat of Imam Ali (a.s.). Ayyashi has also narrated similarly.

PART 8

Hadith Thaqalayn (Tradition of the Two weighty things) and similar Traditions

It is mentioned inBasharatul Mustafa , through Ahle Sunnat sources, from Rafe, a freed slave of Abu Zar Ghiffari (r.a.) that he said: I saw Abu Zar (r.a.) clinging to the wall of Ka’ba and saying: The one who knows me knows. But who does not know me may know that I am Abu Zar Ghiffari (r.a.). I have heard from the Messenger of Allah Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) that: The man who will fight with me for the first time and on another occasion fight with my Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) will be, on the third occasion, made by Allah to rise with Dajjal on the Day of Judgement. Doubtlessly, the example of my Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) among you is like the Ark of Nuh (a.s.), that is, who boarded it got salvation and those who turned away drowned. My Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) is the Gate of Hitta (repentance) of Bani Israel. Whoever entered that door got salvation and who did not enter was destroyed.

Shaykh Tusi (r.a.) has narrated this tradition in a number of ways from Abu Zar Ghiffari (r.a.) and, in some narrations, these words are added: The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said thrice: Have I conveyed the message of Allah?

Sayyid Ibne Tawoos has, inTaraif , narrated fromMusnad of Ahmad bin Hanbal that Abu Saeed Khudri says that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: I am leaving behind me two very weighty things for you. So long as you will remain connected with them you will never go astray after my departure and they (the two things) are heavier than one another. One of them is the Book of Allah and it is a rope which hangs from the heavens to the earth and the other is my progeny, my Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). Doubtlessly they will never be separated from one another until they come to me at the side of the pond of Kauthar in Paradise.

He has also narrated from Ahmad that Israel bin Uthman said: I saw Zaid bin Arqam in the house of Mukhtar, I asked him: Did you hear this Hadith Thaqalayn from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.)? He said: Similarly.

Ahmad has narrated from Zaid bin Thabit that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) used to say: I am leaving among you two great things who are my successors among you after me: One is the Book of Allah which is a rope extended from sky to the earth and the other is my progeny who are my family members. Surely these two will never separate from each other until they reach me at the Pond of Kauthar. The Shaykh has also reported these traditions inAmadah in this same manner.

Similarly, Sayyid Ibne Tawoos has, through Ahle Sunnat sources, quoted from the bookJamiul Usool, which is the most reliable book of this time, and the said Sayyid has quoted from the original book. I am quoting his exact words. I have also seen in the tradition that it is reported from Yazid bin Hayyan that he says: I and Haseen bin Sabrah and Umar bin Muslim went to Zaid bin Arqam. When we sat down near him, Haseen told him: O Zaid! You have narrated many traditions and have also seen the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) with your eyes and also heard his words and have waged Jihad with him and have offered Prayers behind him and have met him many times. Please tell me those traditions that you yourself have heard from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.). Zaid said: O my nephew! By Allah, I have become very aged and a long time has passed since I was with the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.). I have forgotten a number of traditions which I had heard from him. So accept whatever I may now narrate to you and do not put pressure on me about what I may not narrate. Then he said: One day the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) rose up before us and gave a Sermon on the bank of the pond Khum, situated between Mecca and Medina. After praising Allah he gave some admonitions and reminded us of the Hereafter and said: O People! I am also a human being. Very soon my Lord will call me to Him. That is, the angel of death will come so I will respond to the Divine call and go away from this world. Doubtlessly, I am leaving behind me for you two great things. One of them is the Book of Allah that has Guidance and light (Noor). So adopt the Book of Allah and hold it. Then the Hazrat encouraged and inspired us to act according to the commands of the Holy Quran and then said: The other thing is my Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). Then he said thrice that I am asking you to remember Allah in the matter of the rights of my Ahlul Bayt (a.s.), that is, never give them any trouble and observe their respect and never usurp their right of being the Imams. Hearing this, Haseen asked: O Zaid! Who are his Ahlul Bayt (a.s.)? Is his wife not included in his Ahlul Bayt (a.s.)? Zaid said: Of course she is from the members of his house, but here Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) means those persons for whom alms (sadaqah) is impermissible (Haraam). He asked: Who are they? Zaid said: They are the progeny of Ali, the progeny of Aqeel, the progeny of Ja’far and the progeny of Abbas. Haseen asked: Is sadaqah Haraam for all of them? Zaid said: Yes.[20]

Similarly, this subject has been narrated with little variance inJamiul Usool and all other books and Sayyid has, reported it from some in some ways from Ibne Maghazali Shafei that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: The time has arrived when I will be called in the holy world and I will respond that call. Verily I am leaving behind me for you two things, one is the Book of Allah which is a rope stretched from the sky down to the earth and my Progeny which is my Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) and the Omniscient Allah has informed me that these two will not separate from one another until they arrive to me on the Hauze Kauthar. So just ponder how will you act regarding these two.

