PART 23
‘Naas (people)’ refers to the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) and ‘Semi-Naas’ refers to their Shias and the others are ‘Not-naas’
Kulaini and Furat Ibne Ibrahim from authentic chains narrate from Imam Zainul Aabedeen (a.s.) and Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that a person stood up and asked Amirul Momineen (a.s.): You are an ‘Alim’ (learned), then tell me who is ‘Naas’, ‘Shabih Naas’ and ‘Na-naas’. The Hazrat told Imam Husain (a.s.) to reply. He said: ‘Naas’ is the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and we are from him only and included in the ‘Naas’ as Almighty Allah says:
ثُمَّ أَفِيضُوا مِنْ حَيْثُ أَفَاضَ النَّاسُ.
Then hasten on from the Place from which the people hasten on… 2:199
It means pick up the load and go soon from the place where people load themselves. He said that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) loaded the things and went away from Arafat with the people. That is why at this place ‘Naas’ refers to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and we Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) are included in it. And we are included in what is applicable to the Prophet. ‘Ashbahun Naas’ (resembling the people) are our Shias. They are from us and they are similar to us. That is why Ibrahim said:
فَمَنْ تَبِعَنِي فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي.
…then whoever follows me, he is surely of me… 14:36
And ‘Na-naas’ are our enemies and pointed with his hands towards his opponents. And after that he recited the following verse:
أُوْلَئِكَ كَالْأَنْعَامِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ.
…they are as cattle, nay, they are in worse errors… 7:179
That is they are worse than the quadrupeds.[57]