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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Attraction and Repulsion of Ali (a.s.) The Best Means For Self-edification ( 63 ) The foregoing discussions in the context of love and devotion were only introductory. Now we wish to gradually arrive at the conclusion.

The most important proposition, which in fact is the central subject of the moot, is whether the love with saints and affiliation with the pious is in itself an end or means to achieve self-edification, reformation of soul, virtue and human beauties. In animal love the lover pays whole attention and care to the face, proportion of limbs, complexion and charms of-the beloved's skin. These charms attract man and make him fond.

But after once these charms fade away, nothing is left to enkindle those flames. He gets cold and keeps mum. But human love, as we have said earlier, is life and vivacity. It begets obedience and submission. It is love, which makes the lover similar to the beloved. He strives to be a reflection of the beloved. He copies the beloved's manners.

As Khwaja Naseer-ud-Din Toosi says in 'Shara-e-Isharat-e-Bu Ali': "The spiritual love is that which emanates from the urge of the lover to resemble the beloved. The lover pays greater attention to the manners of the beloved and, the impressions, which originate from the beloved's heart. It is love which makes the heart tender, anxious and eager; and it blesses the lover with such susceptibilities which make him scornful of worldly contaminations".

( 64 ) Love pulls towards resemblance and similarity and becomes the source of what makes the lover resemble the beloved. Love is like electric wire, which connects the personality of the beloved to the lover's and thus the merits of the former are flown to the latter. Hence the selection of the beloved of paramount importance. Islam lays great stress on and makes special provisions for selection and choice of friends.

In this context many verses and traditions may be cited, because friendship brings about uniformity in behaviour, it beautifies and intoxicates. So much so, wherever love has held sway the demerits of the beloved are taken as merits and a thorn is accepted as a rose or a jasmine. Some of the verses and traditions have strictly forbidden company of and friendship with impious and mendacious people. Some of these verses and traditions call for making friends with the pious.