Likewise Sayyid has, inFazailul Quran narrated from Ibne Abi Duniya that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: I will reach the Hauze Kauthar ahead of you so that I may make provision for you. So when you will arrive I will ask you about the two weighty things (Thaqalayn) as to how did you act for me regarding them? The narrator says that they could not follow what was meant by Thaqalayn until a migrant got up and said: O Messenger of Allah! May my parents be sacrificed for you what are Thaqalayn? The Hazrat said: The greater of them is the Book of Allah, one end of which is in the hand of Allah and another in your hands. So keep holding it fast so that you may not err (and so astray) and the thing smaller than it is my Progeny. Those from them who remain in the direction of Qibla and may accept my invitation should not be killed nor should they be cheated because I has asked for a thing from the Omniscient and Omnipotent Allah which has been accepted by Him and it is that these two weighty things may come to me on the Hauz of Kauthar jointly like this (the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) joined his two fingers) and Allah has told me that: O Messenger! The one who helps the two is the one who helps you and those who degrade them are those who venture to degrade Me, being the enemies of the two. O people! No community before you had been destroyed but for acting upon their selfish desires who had helped one another in harming their prophet and who had killed those who were issuing just orders.

The author ofTaraif has reported in some ways from Thalabi who is one of the Ahle Sunnat commentators, the explanation of the verse:

وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا.

And hold fast by the covenant of Allah all together and be not disunited… 3:103

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said:

O people! I am leaving behind me for you two great things who are my successors and caliphs among you. If you will adopt them and will act accordingly and follow them, you will never go astray after me. One of them is greater than the other. The greater one is the Book of Allah that is a rope stretched from sky to earth and another is my Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). These two will not be separated from one another until they come to me on the Hauze Kauthar.

Ibne Kathir has, inJamiul Usool which is in vogue among the Ahle Sunnat, has quoted Tirmidhi wherein it is mentioned that Jabir bin Abdullah said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) giving a sermon on the back of a camel on the Day of Arafah. He was saying that I am leaving among you a thing which, if you will cling to it, you will never go astray and it is the Book of Allah and my Progeny who are my family members (Ahlul Bayt a.s.).

Similarly, fromSahih Tirmidhi , Zaid bin Arqam is quoted saying that the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.) said:

I am leaving for you a thing which if you will keep hold of, you will never go astray after me and those two things which are greater and higher than one another. One of them is the Book of Allah which is a rope drawn from earth up to the sky and another one is my Progeny who are my Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). These two will never get separated from one another until they arrive to me on the Hauz of Kauthar. So just think how you will act for me on their matter.

It is reported from Sulaym Ibne Qays Hilali inIhtijaj that Sulaym says: Once during the time of Hajj, when I and Jaish Ibnul Maqar were in Mecca, Abu Zar (r.a.) got up suddenly and holding the chain of Ka’ba proclaimed loudly:

O People! The one who knows me knows but the one who does not know me should know that I am Jundab bin Junadah and I am Abu Zar. O people! I have heard the Messenger of Allah saying: The example of my Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) among my Ummat is like that of the Ark of Nuh. Those from his community who rode it were saved and those who remained separate got drowned and the example of my Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) is like the Gate of Repentance (Babe Hitta) that was in Bani Israel. O people! I have heard the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) saying: I am leaving behind me two things for you. You will not be misguided so long as you will remain attached to them; they are the Book of Allah and my Ahlul Bayt (a.s.)…to the end of the tradition. Thereafter when Abu Zar came to Medina, the third caliph sent someone and called him and asked him: What made you announce these traditions rising up during the Hajj season? Abu Zar replied: This was a promise which was taken from me by the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and I was ordered to do so. Uthman asked him: Who is the witness to your claim? Hearing this, Amirul Momineen (a.s.) and Miqdad got up and testified and when all the three gentlemen went out, Uthman pointed towards Amirul Momineen (a.s.) saying: These companions of him are of the opinion that they will succeed in their aim and that they will get something.

Ibne Babawayh has, with reliable chains of narrators, quoted Ibne Abbas saying that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: A man who believes in my religion and who acts according to my way and who follows my tradition should also have faith in the Imams from my Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) who are the best in my entire Ummah. Certainly their example in this community of mine is like Bani Israel’s Bab-e-Hitta.

The Hazrat has also been quoted inUyoon ul Akhbar with reliable chains of narrators that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: Among you the example of my Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) is like the Ark of Nuh. Whoever sat in this ship following the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) got salvation and those who turned their face from them will be beheaded and thrown into Hell fire.

