ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books A Shi'ite Creed Concerning Death (mawt ) Says the Shaykh: The Prince of Believers, 'Ali, on whom be peace, was asked: Describe death to us. He said: You have, indeed, accidentally come to one who is well informed! It (death) brings to the person dying one of three things - either tidings of perpetual bliss, or of everlasting misery, or fear and dread, or an uncertainty ( amrun mubhamun ), if he (the dying person) does not know to which section he belongs.

Now as for our friend and the follower of our command, he will be the recipient of the good tidings of perpetual bliss; and as for our enemy and one who opposed our claim, he will be given tidings of eternal misery: but one whose affair is doubtful, that is one who does not know his own mind, he is a believer who is prodigal regarding his own affairs ( al-mu'amin al-musrif 'ala nafsihi ), not knowing what his condition will be. Good comes to him after doubt and dread.

Then Allah will never mingle him with our enemies, but will take him out of the Fire by our intercession. So act (righteously) and obey (Allah) and do not rely solely upon yourselves,[^1] and do not belittle the punishment of Allah. For verily, he, who does not obtain our intercession except after 300,000 years of Allah's chastisement, is to be counted amongst the wasteful (musrifin) [^2] Imam Hasan bin Ali bin Abi Talib was asked: What is this death, concerning which people are ignorant?

He said: It is the greatest joy which comes upon the believers when they go from this house of affliction to eternal bliss. And it is the greatest tribulation which comes upon the infidels when they go from their paradise (the earth) to a Fire which abates not, nor is it extinguished. When Imam Husayn bin Ali bin Abi Talib was hard pressed,[^3] those who were with him looked at him, and behold! He was totally different from them.

Because when in great difficulty their color changed and they trembled with fear,[^4] and their hearts were filled with trepidation, and their sides began to throb, Imam Husayn and some of his particular companions had bright faces, restful limbs[^5] and complete peace of mind. Then some of them said to others: Look at him, he does not care for death. Then Husayn said to them: Patience, O scions of nobility!

For what is death, but a bridge by which you cross over from misfortune and harm to spacious gardens and eternal favors?