وَلَوْ أنَّ رَجُلاً عَمَّرَ ما عَمَّرَ نُوحٌ عَليهِ السّلامُ...
وَلَوْ أنَّ رَجُلاً عَمَّرَ ما عَمَّرَ نُوحٌ عَليهِ السّلامُ في قَومِهِ –ألْفَ سَنَةٍ إلا خَمْسين عاماً- يَصومُ النَّهارَ ويَقومُ اللّيلَ في ذلِكَ المَقامِ ثُمَّ لَقِيَ اللهَ عزّ وجَلَّ بِغَيرِ وِلايَتِنا لم يَنْتَفِعْ بِذلِكَ شَيئاً. The best area –in the world- is that lying between the Rukn (corner of the Kaaba) and Maqam (standing-place of Prophet Ibrahim).
If a man lives as long as Prophet Noah –nine hundred and fifty years- and spends all this period with fasting during days and worshipping Allah during nights in that area, all his acts of worship will be worthless unless he believes in our wilaya –divine leadership-.
Acceptable Hajj Meaath ibn Kathir reported: It was big crowds on that season of Hajj when I approached Imam Sadiq (as) and said, ‘Really, the performers of Hajj are so many.’ He (as) turned his sight towards them and asked me to be nearer to him. As I did, He (as) said: غُثاءٌ يأتي بهِ المَوجُ مِن كُلِّ مَكانٍ! وَاللهِ ما الحَجُّ إلا لَكُم. لا واللهِ، ما يَتَقَبَّلُ اللهُ إلا مِنكُمْ. They are just like scum that waves bring from everywhere. By Allah I swear, true Hajj is only yours.
Certainly, Allah will accept your Hajj only.[^4] Al-Harith ibn al-Mughira reported: I was sitting near Imam Sadiq (as) when somebody came in and asked, ‘Son of Allah’s Messenger, the performers of Hajj this year were so many.’ The Imam answered (as): إنْ شَاؤُوا فَلْيَكثُروا وإنْ شَاؤوا فَلْيَقِلُّوا. واللهِ ما يَقْبَلُ اللهُ إلاّ مِنكُم ولا يَغْفِرُ إلا لَكُمْ Let they be so many or so few.
By Allah I swear, He will not accept but the Hajj that you perform, and none will be forgiven except you.[^5] Abu’l-Jaroud reported: I said to Imam Baqir (as) in Mecca, or Mina, that the performers of Hajj were so many. He (as) said: مَا أَقَلَّ الحَاجَّ! ما يُغفَرُ إلاّ لكَ ولأَصْحابكَ وَلا يُتَقَبَّلُ إلا مِنكَ ومِن أصحابِكَ In fact, they are so few.
None will be forgiven except your companions and you, and nobody’s act will be admitted (by God) except your companions’ and yours.[^6] Mansour as-Sayqal reported: I was with Imam Sadiq (as) in his pavilion in Mina (during the season of Hajj) when he looked at people and said: يأكُلونَ الحَرامَ ويَلبَسونَ الحَرامَ ويَنكِحونَ الحَرامَ. وتأْكُلونَ الحَلالَ وَتلْبَسونَ الحَلالَ وتَنكِحونَ الحَلالَ. لا واللهِ، ما يحِجُّ غَيرُكُم ولا يُتَقَبَّلُ إلا مِنكُم. They eat, dress, and marry illegally.
But you eat, dress, and marry legally.
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