This same tradition has also been quoted inNihaya by Ibne Athir, a great Ahle Sunnat scholar.

It is written in Sahifa Reza and Ayyashi has quoted Imam Reza (a.s.) in explaining the verse:

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا ادْخُلُوا هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةَ فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ رَغَدًا وَادْخُلُوا الْبَابَ سُجَّدًا وَقُولُوا حِطَّةٌ.

And when We said: Enter this city, then eat from it a plenteous (food) wherever you wish, and enter the gate making obeisance, and say, forgiveness (Hitta). 2:58

Imam Baqir (a.s.) said for you the Bab-e-Hitta are we.[21]

Thereafter Imam Baqir (a.s.) said: Amirul Momineen (a.s.) said that: Allah had fixed Bab-e-Hitta for Bani Israel and, O community of Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) for you, He has fixed the door of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) and you have been ordered to follow them and to adopt their ways so that He may forgive your sins and may give a greater reward to those of you who do good deeds and your Bab-e-Hitta is better than Bani Israel’s Bab-e-Hitta because their door was made of some wood planks and we are the truth tellers and we are the Faithful and the guides and higher and loftier. As has said the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.): The stars are the sanctuaries in the sky for the sky and my Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) are sanctuaries for my Ummah. They will not be destroyed in the world because of being misguided so long as anyone from my Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) is there whom they will be following in their manners and behaviours. Likewise, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) has said: Whoever wants to live like me and to leave the world like me and to reach the tree which has been planted by Allah with His hand of Might and about which He has said ‘be’ and it was, and who wants to reside in the Paradise of Adn which has been promised to me by my Lord, should adopt the Wilayat of Ali (a.s.) and accept his Imamate and be a friend of his friend and an enemy of his enemy and adopt the Wilayat of his Graceful sons after him who are always obedient to Allah because they are created from my essence and because Allah has granted them my knowledge and wisdom. So woe unto those people of my Ummah who deny their Grace and who may not maintain the respect of their rights. May Allah not grant them my intercession.

The Hadith Safinah has been recorded by Sayyid inTaraif fromKitabe ibne Maghazali Shafei in many ways from Ibne Abbas and Salmah Ibnul Akwah Abu Zar and others and the tradition of Hitta has been narrated by Sulaym bin Qays from Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.) and he has told the Hazrat: I have heard this tradition from more than a hundred scholar companions.

Ibne Babawayh has, inAmali andAkmaluddeen , narrated from Ibne Abbas that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) told Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.): O Ali! I am the city of wisdom and you are its gate and entrance to a city is not possible save through its gate. He who is your enemy is lying in his claim that he loves me and that he is my friend because you are from me and I am from you, your flesh is from my flesh and your blood is from my blood and your soul is from my soul and your inner is my inner and your outer is my outer. You are the Imam of my Ummah after me and you are my successor and my caliph after me. Lucky is he who obeys you and unlucky and stonehearted is he who disobeys you and fortunate is he who adopts your Wilayat and the loser is he who maintains enmity with you and he has attained salvation who does not detach himself from you and destroyed is, he who gets separated from you. You and your sons are like the Ark of Nuh after me. The one who rode it gained salvation and the one who defied you got drowned. You are like the stars in the sky. When one stars faints another takes its place and it will continue like that till the Day of Qiyamat.

Zaid bin Thabit has narrated that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said:

Verily, I leave behind among you two weighty things, the Book of Allah and my Progeny, my Ahle Bayt and they are two successors after me and they will not separate till they reach me at the Pond.

It is narrated by Abu Saeed Khudri inAkmaluddeen ,Maniul Akhbar andKhisal that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: I am leaving behind me for you two heavy things one of which is more precious than the other. One is the Book of Allah which is a rope stretched from the sky to the earth and other is my Progeny (Progeny). Surely these two will not get separated from one another until they come to me on the Hauz (Pond) of Kauthar. The narrator says: I asked Abu Saeed: Who is his Progeny? He said: His family members (Ahlul Bayt a.s.)).

Likewise, I have heard from Abu Amr Masahib Abul Abbas Nahvi Laghvi the two have been calledThiql (heavy) becausetamassuk with them is serious and difficult.

