Translator’sNoteIntheNameofAllah,theMostCompassionate,theMostMerciful

AllpraiseisduetoAllah,theLordoftheworlds.MaythepeaceandblessingsofAllahbeuponMuhammadandhispureprogeny.

IwouldliketothankthehonorablemanagerofAnsariyanPublication,Mr.TajjMuhammadTaqiAnsariyan,whocommissionedmetotranslatethisbookintoEnglish-abookthatgavemeabetterunderstandingofthepurifiedhouseholdoftheHolyProphet.

Ihaveintentionallychosenasimplestyleanddictionforthetranslationofthisbooksothatitcanbecommunicatedeasilytothedearreaders.

Thetranslationofthisbookisdedicatedtotwohonorableladieswhoweregracioustomeinmylife:thelateHajiahMassoomehHazratiAshtiani,mayhersoulrestinpeaceandParvinDokhatNooraeeAshtiani,aswellasmydearson,Aryaandmydeardaughter,Aida,whohavebeenintimatelyconnectedtotheHolyQuran.

IbegtoAllahAlmightytohelpmetobeatruefollowerofAhlal-Bayt(a.s).

Iwouldalsoliketothankmydearfriend,Mr.BadrShahinforeditingthisbook.Iowehimalot.

AliAkbarAghiliAshtiani

CharacterofAhlAl-Bayt

TheNecessityOfGettingToKnowTheAhlAl-Bayt

ThenecessitytogettoknowtheAhlal-Bayt(a.s.)andfollowthemhasbeenrecommendedbytheHolyProphet(S)accordingtotheverse23ofChapteral-Shura:

(Loveformyrelatives)bringsabouthappinessinthisworldandthehereafter,whiletoneglectthemcausesperdition(42:23)

AddressingMu’allaibnKhunays,Imamal-Sadiq(a.s.)said:

OMu’alla,ifaservantofAllahworshipsHimbetweentheRukn(corner)andMaqam(standingplace)ofKabahforahundredyears,keepingfastonalldaysandperformingprayersonallnightssomuchsothathislifecomestoanend,butisnegligentaboutourrights,therewillbenorewardforhim.1

GettingtoknowtheAhlal-Bayt(a.s)onthebasisoftheQuranicversesandauthenticnarrationswillremoveallveilsofignorancefromoureyes.

Whenwecometounderstandthattitlessuchas–‘PeoplefortheReminder’,‘TheTruthful’,‘TheBenefactors’,‘ThePious’,‘TheStrivers’,‘TheBelievers’,‘ThePatient’,‘PeopleofUnderstanding’,‘TheStraightPath(sirat)’,‘TheWay(sabil)toAllah’,‘TheRevengeofAllah’,‘TheFaceofAllah’,‘TheEyeofAllah’,‘TheSideofAllah’,‘TheEarofAllah’,‘TheSpokesmenofAllah’,‘TheFriendsofAllah’-allrefertotheAhlal-Bayt(a.s.),wewilllearnhowtobenefitfromthemwithguidanceandusingthemastheNoah'sArk.Itisthey

–whoarefirmlyrootedinknowledge…(4:162)

Wecanalsoquenchthethirstofintellect,heartandspiritwiththepuredrinkoftheirknowledge.

ShouldwewishtowinAllah'sfavor,wemustfollowAhlal-Baytwholeheartedly,onthebasisofthefollowingholyverse:

Say,ifyouloveAllah,thenfollowme,Allahwillloveyou.(3:31)

GettingtoknowtheAhlal-BaytleadstogettingtoknowAllah,andtheHolyQuranaswellasitdevelopsintuition.Thiswillserveasafactorforself-purificationandmoralitytoo.Thiswillcertainlysaveusfromhellfire.LoveforAhlal-Baytwillmakeitpossibleforustocrossthesirat(thebridgeovertheHellleadingtoParadise).

TheHolyProphethasbeenquotedbySheikhQunduzi(aHanafitescholar)tosay:

GettingtoknowthefamilyofMuhammad(S)ismeansforbeingsavedfromthefire.LoveforthefamilyofMuhammad(S)willeasecrossingthesirataswellas,giveimmunityfromchastisement.2

WhenwecometoknowaboutAhlal-BaytintheHolyQuranandthetraditions,weopenthegatetoprosperityinthisworldandthehereafterandshutthegateofperdition.

SheikhSulaymanQunduziandIbrahimibnMuhammadJuwayni,twooutstandingfair-mindedSunnischolarshavequotedthattheHolyProphet(S)hassaidaboutImamAli(a.s.)andtheImamsfollowinghim,

OAli,Iamthecityofknowledgeandyouarethegatethereof.Thecitycannotbeenteredexceptthroughitsgate.Theonewhoisthinkinghelovesmebuthasenmitytowardsyouisfalseinlovingme,foryouareofmeandIamofyou.Yourfleshismyflesh,yourbloodismyblood,yourspiritismyspirit,yourinwardismyinward,andyouroutwardismyoutward.(Youaretheleaderofmyummah(community),youarethecaliphafterme.)Whoeverlovesyou,willgain;whoeverisyourenemy,willsufferlosses;whoeveraccompaniesyou,willfindsalvation;whoeverisseparatedfromyou,willgotoruin.The

parableofyouandtheImamsfollowingyouistheparableofNoah’sArk.

Whoeverentersit,willfindsalvationandwhoeverdisobeyswilldrown.TheparableofAhlal-Baytistheparableofstars.Wheneverastardisappears,anotherstarwillappearuntiltheJudgmentDay.3

AllahrecommendsHisservantstoresorttoHiscovenant,whichnecessitatesgettingtoknowHablullah:

AndholdfastbythecovenantofAllahalltogetherandbenotdisunited.(3:13)

Imamal-Baqir(a.s)hassaidaboutthemeaningofthiscovenantwithAllah:

TheHouseholdofMuhammadisthecovenantofAllahasrecommendedbyAllah.4

Ahlal-Bayt,whoaretheoceansofknowledgeandendowedwithvirtues,hadbeenchosenbyAllahtogivethegoodnewsofParadisetothebelieversandwarntheunbelieversofthechastisementinHell.

GettingtoknowAllahandtheJudgmentDay,understandingspiritualconceptsandtruemeaningoftheHolyQuran,havinganunderstandingofthetraditionssetbytheHolyProphet,attainingvirtues,happinessinthisworldandthehereafter,beingimmunefromvices,havingthepowertoresistsatanictemptations,andexperiencingpietycanbemadepossibleonlythroughknowingtheAhlal-Baytandfollowingtheirteachings.

TheAhlal-Bayt-asinferredfromtheHolyQuranandauthenticnarrations-arethesourceofallmaterialandspiritualblessings.Withoutknowingandfollowingthem,amanisdeprivedofalltheblessings.

QuotingtheHolyProphet,theHanafiteSheikhSulaymanQunduziandIbrahimibnJuwaynisay:

HolyProphetsaid,“OAli,writewhatIamdictatingtoyou.”Alisaid:“OAllah’sMessenger,areyouafraidthatIwillforgetit?”TheHolyProphetsaid:“IhaveaskedAllahtomakeyoutheonewhohasmemorizedallthefacts,yetwriteitdownforthesakeofyourpartners.”Alisaid:“OAllah’sMessenger!Whoaremypartners?”

TheHolyProphetsaid:“TheImamsinyourprogenyforwhosesake,rainwillfallfromheavenandprayerswillbeansweredandAllahwillfendofftribulationfromummah.Mercywillalsobesentdownfromheavenduetotheirpresence.Thisistheirfirstone(referringtoImamHasan).Thisistheirsecondone(referringtoImamHusayn).”Then,theHolyProphetsaid:“AndtheImamswhowillfollowImamHusayn.”5

TheMeaningOfAhlAl-Bayt

Agroupofscholarsnurturedbytheoppressiverulersmisusedtheirsocio-scientificpositionstojustifythelegitimacyofthosetyrantsinordertogainsomethingintheworld.

Hence,theydistortedreligiousfactswithspecialenmityandbiasinordertopleasethedomineeringrulers.Inthisregard,theyhavepresentedinterpretationsthathavenovalidityfromtheviewpointoftheHolyQuranandnarrationsfromtheHolyProphet.OneofthesedistortionsrelatetothewordAhlal-Bayt

mentionedintheHolyQuran.

Ahlal-BaytintheHolyQuran

Inverse33oftheQuranicChapter,theAllies(al-Ahzab),weread:

Allahonlydesirestokeepawaytheuncleannessfromyou,OpeopleoftheHouse(Ahlal-Bayt),andtopurifyyouwithathoroughpurifying.(33:33)

Thepronoun-kum,meaning‘you’inArabic,doesnotobviouslyrefertothewivesoftheHolyProphetasmisinterpretedbythosebiasedscholarswhointendedtocreateadeviationintheMuslims’opinion.

AlthoughtheyknewthattheHolyProphet’swivesincludingAishahandagroupoftheirownscholarsconsideredImamAli,LadyFatimah,ImamHasanandImamHusaynandtheinfallibleImams(a.s.)fromtheoffspringofImamHusayn(a.s.)asthemembersofAhlal-Bayt,theirenmitywiththeShiitesmotivatedthemtodistortthetruthtopleasetheAbbasidandUmayyadrulers.

TheMeaningOfAhlAl-BaytInNarrations

NumerousnarratorshavereportedthattheHolyProphethasmentionedImamAli,LadyFatimah,ImamHasan,ImamHusaynandtheInfallibleImamsfromImamHusayn'sissueasAhlal-Bayt.

Thosenarratorsare:Ummu-Salamah,Aishah,Abu-SaidKhidri,Abu-BarazahAslami,Abul-TamraHilalibnHarith,Abu-LaylaAnsari,AnasibnMalik,al-BaraibnAzib,ThawbanibnBajdad,JabirAnsari,ZaydibnArqam,ZaynabdaughterofAbu-SalamahMakhzumi,SadibnAbi-Waqqas,Subayh,AbdullahibnAbbas,UmaribnAbi-Salamah,UmaribnKhattabandWathilahibnAsqa.

ThemostreliablebooksofSunnischolarshaverecordedthetruemeaningofAhlal-Baytasreportedbythosenarrators.Shiitescholarstoo,byrelyingontheHolyQuranandthesaidnarrations,aswellastheirownauthenticbooks,attachtheirheartstotheAhlal-Bayt.TheyconsiderthemasthetrueleadersandsuccessorsoftheHolyProphet.HenceobeyingtheAhlal-Baytisdeemedobligatoryandameansforsalvationinthisworldandthehereafter.

WesufficetorelateafewnarrationsheretopleasetheheartofAhlal-Bayt’slovers:

NarrationOne

ReportingTamimi,al-AwwamibnHawshabsaid,“OnedaywhenIwenttoseeAishah,shehadseenAllah’sMessengercallingforAli,Fatimah,HasanandHusaynsaying:

OAllah,thesearethepeopleofmyHouse(Ahlal-Bayt).Sokeepawayuncleannessfromthemandpurify

themwithathoroughpurifying.6

NarrationTwo

JumayibnUmayrsays:

Oneday,mymotherandIwenttoseeAishah.MymotheraskedhertotellusabouttheHolyProphet’sinterestinAli(a.s.).Aishahsaid:Amongthemen,AliisthemostlovedbyAllah’sMessenger.IhaveseenmyselfthatheplacedAli,Fatimah,HasanandHusaynunderhiscloaksaying:OAllah,thesearemyAhlal-Bayt.Keepawayanyuncleannessfromthemandpurifythemwithathoroughpurifying.ItoowentforwardtoputmyheadunderthecloakbutAllah’sMessengerkeptmeaway!Iasked:AmInotyourAhlalBayt?Heanswered:youaregood,youaregood.7

NarrationThree

ReportingUmaribnKhattab,IsaibnAbdullahibnMaliksays:IheardAllah’sMessengersaying:

Opeople,Iamleadingyouandyouwillcometomeatthepond;apond-theexpanseofwhichisfromSanaatoBusraandisasmuchastheexpanseofthestars.Thereinisthegoldenchalice.

Whenyoucometome,Iwillaskyouaboutthetwovaluablethings(thaqalain).Sobecarefulhowyoudealwiththemafterme.ThefirstisAllah’sBook,aropethatstretchesfromtheheavenstotheearth.Soholdfastontoit.AndtheotherismyFamily(Ahlal-Bayt).AllahhasinformedmethatthetwowillneverseparateuntiltheycometomeatthePond…MyfamilymembersareAli,Fatimah,Hasan,andHusaynandtheninepersonswhowillissuefromHusaynandwhoarethebeneficentImams.MyAhlal-Baytaremyfleshandblood.8

NarrationFour

MusaibnAbd-Rabbihsays:IheardfromHusaynibnAliintheProphet’sMosqueatthetimeofhisfatherAli(a.s.),saying:IhaveheardthesayingofAllah’sMessenger:

Behold!MyAhlal-Baytaresecurityandmercyforyou.Therefore,lovethemformysakeandresorttothemsothatyouwillnevergoastray…TheseareAli,mytwograndsonsandnineborneofHusaynwhoaretrustworthyandinfallibleImams.Behold!TheyaretheAhlal-Baytandmyhonour-frommyfleshandmyblood9

NowithasbecomeclearthattheShiites,byrelyingontheHolyQuranandtraditions,resorttoAhlal-Bayt,accepttheirImamate,followthemanddeclarewithevidentproofbasedonthebookswrittenbybothShiiteandSunnischolars,thattheAhlal-BaytarenoneotherbutAliibnAbi-Talib,LadyFatimah,ImamHasan,ImamHusaynandnineinfallibleImams(a.s.)fromtheissueofImamHusayn.

TheNecessityOfGettingToKnowAhlAl-BaytInTheNarrations

Itisunanimouslyagreedinthescienceoflogicthatwhen‘presenter’isbeingdiscussed,thepresenterwhointroducesafactmustbesuperiortothe‘presented’soastobeabletopresentthefactasitreallyis.SoafterprovingtheImamateofAhlal-BaytandthefactthattheyaretheinheritorsoftheProphet’sknowledgeandhavebeeninspiredbyAllah,wecouldsaythatwhoisbetterpresentersinthisuniversethantheAhlal-Baytthemselvesinordertomaketheirselfknown?WehavenooptionbuttoknowtheAhlal-Baytforgettingtoknowtheircharacterandknowledge,fornoonehasanall-encompassingknowledgeaboutthem.

