Now tell me what the Shias say?

Now tell me what the Shias say?” I said: “They say that Ali Ibne Abi Talib (as) is an Imam, loving whom sincerely is obligatory and it is necessary to remain in the congregation of Ahle Bayt.” Hearing this, he took the paper from me and tore it up and told not to inform anyone about it.”[^3] Another tradition that supports the fact that the Imam of every age prays for his Shias is one quoted in Biharul Anwar on the authority of Manaqib Ibne Shahr Aashob .

It is narrated by Moosa bin Sayyar who says: “I was with His Eminence, Reza (as). When we had reached the gate of the city of Tus I heard the sound of wailing. I looked around for the source and suddenly decried a bier being carried out. When I looked, I saw that our master (His Eminence, Reza (as) suddenly alighting from his mount and heading towards the bier.

Then he took it upon his shoulders and came towards us in such a way that he did not separate from the bier just as the kid of a goat does not leave its mother. Then he turned towards us and said: O Moosa bin Sayyar, one who follows the bier of one of our Shias is absolved of all his sins, as if he is like a newborn child and there is no sin upon him. And when I saw the bier of that man being placed besides the grave I noticed my master moving the people back.

Then he placed his hand on the chest of the corpse and say: O so and so, son of so and so, good news of Paradise to you, as after this moment there is no fear for you. I said to Imam Reza: May I be sacrificed on you, do you know this person? Because this is a place you have never visited before. He replied: O Moosa bin Sayyar, you don’t know that the deeds of our Shias are presented to us, Imams, every morning and evening.

Then for each of their shortcomings we beg the Almighty Allah to forgive them and for each of their good deeds we pray the Almighty to reward them.”[^4] One more tradition that lends support to this fact is narrated from Amirul Momineen (as) when he addressed Zumila or Dumila. It is as follows: “O Zumila there is no believer that falls ill but that we are also afflicted with his illness. And none is aggrieved but that we are also aggrieved for him.

And none supplicates but that we say Amen for him. And none remains quiet but that we pray for him.” The complete tradition will, Insha Allah be quoted in Part Five. And if you pay attention to the blessed epistles (Tawqees) of Imam Mahdi (aj) quoted in Ihtijaaj you would be further convinced about it.