Ibne Babawayh has quoted Hadith Thaqalayn inAkmaluddeen etc. from Abu Saeed Khudri with twenty-five chains of narrators from Thalabi, Abu Hurairah, Amirul Momineen (a.s.), Zaid bin Arqam, Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari, Abu Zar Ghiffari, Zaid bin Thabit and other companions of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.). Ali Bin Ibrahim has recorded in his Tafsir (commentary) that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) had said in the Farewell Hajj at Masjid Kheef that I am your Way-mark and I will reach Hauz-e-Kauthar before you. You will arrive after me. This Hauz is so large that its span is equal to the distance between Basra and Sham upto Sanaa-e-Yaman. On its bank there are so many cups of pure silver, their number is equal to the number of stars in the sky. There I will definitely ask you about the two weighty things, as to how you behaved with them? People asked: What are the two weighty things? He replied: One is the Book of Allah, which is the greater weighty thing and one of its end is with Allah and another in your hands. So hold it fast so that you may not go astray and never fall in fault. Another is my Progeny which is my Ahle Bayt (a.s.) (family members). Verily I have been informed by the Kind and Merciful Knower of the apparent and the hidden that both of these two will not get separated from one another until they come to me on the Pond of Kauthar like the closeness of my these two fingers, he said this joining the index and the middle fingers and then said: I do not say that you should consider one of them bigger or greater than the other, exactly like my these two fingers one of which is bigger than other. (He said this joining his forefinger with his thumb).[22]

Ibne Babawayh has, in most of his books, narrated from the Chief of the Martyrs, Imam Husain (a.s.) that people once asked Ali (a.s.): Who are the Progeny? He replied: I, Hasan, Husain, and nine Imams from the descendants of Husain and the ninth of them is Mahdi and Qaem (a.s.). Neither they will get separated from Quran nor the Book of Allah will get separated from them until they come to me on Hauze Kauthar.

Saffar has, inBasairud Darajat and Ayyashi inTafsir narrated the tradition of two weighty things with a number of chains from the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). It is narrated inBasair from Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) that the Almighty Allah has made three things sacred in the world: Quran, my Progeny and Holy Ka’ba. But people made alterations in the Quran and changed it. Similarly, people ruined Ka’ba and likewise killed my Progeny. All these three were trusts of Allah and people sabotaged all of them.

It should be remembered that the traditions of two weighty things, the Ark and the gate of repentance are all Mutawatir (Narrated by exceedingly large number of narrators) and all the traditionists of the Ahle Sunnat have quoted it and Ibne Maseer has said inNihaya that it has been mentioned in tradition that:

I leave among you two heavy things…

Here they are called Heavy (Thiql ) because it is difficult to get attached with them and to act according to them. Every nice and better thing is calledThiql . That is why they are calledThiql as they are great and high ranking. Then it is mentioned inNihaya

The simile of my Ahle Bayt (a.s.) is like the simile of the Ark of Nuh (a.s.). Whosoever will dissociate from it will be pushed into the Fire by the Almighty Allah.

It is mentioned inQamoos that Thiql-e-Mahrika is that beautiful thing which is kept hidden by people after obtaining it. So this is the meaning of:

I leave among you two heavy things; the book of Allah and my progeny.

Sayyid Murtuza has written inShafi that the proof of the authenticity of this tradition is that the entire Ummah has accepted it and none has differed from it except in deriving its meaning(Tawil). It is a rule among the scholars that if there is any doubt about the authenticity of a tradition they first discuss about it and thereafter derive interpretations. Their turning back from this rule is the proof of the matter that they have not doubted about this tradition being true. Thereafter Sayyid Murtuza writes that a man’s progeny is, according to dictionary, his progeny like his sons and their children. Some lexicographers have widened its meaning saying that a man’s progeny are those who, in his lineage are the near most to him. So, according to the first definition, it is very clear that the truth about the word progeny applies to Imam Hasan, Husain (a.s.) and their progeny. According to the second saying it will apply to them as well as to those like them who are closest to them in their lineage.

PART 9

Different traditions that mention the nomination of all the Imams together

Abu Hurairah has narrated in the bookBasharatul Mustafa that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said the best among you is the one who is the best in favor of my Ahlul Bayt (a.s.).

Likewise Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari has narrated that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said that people are known according to their paternal relation except the progeny of my daughter Fatima (s.a.) because I am their guardian (Wali) and their Usbah (close relative). They are my Progeny who are born of my essence(Teenat ). Woe unto them who deny their gracefulness. Allah befriends those who befriend them (my Progeny) and Allah is the enemy of those who are their enemy.

Similarly, according to reliable chains of narrators, Ali (a.s.) is reported to have said that certainly, Allah has made five things obligatory for His slaves which are the best of all deeds. They are Prayer, Fasting, Zakat, Hajj and the Wilayat of we Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). People acted upon the first four things but they insulted and disregarded the fifth one. By Allah, acting upon the said four things cannot be considered complete unless the fifth one is also acted upon, that is until they do not have the belief in the Imamate of we Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) which a condition for the acceptance of all the four.

