ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books A Glance at the Beloved Submission ============= Recognition of Imam (a.t.f.s.) cannot be acquired except with submission. One of the necessary conditions for acquisition of recognition is total submission to the desires of the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). In fact it would be not be an exaggeration to state that acquiring recognition is possible only and only through complete submission to the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.).

Imam Sadiq (a.s.) declares: انكم لا تكونون صالحين حتى تعرفوا. و لا تعرفون حتى تصدَّقوا. و لا تُصَدِّقون حتّى تُسلِموا 'You cannot become from the virtuous ones until you have recognition. You will not have recognition until you have believed and confessed. You have not believed and confessed until you submit.'[^1] Thus affirmation leads towards recognition (of Imam) and submission leads towards affirmation.

When a man has all these traits (of submission and affirmation) he will be included among the virtuous ones. This is because virtuous actions spring from pure hearts and recognition and this is attained only through submission. Then the one who does not possess these traits will find himself deprived of recognition and mastership and will be most distant from any virtue. For, testimony is equal to belief and confession by heart.

And till such a time that the person inculcates this in himself, he will never taste certainty in recognition. Thus these four criteria - submission, testimony, recognition and good deeds are critical for every believer, and unless these criteria converge in a person, he will never know the reality of faith. The lowest level of recognition of Imam (a.t.f.s) is in submission to his exhortations and prohibitions.

As traditions declare: لا يكون العبد مؤمناً حتى يعرف الله و رسوله و الائمة كلّهم و إمام زمانه و يرد إليه و يسلم له. 'A worshipper cannot become a believer unless he recognizes Allah and His Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and all the Imams (a.s.) and the Imam of his age and turn to him and submit to him.'[^2] While unconditional submission was always crucial in the acquisition of recognition, it assumes even more significance in this era of occultation.

That is why traditions reiterate the concept of submission thus: و لم يجد في نفسه حرجاً ممّا قضينا و سلَّمَ لنا أهل البيت. And he does not find any straitness in his heart as to what we have decided and submit to us - the Ahlul Bayt.[^3] Submission over here implies heartily submission and not superfluous obedience.

✦ ✦ ✦