Shall I tell you a tradition that shall delight you?

Shall I tell you a tradition that shall delight you?’ I said to him, ‘I am in utmost need of that O son of the messenger of Allah.’ He said, ‘My father Muhammad bin ‘Ali told me from his father ‘Ali bin Musa bin Ja’far from his father Ja’far bin Muhammad from Muhammad bin ‘Ali from ‘Ali bin al-Husayn from al-Husayn bin ‘Ali from his father ‘Ali bin Abu Talib that the messenger of Allah (SwT) said to him, ‘Write down!’ ‘ Ali said, ‘What shall I write down?’ The messenger of Allah (SwT) said, ‘Write down: “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

Faith is that which hearts acknowledge and deeds prove, and Islam is that which tongues witness and marriage becomes lawful with.’ Abu Du’amah said, ‘O son of the messenger of Allah, I do not know which of them is better; the tradition or the narrators!’ ‘Ali al-Hadi (a.s.) said, ‘It is a book written down by the hand of ‘Ali bin Abu Talib and the dictation of the messenger of Allah (SwT) that we inherit one from the other…’[^1] This tradition shows the difference between faith and Islam (being a Muslim).

Faith is to settle inside the soul and the depth of the heart and to be proved through good deeds, but Islam (being or turning a Muslim) is to witness the oneness of Allah and the prophethood of Muhammad (a.s.) and consequently marriage becomes lawful besides other positive orders that require being a Muslim in order to be achieved.

Al-Hasan bin ‘Ali narrated from Abul Hasan al-Hadi from his fathers that Amir’ul- Mu’minin said, “Once, I heard the messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) say, ‘When people will be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection, a caller will call me: O messenger of Allah, Allah has permitted you to reward your lovers and the lovers of your household (progeny) who have followed them for your sake, and have been opposed to their enemies for your sake.

You can reward them as you like.’ I shall say, ‘O my Lord, Paradise! You put them in whatever part of it You like.