Similarly, it is also related by Ali (a.s.) that: We are Najeeb (excellent) and Shareef (Noble) and our progeny is the prophet’s and our group is group of Allah and the group which rises against us is the group of the devil and the one who considers us like others is not from us.

The author of the bookMisbahul Anwar has narrated from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said:

I am the balance of knowledge and Ali (a.s.) is like its two scales and Hasan and Husain (a.s.) are its two strings and Fatima (s.a.) is its beam. The Imams following them will measure (weigh) their friends and foes with this balance. Those who are their enemies are condemned by Allah and by those who condemn.

Ibne Athir has, inJamiul Usool, quoted fromTirmidhi the words of Ali (a.s.): The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) held the hands of Imams Hasan and Husain (a.s.) and said: The one who befriends me and these two children and their parents will be with me and in my company on the Day of Qiyamat.

Likewise, inSahih Tirmidhi , there is a narration from Zaid bin Arqam that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said about Amirul Momineen (a.s.), Fatima (s.a.), Imams Hasan and Husain (a.s.) that: I am to fight with those who fight with you and I make peace with those who make peace with you.”

Dailami, one of the Ahle Sunnat traditionists quotes Imam Ali (a.s.) inFirdausul Akhbar that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: We are the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) from whom Allah Almighty has kept away all evils, and that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: We are the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) for whom Allah has preferred the Hereafter in place of this world.

Sayyid Razi (r.a.) has narrated inNahjul Balagha that in a sermon in which Imam Ali (a.s.) has described Aale Muhammad (a.s.) has said that he (Ali) is the preserver and custodian of the secrets of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and also the shelter in connection with the affairs of Prophethood and is the treasure of knowledge and the resounding of his command and the library of his books and the rope of his Religion; that Allah has retained the straightness of His Religion through them (a.s.); that Allah has removed fear from Religion; that the Aale Muhammad (a.s.) cannot be compared with any other persons of this Ummah nor can any other group equal them because Muslims have got blessings only through them and also only through them the people received guidance. They alone are the solid foundation of religion and the sound pillar of Faith. Everyone should look only at them, that is, should remain connected with them. If anyone has made excess and crossed limits in their praise should return towards them properly and if anyone has lagged behind in appreciating them should rush forward and join other moderates. Specialities of the right of Wilayat are reserved only for them and it is incumbent on every creature to love them. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) has willed only in their favor and they alone are his heirs.

InAmali Ibne Babawayh has quoted Imam Reza (a.s.) that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said:

Allah has informed me through Jibraeel that Allah says: Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.) is My Hujjat over the creation and he alone would maintain My Religion; I will create many Imams from his loins who will live among people with My Command and invite people towards My Path. I will forgive My male and female slaves because of their blessings and will waive punishment from them and I will shower My Mercy on My creation because of them.

Likewise, according to a reliable narration Umme Salma says: I have heard the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) saying:

After me, Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.) and the Imams from their sons are most graceful among the creation on the earth and only they will lead all people to Paradise.

Similarly, it is narrated authentically that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said:

When I was taken, during the night of ascension ‘(Meraj)’, to the seventh sky and therefrom to the farthest lote-tree (Sidratul Muntaha), and therefrom to the folds of Radiance my Lord called out to me: O Muhammad! You are My slave and I am your Lord. So be submissive to Me and worship Me and rely on Me and put trust in Me and in none else and that is all. I have chosen you and your brother Ali (a.s.) who is your Vicegerent and deputy and the gate of your city of knowledge. So he is My Hujjat on My servants and My creation and he is their leader and My friends and foes will be identified only through him and (through him) the group of devil will be differentiated from My group and only through him will my religion be established and My Religion’s frontiers will be defined and My Commands will be issued and I will pour My Mercy on My male and female slaves through the Imams who will be from his sons. I will fill up My earth with the pronouncements of Tasbeeh and Taqdees and Takbeer and Tamjeed and will clean the earth of My enemies through him and I will grant My earth to My friends as heritage. I will bring down the word of deniers and raise up the word of My Religion and Kalimah and I will enliven My male and female servants through him and I will open up My mines and treasures for him through My knowledge and I will reveal the hidden hearts’ secrets of people to him through My Will and I will help him with My angels so that those angels may strengthen him for the task of issuing My Commands and the proclamation of My Religion. In fact he is my friend and he is My Mahdi for guiding My servants truthfully.

Similarly they have quoted Imam Sadiq (a.s.) authentically that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said:

O Ali, you are, in my Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) and in my Ummah, both during my lifetime and after my demise, my brother, my legatee, my heir and my Vicegerent and caliph. Your friend is my friend and your enemy is my enemy. O Ali! You and the Imams from your sons are the leaders and commanders of the creation in this world and kings in the Hereafter. Those who recognized us have recognized Allah and those who denied us have definitely denied the Almighty Allah.

