ভূমিকা

With my chain of transmission reaching up to the Thiqat al-Islam Muhammad ibn Ya’qub al-Kulayni (M) from Muhammad ibn Yahya, from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from Muhammad ibn Khalid and al-Husayn ibn Sa’id, and both of them from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad, from ‘Abd al-Samad ibn Bashir, from someone from among his companions, who reports from Abu ‘Abd Allah (A)stating: I said to him (i.e., Imam al-Sadiq), “Aslahakallah!

(May God set you right) (Is it true that) if anyone loves meeting God (liqa’ Allah,) God too loves to meet him, and if someone should dislike the meeting with God, God too dislikes to meet him?” “Yes,” replied the Imam. I said, “Indeed, by God, we detest death.” The Imam said, “It is not as you imagine. That refers to the time of confrontation with death. At that moment when he sees (as lying in store for him) what he loves, there is nothing dearer to him than to go forth towards God.

Coil, the Exalted, loves to meet him and he, too, loves to meet God. But if he sees (as lying in store for him) what he detests, nothing is more abominable to him than meeting God, and God too loathes to meet him.”[^1] Exposition Aslahakallah is a prayer of blessing, and in a benediction it is not necessary that the addressee be devoid of the blessing wished for him. Rather, such benedictive expressions are quite customary, even if what is invoked be already there.

Hence, to pray for Imam al-Sadiq (A)wishing his welfare and betterment is not something contrary to common custom.