(34) Ahmad-ibn-Mohammad-ibn-Ibrahim Al-Thalabi...

(34) Ahmad-ibn-Mohammad-ibn-Ibrahim Al-Thalabi, a Sunni scholar, has narrated from Abu-Buraydah Al-Aslami, who was one of the companions of the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.), that he said: " The Straight Path ' is the path of Mohammad and his descendants ". (35) This means that their path is based on the doctrine of Islam which consists of the belief in: Oneness of Allah', Justice', Prophethood', Imamate', and the Hereafter'.

There is no doubt that the path of Ahlul-Bait (p.b.u.th.) is the Straight Path', and that adhering to it causes prosperity and salvation, while pursuing other than that leads to loss and injury. Ibn-il-Maqazili has narrated from the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) who has said: " The example of my household (Ahlul-Bait) is similar to the Ark of Noah. He who embarked it was rescued (from drowning and destruction), but, he who refused it drowned (and perished) ".

(36) Other traditions narrated from Ahlul-Bait (p.b.u.th.) also confirm the concept. In addition, the well-known tradition Thaqalayn ' from the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.), is another good clear witness to the matter, too.

It says: " I leave behind me amidst you two Great things; should you be attached to these two, never, never shall you become astray: the Book' of Allah (the Holy Qur'an) and my progeny, my Ahlul-Bait '." (37) As was previously stated, it is certain that the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.), Hadrat Ali-ibn-Abitalib (a.s.) and all of the other infallible Imams (a.s.) invited people to the theistic religion of Allah, an invitation to Faith and practice in truth, which elevates Man to the climax of ability, guidance, dignity, and human excellences.

By the way, it should not be neglected that there are two kinds of guidance: Divine Guidance ' and Religious Guidance '. Divine Guidance ' is the human intelligence bestowed on a person by Allah, which recognizes the difference between: good and bad, right and wrong, gain and loss, felicity and wretchedness, virtue and vice, and so on. It is, in fact, the inner messenger of a person.

Religious Guidance ' means that Allah sends prophets, Divine Books and legislation to guide Man to all merits of this world and the next, as well as making him aware of the injuries and damages of the two worlds.