Likewise, it is reliably quoted through Imam Baqir (a.s.) that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said:

Catch hold of this Nazaah (skirt) of Ali (a.s.) (as his forehead was wide he was called Nazaa Inzaa) Verily he is Siddiq-e-Akbar (that is, it is he who testified to the Prophethood of the Prophet first of all) and he is most high ranking among all Siddiqs and he is Farooq as he separates truth from falsehood. Allah has guided the one who befriends him and Allah despises him who despises him and Allah destroys him who turns away from him. From him only will be born the two grandsons of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) (i.e. Hasan and Husain (a.s.) who are my sons) and guiding Imams will be born of Husain (a.s.). Allah has granted him my knowledge and intelligence. So do befriend them and make them your rulers and keep nothing secret from them otherwise you will be caught in Allah’s great anger and chastisement and the one who will be caught in Allah’s anger will be entangled in the web of misguidance and will be targeted by Divine wrath. (Know that) the worldly life is nothing but only a delusion which has no real actuality.

Ali bin Ibrahim has, in hisTafsir quoted Imam Ali (a.s.) that the Imam (a.s.) in one of his sermons said:

Verily those of the companions of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) who remember the traditions of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) know well enough that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) has said: I and my Ahle Bayt (a.s.) are most purified and Infallible so do not try to go ahead of them in any matter otherwise you will go astray and do not turn away from them otherwise you will deviate from the right path and do not oppose them otherwise you will be deemed ignorant and do not try to teach them anything because they know better than you and are much higher than you in rank and despite (even in) their short age they are more tolerant than all the people. So follow the truth and the men of truth wherever they may be.

Likewise it has been reliably narrated from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that when Qiyamat will be brought forth Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) will be called and he will be adorned with a rose coloured robe and he would be made to sit on the right side of the Throne (Arsh). Thereafter Ibrahim (a.s.) will be called and he will be adorned with a white robe and he would be made to remain on the left side of the Arsh. Thereafter Ali (a.s.) will be called and he will be adorned with a red robe and he would be made to stand on the right side of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.). Then Hazrat Ismail (a.s.) will be called and he would be adorned with a white robe and made to stand on the left side of Ibrahim (a.s.). Then Imam Hasan (a.s.) will be called and he would be adorned with a green robe and will be made to stand on the right side of Amirul Momineen (a.s.). Then Imam Husain (a.s.) will be called and he will be adorned with a crimson robe and will be made to stand on the right side of Imam Hasan (a.s.). Then the Shias of these dignitaries will be called and they will be made to stand before them. Then Fatima (s.a.) will be called and so also the women and children of their Shias who will be admitted to Paradise in an innumerable number. Then a proclaimer will proclaim (standing in the middle of the Arsh) from the high horizon according to Divine Command: O Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) how nice is your father Ibrahim (a.s.) and how nice is your brother Ali (a.s.) and how nice are your sons who are sons of your daughter, namely Hasan and Husain (a.s.) and how nice is your son Mohsin who was aborted during the days of pregnancy who is the son of Ali and Fatima (s.a.) and from their sons are the best and most rightly-guided Imams. Then everyone will be called by name. Then will come an announcement that the best Shias are your Shias. Doubtlessly Muhammad (s.a.w.s.), his legatee and both of his sons Hasan and Husain (a.s.) and the Imams from their sons have attained salvation. Then they will be ordered that all of them be led to Paradise. This is the meaning of the Divine words:

فَمَنْ زُحْزِحَ عَنْ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ.

Then whoever is removed far away from the fire and is made to enter the garden he indeed has attained the object… 3:185

Saffar has, with reliable chains of narrators, quoted Imam Baqir and Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: A man who wants to lead a life like my life and to die a death like my death and wants to enter the Paradise which has been promised by my Lord and that Paradise is Garden of Adn which is my destination in which my Lord has planted a tree with the hand of His Might (that is, He said ‘Be’ and it became), should befriend Ali (a.s.) and should have faith, after me, in their Imamate and should have faith in the Imamate of my sons whom my Lord has granted my knowledge and intelligence and they are my progeny. They are born of my flesh and blood I will complain to Allah against those who opposed them in my Ummah that they have denied their gracefulness and have cut off my nearness and relationship. By Allah, they will kill my son. May Allah not make my intercession reach them.