GettingtoknowAhlal-Baytwillleadtosalvation,nearnesstoAllahandatrueunderstandingofIslam.Inthisrelation,ImamAli(a.s)hassaid:

Thehappiestpeoplearethosewhorecognizedoursuperiorityandexcellence,soughtnearnesstoAllahthroughus,lovedussincerely,actedaccordingtowhatwecalledfor,andstoppeddoingwhatwehaveprohibited.SuchpeoplearefromusandtheywillbewithusintheeternalParadise.10

Zara’ahsays:IsaidtoImamal-Sadiq(a.s.):AftergettingtoknowAllah,whichdeedismostexcellent?TheImamsaid:

AftergettingtoknowAllah,nothingisequaltodailyprayers.Afterprayernothingisequaltopayingthepoor-rate;andafterthesenothingisequaltoobservingfasting,andafterthesenothingisequalto(goingon)Hajj(ritualpilgrimage).Yet,thebeginningandendofallistogettoknowus.11

Weshouldlearnaboutthequalityofprayer,poor-rate,fastandHajjfromtheAhlal-BaytinwhosehousetheQuranicverseswererevealedandwhoaretheinheritorsoftheProphet’sknowledge.

Thislearningisnotpossibleexceptbygettingtoknowtheirculture,teachingsandinjunctions.

TheHolyProphethasbeenreportedassaying:

He,whohasbeenfavoredbyAllahtogettoknowmyAhlal-BaytandtheirImamate,hascertainlyhadallthegoodsgatheredforhimbyAllah.12

ReportingImamal-Sadiq(a.s.)intheinterpretationofthefollowingverse:

HegrantswisdomtowhomsoeverHepleases,andwhosoeverisgrantedwisdom,heindeedisgivenagreatgood…(2:269)

Abu-Basirsays:

It(greatgood)istoobeyAllahandtogettoknowtheImams.13

AhlAl-Bayt,TheBestCreatures

Amongstallthecreationsintheuniverse,bethatbeonlyphysicalorspiritual,thecreationwhichisacombinationofphysicalityandspirituality,arethebestones.

ThereasonforsuperiorityofeachofthesethreegroupsoveroneanotherisdeterminedbyAllah,Hisspiritualfavor,thecapacityofcreature,perfectfaith,thepraiseworthydeedorotherreasonswhichareunknowntous,mayunderliethisselection.Togivefurtherexplanationoftheissue,wewillgiveexamplesfromthebestofthesethreegroups.

TheBestPlaces

IntheHolyQuranandnarrations,certainplacesandpiecesoflandshavebeenmentionedas

havingaspecialvalueforAllahonaccountofHisMercyandfavorbestoweduponitorbecauseofperformanceofcertainreligiousritualstherein.Desecrationofsuchplacesisunlawfulforall.

KabahAndItsVicinity

ThepieceoflandonwhichtheKabahstands,waschosenbyAllah.Thischoicehasgivenitbothdignityandsuperiority,makingitdistinctamongallotherplaces.Imamal-Sadiq(a.s.)hasbeenreportedassaying:

AllahhaschosenonethingfromamongallthingsandhaschosentheKabahfromamongalltheplacesontheearth.14

KabahwasthefirstHousetobebuiltonearth,inablessedandbounteouscityfortheguidanceofthepeopleoftheworld.ClearsignsofspiritualityandthestationofProphetAbrahamwereplacedthere.Whoeverentersthatplaceshallbesecure:

Mostsurely,thefirsthouseappointedformenistheoneatBekka,blessedandguidanceforthenations.Initareclearsigns,thestanding-placeofIbrahim,andwhoeverentersitshallbesecure.(3:96-97)

Imamal-Sadiq(a.s)hassaid:

WhoevercomestotheKabahandrecognizespartofitsholiness,hissinswillbeforgivenbyAllahWhoissufficientforhisaffairsthisworldandtheHereafter.15

TheBestDaysAndNights

TheHolyQuranattractspeople’sattentiontosuchnightsastheGrandNightandthefirsttennightsofDhul-HijjahaswellassuchdaysastheDaysofAllahinordertomakethemselvesworthyofthegrandrewardsbytakingadvantageoftheseuniqueopportunities.

TheGrandNight

Inthewordsofthevaluableal-SafiExegesis(tafsir),IbnAbbasnarratesthattheHolyProphetwastoldaboutamanfromtheChildrenofIsraelwhohadcarriedarmsoverhisshoulderforathousandmonths,forJihad(holywar)inthewayofAllah.TheHolyProphetwasshockedathearingthisandwishedthathiscommunity(Ummah)wouldhaveundertakensucharewardingtask.So,heraisedhishandsinprayer,saying,“OAllah,Youhavesetmyummahtheshortesttimeintermsoflifeandtheminimumopportunityfordeeds.”

AllahthengrantedhimtheGrandNightsaying,“TheGrandNightineachmonthofRamadhanuntiltheJudgmentDay,whilebeingshortintermsoftimeandwithlittleopportunityfordeeds,isbetterforyouandyourummahafteryou,thanathousandmonthsduringwhichthebelievingmanoftheChildrenofIsraelcarriedarmsforJihadinthewayofAllah.”

TheFirsttenNightsofDhu’l-Hijjah

ThefirsttennightsofDhul-Hijjah,astheHolyQurandescribes,areamongthewell-knownmonths(2:197).TheyarethebesttimesduringwhichtheMajorHajjisperformedontheMountArafahontheninthday,theobligatorypassingofthenightinMasharonthenightoftenthandtheFeastofSacrificeonthetenthday.

WhenthemonthofDhul-Hijjahwouldarrive,therighteousamongtheummahwouldmakeanextraordinaryefforttoworshipandserveAllah.Thesedaysandnightareexcellentintermsofvirtuesandblessings.TheHolyProphethasbeenreportedassaying:

GooddeedsandprayerstoAllaharenotbetterinanytimethaninthesedaysandnights.16

DaysofAllah

TheDaysofAllah(ayyamullah)arethedaysofvictoryorfailure,thesweetandbitterdays,thedaysofmanifestationofAllah’smercytothebelievingnationsorAllah’swrathontheunbelievers.

Itispraiseworthytopayattentiontoayyamullahforlearninglessonsfromthepastevents.AllahhasmentionedayyamullahintheHolyQurantoawakennations:

AndcertainlyWesentMusawithOurcommunications,saying:BringforthyourpeoplefromutterdarknessintolightandremindthemofthedaysofAllah.(14:5)

Besidesthis,theayyamullaharethebesttimeforrepentance,engaginginprayeranddoinpraiseworthydeeds.

TheBestHumanBeings

Whatmakesahumanbeingsuperiortoothersishisfaith,knowledgeandpiety.Believingpeoplearebetterinvaluethanothersandthescholarswhopracticetheirfaitharesuperiortobelieversandthepeopleofpietyareofthehighestvalue.Inthisrelation,theHolyQuranhasdelicateandprecisereferences:

Allahwillexaltthoseofyouwhobelieve,andthosewhoaregivenknowledge,inhighdegrees;andAllahisAwareofwhatyoudo.(58:11)

Abeliever’svalueissuchthatboththeHolyQuranandnarrationsconsiderkindnesstowardsabelieveraskindnesstoAllahandHismessenger,assistancetoabelieverasassistancetoAllahandHismessenger,topleaseabelieverastopleaseAllahandHismessengerandtovexabelieverastovexAllahandHisMessenger.ReportingtheHolyProphet,Imamal-Baqir(a.s)hassaid:

WhoevermakesabelieverhappyhasindeedmademehappyandwhoevermakesmehappyhascertainlymadeAllahhappy.17

Allahhasnotbeenworshippedwithanythingbetterthanmakingabelieverhappy.18

Imamal-Sadiq(a.s.)hassaid:

TomeettheneedsofabelieverisbetterinAllah'sviewthanHajjperformedbyapilgrimwhospendsahundredthousandDinarsoneachHajj.19

Ifamanfeedsoneofmybrothers-in-faith,itisbetterformethanenteringthemarket,buyingoffaslaveandsettinghimfreeinthewayofAllah.20

Peopleofknowledge

TheHolyProphet(S),aboutthesuperiorityofscholars,hassaid:

Thesuperiorityofmenofknowledgetoothersislikemysuperioritytothehumblestofthem.21

Thesuperiorityofascholartoaworshipper(withnoknowledge)islikethesuperiorityofthefullmoontootherstars.22

OntheDayofJudgment,threegroupswillintercedewithAllahandtheirintercessionisaccepted:theProphets,thescholars(ulama)andthemartyrs.23

Imamal-Baqir(a.s.)hassaid:

Ascholar(alim)whobenefitsfromhisknowledgeisbetterthanseventythousandworshippers(withnoknowledge).24

PeopleofPiety

Aboutthepeopleofpiety,theHolyQuransays:

SurelythemosthonorableofyouwithAllahistheoneamongyoumostpious.(49:13)

TheHolyProphetsays:OntheDayofJudgment,Allahwilladdresspeopleinthisway:

Iorderedyou(toobeyandkeepawayfromSatan)butyouignoredthecovenantandyouexaltedyourancestry(whichisofnouseforthisworldandtheHereafter);Today,Ipromotetheancestrythatlinksmyservantstomeandabaseyourties(withyourancestry).Wherearethepeopleofpiety?Surely,themosthonorableofyouwithAllahistheoneamongyoumostpious.25

Ahlal-Bayt,theBestCreatures

Sincehumanvalueliesinthebalanceofjustice,faith,knowledgeandpiety,basedontheQuranicversesandnarrations–thefaith,knowledgeandpietyofAhlal-Baytismorethanthatofothercreatureshavingintellectsuchastheangels,Jinnandhumanbeings.Theirfaithisatitszenithandtheirknowledgeofpastandfutureaboutesotericandexotericfactsisperfectandtheirpietyisatthehighestlevel.Theyaresuperiortoallothercreatures.Hence,theirImamate(leadership)isincumbentuponall.Withoutobeyingthem,peoplewillbelikeblind,deadandanimalsalthoughtheymaybeappeartobelivingandmayclaimtosee,haveknowledgeandbeahumanbeing.

Commonsenserequiresthatalearnedpersonmustbefollowedbytheunlearned,ascholarbytheignorant,aspecialistbythenon-specialist,aguidedpersonbysomeonewhoislostandaprayerleaderbyaworshipper.So,beyonddoubt,ifamandoesnotfollowAhlal-Bayt,hewillnotwalkontheirstraightpath,andwillnotbenefitfromtheirlife-givingculturewhichistheexegesisoftheQuranicverses.Ifhedoesnotobeytheirinstructions,hewillgainnothing.However,ifheresortstotheHolyQuranandAhlal-Bayt,hewillnevergoastraynorwillhislifebewasted.

BothShiiteandSunnischolarshavereportedthefollowingnarration,reportedbytheHolyProphet:

Verily,Iamleavingamongyoutwovaluablethings.Youwillnotgoastrayaftermeaslongasyouadheretothem.Oneisgreaterthantheother.TheyaretheBookofAllah,whichisaropestretchedfromtheheavenstotheearth,andmyHousehold.TheywillneverseparatefromoneanotheruntiltheycometomeatthePond.Becarefulhowyoudealwiththemafterme.26

TheTruthOfAhlAl-Bayt

InviewofQuranicversesandnarrationspreviouslymentionedandbasedontheQuranicverse,Mubahalah(mutualcurse),whichreads:

Butwhoeverdisputeswithyouinthismatterafterwhathascometoyouofknowledge,thensay:

Comeletuscalloursonsandyoursonsandourwomenandyourwomenandourselfandyourself,thenletusbeearnestinprayer,andprayforthecurseofAllahontheliars(3:61)

Inthisholyverse,ImamAli(a.s.)hasbeeninterpretedtobethe‘self’.IthasbeenproventhatthelightofImamAli(a.s.)istherootofalleleveninfallibleImams.HislightissameasthatofthelightofHolyProphetwithonlyaphysicaldifference.

Imamal-Sadiq(a.s)inanimportantnarrationhassaid:

Allahexistedwhen‘existence’wasnotthere.SoHecreatedtheexistenceandspaceandcreatedthelightfromwhichotherlightswereilluminatedandthatisthelightfromwhichMuhammad(S)andAli(a.s.)appeared.27

Inanothernarration,Imamal-Sadiq(a.s.)said:

OAli,youandmewerecreatedfromthesamelight.Then,thatlightwasplacedintheloinsofAdamuntilitdividedintotwopartsintheloinsofAbdal-Muttalib,onepartwasplacedintheloinofAbdullahandtheotherpartintheloinsofAbu-Talib.28

Forthisreason,thereisnolightorsoulnearertotheHolyProphetthanthelightandsoulofImamAli(a.s).ItisduetothesameintimacythatontheNightofAscension(NocturnalAscent),AllahspoketotheHolyProphetinthevoiceofImamAli.TherewasalsoacovenantofbrotherhoodbetweenMuhammadandAlisounityandbrotherhoodwasmanifestoutwardly.ItisforthesamereasonthattheHolyProphethassaid:

YouhearwhateverIhearandyouseewhateverIsee.29

Basedonauthenticnarrations,AliistheinnerpartofMuhammadandMuhammadistheDivineemanation.ItisAllah’swillthatImamateistheinnerpartofMuhammad’sProphethoodsothattheinnerpartwillbewithMuhammadwhereverheispresent.Therefore,theHolyProphet’smissionwouldnotbeperfectwithouttheImamateofImamAli.TheHolyQuransays:

Ifyoudonotdothis,thenyouhavenotdeliveredHismessage.(5:67)

TherankofImamAli’sImamateissuchthathecandominatetheentireuniversebywitnessingwhatisvisibleandinvisiblewithAllah’spermission.Therefore,wecannotattaintheloveforMuhammadandAllahwithouthavingloveforAli,forAliisthegatewaytoAllahandthelightofMuhammadandAliitselfisthebeginningandendofthisuniverse:

AllahbeganwithyouandwithyouHewillconcludeandthereturnofcreationistowardsyou.30

ItisworthmentioningthatnarrationsinallthemostreliableIslamicreferencebooksconsiderthefeaturesoftheTwelveInfallibleImamsasthesameinallareas,fortheircreationisfromthesamelightoftheHolyProphet.

