ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Ethical Discourses: Volume 1 Discourse 4: Characteristics of The Shia – Part III Today, we wish to discuss two traditions in relation to the followers of the Ahlul Bait - the Shia. The first tradition concerns the greatness of the Shia, while the second tradition is in regards to the characteristics of the Shia.

دَخَلْتُ عَلى أَبِي بَكْرٍ الْحَضْرَمِي وَ هُوَ يَجُودُ بِنَفْسِهِ فَنَظَرَ إِلَـيَّ وَ قَالَ لَيْتَ سَاعَةٌ الْكِذْبِ أَشْهَدُ عَلى جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ أَنِّي سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ لاَ تَمُسُّ النَّارَ مَنْ مَاتَ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ بِـهٌذَا الأَمْرَ. The narrator of the tradition states that, “I entered the presence of Abi Bakr al-Hadhrami (one of the special companions of Imam Ja'far b. Muhammad as-Sadiq (as)) while he was about to pass away.

He looked at me and said, 'This is not the time to speak lies. I bear witness on (the life of) Ja'far b.

Muhammad that I heard him say, 'The fire of hell shall never touch the person who dies while believes in this command (the Wilayah of the Ahlul Bait).'” عَنْ سُلَيمَانِ بْنِ مَهْرَانِ قَالَ: دَخَلْتُ الصَّادِقَ وَ عِنْدَهُ نَفَرٌ مِنَ الشِّـيعَةِ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ مَعَاشِرَ الشِّـيعَةُ كُونُوا لَنَا زَيْناً وَلاَ تَكُونُوا عَلَيْنَا شَيْئاً قُولُوا لِلنَّاسِ حُسْناً إِحْفَظُوا أَلْسِنَتَكُمْ وَ كُفُّوهَا عَنِ الْفُضُولِ وَ قِـبِيحِ الْقَوْلِ. Salman b.

Mahran said, “I entered into the presence of as-Sadiq (as) while there were a group of people from among the Shia in his company and he said the following to them, 'O' assembly of Shia! Be a beauty for us (the Ahlul Bait) and do not be a source of embarrassment for us. Speak to the people in good ways and protect your tongues. Save your tongues from speaking things that do not need to be said, and which are detested.”[^1] Imam Ja'far b.

Muhammad as-Sadiq (as) brings up two issues in this tradition - the first being a general rule and regulation, while the other is a clear example that must be put into practice.

The general rule is that through our actions, we must not be a source of embarrassment for the Ahlul Bait meaning that we must act in such a way that when people look at us, they would immediately send blessings upon those whom we follow and would say, “Congratulations to people such as yourself that have been trained and nurtured as you have been.” We must not be a source of shame for the Ahlul Bait since they are the progeny of the Prophet (S).

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