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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