In addition...

In addition, establishing gatherings for the remembrance of the Imam or to write and spread the teachings in relation to him strengthening the theological seminaries, etc if these are done with the intention that one wishes to assist the Imam, then they are counted and recognized (by Allah) as being things done to help the Imam.

Therefore, we see that there are many ways in which one can assist the Imam, however they must be performed with the intention that they are being doing with the purpose of assisting him. It must be mentioned that there is a difference between ‘serving’ and ‘helping’. The word ‘serving’ is much more specific in its meaning than ‘helping’, and thus, every form of ‘helping’ does not necessarily mean that one is ‘serving’ someone.

‘Serving’ another person can be accomplished through overseeing and also directly acting and performing a task, however ‘helping’ and assisting does not require overseeing nor the direct performance of a task. Thus, assisting someone can be done without anyone overseeing the task and can also be done indirectly and through the help and assistance of other people. In other words, in regards to serving, the one who is serving another person must himself be overseen and perform the actions himself.

However the act of helping can even be done by hiring someone else to do the job. Another difference is that with serving, a person who is performing this task is humbling and lowering himself and expressing his insignificance to the one whom he is serving however this is not the case in regards to helping someone else.

It is also important to mention that if the act of assisting is done with the intention of serving a person and there is some form of overseeing in this issue, then it would be counted as serving (that person) as well.  [^1]: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 51, pg. 148, sec. 6, no. 22 [^2]: al-Kafi, vol. 1, pg. 37, sec. ‘The Characteristics of the ‘Ulama,’ no. 6 Previous…