[3] As per our beliefs, all Prophets -as are Infallible (Masoom), so an ‘Alim’ comparable to a Prophet -as cannot other than a Masoom Imam -asws – the successors of the -saww . Masomeen -asws have given their -asws followers (Shias) the status of ‘students’ – why are we not content with it and try to step over our limits in accordance with the desires and habits of the enemies of Ahl Al-Bayt -asws ?
Al-Husayn Bin Muhammad Al Ashary, from Moalla Bin Muhammad, from Al Hassan Bin Ali Al Washha, from Ahmad Bin A’iz, from Abu Khadeeja Salim Bin Mukram, from; Abu Abdullah -asws said: ‘The people are three (types) – a scholar -asws , a student, and a scum (worthless – wasting time for the worldly gains)’. [4] A similar Hadith from another chain of narrators is given in the footnotes. [5] The true followers of Ahl Al-Bayt -asws , have been praised, and have been given an eloquent status, e.g.
and briefly, ‘إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ’ ( the ones of the understanding will heed – 39:9). Imam Ali -asws narrated on behalf of Rasool-Allah -saww that Prophet -saww said: O Ali! إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ ( Those who believe and do good deeds ) in the (Holy) Verse, is referred to You -asws (Ali -asws ) and your -asws Shias.
[6] So why don’t we like to be blessed with the virtues of a Shia, by being submitting to our deserving status ‘Student’ – of course some students are more knowledgeable then the others – This is our case, all of us belonging to the creed of Masomeen -asws .
Returning to our topic, an ‘Alim’ means that there is no element of ignorance with him at any stage of his life (as we acquire knowledge at various stages of our lives), this Imam Al-Sadiq -asws , explains: بصائر الدرجات أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنِ الثُّمَالِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ لَا وَ اللَّهِ لَا يَكُونُ عَالِمٌ جَاهِلًا أَبَداً عَالِمٌ بِشَيْءٍ جَاهِلٌ بِشَيْءٍ (The book) ‘Basaair Al Darajaat’ – Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Umar Bin Abdul Aziz, from Muhammad Bin Al Fuzeyl, from Al Sumaly who said, ‘I heard Abu Ja’far -asws saying: ‘No, by Allah -azwj !