Thursday, February 26, 2015

QUALITIES OF A TRUE SHI'A OF AHLUL BAYT (A.S.)

Who is a Shi'a? One who loves the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.), follows their instructions and tries to walk into their foot-steps.
According to Jabir ibn Yazid al-Jufi, The Infallible Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) said: “Only the person who is God wary and obeys Him is our Shi'a. Our Shia's are known by humbleness, trustworthiness, abundantly remembering Allah, fasting, prayer, goodness towards their parents, attending poor neighbors, taking care of the unfortunate and the orphans, honesty, reciting the Glorious Qur'an, and refraining from back-biting.” He further said: “Whoever obeys Allah will be our friend and whoever disobeys Him is our enemy.”
In Surah As-Shura Ayah 23, Allah says: “Say, I do not ask of you any reward for it (Prophet hood) except the affection for (my) relatives.” In both the Sunni and Shi'a books of Traditions, it is unanimously agreed that the word “relatives” refers to Ahlul Bayt. Moreover, the word”Mawaddat” is love that is coupled with obedience.
The Ahlul Bayt said: “Whoever loves us will act like us.” Imam Ali (a.s.) said: “If someone loves our friend they will not be our enemy. If along with the love for us, a person has a love for our enemies, he is not one of us. Whoever loves us should be prepared for various calamities.
According to a Tradition, when a believer is on the death-bed, the angel of death will show him his place in heaven and will then ask him if he would rather have this instead of what he had in the world. The believer will say yes then the angel of death will show him the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.), Imam Ali (a.s.) and the other Imams after him and ask him if he would rather be with them or what he had in the world. The believer will swear Allah and will say that he would be happier to die!
A follower of the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) who has restrained himself from all evil and sin and who is supported at the moment of death by the Infallible Imams will be protected from any punishment in the hereafter.
In one of the Traditions, we read that on the Day of Resurrection, Allah will call Lady of the Paradise Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) and tell her to ask for anything to be granted. She (s.a.) will say: “I ask You not to punish with fire those who love me and love my family. Then Allah will say: “O' Fatima! By My Dignity, Glory and High Position, I have vowed that I will not punish those who love you and love your family.”
Love for Ahlul Bayt enables a Shi'ah to be more consistent in the journey towards Allah. The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) said: “If a person who loves us and makes a mistake, in his next step he will be guided .”
Love is like an engine that motivates a person to move towards the beloved. A person who loves the Ahlul Bayt will strive to purify his soul and will endeavor to attain virtues and righteous deeds to get closure to them.
In Karbala, the deflected commander of Yazid's army, Hurr is a clear example. On the Day of Ashura, the love for the King of Martyrs Imam Husayn (a.s.) made him lose interest in the worldly status and sacrifice his life in a true repentance. The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.): “Our love removes sins and multiplies good deeds.” Suarh An-Nisa Ayah 49:”Whoever loves Allah and his Appostle, they are with those whom Allah has blessed, including the prophets and the truthful, the martyrs and the righteous, and excellent companions they are.” The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) said: “Whoever loves us, the Ahlul Bayt, for the sake of Allah, will be resurrected with us.”
The Infallible Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (a.s.) narrates a Tradition that during one of his journeys, the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) came down from his camel and performed 5 prostrations. Upon inquiry from one of his companions, he (s.a.w.a.s.) explained that Archangel Jibra'il approached and informed him that Imam Ali (a.s.) will be from the people of heaven, hence he expressed his gratitude by prostrating. As he lifted his head, Jibra'il informed him that Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) will also be among the people of heaven, thus he performed second prostration.
Again as he lifted his head, Jibra'il informed him that Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husayn (a.s.) will be the Masters of the Youth of Paradise, and thanking Allah for the news he performed another prostration. Afterwards, Jibra'il informed him that their lovers will also be from the people of heaven, and at last, Jibra'il informed him that the lovers of their lovers will also be the people of heaven and he performed the fifth prostration.
Imam Ali (a.s.) said: “When the Ayah' Look, the hearts find rest in Allah's remembrance' (13:28) was revealed, the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) said that this does not merely includes those who sincerely love Allah but also His Messenger and the Ahlul Bayt; He also loves the believers in their presence and their absence.”

Sources used:

The Glorious Qur'an,
Al-Kafi by Allama Muhammad BaqirMajlisi,
Uyun Akhbar al-Riza by Abu Jafar Babuya
Behar-ul-Anwar by Allama Muhammad Baqir Majlisi
Yanabi-al-Mawaddah by Shaikh Sulayman al-Qunduzi


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