In another narration Imam Baqir (a.s.) is reported to have said that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: Whoever wants to live like me and to die like me and to enter Garden of Adn should make Ali (a.s.) his master and Imam and his legatees after me. It is so because they will neither make you enter any deviation nor expel you from any guidance. Do not venture to teach them anything because they know more than all of you and I have requested my Lord not to allow any gap between them and Quran until both come to me on the side of the Pond of Kauthar. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) joined his two fingers and said: The expanse of that Pond is equal to the distance between Basra and Syria upto Yemen and golden and silvery cups equal to the number of the stars are kept on its bank.

Ibne Bitreeq has written similar traditions fromHilyatul Awliya with a number of evidences quoting Abbas and Zaid bin Arqam.

The author ofKashaful Ghumma has fromManaqib of Khwarizmi, quoted Imam Sadiq (a.s.) and Shaykh Mufeed has, inMajalis , quoted Imam Reza (a.s.) that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: O Ali! Allah has initiated Imamate through you and He will conclude it through you only. So be patient against the extortion of the extorters and the oppression of the oppressors because a good end is only for the God-fearing virtuous people. You are the group of Allah and your enemies do not belong to the group of Allah. They are the mob of Satan. Lucky is he who may follow you and woe unto he who may disobey you. Only you are the Hujjat (argument) of Allah on His creation and you are His sound rope. The one who will hold it firmly will get salvation and the one who will leave it will go astray and I beseech Paradise for you from Allah. No one can surpass you in obeying Allah rather you deserve to be obedient to Allah more than all others.

Similarly, Ali (a.s.) is reported to have said that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: O Ali! Allah will conclude the Religion on us as He initiated it on us and it is because of us, O people! It is because of us that Allah creates our love in your hearts after enmity and hatred.

In the bookKitabul Fazail , Imam Sadiq (a.s.) and his pious elders have been quoted saying that Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari said: The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) had said: Fatima is the happiness of my hearts and both her sons Hasan and Husain (a.s.) are the fruits of my soul and her husband is the light of my eyes and the Imams from their sons are my trust and rope which has been extended from the heaven to the earth. Anyone who will keep hold on it will get salvation and the one who will turn his face from them will get stuck in the quagmire of deviation.

In the bookRawdatul Fazail , it is narrated from Ibne Abbas that after returning from the Farewell Hajj, we were sitting with the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) when he said:

Beware! The Almighty One has favored the religious people by guiding them through me and my favor on them is that I guide them through Ali (a.s.) who is my cousin and the father of my sons. Whoever will get guidance from them will get salvation and whoever will turn away from them will go wayward. O people Remember Allah regarding my Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) and fear Him. Verily Fatima is a part of my body. Both of her sons are my two arms and I and her husband are the two lamps on the road of guidance. O Lord! Shed mercy on those who are kind to them and do not forgive those who oppress them. Then he began to weep saying: It is as if I am observing how they will be oppressed.

InUyoon Akhbar Reza , it is mentioned from the same reliable source that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said:

O Ali! You and your sons are the chosen ones from Allah’s creation.

Likewise the same sources say that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said:

The one whose Master and authority is I, Ali is also the Master and authority for him. O Allah! befriend him who befriends Ali and help him who helps Ali and degrade his enemy and be helper of Ali and his sons and be sustainer of his sons and grant abundance in what You have given to them and assist them through Ruhul Quds (The Holy Sprit- an angel). Protect them wherever they proceed in the earth from all sides and keep Imamate only in them and grant real life to those who obey them and destroy those who disobey them. Doubtlessly You are close to those who invoke You and You answer their prayers.

Ibne Babawayh has, inFazailush Shia , quoted Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that: People forgot the Holy Prophet’s (s.a.w.s.) order in favor of Ali (a.s.) on the day of Ghadeer Khum just as the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) had said in favor of Ali (a.s.) in the room of Ibrahim’s mother when people were visiting him (prophet) during his illness. Ali (a.s.) also had arrived and he wanted to sit near the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) but he could not get space. When the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) saw that people did not give room to Ali (a.s.) he said: O people! He is my Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). So do not decrease their honour. At present I am living among you. If I go out of your sight, Allah will not go away from you. Do remember that ease and comfort and happiness and good tidings and love is for the one who follows Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.) and who believes in his Imamate and who after him follows his successors. It will be incumbent on me to include in my intercession those who follow them because in fact they will be following me and the one who follows me is from me and this is the example which has been given in the case of Ibrahim (a.s.):

فَمَنْ تَبِعَنِي فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي وَمَنْ عَصَانِي فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ.

Then whoever follows me, he is surely of me, and whoever disobeys me, Thou surely are Forgiving, Merciful: 14:36

Because I am from Ibrahim (a.s.) and Ibrahim is from me. My Religion is his Religion and my Sunnah is his Sunnah and my grace is his grace and I am more graceful than him and my grace is his grace according to the testification of my Lord as His Words convey:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَى آدَمَ وَنُوحًا وَآلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَآلَ عِمْرَانَ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ.