WeshouldsaythatwiththeexceptionofProphethood,allthefeaturesoftheHolyProphethavebeenmanifestedperfectlyintheinfallibleImamsandallofthem,astheythemselveshavesaid,areAllah'sAttributes:

ByAllah,wearetheMostExcellentNames(al-asmaal-husna).31

ItisforthesamereasonthatthepeopleoftheworldareindebtedtoAhlal-Baytwhohavearightoverthemandobservethattherightisincumbentonthem.Inthisrelation,oneoftheinfallibleImamshasbeenreportedtosay:

TheworldandwhateveristhereinbelongstoAllah,theBlessedandAlmighty,HisMessengerandus.Therefore,whoeverobtainssomethingfromitshouldbemostcarefulofhisdutyandbebenevolenttohisbrothers.Ifhefailstodoso,Allah,Hismessengerandwedespisehim.32

Atanyrate,therootofAhlal-BaytistheHolyProphet(S)whogavehislighttoAli(a.s.)and

Fatimah(a.s.)andwiththematrimonyofthesetwowonderfulseasofspirituality,thereappearedelevenImamstoguidetheworld’snations.

JabirIbnAbdullahAnsariwhowasfavoredbytheAhlal-Baytuntiltheendofhislifehassaid:WhenAllahrevealedthefollowingverse:

Oyouwhobelieve!ObeyAllahandobeytheApostleandthoseinauthorityfromamongyou…

IsaidtotheHolyProphet,“OAllah'sMessenger,weknowAllahandtheMessenger,butwhoarethoseinauthoritytheobediencetowhomisequaltotheobediencetoyou?"TheHolyProphetsaid,

Jabir,theyaremysuccessorsandleadersofMuslimsafterme.ThefirstofthemisAliibnAbi-Talib,thenHasanandHusayn,thenAliibnHusayn,thenMuhammadibnAli,knownasBaqirintheTorah.Youwillseehim.Whenyouseehim,greethimonmybehalf.ThencomesJafaral-SadiqandafterhimMusaibnJafarandafterhimMuhammadibnAliandfinallyonewhohasmynameandwillbeAllah’sargumentation(hujjatallah)ontheearth,thesonofHasan,thesameImamwhomAllahhasappointedtoconquertheeastandthewest,thesameImamwillbehiddenfromtheeyesoftheShiitesandhisfriends.Atthattime,noonewillbefirminhisbeliefinhisImamateunlessthosewhomAllahhaspurifiedtheirheartsforfaith.

AnothernoteworthypointaboutthetruthofAhlal-BaytinnarrationsrelatedbytheholyImamsistheirresemblancetoagoodtree.AnsweringaquestionaskedbyAmribnHuraythaboutthegoodtreementionedintheHolyQuran,Imamal-Sadiq(a.s.)says:

Allah’sMessengeristherootofthetree,Amiral-Mumininisitstrunk,theImamsfromhisissueareitsbranches;therecognitionoftheImamsisitsfruitandthebelievingShiitesaretheirleaves.

ByAllah(Iswear),whenabelieverisborn,thetreegivesanewleaf;andwhenabelieverdies,aleaf

fallsoff.33

TheLightOfTheAhlAl-Bayt

TheTruthoftheHolyProphet

SincetheHolyProphetisinwardlyandoutwardlytherootofAhlal-Baytandtheirspiritualdignity,wemustgettoknowtheHolyProphetthoroughlyinordertoknowAhlal-Bayt.

Basedonnarrations,fourtruthsarereferredtoasthefirstcreatures:

ThefirstthingAllahcreatedwaslight.34

ThefirstthingAllahcreatedwaspen.35

ThefirstthingAllahcreatedwasintellect.36

ThefirstthingAllahcreatedwasmylight.37

ThefirstthingAllahcreatedwasmysoul.38

TheHolyProphethimselfis,owingtothesignsofwonderthatflowfromhissacredinteriorandthetruthsthatemanatefromhisheavenlyheart,theperfectmeaningoflight,pen,andintellectinthesestatements.ItisforthisveryreasonthattheHolyProphethasinthelasttwonarrationsintroducedhislightandsoulasthefirstcreations.Althoughthesefournamesaredifferentinappearance,theyareidenticalinreferringtotheHolyProphethimself.

WewilldiscussthisimportantpointbyinvokingtheHolyQuranandnarrationsbasedonreason,withoutanybias:

Light

Defininglight,thephilosopherssaythatlightisatruthwhichismanifestbyitselfandmakesotherthingsmanifest.Intellectintheaforesaidnarrationmeansatruth.Itisamediumbetweenmanandallinformationandtruthsinthecreation.TheHolyQurandescribestheHolyProphetasalight-givingtorch:

OProphet!Surely,Wehavesentyouasawitness,andabearerofgoodnewsandabearerofwarning.And,astheonewhoinvitestowardsAllah,byHispermission,andisalight-givingtorch.(33:45-46)

TheHolyProphetwaslight-thatisthesameastruth,whichisluminousinallaspects.Hegavelightto

allothers.Heknewtheentiretruthinwardlyandoutwardly.Hewaseagerlywillingtomakeothersawareofthetruthoftheirexistenceandtheirrelationwiththeoutwardandinwardofuniverse.

Thisisthemeaningoflightasmentionedbytheosophists:

Lightisaquality,beingmanifestbyitselftorevealotherthings.39

Basedonmanyauthenticnarrations,AllahcreatedthelightofMuhammad(S)beforeallcreaturesandthencreatedtheothertruthsoflight,intellect,spirit,andmaterialfromtheraysofhislight.

He,then,removedtheveilofdarknessfromthefaceofallcreaturesthankstotheblessingofthislight.Actually,AllahmadehimamediumofrealizationbetweenHimselfandallothercreation.

BasedontheHolyQuran(33:46),theHolyProphethasdescribedhimselfasthesun:

Iamthesun.40

Whatawonderfulcomparison!Thesunistheoriginandsourceofsolarsystem.Alltheplanetsofsolarsystemdependonthesun.TherewasatimewhenMars,theEarth,Venus,Saturn,Mercury,Jupiter,NeptuneandPlutowerepartsofthesun.WhenAllahwilledtocreatethesolarsysteminitspresent-dayform,abigexplosionoccurredinthesunandaseriesofactionsandreactionsfollowed.Asaresultthepartsthathadbeenseparatedwereplacedatadistanceonaspecialorbit.Presently,theyallmoveattractedtothesunandareilluminatedbythesun.

Likewise,thelightoftheHolyProphetwascreatedbeforeallothercreaturesandduetoAllah'swill,alltruthsemanatefromthatsourceoflightmanifestingthemselvesontheearththankstothelightofMuhammad(S).Justastheplanetsofthesolarsystemarethesameasthesunbutofadifferentshapeand,onthewordsofphilosophers,inastateofreducedindividuation,soalsoaretheheavenlycreaturesreducedindividuationofthelightoftheHolyProphet.Inthisrelation,theHolyProphethasbeenreportedassaying:

Iamthesun,Alithemoon,FatimahVenus,HasanandHusayntwostars.41

Inthisnarration,thecomparisonmadebytheHolyProphet,whoisthemosteloquentspeaker,showsthewonderfulnatureofthenarrationsthatcompareaspiritualtruthtoaphysicalmanifestationincreation.Firstly,itmakesitknownforallthatthetruthofMuhammad(S)isnearertoAllahthantheraysofthesuntoitssource.SecondlyMuhammad(S)isthemediumforrealizationofallcreatures.Theyareindebtedtohimandhehasaclaimonallcreaturesformaterialandspiritualrights.

AndobeyAllahandtheApostle,thatyoumaybeshownmercy(3:132)

Andknowthatwhateverthingyougain,afifthofitisforAllahandfortheApostle…(8:41)

TheownershipofallblessingsbelongstotheHolyProphetbythepermissionofAllah.Andwebenefitfromtheblessingshegivesus.Hence,weshouldpayhimwhatisduetohimandtheprofitofwhatwegivereturnstoourselvesthankstothefavorandgenerosityoftheHolyProphet.

Say:WhateverrewardIhaveaskedyou,thatisonlyforyourselves…(34:47)

Pen

Penintheaforementionednarrationmeansatruththatdeterminesallspiritualandinward(esoteric)affairsandregistershappiness,guidanceandfavors,andspreadsmercyfortheworld’snationswiththehandofAllah'swill.

Pen,inonesense,isthetruthofMuhammad(S)bywhomAllahhasswornintheHolyQur'an:

Nun;Iswearbythepenandwhattheangelswrite.(68:1)

Pen,inanothersense,isthemissionoftheHolyProphetwhodeterminesthehappinessandprosperityofanyonewhohasthemeritandspreadsmercyforthenationswithitsguidanceandbindinglaws:

Andwehavenotsentyoubutasamercytotheworld.(21:107)

Intellect

Intellect,initsprimarymeaning,isthetruthofMuhammad(S)whoisnotonlythefirstcreationbutalsothemost-lovedbyAllah:

BymyGloryandhonor(Iswear),IhavenotcreatedanyonemorelovedtoMethanyou.42

NowthatthenarrationshaveintroducedtheHolyProphetasthedearestandmost-lovedbyAllah,whyshouldwenotregardintellect,themost-lovedcreation,astheHolyProphethimself?Heisindeedtheuniversalintelligence;andallthesignsofintellectandintelligence,whicharethemostpositiveandusefulphenomenainuniverse,manifestthemselvesintheHolyProphet.

Spirit

Spirit,basedontheHolyQur'an,isfromtherealmof‘Command’thatcomestoexistencewiththeword‘Be’andnotfromthepositionofcreation,whichistheoriginofmaterialelements:

Surely,Hisisthecreationandthecommand.(7:54)

ThespiritwhosetruthisnotknownbyanyoneistheoutcomeoftheDivineDecreeandcomesintoexistencewiththeword‘Be’:

AndwhenHedecreesanaffair,Heonlysaystoit–Be-sothereitis.(2:117)

Andtheyaskyouaboutthesoul(spirit).Say:thesoulisoneofthecommandsofmyLord…(17:85)

SpiritisthefirstcreationofAllah,ashasbeenmentionedbytheHolyProphet:

ThefirstthingAllahcreatedwasmyspirit.

TheHolyProphetwishestomakeothersunderstandhimusingdifferentexpressionsaccordingtopeople'scapacity.Thatiswhy,ononeoccasion,hesays:

ThefirstthingAllahcreatedwaslight.

Onanotheroccasion,hesays:

ThefirstthingAllahcreatedwaspen.

Onotheroccasions,hesays:

ThefirstthingAllahcreatedwasintellect.

Or,

ThefirstthingAllahcreatedwasmylight.

And,

ThefirstthingAllahcreatedwasmyspirit.

Withthisexplanation,weconcludethatthereisaunityinmeaningoflight,pen,intellect,andspirit,allofwhichrefertoonetruth-thetruthofMuhammad(S).Therefore,AllahcreatedthetruthofMuhammad(S)consistingoflight,pen,intellect,andspiritdirectlyfromHisownlightandcreatedotherbeingsforhissake.Inthisrelation,Imamal-Sadiq(a.s)says:

AllahcreatedtheDivinedecreebyitselfandthencreatedallbeingsbymeansoftheDivinedecree.

Thatistosay,AllahcreatedtheDivinedecree,whichisanothernameforthelightofMuhammad(S)withoutanymediumandthencreatedotherbeingsfromthelightofMuhammad(S).WithoutthelightofMuhammad(S),whichisanexpandedGrace,norelationshipbetweentheCreatorandthecreatedispossible.Therefore,themanifestationofAllahandthelightofHisperfectbeautyistheGraceofMuhammad(S)andtheintuitivedecreeandthelightoftheHolyProphetasmentionedinthefollowingnarration:

AllahcreatedintellectanditwasthefirstofspiritualcreationstobemadefromHislightontherightsideofthethrone.43

ThePerfectLightofAhlal-Bayt

BasedonthefollowingauthenticnarrationreportedontheauthorityoftheHolyProphet:

ThefirstthingAllahcreatedwasmylight.

