The Shi’as Of ‘Ali Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) says, “The Shi’as of ‘Ali (as) are the people whose stomachs touch their backs as an effect of hunger. Their lips will be parched dry with fasting. They are kind of disposition and serious of demeanour. They are intelligent people and well known for intensity in their prayers. Therefore friends! Assume piety and help us intercede on your behalf on the Day of Reckoning! Busy yourselves in prayer and obedience to Allah.” It is narrated from Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) that one day Amir’ul-Mu’mineen (as) was one day offereing his morning prayer in Iraq. After the prayer he delivered a sermon. Talking of the fear of Allah the Imam (as) cried. The others too cried a lot. Then he said, “By Allah’s Greatness! I have seen a group of Mu’mins in the time of the Prophet of Islam (S). They used to be unkempt, dusty and of emaciated bodies. Their stomachs used to cling to their backs. The foreheads of these Mu’mins were calloused because of perpetual prostration. These calousses were like the ones that are found on the flanks of the camels. Offering prayers and prostrations in the nights they used to see the dusk in this act. They used to cry inconsolably seeking protection of Allah from the Hellfire. When Allah’s name was mentioned before them, they used to shiver like the tree in times of strong winds. This used to be their condition whenever they thought of Allah’s Retribution. And when I see the people now I find them in a state of oblivian and forgetfulness. After delivering this sermon Amir’ul-Mu’mineen ‘Ali (as) went to Bayt al Sharaf and never ever laughed till the day he was martyred.” It is narrated from Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) that someone inquired of the Prophet of Islam (S), “Ya Prophet! Who are the good and noble creatures of Allah?” The Prophet (S) said, “These are the people who perpetrate good deeds and if ever they commit any sin they seek Allah’s forgiveness by doing Asthagfar. When Allah bestows a bounty on them, they thank Him profusely. When confronted with any calamity, they are patient and forbearing. When angry on others, they generously forgive.” One night Amir’ul-Mu’mineen (as) was proceeding from the mosque towards the wilderness of Najaf. It was a moonlit night. He noticed some persons following behind him. He tarried and asked them, “Who are you?” They said, “Ya Imam! We are your Shi’as.” The Imam (as) looked at them and said, “Your appearances are not those of Shi’as!” The men said, “Ya Amir’ul-Mu’mineen ! How do your Shi’as look?” He replied, “With sleepless nights in prayer their faces will be flushed. As a result of excessive crying, their eyes look like the eyes of blind persons. Their backs will be hunched because of excessive genuflection in prayer. Because of spending most of the days in fasting their stomachs touch their backs. Because of constant prayer the lips of these persons will be dry and parched. Their fear of Allah (Khushu wa Khuzu) is reflected from their faces.” Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) says: A Mu’min cannot be a possessor of faith unless he has perfect intelligence. The intelligence cannot be perfect unless the person has the following ten traits: • People expect good treatment from him. • People donot expect ill treatment from him. • He rates his good deeds as very little. • He considers others’ small good turns of great value. • He considers his small fault as major and rates others major faults as trivial. • He never tires of giving ear to the seekers of help. • He tirelessly works in search of knowledge. • He prefers ignominy over worldly fame. • He prefers penury over riches and remains contented with small worldly comforts. The tenth trait is the most difficult. Whenever he meets anyone, he rates the person more pious and better than himself. The Imam (as) further said, “There are two types of men. There are some who consider all others better and more pious than themselves. The other type is of people who consider others inferior to themselves. The best attitude is that when one finds a person better than himself, he should interact with him humbly and try to emulate his good qualities. When he finds a person who appears inferior to himself, he should think that the person might have some latent qualities worthy of emulation.” The Imam (as) also added, “Adopting this attitude you will acquire respect and eminence.” Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) narrates that one day the Prophet (S) met Haritha bin Noman Ansari and said, “O Haritha! How was your morning today?” Haritha said, “Ya Imam! I started the morning with perfect faith and firm belief!” The Prophet (S) said, “Every thing needs a proof. What is the proof that your faith is perfect?” Haritha said, “Ya Imam! My heart is dejected with the world. I have no interest in the world. This belief has encouraged me to pray during the nights and fast during the days. This is tantamount to say that I see the accounting of deeds in Allah’s Firmament. I perceive that the people of the Heaven interact with each other happily and the people of the Hell are undergoing the Retribution.” The Prophet (S) said, “No doubt! You are a Mu’min. Allah has illumined your heart with faith. Remain steadfast in this condition. May Allah help you in your endeavour!” Haritha said, “Ya Imam! I have fear of nothing that can involve me in sins other than my eyes.” The Prophet (S) prayed for him and Haritha went blind that the cause of his fear of sinning was removed. It is narrated from Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) that the Prophet of Islam (S) came across a group of riders. He inquired of them, “Who are you?” They replied that they were Mu’mins. The Prophet (S) asked them to give a proof of being Mu’mins. They said, “Ya Imam! We are committed to Allah’s wish. We obey His Commandments. We entrust all our affairs to Allah and only trust in Him.” The Prophet (S) said, “These persons are wise and sagacious. With their wisdom and sagacity they have come quite close to the status of prophethood!” Then the Prophet (S) added, “If you wish to befriend Allah, don’t make an abode in this world that it is transient. Don’t amass weath that you will not be able to consume it. Beware of Allah’s adversary that soon you will have to return to Him (Allah)!”
Posted on: Sat, 22 Feb 2014 09:04:29 +0000