Surely Allah chose Adam and Nuh and the descendants of Ibrahim and the descendants of Imran above the nations. 3:33

CHAPTER TWO

Description of Verses revealed summarily about the status of the Imams

Description of Verses which have been revealed summarily about the status of the Imams will be discussed in this chapter, and there are some Parts in this.

PART 1

Interpretation of “Peace be upon Ilyasin”

The Lord of the worlds has said:

يس

Ya Seen. (36:1)

And said:

سَلَامٌ عَلَى إِلْ يَاسِينَ.

“Peace be upon Ilyasin. 37:130”

Commentators have narrated quoting Amirul Momineen Ali and Imam Baqir (a.s.) that Yasin is the name of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and in another narration, Fakhruddin Razi has said that Nafe bin Aamir and Yaqoob have read it Aale Yasin, adding the word aal to the word Yasin. Other reciters have read it ‘IL’. About the first recitation, three reasons have been given:

(1) Ilyas is the son of Yasin and so Ilyas is Aale Yasin (progeny of Yasin).

(2) Aal is Aale Muhammad and Yasin is the name of Quran. There are many Ahle Sunnat and Shia traditions that is should read Aale Yasin which means the Aal (progeny) of Muhammad (s.a.w.s.).

Ibne Hajar has, inSawaiqul Mohreqa , quoted Fakhruddin Razi that the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) are equal to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) in five matters:

1- In Salaam: The words Assalaamo A’laika ayyohan nabi… are for the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.): Salamun A’laa Aale Yasin

2- In Tashahhud: There is Durood on the Prophet and the Progeny of the Prophet.

3- In Purity: [Taha] has been said about the dignity of the Prophet and so also [to purify you a (thorough) purifying…] for the dignity of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.).

4- Sadaqah is Haraam (prohibited) for both.

5- In love: For the Prophet it is said: Say: If you love Allah, then follow me and so also Say: I do not ask of you any reward for it but love for my near relatives about the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.).

Ali bin Ibrahim has said in hisTafsir quoting Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that ‘Yasin’ is the blessed name of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.). The proof of it is that thereafter Allah Almighty has said:

إِنَّكَ لَمِنْ الْمُرْسَلِينَ.

Most surely you are one of the apostles. 36:3

Also he has written explaining “Peace be upon Ilyasin” that ‘Yasin’ means the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and Aale Muhammad are the holy Imams (a.s.).

InAmali, Maniul Akhbar andTafsir Ayyashi, Imam Sadiq (a.s.) is quoted explaining the verse “Peace be upon Ilyasin” thatAmirul Momineen (a.s.) said: Yasin is Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and Aale Yasin are we.

InAmali andManiul Akhbar , Abi Malik has mentioned that Yasin is Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.). Again in both these books, Ibne Abbas is quoted to have said that Aale Yasin means Aale Muhammad.

InManiul Akhbar , in the explanation of “Peace be upon Ilyasin” Ibne Abbas is quoted to have said that (it means) Salaam from the Lord of the worlds on Muhammad and his Aal (progeny) and that on the Day of Qiyamat protection from the punishment of Allah is for those who accepted their Wilayat and loved them.

InManiul Akhbar , Abdul Rahman Salami is quoted to have said that Umar bin Khattab used to recite Salamun A’laa Aale Yasin; that Abu Abdul Rahman said Aale Yasin are Aale Muhammad.

Ibne Mahyar has, in his commentary, quotes Sulaym Ibne Qays Hilali that Ali (a.s.) said that one of the good names of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) is Yasin and it is we in whose praise Allah has said Salamun A’laa Aale Yasin.

Ibne Mahyar and Furat have in their respective commentaries in a number of ways quoted Ibne Abbas that in a lengthy tradition in which Imam Reza (a.s.) has disputed the stand of Ahle Sunnat Scholars regarding the dignity of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.), saying that the Hazrat asked them to tell him about the Divine words “Yasin…. Mustaqeem” as to who are Yasin? The scholars replied that it was Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and that nobody has any doubt about it. Then the Hazrat said: Then Allah has, because of this, granted to Muhammad and Aale Muhammad such a dignity that no one can praise them appropriately except the one who may ponder over it properly because Allah has sent Salam only on Prophet and said: “Peace be upon the progeny of Yasin” and “Peace be upon Ibrahim” and “Peace be upon Moosa and Haroon” and “Peace be upon Nuh” and not said Peace be upon the progeny of Ibrahim and Peace be upon the progeny of Moosa and Haroon but He has said “Peace be upon the progeny of Yasin” that is Salam on the progeny of Muhammad (a.s.).


7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25