And,basedonthefactthatAhlal-Baytarethemanifestationofthislight,weshouldadmitthatAhlal-BaytarelightinessenceandthislightisthelightofAllahwhichcannotbeputoutbythepuffingoftheignorantones:

TheydesiretoputoutthelightofAllahwiththeirmouth,butAllahwillperfectHislight,thoughtheunbelieversmaybeaverse.(61:8)

ThefamousZiyarahal-Jamiahal-Kabirah,whichisawell-documentedformofZiyarah(statementsaddressedtotheHolyInfallibleswhentheirtombsarevisited)composedbyImamal-Hadi(a.s),isrecitedintheZiyarahofalltheinfallibles;weread:

Allahcreatedyouintheformoflight.44

AgaininthesameZiyarah,weread:

Yoursouls,lightandformsarethesame;pureandpiousaltogether.45

InthefamousZiyarahWarith,weread:

Itestifythatyouwerelightintheloftyloinsandpurewombs.46

IntheBooksofMaqtal(storyofImamal-Husayn'smartyrdom),wereadthatwhenImamAliibnal-Husayn(al-Sajjad)wasplacinghisfather'sbody,withtheheadcutoff,inthegrave,hesaid:

"Ofather,theworldisindarkafteryouandtheHereafterisilluminatedwithyourlight."47

ThefollowerofAhlal-Bayt,Abu-KhalidKabulisays:IaskedImamal-Baqirtoexplainthefollowingholyverse:

ThereforebelieveinAllahandHisApostleandtheLightwhichwehaverevealed…(64:8)

TheImamsaid:

“OAbu-Khalid,byAllah(Iswear),theImamsarethatlightuntiltheDayofJudgment;andbyAllah,theyarethelightofAllahintheheavensandontheearth.OAbu-Khalid!ByAllah,thelightoftheImamintheheartsofbelieversisbrighterthanthesunshiningindaylight.ByAllah,theImamsgivelighttotheheartsofbelievers.Allah,mayHebehonoredandglorified,hidestheirlightfromwhomeverHewisheswherebytheirheartsbecomedark.ByAllah,OAbu-Khalid!NoonelovesusbutthosewhomAllahhaspurifiedtheirhearts;andAllahdoesnotpurifyaservant’sheartunlessthatservantsurrendershimselftoandisatpeacewithus.Therefore,ifoneisatpeacewithus,AllahwillkeeponesafefromReckoningandfromfearontheJudgmentDay.”48

TolivewiththeloveforAhlal-BaytandtofollowtheminallmaterialandspiritualaspectsislikelivingthelifeofProphets.ReportingtheHolyProphet,Imamal-Baqir(a.s.)hassaid:

IfonelikestolivealifesimilartoProphets,dieasamartyr,anddwellinaParadise-allthetreesofwhichareplantedbyAllah,oneshouldaccepttheleadershipofAli,makefriendwithhisfriendsandfollowtheImamsafterhim,fortheyaremyhousehold(Ahlal-Bayt)andtheyhavebeencreatedfrommy

essence.OAllah!giveashareofmyunderstandingandessencetothem.Woetotheirenemiesfromamongmyummah!OAllahletnottheirenemieshavemyintercession.49

TheRanksOfAhlAl-Bayt

Man’sDescentAndAscent

Manhasgonethroughcertainstagestoreachhismaterialexistenceandtheworld;andhehastogothroughotherstagestoreturntowhereheusedtobewithaqualitativedifference:

AsHebroughtyouforthinthebeginning,soalsoshallyouallreturn.(7:29)

Evidentlythiscourseof‘fromAllahtoAllah’isnotsomethingspecialforhumanbeings;rather,allcreatureshaveadescendingandascendingcoursemakingthecircleperfect.Nevertheless,thiscourseinhumanbeingswhoarethesuperiorcreaturesisperfect.

Mangoesthroughthestageof‘thebestmade’tothematerial‘thelowestofthelow’.Theninanevolutionarycause,hereturnstoAllahafterhisepistemologicalandexistentialdimensionsundergochange.

Therearethosedistinguishedhumanbeingsamongallmen,whohavethepowerofleadershipandenjoyamplitude.Thesegothroughthisstagemoreperfectly.Amongallperfecthumanbeings,theHolyProphetandhisAhlal-Baytarethemostsuperiorofbeings.Theygothroughthisstageinthemostperfectway.

StagesofMan’sDescent

Everybeing,includinghumanity,hasastagewhere‘hewasathingnotworthmentioning’.Thenhe

becomes‘athingworthmentioning’.

Thefirststageis‘shadow’-itisthetimewhenmanishiddenorunobservableintheDivineknowledge.Thisisthestageof‘athingnotworthmentioning’.ThenAllahwillstomanifestmanandmanbecomes‘athingworthmentioning’.Inthisstage,mandeservestheDivineDecreeof‘Be’:

Hiscommand,whenHeintendsanything,isonlytosaytoit-Be,soitis.(36:82)

Thisstageismaterializedintoanepiphanywithanunimaginablespeed:

AndOurCommandisbutone,asthetwinklingofaneye.(54:50)

About‘athingnotworthmentioning’,theHolyQuransays:

DoesnotmanrememberthatWecreatedhimbefore,whenhewasnothing?(19:67)

Andonhisbecoming‘athingworthmentioning’,theHolyQuransays:

Theresurelycameovermanaperiodoftimewhenhewasathingnotworthmentioning.(76:1)

Thisisthestageofentitywhensomethingexistsbutnotworthmentioning.Fromtheabovesaidverse,itisinferredthatthisstageiswhenmanbecomesworthmentioningduetothelightoftheHolyProphet.

EvidentlyeverythingthatisaddressedbyAllahandreceivesthedecreeof‘Be’fromtheCreatoroftheuniversecannotbeapurenothing.Thisissobecauseapurenothingcannotbeaddressed.

Therefore,althoughwedidnotexistexternally,wewereintheknowledgeofAllah.

OnemustsaythatDivinedecreeandHiscreationcametogethertocreateman:

Surely,Hisisthecreationandthecommand.(7:54)

Commentingonthiswonderfulbeing,theHolyQuransays:

…Surely,Iamgoingtocreateamortaloftheessenceoftheblackmudfashionedinshape.(15:28)

…Surely,Iamgoingtocreateamortalfromdust.(38:71)

Theabovetwoandotherversesrefertothematerialcreation‘inthelowestofthelow’andthen

HolyQuransays:

SoIhavemadehimcompleteandbreathedintohimofmyspirit,falldownmakingobeisancetohim.(15:29)

Basedontheaforementionedverses,manisacomprehensivebeingandisdistinctfromothercreatures.

Ahlal-Bayt’sDistinction

BasedontheQuranicverse,theAhlal-Bayt,whetherwhentheywereinAllah’sknowledgeorwhentheywerecreated,weredistinctfromotherhumanbeings,astheyareallfromthesametreeandlightwhileotherhumanbeingsarefromdifferenttrees:

AliandIarefromthesametreewhileotherpeoplearefromadifferenttree.50

Theircapacityandmagnitudecannotbecomparedtootherhumanbeingsinanyposition.Itisforthisreasonthatitissaid,basedonauthenticnarration,thatAllahcreatedthemfromlightbeforethecreationofotherbeingsandbestowedknowledgeuponthem.TheHolyQuransaysabouttheimportanceanddignityofthemanwhoisaddressedtobyAllah:

AnditisnotforanymortalthatAllahshouldspeaktohimexceptbyrevelationorfrombehindaveil,orbysendingamessengerandrevealingbyHispermissionwhatHepleases;SurlyHeisHigh,Wise.(42:51)

ExcellentexamplesofthesepeoplearetheHolyProphetandAhlal-Bayt.TheywereaddressedbyAllahduetotheHolyProphet’smissionandtheAhlal-BaytreceivedwhatwasrevealedtoAllah’smessenger.

DescribingImamAli(a.s.)whoisoneoftheAhlal-Bayt,theHolyProphetsays:

Surely,youhearwhatIhearandseewhatIsee.51

ImamAli(a.s.)hadreachedthehigheststageofknowledgethatacreaturecouldreach,inaway

thathewoulddecisivelysay:

IdonotserveaLordwhomIhavenotseen.52

ItwasalsoImamAli(a.s.)whosaid:

Ifalltheveilswereremoved,abitwouldnotaddtomycertainty.53

SincetherewasnoveilbetweenhimandAllahandhewasamediumbetweenpeopleandAllahduetohisknowledge,andsotheHolyProphethadsaid:

AliandIarefromthesamelight.54

AngelshadprostratedthemselvesbeforetheperfectmanduetohisknowledgeoftheNames.

Thisprostrationwasduetothelegalpositionandnotthenaturalpersonalityoftheperfectman.Itisforthisreasonthatsincethenallangelshavebeenunderthespiritualpoweroftheperfectman.

Presently,allangelsandotherbeingsareundertheeyesofImamMahdi(a.s.)-mayAllahexpeditehisreappearance.

TheCapacityOfAhlAl-Bayt

Commentingonthecapacityoftheangels,ImamAli(a.s.)says:

Amongthemarethosealsowhosestepsarefixedonearthbuttheirnecksareprojectingintotheskies.55

Thatistosaytheangelsareabstracttruthhencetheyencompassthecosmosandhavetheuniverseundertheircover.Basedonnarrations,thesameabstracttruthhasmanifesteditselfintheheartoftheHolyProphetandhisAhlal-Bayt.SincetheHolyQurandawnedupontheheartoftheHolyProphet,nothingthatemanatesfromhimandhisAhlal-Baytisbutthetruth,formancannothavetwohearts-onecontainingthetruthandtheothercontainingfalsehood.Therefore,Ahlal-Baytarenothingbutthetruth;theysaynothingbutthetruthanddonothingbutthetruth.

Theyaremercyfortheworldnationsandallpeopleenjoytheirtruthwhethertheywantornot.

SinceperfectmenhavereacheduptotheUmmal-Kitab(MotheroftheBook),ithasbecometangibleforthem:

Inabookthatisprotected;noneshalltouchitsavethepurifiedones.(56:78-79)

Thesemenarebeyondlimitsofnatureandtime;theyhavesteppedonthepastandfuture,thatistosay,theyhavethetimeundertheirfeet.Forthisreason,theyareawareofthepastandthefuture.Theyseethepastasithappenedandthefutureasitwillhappen.DowenotreadintheHolyQuranthatAllahshowedtoHisMessengerduringtheNightAscensionthefutureoftheuniverseuntiltheJudgmentDayanditsaftermath:

Thenhedrewnear;thenhebowed,sohewasthemeasureoftwobowsorcloserstill.AndHerevealedtoHisservantwhatHerevealed.Theheartwasnotuntruein(makinghimsee)whathesaw.What!Doyouthendisputewithhimastowhathesaw?AndcertainlyhesawHiminanotherdescent,Atthefarthestlute-tree:Nearwhichisthegarden,theplacetoberesortedto.(53:8-15)

DuringtheNightAscension,AllahrevealedtotheHolyProphettheessenceoftheDayofJudgmentintheformofheavenandhell.So,theHolyProphetnotonlyhasanunderstandingofthepastandfutureandhealsoseesthemall.SinceAllah’sMessengerwithallhisspiritualityismanifestintheAhlal-Bayt,theytooareawareofthepastandthefuture.

Beyonddoubt,theprayerofthosewhohavesuchcapacityanddevotioncannotbecomparedwithanyoneelseinawaythatonesecondoftheirprayerisbetterthantheprayerofmenandjinntogether.Inthisrelation,theHolyProphetsays:

OneblowofAli’sswordintheBattleoftheDitchisbetterthantheprayerofmenandjinn.56

AhlAl-Bayt,TheHolyQuran’sCounterpart

AdutyundertakenbyallhumanbeingsespeciallyMuslimsistounderstandtheHolyQuranandtoputintopracticeitsteachings,whichisthesameasshownbylivesofAhlal-Bayt.TheHolyProphetduringanillness,whichledtohispassingaway,cameoutofhishousewhileleaningonImamAliandIbnAbbas.LeaningononeofthepillarsofMedinaMosque,whichwasthenthetrunkofapalmtree,saidtothepeoplewhoweregatheredinthemosque:

Noprophethaspassedawaywithoutleavingsomethingbehindhim.Itooleavebehindmeforyoutwovaluablethings,namelytheBookofAllahandmyAhlal-Bayt.Beaware,whoeverignores

themwillbeignoredbyAllah.57

ImamAli(a.s.)toohassaid:

Allah,theBlessedandExalted,haspurifiedusfromuncleannessmakingusinfallible.Hemadeusthewitnessuponpeoplesettingusasaproofontheearth.HeplaceduswiththeHolyQuranandplacedtheHolyQuranwithus.WewillneverpartcompanywiththeHolyQurannorwilltheHolyQuranpartcompanywithus.58

Ahlal-Bayt(a.s.)aretheprotectedQuran,containingallmeaningsoftheBookofAllah,awareofthemanifestandhiddenversesandtheonespracticingtheQuranicteachings.TheyarethepracticalexamplesoftheHolyQuranandthefullmanifestationoftheBookofAllah.Therefore,peopleshouldbe,especiallytheMuslims,dutyboundtotheHolyQuran,thentheywouldbedutyboundtoAhlal-Baytaswell.

AsforhowtheummahtookheedoftheHolyProphet’srecommendationabouttheHolyQurananditscounterpart,thatistheAhlal-Bayt,weshouldbeawareofIbnDharr’sanswertoImamal-Baqir’squestion:

Oneday,Imamal-Baqir(a.s.)askedIbnDharrifhehadheardsomehadiths.IbnDharrsaid,“OSonofAllah’sMessenger,theHolyProphetsaid,“Iamleavingamongyoutwovaluablethings;oneisgreaterthantheother;theBookofAllahandmyAhlal-Bayt.Ifyouresorttothen,youwillnevergoastray.”

Imamal-Baqir(a.s.)said,“OIbnDharr,ifyouevermeetAllah’sMessengerandheasksyouwhatyouhavedoneaboutthesetwovaluablethings,whatwillyouranswerbe?”

IbnDharrstartedweepingbitterlyandsaid,

“Alas!WehavetornaparttheGreateroneandkilledthesmallerone.”59

Ahlal-BaytaretheHolyQuran’scounterparthencetheyhaveallthefeaturesoftheBook:

TheHolyQuranisfullofknowledge.SoaretheAhlal-Bayt.

TheHolyQuranislight.SoaretheAhlal-Bayt.

TheHolyQuranisbalance.SoaretheAhlal-Bayt.

TheHolyQuranispure.SoaretheAhlal-Bayt.

TheHolyQuranisguidance.SoaretheAhlal-Bayt.

TheHolyQuranisanintercessorontheJudgmentDay.SoaretheAhlal-Bayt.

