19, h10 Muhammad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah has narrated in a marfu’...

19, h10 Muhammad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah has narrated in a marfu’ manner from Yunus ibn 'Abd al-Rahman who has said the following: “Once I asked (Imam) abu al-Hassan the First, ‘How can I prove that Allah is one?’ The Imam replied, ‘O Yunus, do not be an innovator (heretic). One who depends on his personal opinion is destroyed. One who abandons the members of the family of his Prophet goes astray.

Whoever abandons the book of Allah and the words of His prophet becomes an unbeliever.’” I have nothing against any person or his status for that matter. I have simple stated certain principles with full responsibility. If anyone has anything against these principles then he should consider now whether he wishes to accept them and be a believer or reject them and become an unbeliever.

It does not concern me at all, but, if these principles cannot be denied, and surely they can never be denied, then instead of being thrown out of their Mastership it would be better if we were to bow our heads in front of these personalities and say: ‘O my Master, I am with those that help you and support you, and I am an enemy to those that oppose you regardless of whosoever he may be.

I fully agree with their statement: ‘Befriend one who befriends us even if he were your father’s murderer, and be an enemy to one who is inimical to us even if he were your own father’’. If you have now come to be of such a state of mind then the discussions which are to take place in this chapter and the following ones will not appear strange to you.

Neither will you get angry nor will you roll up your sleeves, but rather you will side yourselves with those that have given you the guarantee of salvation. The love for those (a.s.) and the single tear which flows in their grief, is sufficient to put out the fire of Hell. I am convinced that you will indeed be doing this.

In opposition to these (a.s.) personalities, will we then ally ourselves with people whose own salvation is in doubt; and that besides some worldly gain from them there is nothing more to achieve? Now I come to the actual point I am trying to make and would like to present before you certain questions and ask you for justice.

Before I do this I would like you to read the following statement of Imam Ali (a.s.) from Nahj Ul Balagah: SAYING 153 - One who assents or subsribes to the actions of a group or a party is as good as having committed the deed himself.