The seventh right...

The seventh right: It is that you honor his oath, respond to his call, visit him when he is sick, attend his funeral (if he dies), if you come to know that he needs something, hasten to fulfill it and do not delay it till he is forced to ask you, but before he expresses it, you must hurry to fulfill it.

If you do all this, your Wilayat will join his and his with yours.”[^5] I say: Apparently the word ‘obligatory’ in this implies the dictionary meaning, which includes the obligatory as well as ‘recommended’ of religious law ( Shariah ) – both. That which supports this matter are some traditions but quoting them here would prolong the discussion.

Allamah Majlisi (r.a.) says in Biharul Anwar: It is possible to consider the word of ‘obligatory’ to be inclusive of the legal ‘obligatory’ and ‘recommended’ because I don’t think anyone considers incumbent more than these matters, in addition to it they are extremely difficult.[^6] In Miraat al-Uqool he says: “Apparently these rights are with regard to the perfect believers or a brotherhood established in the way of Allah; and if not, it is difficult to observe all these right with regard to all the Shias; rather it is impossible.

But that it should be said: To be restricted by capacity or to make easy their result in such a way that no injury should reach his condition.” Now that you have understood this, I say: Without any doubt these rights for our Maula His Eminence, the Master of the Time (as) are proved upon all the people. In any case these rights are confirmed for Imam (as).

Because the faith of the Imam is more perfect than any other Muslim and in the tradition of Abdul Aziz bin Muslim from His Eminence, Reza (as) the Imam is compared to a kind brother and praying for him is obedience of his order and helping him by the tongue, as shall be explained further in more detail. [^1]: Kafi; Vol. 2, Pg. 170 [^2]: Biharul Anwar; Vol. 67, Pg. 65 [^3]: Ihtijaaj, Vol. 2, Pg. 267 [^4]: Biharul Anwar; Vol. 74, Pg. 226 [^5]: Kafi; Vol. 2, Pg. 169 [^6]: Biharul Anwar; Vol. 74, Pg.