AhlAl-BaytAndKnowledge

TheHolyQuransaysthatwhenProphetSulayman(Solomon)sentbacktheemissariesofQueen

Sheba,hesaidtothechiefsofhiscourt:

Hesaid:Ochiefs!Whichofyoucanbringtomeherthronebeforetheycometomeinsubmission?OneaudaciousamongtheJinnsaid:Iwillbringittoyoubeforeyouriseupfromyourplace;andmostsurelyIamstrongandtrustworthyofit.OnewhohadtheknowledgeoftheBooksaid:Iwillbringittoyouinthetwinklingofaneye.Thenwhenhesawitsettledbesideshim,hesaid:ThisisofthegraceofmyLordthatHemaytrymewhetherIamgratefulorungrateful;andwhoeverisungrateful,thensurelymyLordisSelfsufficient,Honoured,(27:38-40)

InanotherplaceoftheHolyQuran,wereadaboutonewhohastheknowledgeoftheBook

Andthosewhodisbelievesay,“Youarenotamessenger.”Say,“Allahissufficientasawitnessbetweenmeandyou.SoishewhohasknowledgeoftheBook.”13:43)

Intheearlierverse,theArabicprepositionmin(of)thatcomesbetweenilm(knowledge)andkitab(Book)means“partof”,whereasinthelatterverse,thereisnothingbetweenthesetwowords,meaningonewhohastheentireknowledgeoftheBook;onewhosewitnesstoProphethoodisthesameasthewitnessofAllah.ThisonemustbethemostknowledgeableaftertheHolyProphet.

Thisperson-asthegrandShiitecommentatorsrelyingonnarrationsrelatedtoAhlal-BaytandgreatSunnicommentatorsrelyingontheirownnarrationsstate-isnoonebuttheCommanderoftheFaithful,ImamAli(a.s)whowasnotolderthantwenty!

Abu-SaidKhidri,areporterofhadithacceptedbySunnischolars,says:

IaskedAllah’sMessenger,WhoistheoneintendedbyAllah’ssaying,‘soishewhotheknowledgeoftheBook’”TheHolyProphetanswered,“Heismybrother,AliibnAbi-Talib.”60

ImamAli(a.s.),havingbeenaskedaboutthemeaningofthesameverse,hassaid:

IamtheonewithwhomistheknowledgeoftheBook.61

WhenImamal-Sadiq(a.s.)wasaskedbyAbdal-RahmanibnKuthayraboutthemeaningofthe

followingverse,

“OnewhohadtheknowledgeoftheBooksaid:Iwillbringittoyouintwinklingofaneye”-,

theImam,spreadinghisfingersandputtingthemonhischest,said:

ByAllah,theentireknowledgeoftheBookiswithus.62

ReferringtoAhlal-Bayt,Allah’sMessengersaid:

Allahhastoldme:TheyarethetreasurersofMyKnowledgeafteryou.63

ImamZaynal-Abidin(a.s)hassaid:

WearethegatestoAllah;thestraightpath;thecontainerofHisknowledge;theinterpretersofHisrevelation;thepillarsofmonotheism;andtheclosetofHissecrets.64

ImamAliAmiral-Muminin(a.s.)hassaid:

Beware!TheknowledgebroughtdownbyAdamandtheexcellentdeedsoftheProphets,uptothelastoneofthem,iswiththeProgenyofthesealoftheProphets.Sotowhichdeviatedwayareyoupushedandwhereareyougoing?65

TheHolyProphet(S)hassaid:

We,theAhlal-Bayt,arethekeysofMercy,thedestinationofthePropheticmission,thehauntofangels,andthesourceofknowledge.66

ImamZaynal-Abidinhassaid:

Whydopeopleharborgrudgeagainstus?ByAllah,wearethetreeofProphethood,thehouseofmercy,thesourceofknowledgeandthehauntofangels.67

Ahlal-BaytknowtheChiefName(al-ismal-a’dham)ofAllah;theyarefamiliarwithalllanguages;theyareawareofthepastandthefuture;theyhavetheknowledgeoftheDivineBooksandtheyseewhathashappenedandwhatwillhappen.Ahlal-BaytaretheHouseofAllah,Noah’sArk,theQuran’scounterpart,theexcellentpeople,thosewhoareinauthority,peopleofReminder,rootsoftruth,sourceofDivinemission,pillarsofworldandtheguardiansoffaith.

AhlAl-BaytAndDevotion

DuetotheircompleteknowledgeofAllah,Ahlal-BaytareinapermanentstateofsubmissiontoHim.Theirassociationwithpeople,theirsilenceandspeaking,theireatinganddrinking,theirmarriageandbusiness,theirwarandpeace,theirpresenceathomeandonjourney,theirwearingofclothes,theirlisteningandlooking,theirsleepandwakefulness,theirweepingandsmiling-tosumitup,alltheirbehaviorsanddeedswereallfilledwithdevotion.

ThedevotionofAhlal-BaytisbasedontheknowledgeofAllah,Hisloveandasenseofduty,andnotbecauseoffearofHelloradesireforParadise.

TheopinionofAhlal-Baytabouttheirownanddifferentkindsofprayershowsthattheirdevotionwaswithapureintention,awayfromanydoubt.Nevertheless,theyconsideredtheirprayertobeunworthybeforetheAll-magnanimityofAllah.ComparingtheirprayerwiththatofAllah’sMessenger,theystartweeping.

ImamAli(a.s)hasbeenreportedassaying:

IservedYou(OLord)notonaccountofdesireforParadiseorfearofHellfire;butIfoundYoutheworthiestofbeingworshipped.So,IdecidedtoserveYou.68

TheImam(a.s.)alsosays:

SomepeopleserveAllahoutofdesireforreward.Thisistheprayerofthemerchants.OthersserveAllahoutoffear,whichistheprayerofslaves.StillothersserveAllahoutofgratitude,thisisthe

prayerofthefreeborn.69

ByAllah!IfAllahwouldtellAhlal-BaytthatIhaveremovedParadiseandhellfromtheuniverseandthereisnosuchathingasrewardandpunishment,thequalityandquantityoftheirprayerwouldnotbechangedabit.Imamal-Baqir(a.s)narratedthefollowing:

Onenight,theHolyProphetwasinAishah’shouse,hewasengagedinprayingsomuchsothatAishahsaid,“OAllah’sMessenger!WhyareyoumakingyourselfsotiredwhileAllahhasforgivenyourfaults(ifatalltherewereany)inthepastandfuture?”

TheHolyProphetsaid,

"ShouldInotbeagratefulservantbeforeAllah?"70

Imamal-Baqir(a.s.)hasfurthersaid:

Allah’sMessengerprayedsomuchsothatAllahrevealedthefollowingverse,

Ta-Ha!WehavenotrevealedtheQurantoyouthatyoumaybeexhausted.(20:1-2)

TheworshipoftheCommanderoftheFaithful(a.s.)wassowonderfulthattheImamshavesaidthatnoonecanworshipAllahasmuchasImamAlidid.LikeAllah’sMessengerandImamAli,theothermembersofAhlal-Baytwereuniqueinworship.Itisforthisreasonthattheyattainedthestationofwilayah(divinelycommissionedleadership)andtheywereabletodoextraordinaryworksinadditionthattheyhadtherightofintercessionandleadershipovermenandjinnhenceobeyingthenwasobligatoryforall.

TheMeaningofDevotion

Devotionistocoordinateallactivitiesandinactivates,aswellaslifeanddeathwiththewillofAllahbasedonapureintention:

Say:Surelymyprayerandmysacrificeandmylifeandmydeathare(all)forAllah,theLordoftheworlds.(6:162)

Imamal-Sadiq(a.s.)hasbeenreportedassaying:

ServingAllahisanobleactleadingtoGodliness.

StagesofDevotion

Toattaindevotion,onemustgothroughcertainstagesasfollows:

StageoneistocontroloneselfbypromotingthequalityofprayerwithapureintentionasrequiredbyAllah:

Andasforthosewhostrivehardforus,wewillmostcertainlyguidetheminOurways…(29:69)

IfyouarecarefulofyourdutytoAllah,Hewillgrantyouadistinction…(8:29)

Fastingisprescribedforyou,asitwasprescribedforthosebeforeyou,sothatyoumayguardagainstevil.(2:183)

Oyouwhobelieve!Seekassistancethroughpatienceandprayer.(2:153)

Atthisstageofsubmission,manovercomeshiscarnaldesires.

Stagetwoistocontrolimaginativefaculty,whichisoneofthewonderfulfacultiespresentinthehumanbeings.Duetothisfaculty,man'smindjumpsfromonesubjecttoanotherthroughassociationofideas.

Thisfacultyisnotunderourcontrol;rather,weareunderitswonderfulcontrol.Itisforthisreasonthatitissometimesimpossibleforustoconcentrateonacertainsubjectwithoutbeingdistracted.Theimaginativefacultypushesusthiswayandthatwaylikewhenwetrytohavepresenceofmindinourprayerbutwecannot.

Thefollowersofspiritualpathatthisstageovercometheirimaginativefacultymakingitsubmissive.Theresultisthatwhenthesouloftheworshippersdesirestogoup,therewillbeneitherdisturbancenoranydisruption.

Basedonthefollowingholyverse,

Allahdoesnotimposeuponanysouladutybuttotheextentofitsability(2:286)

manshouldturnhismindtoAllahinprayertotheextentofhisability.Islamdoesnotapproveofmortification,whichisstrictself-disciplineasexercisedbysomeascetics.Heart'sattentiontoAllahwillcertainlypavesthewayforthepresenceofmindandconcentration.

Stagethreeistopromotesoulinawaythatitwillbeinnoneedofbodywhilebodyisinfullneedofit.Soulandbodyareinneedofeachother.Thelifeofbodydependsonsoul,whichisitsguardian.Thereasonsoulcanbeinnoneedofbodyisthatincertainactivities,itcandowithoutbody.Thismighthappenforafewsecondsorpermanently.Thisiscalled‘ousterofbody’.Theilluministphilosopher,Sohrawardi,hassaid:

Wedonotrecognizeatheologianasatheologianunlesshecan‘ousthisbody’.

Mirdamadsays:

Wedonotrecognizeatheologianasatheologianunlessousterofbodyisinternalizedforhimsothathecanrealizeitwheneverhewishes.

Stagefouristobringthebodyunderpersonalcontrolinawaythatmancandoextraordinarydeedsinrelationtohisbody.Inthisconnection,Imamal-Sadiq(a.s)hassaid:

Bodydoesnotshowweaknesswhenthereisstrongintention.71

Stagefiveisthehigheststageinwhicheventhenatureisbroughtundertheinfluenceofman'swill.ThemiraclesoftheProphets,Imamsandsaintsareofthiscategory.MiraclesareofthetypeofpersonalinitiativetodoextraordinaryworkswiththehelpofAllah.Extraordinaryworks,suchasturningarodintoaserpent,healingtheblind,givinglifetoadeadpersonandknowingaboutahiddensecret,areallexamplesofmiracles.

SomepeoplehavetheimpressionthatthemiracleworkerhasnopartintheextraordinaryworkandAllahrealizesit,formiraclesareoutsidehumanpower.Thisisawrongimpression,fortheHolyQuranexpresslyconsidersthemessengersasthemiracleworkerswhodosowithAllah'spermission.Thispermissionistograntakindofauthority,whichisthesourceofmiracles,andifAllahdoesnotwill,hedeniestheauthority:

AnditwasnotmeetforanapostlethatheshouldbringasignexceptwithAllah'spermission.(40:78)

AccordingtothisQuranicverse,themiracleworkersareProphetswho,withthepermissionoftheCreator,aretheexecutorsoftheDivinewillandsignsofHim.Asfortheirmiracles,Prophetsareaidedbytheinvisiblesource.InthestoryofProphetSulaymanandtheQueenofSheba,weread:

OnewhohadtheknowledgeoftheBooksaid:

Iwillbringittoyouinthetwinklingofaneye…(27:40)

TheHolyQuransaysthattheextraordinaryworkwasperformedasaresultofakindofknowledge,whichcanbeacquiredwithalinktotheprotectedBookandnearnesstoAllah.

Therefore,theHolyQuranagreesthatmancandoextraordinarydeedsandbringaboutchangesinuniversewithself-purification.TheyarealltheresultofnearnesstoAllahandeveryonecandosototheextentofhisaffinitywithAllah.

Imamal-Sadiq(a.s)hasreportedAllah'sMessengerassayingthatAllahAlmightysays:

AservantcannotseeknearnesstoMethroughanymeansthatmaybemorebelovedtoMethan(carryingout)religiousduties.HemayseekMynearnessthroughsupererogatoryprayerssothatImaylovehim.IfIdo,Iwillbehishearing,hissight,histongue,andhishand.Then,IwillcertainlyanswerhimwhenhepraysMeandIwillgranthimthatwhichheasksfromMe.72

TheonlywaytobeperfectissubmissiontoAllahtheresultofwhichisgodlinessanddoingextraordinaryworks.

Ahlal-Bayt,duetotheirdevotion,havereachedastationbywhichtheyarenearertoAllahthananyothermortal,includingangels.Thisisthereasonwhytheirpowerofworkingmiraclesissogreat.

AhlAl-BaytAndAbsorptionInAllah

Inanarration,wereadthatintheBattleofUhud,anarrowhadpiercedImamAli’sleg.Thepainwassoseverethathewouldnotallowanyonetotakeitoutofhisleg.WhentheHolyProphetwasinformed,hesaid,“Postponeittothetimeofprayer.”WhenImamAli(a.s)wasengagedinprayer,thearrowwastakenoutofhislegbecausehewassoabsorbedinprayerthathedidnotfeelthepain.

Imamal-Sadiq(a.s.)reportedthatwhenImamZaynal-Abidin(a.s.)wasreadingapartofImamAli'sBookonprayer,hewouldsaytohimself,

"Whocanhavesuchtolerance?Whocanhavesuchtolerance?"

Hewouldthentrythesameprayer73.

