be patient and help each other in patience and remain lined up...

be patient and help each other in patience and remain lined up: "Have patience in misfortunes, and help each other to be patient in trial (and temptation) and be lined up with him whom you follow." (Ma'ani'l-akhbaar) The same Imam said: "Be patient about your religion, and have patience against your enemy and be linked up to your Imam" (at-Tafsir, al-'Ayyashi) The author says: Nearly the same theme has been narrated from the Prophet through the Sunni chains.

The same Imam said: "Be patient about the obligatory commandments, and help each other to be patient in misfortunes, and be linked up to the Imams." (al-Kafi) 'Ali (a.s.) said: "Be lined up for the prayers." He said: "That is, remain waiting for them, because (the system of) garrisoning did not exist at that time." (Majma'u'l-bayan). The author says: The difference in the tradition springs from the generality of the orders, as we had mentioned earlier.

Ibn Jarir and Ibn Hayyan have narrated from Jabir ibn 'Abdullah al-Ansari that he said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) said: 'Should not I guide you to that by which Allah erases the mistakes and covers the sins?' We said: 'Yes, indeed, O Messenger of Allah!' He said: 'To perform al-wudu' properly in spite of inconveniences, and to walk many times to the mosques, and to wait for the (next) prayer after the prayer; so that is the lining up.'" (ad-Durru'l-manthur) The author says: (as-Suyuti) has narrated it from the Prophet, also through other chains.

There are innumerable traditions about excellence of being lined up or linked up. * al?Murdba’ tah, in post?Qur’anic era is used for troops being garrisoned, posted, stationed. Many translators have rendered it as, "be ever?garrisoned"; but the author has taken it in its literal and original sense, i e., to be linked with each other. I have used a word “remain lined up” which may be interpreted both ways. (tr.) Previous…