Muntasar...

Muntasar, with genuine frankness, expressed a fact and said, “This is a heavenly occurrence and is done by God, and even if we force people to honor and venerate the tombs of our family, this could not be practical, that is, people love them (the progeny of ‘Ali (‘a)) from the bottom of their hearts and revere them both when they are living and after their deaths but they don’t like us, and while we are living respect us out of fear but as soon as we die, they won’t pay attention to us, and in sum, we cannot arouse affection and devotion and conviction by force.”[^3] Some Remarks by the Imam The most pious are those who avoid dubious acts (which might be forbidden) and the most devoted (faithful) are those who fully fulfill their obligations and duties and the most devout are those who abstain from the forbidden and wrongdoing.

Exercise piety and conduct yourself in a way that when people realize that you are one of our followers, you may bring credit to us, and not obloquy and ignominy upon us.[^4] [^1]: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 50, p. 275. [^2]: Kashf al-Ghummah, vol. 3, p. 287. [^3]: Kashf al- Ghummah, vol. 3, p. 437. [^4]: Tuhaf al-‘Uqul, p. 488. Previous…