Oneday,JabiribnAbdullahaskedImamZaynal-Abidin(a.s.),

“OSonofAllah’sMessenger!DoyounotknowthatAllahcreatedParadiseforyouandforyourfriends,andcreatedtheFirefortheillwishersandforyourenemies?So,whatisallthishardworkingfor?”ImamZaynal-Abidinsaid:

OCompanionofAllah’sMessenger!DoyounotknowthatAllahforgaveallthepastandfuturefaultsformyancestors?Nevertheless,theHolyProphetneverputasideobeisanceandsubmissiontoAllahandkeptonworshippingHim.Maymyparentsbesacrificedforhim!Whenhewasasked,“HasnotAllahsaidinHisBook,‘…thatAllahmayforgiveyourcommunitytheirpastfaultsandthosetofollow’?"Allah’sMessengeranswered,“ShouldInotbeagratefulservant?”74

Imamal-Sadiq(a.s.)said:

Myfatherprayedinthemiddleofthenight.Hisprostrationwouldbesolongthatwewouldthinkthathehadgonetosleep.75

ThisistheAhlal-Bayt’sstationofabsorptioninAllahinawaythattheyarebeingseparatedfromtheirbodiesandthisworld,and“TheyarenearertoAllah’sspiritthantheraystothesun.”76

AsforImamHasan’sworship,itisnarratedthathewasthemostpiousofhistime.DuringtheseasonofHajj,hewouldwalkbarefootfromMedinatoMecca.Wheneverhewouldthinkofdeath,hewouldstarttoweep.Whentheword‘grave’wasmentionedtohim,hewouldweep,forthenhewouldthinkoftheJudgmentDay.WheneverhethoughtofSirat,hewouldweep;andwheneverhethoughtofReckoningbeforeAllah,hewouldcryandfaint.Whenhewaspreparinghimselfforprayer,hewouldshiveroutoffearofAllah;andwheneverhewasspeakingofheavenandhell,hewouldbecomedisturbed.Then,hewouldpraytoAllahforheavenandseekHisrefugefromHellfire.Wheneverherecitedaversebeginningwith‘Oyouwhobelieve’,hewouldsay,“HereIam,OAllah,hereIam.”77

WhentheImamwasperformingablution,hislimbstrembledandhisfacegotpale.Whenitwasaskedofhim,“Whyareyouinsuchastate?”hewouldsay,“OAllah!Yourguestisatyourthreshold;OForgivingAllah!ASinnerhascometoyou!OAllah!ForgivemysinsbyYourGreatness.”78

Inanarration,wereadthat:OnedayImamal-Baqir(a.s)wenttoseehisfather,ImamZaynal-Abidin.Imamal-Baqirwasthinkingthathisfatherhadreachedastageindevotionthatnoonehadeverreached.So,hesaysthatasmyfatherwasthoughtful,hebecameawareofmypresenceonlyaftersometime.Whenhesawmecrying,hesaid,“FetchmeoneofImamAli’swritingsaboutprayer.”AsIdidso,heasked,“WhocanpraylikeAliibnAbi-Talib?”79

AsforImamal-Kadhim(a.s.),itisrelatedthathewasthemostpious,themostknowledgeable,themostgenerous,andthemosthonorableofhistime.HewouldalwaysperformhissupererogatoryprayersatnightslinkingthemtotheMorningPrayerandwouldbeengagedinrecommendedactsofworshipuntilsunrise.ThenhewouldprolonghisprostrationuntilNoonPrayer,saying:

OAllah!IamaskingYoutoeasedeathandforgivenessatReckoning.

Inoneofhisprayers,hewouldsay:

GravehasbeenthesinofYourservant;so,letforgivenessfromYoubenice.

HewouldweepforfearofAllah.Hecaredforhisownfamilyandrelativesmorethanothers.Hewouldgototheneedyatnightswithabasketfullofcoins,flouranddates.HewasintheprisonoftheAbbasidtyrannicalrulersforyearsuntilhewasmartyred.HeinfluencedotherprisonerssogreatlythattheyallrepentedtoAllah.ItisnarratedthatwheneverHarunal-Rashidwenttothetopoftheprison,hewouldseesomeclothesinoneofitscorners.Onedayheaskedthejailor,“WhatarethoseclothesIseeeveryday?”Thejailorsaid,“Thesearenotclothes;thisisMusaibnJa`farwhoisinprostrationeverydayfromsunrisetosunset!”

AboutthetorturersofImamHasanAskari(a.s),SalihibnWasif,thechiefjailor,says,“Whatistobedone?Iappointedtwopersonstotorturehim.AfterobservingtheImam’sworship,theyweresoimpressedthattheythemselvesstartedworshippingAllahinsuchamannerthatsurprisedeverybody.”Isummonedupthem,askingwhytheyhadchanged,whytheyhadstoppedtorturinghim,whattheyhadseen.Theysaid,“Whatshouldwesayaboutamanwhofaststhedaysandisengagedinprayeratnights?Whenhelooksatus,ourbodiesstartshiveringandsuchaweoverwhelmsusthatwecannotcontrolourselves.”80

AhlAl-Bayt,TheWholeTruth

SinceAhlal-Baytstandatthehighestlevelofdevotion,submissionandendeavor,theyreflectthewholetruthlikeamirror.

TheirstationofdevotionandsubmissionisamanifestationofAllah’sAttributes,theirmoralvirtues,strongfaithandajumpingboardforgainingnearnesstoAllahinreadinesstomeetHim.

Imamal-Hadi(a.s.)describesAhlal-Baytassuch:

Peacebeonyou,OHouseholdoftheProphet!YouarethecenteroftheDivinemission.Untoyoutheangelsreturntoadoptyouropinionsandtolearnfromyou.Youarethedestinationofthedivinerevelation;theoriginatingsourceofmercy,thetreasuresofwisdom,theultimateinforbearance,thefoundationofgenerosity,theleadersofallnations.Youadministeranddistributebountieswithoutinterruption.Youaretheelementsofvirtueandpillarsofgoodness.

Youdirectandguidemankind,protectandsupportthelandswhereinpeoplelive,letinandleadthemontofaith.TheBeneficentLordhasassignedtoyoutheresponsibilityofdealingwithHisBenevolence;youarethedistinguisheddescendentoftheProphets,thecreamofthenoblebornchildrenoftheMessengers,thepurefamilyofthe"Bestindividual",intheassessmentoftheLordoftheworlds!

PeacebeontheGuides(Imams)whoshowtheRightPath,fillthedarknesswithlight,teachanddemonstratetheawarenessofboundarieslaiddownbyAllah.PeacebeontheexponentsoftheviewsandbeliefswhichacquaintwithawarenessofAllah,whereveryouare,therearetheblessingsofAllah,the

wisdomofAllahisdepositedwithyou,thesecretsofAllahhavebeenputinyoursafekeeping,youknowtheBookofAllahbyheart,youarethesuccessorsoftheProphetofAllah,peacebeonyouwhoinvitepeopleuntoAllah.81

AlltheProphetswhocamebeforetheHolyProphetofIslamandtheirbookswereanattempttopavethewayfortheadventofAllah’sMessengersothatallcreatures,especiallyhumanbeings,movetowardsperfection-thankstothesenobleoneswhoaretherope,shadow,andtrusteesofAllah.Forthisreason,theymadeacovenanttopreparethegroundfortheadventoftherootof

Ahlal-Bayt,namely,theHolyProphet.

AllahneverallowedHiscreationtoremainwithoutaProphetdeputedbyHim,orabooksentdownfromHimorabindingargument.82

Basedonthis,theHolyProphetsays:

WearethelastonesinthisworldbutforemostontheJudgmentDay.83

ShiiteandSunnireferencebooksofHadithhavereportedAllah’sMessengerassaying:

AdamaswellasalltheotherhumanbeingswillbeundermybannerontheJudgmentDay.84

Duetotheirextensiveabilityandknowledge,Ahlal-Baytaretheparagonof“Thelastonesaretheforemostandtheforemostarethefirstonesandnothingislikethem.”85

Thereasonforbeing‘foremost’isthatAhlal-BaytarethebeginningandtheendoftheuniverseasAllahhassowilled.Inal-Ziyarahal-Jamiahal-Kabirah,Imamal-Hadi(a.s.)referstothissametruth:

Allahopenedthegateofuniverseandtruthwithyouandwillenditwithyou.Thepeoplewillreturntoyouandtheirreckoningiswithyou.86

Therefore,alltheProphetssetthegroundforthepresenceofAhlal-Baytamongcreatures.ThesenoblemenweresenttoproducealinkbetweenAllahandHiscreaturesleavingnoexcusefornationsoftheworld.

Actuallytheirexistenceontheearthisconcurrentwiththefallofthesun,whichisthenoonofuniverse.Thentheafternoonofuniversebeginsanduniversewillbecomecontracted.WhentheeraoftheadventoftheHolyProphetandAhlal-Bayt(a.s)andthatofImamal-Mahdi(mayAllahexpeditehisreappearance)comestoanend,andthesunsets,alltheuniversewillmergeintoanabsolutecontractionandtheseconddarknessbeginsafterthepassageofmillionsofyearsofthefirstdarkness.Atthattime,Allahwillsay:

Towhombelongsthekingdomtoday?(40:16)

Then,accordingtotheHolyQuran,theJudgmentDaybegins:aneternaldaywithoutanynight.

NeithertheHolyQurannorhavethenarrationsmadeanyreferenceto“theJudgmentNight”;ratheritis

theDayofJudgment.Asthedaybeginswiththerisingofsun,theJudgmentDaytoowillbeginwiththelightofMuhammadwhohasbeendescribedasalight-givingtorchintheHolyQuran(33:46).HewillbethefirsttoenterthepresenceofAllahonthatday.WithhisbeingtheFaceofAllahandHisLight,thesceneofthefinalgatheringwillbeilluminatedandaneternaldaywouldemerge:

AndtheearthshallbeamwiththelightofitsLordandtheBookshallbelaiddown.(39:69)

Inviewofitscontent,thisversereferstotheJudgmentDayandmostofthenarrationsconsiderthelightoftheLordastheHolyProphetandtheInfallibleImams.

WiththedawnoftheLightofAllah,whichisthelightofMuhammad,themorningoftheJudgmentDaywilldawnandapermanentdaywillbegin.

Thankstothislight,theentiretruthwillshowitselfandallhiddensecretswillbedisclosedandthentheReckoningwillbegin.

ReportingtheHolyProphet(S),Imamal-Baqir(a.s)hassaid:

IwillbethefirsttostandbeforeAllahalongwithHisBookandAhlal-Baytandthenmyummah.

ThenIwillaskmyummah,“HowdidyoutreattheBookofAllahandmyAhlal-Bayt?”87

AhlAl-Bayt;ArkofSalvation

ThepuresoulsofAhlal-Baytandtheirlightwerecreatedbeforeothercreatures;theywereplacedaroundAllah’sThrone.TheywereengagedinglorifyingAllahuntilHeputeachofthosepuresoulsinabodyatthepropertimeandrevealedthemamongpeoplefortheirguidanceasafavor:

Allahcreatedyouintheformoflight;HethenkeptyoucloselyattachedwithhisThroneuntilyouweresentdowntothisworldasafavortous.HeallowedyoutopronounceandpraiseHisNamealoudintheHousesofAllah.88

OAhlal-Bayt,youwerelikeNoah’sArkfromthetimeyouwereplacedaroundAllah’sThronetosavethosewhohavefallenintothewhirlpooloftribulation:

Allahmadeyoureachthenoblestpositionofglory,thehigheststationthatwasnearesttoHim,andtheloftieststatusamongthoseoftheMessengers.89

OAhlal-Bayt,youhaveattainedsuchspiritualitythroughknowledge,faithandofferinghelptopeopleinthisworldthatyouhavereachedthepositionofthemosthonorableprophets.

AuthenticbooksofHadithhavereportedImamHasanAskari(a.s.)assaying:WhenAdamfellfrom

heaven,hewasdeprivedofassociatingwiththeangelsandlostagarmentofdignitywhichcoveredhisprivateparts,hesaidtoAllah,

“OAllah!BythehonorofMuhammad,Ali,Fatimah,HasanandHusaynandthepurifiedonesofAhlal-Bayt,domeafavorbyacceptingmyrepentance,forgivingmysinandgivingbackmydignity.”

Allahanswered,“Verily,Iacceptyourrepentance,turntoyouwithpleasure,sendmybountiesandblessingstoyou,restoreyourpositionbyMygrace,andmakeperfectforyouyourshareofMymercy.”ThisisthemeaningofAllah’swords,

"ThenAdamreceivedsomewordsformhisLord,SoHeturnedtohimmercifully;surelyHeisoftreturning(tomercy),theMerciful.(2:37)"

Abu-Dharr,touchingthedoorofKabahsaidIhaveheardAllah’sMessengersay:

Beware!TheparableofmyAhlal-BaytamongyouislikeNoah’sArk.Whoeverentersitwillbesavedandwhoeverrefusestoenteritwillsufferperdition.90

ImamAli(a.s.)isreportedtosay:

Wereitnotforsavingandguidingpeople,Allahwouldnothavesentustothisworld.WewereengagedinglorifyingHimaroundHisthrone.Wearenotpeopleoftheworld;rather,wehavebeensenttoridyouofatheism,carnaldesiresandignorance,andtopromoteyoutothezenithofhumanity.Wehavecomeheretoleadyoufromdarknesstoguidance.Nowthatthesituationislikethat,placeyourhandsinourhandsandpromiseloyaltysothatwewillsaveyoufromthistumultuousseatotheshoreofsafety.

TheHolyProphet(S)hassaid:

Wearetheboatofsalvation.Whoeverholdsontoitwillbesaved,andwhomeverkeepsawayfromitwillmeetperdition,whoeverhasarequestfromAllahshouldaskforitthroughus,theAhlal-Bayt.91

AddressingKumayl,ImamAli(a.s.)says:

OKumayl!Oneday,whiletheHelpers(Ansar)andtheImmigrants(Muhajirun)whohadgatheredtofollowfortheAfternoonPrayerinmid-RamadhanwhileAllah’sMessengerwasstationedonhispulpit,hesaid:AliandhistwopurifiedsonsarefrommeandIamfromthem;theyarelikeaship-whoeverboardsitwillbesavedandwhoeverrefusestodoso,willdrown.ThesavedoneisinheavenandthedrownedwillbeinHellfire.92

ImamAli(a.s.)hasalsosaid:

Whoeverfollowsourcommandwillbesuccessfulandwhoeverentersanyshipotherthanourswillbedrowned.93

Asweknow,starshelpthosetravelingbyseatocometotheshoreofsafety.Inanarration,theHolyProphet(S)comparesAhlal-Baytwithstarsintermsofsafety:

StarsareasourceofguidanceforthoselivingontheearthandmyAhlal-Baytareasourceofsafetyfrom

differences.So,ifanyArabtribechallengesthem,theywillbeengagedwithdiscrepanciesamongeachotherandhencebecomeapartytoSatan.94

Verily,theparableofmyAhlal-BaytislikethegateofHittah(forgiveness)forthechildrenofIsrael.

Whoevergoesthroughitwillbeforgiven.95

ImamAli(a.s.)says:

WearethegateofHittah,whichisthegateofpeaceandsafety.Whoeverentersthroughitwillbesavedandwhoeverrefuseswillmeetperdition.96

Beware,theknowledgethatAdambroughtwithhimandtheknowledgeofallProphetsarewiththeAhlal-Bayt.Sowhyareyoubewilderedandwhereareyouboundtogo?Ahlal-BaytamongyouarelikethePeopleoftheCaveandliketheGateofHittah.TheyarethegatetopeaceandsafetymentionedinthewordsofAllah:

Oyouwhobelieve!Enterintosubmissiononeandall,anddonotfollowthefootstepsofShaitan(2:208)97

AddressingImamAli(a.s.)theHolyProphet(S)said:

OAli!Theparableofyou,Ahlal-Bayt,islikethesacredHouseofAllah.Whoeverhasentereditissafe.SowhoeverlovesyouwillbeimmunefromHellfireandwhoeverharborsagrudgeagainstyouwillbethrownintoit.OAli!BasedontheHolyQuran,

"…andpilgrimagetotheHouseisincumbentuponeveryonewhoisabletoundertakethejourneytoit(3:97)"-

thereishoweveranexcusefortheonewhoispoororsick.However,Allahwillnotaccepttheexcuseofeitherthepoorortherichorthesickorthehealthywhofailtoloveyou,theAhlal-Bayt.98

TheHolyProphet(S)hasalsosaid:ConsidermyAhlal-Baytastheheadistothebodyandthetwoeyesaretothehead.Thebodycannotfindthewayexceptwiththeheadandtheheadcannotfindthewayexceptwiththeeyes.99

ItnowbecomesclearastowhythecompanionsofAhlal-Baytduringtheirlivesconsideredthemasheadandeyeswithoutwhomlifewasnothingbutblindness,bewildermentandperdition.

AlthoughattheNightof‘Ashura’,ImamHusayn(a.s.)gavehiscompanionsthechoicetorevokeallegiancetohimandleavehim,theyunanimouslydecidedtostaywithhim.

Beyonddoubt,ifapersonlovesthemtrulyandinvokesthemfromthebottomoftheheart,theAhlal-BayttoowillrespondlovinglyandaccepthimwithopenarmsbecausetheyarethemanifestationofAllah’sAttributes.Theylovepeopleandfavorthempermanently.

ItwasduetothesameloveandfavorsthatontheDayofAshuraImamHusayn(a.s)triedtodelayhismartyrdomsoastogiveachancetosaveanotherhumanbeingfromatheism,ignorance,andbeinglost.Itwasforthesamereasonthathekindlyaddressedtheenemiesinthebattlefieldwithhisheartbrokenandhisbodyinjured.Itwasthusthat,twobrothersnamedAbu’l-HutufibnHarthandSa’dwhohadbeeninthearmyoftheKhawarijintheBattleofNahrawanandinthearmyofYazid,impressedbytheDivinenatureoftheImam,joinedImamHusayn’scamp,foughtagainsttheenemiesandweremartyred.

AhlAl-BaytAndTheStraightPath

BasedonclearversesoftheHolyQuran,onewhodoesnotgotoextremesinmoralandmentalsituationsistheexecutorofAllah’sdecreesinallaspectsofhislife,notinfluencedbysocio-politicalupheavals,nottemptedbySatan,amongthedevotedservantsofAllah,engagedingooddeeds,helpfultopeople,andispropagatingknowledgeandfaithisconsideredasImam:

Hesaid:SurelyIwillmakeyouanImamofmen.(2:124)

AndwemadethemImamswhoguidedpeoplebyOurCommand,andWerevealedtothemthedoingofgoodandthekeepingupoftheprayerandthegivingofthealms,andus(alone)didtheyserve.(21:73)

BasedontheexegesisoftheQuranicverses,‘ThestraightPath’isthepathwhichexistsbetweentheCreatorandthecreatedandfollowingthatpathmakesmanreachthestationofnearnesstoAllah,toachieveagreatvictory,andtobesavedfrometernal.CommentingontheStraightPath,ImamAli(a.s.)says:

Thestraightpathinthisworldisapathwithoutextremes,itisrightandfirm;andintheHereafter,itisthebelievers'pathtowardsheaven.100

ImamAli’sdefinitionofthestraightpathoverlapstheAhlal-Bayt,fortheywerestraightandmoderateinallaspectsoflifeandawayfromextremes.TheirguidancewillleadpeopletoheavenontheJudgmentDay.

OnemustnotethattherearecertainwordsandexpressionsintheHolyQuranthemeaningofwhichcannotbecomprehendedforpeople.Hence,wemustlearnaboutthemfromtheHolyProphet(S)andAhlal-Bayt(a.s.)thataretheteachersoftheHolyQurananditscommentators.

WhatisinferredfromSiratisnothingbutpathbutwhatthispathis,howlongitis,whatitsqualityandquantityare,andhowwecanwalkonthatpathcannotbeunderstoodfromthewords.Forthisreason,theHolyProphetandAhlal-BaytarecommissionedbyAllahtoexpressthesefacts.

WithoutseekinghelpfromtheirextensiveknowledgeontheHolyQur'an,wewillcertainlygoastray:

HeitiswhoraisedamongtheilliteratesanApostlefromamongthemselves,whorecitestothemHiscommunicationsandpurifiesthem,andteachesthemtheBookandthewisdom.(62:2)

AllahwhohasrevealedtheHolyQurantotheHouseholdoftheProphethasmanifesteditsmeaningandinterpretationsinthepurifiedheartsofthosepeopleendowedwithlearningsothatotherpeoplewillknowaboutthosewordsincludingthewordSiratthroughthem.

Commentingontheholyverse:

‘Keepusontherightpath(1:6)’

Imamal-Sadiq(a.s.)hassaid:Theversesays,Guideustothestraightpath-thatistosay,guideuswithyourcompanyonapathwhichwillleadustoyourloveandheaven;thepathwhichwillpreventusfromourcapricesthatendsinperdition.101

CanwereallygettoknowAllahandHisLovewithouttheteachingsofAhlal-Baytwhoaretrulygodlybeings?Canwegotoheavenwithouttheirguidance,teachingsandintercession?AreweabletobesafefromcarnaldesireswithoutbeinginthefortressoftheirImamate?

IfweclaimthatwecanbesafefromlossesandperditionbyresortingtotheHolyQuranaloneandthereisnoneedfortheImamofguidance,thiswilldefinitelybeagainsttheHolyQuran.

Therefore,weshoulddecisivelysaythatthemeaningofthestraightpathistheHolyQurananditsparagon,namelytheAhlal-Bayt;andthesetwoareinterdependentwithnoseparationbetweenthem.

WithoutAhlal-Bayt,therewillbeneitherstraightpathinthemeaningoftheHolyQurannoranyunderstandingofitssubtleties.Inthisrelation,Imamal-Baqir(a.s.)hassaid:

We(Ahlal-Bayt)aretheRoadandtheStraightPathtowardsAllah.102

Ahlal-BaytthemselvesaretrulythestraightpathofAllah,fortheirknowledgeofHimiscomprehensive.Hence,weshouldbelieveintheLordWhohasbeenintroducedtousbytheAhlal-BaytinadditiontothroughtheversesoftheHolyQur'an-boththedecisiveandtheallegorical.

AlthoughAllah’sdecreesarecomprehensible,itisonlywiththeirspiritualpowerandguidancethatamancanwinHispleasureandnearness.WithoutfollowingAhlal-Bayt,wewillcertainlygoastray.

Imamal-Sadiq(a.s.)wasaskedaboutthemeaningofSirat.Hesaid:

SiratmeansapathtakingtowardsrecognitionofAllah-theExaltedandGlorious.103

IsthereinthisuniverseanywayofgettingtoknowAllahsavethroughtheAhlal-Bayt(a.s.)?IfwecannotknowAllahbyAhlal-Bayt,thegodliestbeings,thenthroughwhomcanwegettoknowHim?

ItistheAhlal-BaytwhowiththeirDivineknowledgehaveintroducedtousthemeaningsofAllah,theJudgmentDay,jurisprudence,moralityandtruthforpeople.Hence,peoplearerequiredtorefertotheminordertounderstandalltruths.ElaboratingthewordSirat,Imamal-Sadiq(a.s)hassaid:

ThereareactuallytwoSirats:oneinthisworldandanotherintheHereafter.SiratinthisworldistheImamandtofollowhimisincumbentonall.OnewhorecognizesandfollowshimwillpassthebridgeoverHellleadingtoParadise;whileonewhodoesnotrecognizehimwillslipfromtheSiratfallingintoFire.104

Therefore,basedontheQuranicversesandauthenticnarrations,thetruepathleadingtorealknowledgeofwhatwillresultinsalvationinthisworldandtheHereafter,aretheAhlal-Bayt.

FollowersoftheRightPath

Man,ifhefollowsthelife-givingteachingsoftheAhlal-Bayt,willbeendowedwiththeknowledgeofAllah,behelpeddohisobligatoryandrecommendedacts,avoidsinsandstayawayfrompollutions.

WasSalman,thePersian,notaZoroastrianfirstandthenbecameaChristian?And,byfollowingAhlal-Bayt,hereachedsuchasupremestationaboutwhichtheHolyProphethassaid,

Salmanisfromus,Ahlal-Bayt.105

HadAbu-Dharrnotbeenanomadicshepherdwho,byresortingtoAhlal-Bayt,reachedsuchasupremestationaboutwhichtheHolyProphethassaid:

NooneundertheskyorontheearthisastruthfulasAbu-Dharr.106

WasBilalnotanEthiopianblack?ByfollowingAhlal-Bayt,hereachedsuchastationaboutwhichtheHolyQuransays:

Surely,themosthonorableofyouwithAllahistheoneamongyouthemostcarefulofhisduty.(49:13)

BygettingtoknowAllahthroughAhlal-Bayt,allthesaidpeoplebecameAllah'strueservantsandreachedastationbecomingparagonsofadherencetoAhlal-BaytuntiltheJudgmentDay.

ProphetJoseph(a.s.)wasAllah’strueservantwhoresistedagainstthetemptationsofthevizier’swifeforsevenyearsattheprimeofhislifesaying:IseekrefugewithAllahinresponsetoherrequest.WhiletheAhlal-Bayt(a.s)arethetruthitselfofthestraightpath.TheyareinessenceasuchamanifestationofthepathtoAllahwerethattheybecameonewithtruthitself.TheyonlysawAllah;theyonlyobeyedAllah;andtheyservedonlyAllah.Forthisreason,withthepermissionofAllah,theybecameasourceofGracefortheworld’snations.

AhlAl-Bayt,Allah’sViceregents

Allah’sattributesarenotmerelyverbal;rather;theyareobjectiveandhavingexternalrealization.

ThefirstattributesthatmanifestedthemselvesfromtheinvisibleGodatHiswillarefouraccordingtoanarration,andsevenaccordingtoanother,whichcansomehowrefertothesamename.ThefirstattributesaretheEver-living,theAll-knowing,theAll-Powerful,andtheSpeaker.

Eachoftheseattributeshasadomainandpropertyforitselfandthereisalonginginthemformanifestation.Since‘Allah’iscomprehensiveofallattributes,itgenerallyholdsotherAttributesanddoesnotallowanAttributetoemergealone.

TheUniverse’sNeedforAllah’sVicegerent

EachpartoftheuniversethatwasmaterializedwithAllah’sMostExcellentNamesisgovernedbythatAttribute.ItissonecessarybeyonddoubtthatsomeonecomesintoexistencetobeafullmanifestationofAllah’sChiefNameandcreateabalanceamongtheconcreteNamesofAllahsothattheywillnotinterferewitheachother.

Inotherwords,theuniverseisinneedofaperfectmanwhoisthemanifestationofallMostExcellentNamesaswellastheChiefNamesoastobeabletoadministeralltheaffairsasAllah’svicegerentwithHispermission.Evenangelswhoareabstractbeingsandeachofthemisassignedwithaspecialduty-

Andthereisnoneofusbuthasanassignedplace(37:164)-

areinneedofAllah’svicegerent(khalifatallah)soastocontrolthemintheiraffairsandtoteachthemwhatisnecessary.

Tosumitup,basedonQuranicversesandnarrations,theuniverseisinneedofkhalifatallahevenifnohumanbeingshadbeencreated.Thefirsthumanbeingofourkind,Adam,wasalsoinneedofkhalifatallahsothathisaffairswouldbeadministeredjustly.HencehehimselfwaskhalifatallahinorderforthatpositiontobealinkbetweenhimandAllah.

Basedonthisimperativeneed,AllahchoseavicegerentforHimselfandmadehimruleoveruniverse:

Iamgoingtoplaceintheearthakhalifah-Vicegerent-(2:30)

Thiskhalifahwouldrulethehigheststagesoftheuniverse.Althoughtheearthisthelowliestofthelow,potentiallythispositionisthehighestintermsofranksontheearth.Thismostpassiveelementistheonlyelement,whichcancollectwithinitselfallAttributesofAllah’sandbecomethemostactiveelementofuniversethankstoitsmerepassiveness.

AndHetaughtAdamallthenames(2:31)

FeaturesofAllah’sVicegerent

SinceakhalifahknowsalltheNames,hecanbeateacherforallcreatures.SinceAllahhasmadekhalifahteacherofangels,Hehasmadehimteacherofallothercreaturestoo.

AndHetaughtAdamallthenamesandthenpresentedthemtotheangels;thenHesaid:Tellmethenamesofthoseifyouareright.Theysaid:glorybetothee!Wehavenoknowledgebutthatwhichthouhastaughtus;surelythouarttheknowing,thewise.Hesaid:OAdam!Informthemoftheirnames.Thenwhen,hehadinformedthemoftheirnames,Hesaid:DidIsaytoyouthatIsurelyknowwhatisghaib(unseen)intheheavensandtheearthand(that)IKnowwhatyoumanifestandwhatyouhide.(2:31-33)

AkhalifahduetohisknowledgeandunderstandingofAllah'sMostExcellentNamesobjectivelyandsubjectivelyliesatthecoreoftheuniverse.Hemustlieinthecenterofittobeabletoteachtotheangels,administertheminrelationtotheiraffairsandurgethemtodospecialmissions.Inotherwords,akhalifahmustbeperfectintermsofknowledgeandcapacityandsuperiorintermsofinfallibilityandjusticesoastobeabletodistinguishbetweentheobjectivebeautifulNamesofAllahandothercreatures.

Akhalifahisapersonwhohasgonethroughtheloweststagesofexistenceuptoitshighestones.

AkhalifahisapersoninwhomtheknowledgeoftheBookandthePreservedTablet(al-Lawhal-Mahfudh)hasbeeninternalized.Heisonewhoisbenevolentandhasacquiredsuchvirtuesasgenerosity,contentment,chastityandcourage,andhasbecomethemanifestationofAllah'sMostExcellentNames.

AkhalifahisonewhoemergesatanytimewithoneofAllah'sNames,whichispropertothattime,makingthatNamerule.ItisatthisstationthatheisabsorbedinAllahandtakesthecoursetowardHim.AfterreceivingthebaptismofAllah,hewillreachapositionwherehecandoextraordinaryworkswiththepermissionofAllah.ThenhisheartbecomesAllah'sThroneandfindsAllahsittingonit:

TheAll-Compassionatesathimselfuponthethrone.(20:5)

MeritsofAllah’sVicegerent

InasacredHadith(WordsofAlmightyAllah),weread:

Iamnotcontainedinheavenortheearth;butIamcontainedintheheartofmybelievingservant.107

Itisabeliever’sheartthatcanundertakethevicegerencyofAllah’sMostExcellentNamesbywhichAllahrulesovertheuniverse.ReferringtothecreationoftheHolyProphet,anothersacredHadithreads:

Wereitnotforyoursake,Iwouldnothavecreatedtheuniverse.108

Ahlal-Bayt,Allah’sMostPerfectVicegerents

Allah'struevicegerentistheHolyProphet,forheisthefirstbeingtohavebeencreated,themostperfectmanifestationofAllah'sAttributesandacollectionoftruthandAllah'slight:

ThefirstthingAllahcreatedwasmylight.109

NarrationssaythatthelightoftheHolyProphetwascreatedmanythousandyearsbeforethecreationoftheuniverse.AboutthelightofImamAli(a.s),ithasbeensaidthathewastogetherwiththeHolyProphetintheinvisibleWorld.OneoftheselightsbecameProphetandtheotherbecameImam.Inthisconnection,theHolyProphetsays:

AliandIwerecreatedfromthesamelight.110

ImamAli(a.s.)whoisAllah’sintimatefriendistheheartofAllah’sMessengerasheshareswithhimeverythingexceptProphethood.TheHolyProphet(S)says:

AdamandothersareundermybannerontheJudgmentDay.WhenAllahjudgesamongHisservants,Amiral-Mu'minin(i.e.ImamAli)willholdthebanner.111

Therefore;ifthemissionofalltheProphetsledtothemissionoftheHolyProphet,theImamateofallprophetsisbasedontheImamateofImamAli(a.s.)whowasinwardlypresentwithallprophetsandoutwardlywiththeHolyProphet(s.a.w.).Hence,theImamateofAllah'sMessengerisunitedwiththeImamateofAli.

Truevicegerents;MeansofGrace

AnystationthatisattainedbyapersonmustbethroughtheAhlal-Bayt.Inthisrelation,theHolyQuransays:

AndseekmeansofnearnesstoHim.(5:35)

Weareadvisedto"holdfasttoAllah'scord."Ahlal-Baythavebeenreportedassaying:

WearethefirmcordofAllah.

ItisarequirementtofollowtheImamateofAli(a.s.)andtheHolyImams(a.s.).inordertoreceivetheDivineGrace-whetheritisknowledgeordailyfood.TheHolyProphetsays:

IamthecityofknowledgeandAliisitsgate.Whoeverwishestoenterthecityandseekitswisdommustfirstcometothegate.

AbanibnTaghlib,atrustworthynarrator,says:IaskedImamal-Sadiq(a.s.),“WhatforhasAllahsettheShiitesfreefromHellfire?"TheImamanswered,“OnaccountoftheiracceptanceofAli'sImamate.”112

Imamal-Ridha(a.s)isreportedassayinginthefamousnarrationofSalsalatal-Dhahab(GoldenChain),

(AlmightyAllahsays)ThereisnogodbutAllahismyfortress.Whoeverentersitwillbesafefrompunishment.

Imamal-Ridha(a.s)adds,

AcceptingmyImamateistherequirementforenteringthefortress.113

Therefore,prophethoodofAllah’sMessengerandImamateofImamAli(a.s.)andtheInfallibleImamsaretheindisputablerequirementsformonotheism.Itisforthisreasonthatithasbeensaidthattaskofoneisthetaskoftheothertwo.

AllahhasprofessedHisunity,ProphethoodandImamate:

AllahbearswitnessthatthereisnogodbutHe…(3:18)

…andAllahknowsthatyouaremostsurelyHisApostle…(63:1)

OnlyAllahisyourWaliandHisApostleandthosewhobelieve,thosewhokeepupprayerandpaythepoor-ratewhiletheybow.(5:55)

Ahlal-BaytaretrulyameansofDivineGraceandifitwereitnotfortheirsake,noonewouldbeblessedwiththatGrace.SincetheyareneartoAllahandareatthestationofcertainty,whoeverwishestoreachthisstationmustresorttothem:

Allahstartedwithyouandwillendwithyouandtoyouisthereturnofthepeople.114

ThelightofAhlal-Baytissuchthateventheangelswhoareabstractcannotbeartheirlight,so,theyfallinprostrationwhentheyseeingtheirlight,thinkingofitasAllah'sLight.IthasbeennarratedthatwhenAllah’sMessenger,accompaniedby(Archangel)GabrielattheAscensionNightreachedthethirdheaven,theangelsranawayfirstandthenstartedfallinginprostration,saying:

GloryandHolinessbetoourLord;LordofangelsandtheSpirit.HowclosethislighttothelightofourLordis.115

Atanyrate,Allah’svicegerencyamongpeopleisafeaturesoftheAhlal-Bayt.Accordingtoanarration,Imamal-Ridha(a.s.)hasbeenreportedtosay:

TheImamsareAllah'svicegerentsontheearth.116

Inal-Ziyarahal-Jamiahal-Kabirah,Imamal-Hadi(a.s)says:

HestrengthenedyouwithHisomnipotence,equippedyouwithHisguidance,distinguishedyouwithHisclearProofs,glorifiedyouwithHisLight,confirmedyouwithHisHolyspirit,andchoseyoutorepresentHimonHisearth.

AliibnHassansays:Imamal-Ridha(a.s.)wasaskedabouttheZiyarahofImamal-Kadhim(a.s).Heanswered:Performprayernearmosquesandsay,

“PeacebeuponthefavoritesofAllahandthechosenones.PeacebeuponthetrusteesofAllahandthebelovedones.PeacebeuponthesupportersofAllahandHisrepresentatives.”117

Aboutkhalifah,Amiral-Muminin(a.s.)says:

OntheJudgmentDay,Allah’svicegerentwillbecalled,“WhereisAllah’srepresentativeonHisearth.”118

InDuaArafah,ImamZaynal-Abidin(a.s.)describestheAhlal-BaytasAllah’srepresentativesontheearth:

…andYourvicegerentsonYourlands.119

AhlAl-Bayt,SuccessorsOfTheProphet

Manynarrations,reportedbybothShiiteandSunnischolars,refertoAhlal-BaytastheHolyProphet’ssuccessors.Thesenarrationsaresouninterruptedlyreportedthatthereisnodoubtaboutthem.Duetotheirmoral,spiritualandscholarlyfeatures,Ahlal-BaytalonedeservetobesuccessorsoftheHolyProphet.TobetheProphet’ssuccessorandrepresentativeistheirDivinerightandnooneelsedeservesit.TheHolyQuranreads:

Mycovenantdoesnotincludetheunjust.(2:124)

CaliphateistheindisputablerightofapersonwhohasallthecharacteristicsoftheHolyProphetexceptprophethood.ItisonlytheAhlal-Baytwhohavesuchfeatures.AboutAmiral-MumininandtheImamsafterhim,theHolyProphethassaid:

Heisthemasterofallvicegerents.Prosperityhasbeenattachedwithhim.Deathinobediencetohimis

martyrdom.HisnameisattachedtomineintheTorah.Hiswife,theGrandVeraciousLady,ismydaughter.HisTwosons,themastersoftheyouthofParadise,aremysons.HeandhistwosonsalongwiththeImamsafterthemareAllah'srepresentativesforthepeopleaftertheProphets.Theyarethegatesofknowledgeinmyummah.WhoeverfollowsthemwillbesavedfromHellfire;andwhoeverfollowstheirexampleswillbeguided.WhoeverisgiventheirlovebyAllahwillenterheaven.120

ImamHusayn(a.s)hassaid:

AllahchoseMuhammadforhispeople,honoredhimwithprophethood,andchosehimforthemission.HethentookhissoulafterhehadadvisedAllah'sservantsandcommunicatedtothemwhathehadbeensentfor.We,hishousehold,arehisvicegerentsandinheritorsandtheworthiestofholdinghisposition.Butourpeopledeniedusthispositionseizingitfromus.Wesubmittedtothisbitterevent.Wedislikedivisionandfavorpeacealthoughweknowforsurethatourclaimtothisrightismoredeservingthanthosewhohavetakenitfromus.121

AuthenticnarrationsindicatethatAllah’sMessengerappointedImamAli(a.s.)andtheelevenotherImamsashissuccessorsaccordingtoAllah'sdecree.DescribingAhlal-Bayt,Amiral-Muminin(a.s.)hassaid:

TheyarepurifiedImams,infalliblehouseholdofnobleoffspringandguidedvicegerents.122

Ahlal-BaytarethechosenonesandthemanifestationofAllah’sAttributes,endowedwithfeaturesoftheprophetsaswellasmoralityandfaithoftheHolyProphetinawaythatthefair-mindedSunnischolarshavereferredtoitbyreportingthatHolyProphethassaid:

OnewhowishestolookatAdam’sknowledge,Noah’sunderstanding,John’spietyandMoses’firmactsshouldlookatAliibnAbu-Talib.123

ASimilarnarrationreportstheHolyProphetassaying:

OnewhowishestolookatAdaminhisknowledge,Noahinhispiety,Abrahaminhistolerance,MosesinhisformidablenessandJesusinhissubmissionshouldlookat`AliibnAbu-Talib.124

Therefore,thevicegerentsandImamsaftertheHolyProphetaretwelveinnumber,allofwhomhavebeenappointedbyAllahtohaveauthorityoverpeople.However,thepseudo-scholarsfollowingtheUmayyadschoolthinkthatthesepositionandfeaturesarefoundinfamiliesotherthanthatoftheHolyProphet.HencetheyignoredAllah’schoosingtheHolyProphetandtheAhlal-Bayt,andresortedtotheirownchoiceeventhoughtheHolyQuransays:

AndyourLordcreatesandchooseswhomHepleases;Tochooseisnottheirs,glorybetoAllah,andexaltedbeHeabovewhattheyassociatewithHim.(28:68)

AnditbehoovesnotabelievingwomanthattheyshouldhaveanychoiceintheirmatterwhenAllahandHisApostlehavedecidedamatter…(33:36)

Whathashappenedtoyou?Howdoyoujudge?(68:36)

ToprovetherightofAhlal-Bayt(a.s.)anddenouncethosewhohavechosenothersasleadersthuspreparingthewayfordivisionamongtheMuslimnation,Imamal-Ridha(a.s.)resortstotheHolyQuranandsays:

ThatisthegraceofAllah:HegivesittowhomHepleases.AndAllahistheLordofmightygrace.(57:21)

Inthisrelation,Amiral-Mumininsays:

Muhammad’sdescendantsarethebestdescendants,hiskinsmenarethebestofkinandhistreeoflineageisthebestoftrees.125

AddressingAbdal-RahmanibnAwf,theHolyProphet(S)said:

Youaremycompanions.AliibnAbu-TalibisfrommeandIamfromhim.Heisthegateofmyknowledgeandmysuccessor.Ali,Fatimah,ZasanandHusaynarethebestontheearthintermsofhonoranddignity.126

AhlAl-BaytAndContentment

Ahlal-Bayt,duetotheirknowledgeofAllahandtheirability,arethemanifestationofAllah’smostexcellentNames,fortheirwholelivesarenothingbutpurebeliefinAllahastheOneandOnlyGod.TheirwillandwratharethoseofAllah.Inthisconnection,ImamHusayn(a.s.)hassaid:

Allah’swillisourwill.127

Ahlal-BaytarepleasedwithwhateverAllahispleasedwith.Men,intheirevolutionarycourse,reachastagewheretheyhave‘love’and‘wrath’.ThisloveandwrathiscompatiblewithAllah’sloveandwrath.Nevertheless,thereisasuperiorstagewheretheirloveandwrathisnotconsideredconcordantwithAllah’sloveandwrathforapersonwhosaysIampleasedwithwhatAllahispleasedwith.Hewithstandsandatthisstageofplurality,iswhenthespiritualfollowerseesbothhimselfandAllah.However,foronewhostandsatthestationofunity,onlyonewillandonewrathexists.Atthisstage,aspiritualistfollowerisinthestationofannihilationinAllah.Forthisreason,

Ahlal-Baytsay:

Allah’swillisourwill.

Inthisrel