The people have no leeway except recognising us -asws ...
The people have no leeway except recognising us -asws , nor are the people excused of being ignorant of us -asws . The one who recognises us -asws would be a Momin , and the one who denies us -asws would be a disbeliever, and the one who does not recognise us -asws and does not deny us -asws , would be a strayer until he returns to the guidance which Allah -azwj has Necessitated upon him, from being obedient to us -asws , the Obligatory.
So if he was to die upon his straying, Allah -azwj will Do with him whatever He -azwj so Desires to’. [2] As for the vastness and ease when there is an excuse, قَالَ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ أَيْضاً سُئِلَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ مَنْ جَعَلَ لِلَّهِ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ شَيْئاً فَبَلَغَ مَجْهُودَهُ فَلَا شَيْءَ عَلَيْهِ وَ كَانَ اللَّهُ أَعْذَرَ لِعَبْدِهِ Abu Baseer narrates, ‘6 th Imam -asws was asked about that (when one takes a vow to do something for Allah -azwj ).
He -asws said: ‘One who makes something for Allah -azwj upon himself, so he strives extensively (but cannot accomplish it), there is nothing upon him, and Allah -azwj is more Excusing for His -azwj servant’.
[3] Also, those who interpret the Holy Verses of the Quran from their opinion and apply logic are far from enjoying the vastness of Islam, e.g., Imam Ali -asws describes their grave situation as: وَ مِنْهُ، بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْجُبَّةِ الْفِرَاءِ يَأْتِي الرَّجُلُ السُّوقَ مِنْ أَسْوَاقِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَيَشْتَرِي الْجُبَّةَ لَا يَدْرِي أَ هِيَ ذَكِيَّةٌ أَمْ لَا يُصَلِّي فِيهَا And from him, by this chain, said, ‘I asked him -asws (6 th Imam), about the fur coat.
A man comes to the market from the markets of Muslims. He buys the coat. He does not know whether it is a purified (slaughtered animal) or not. He prays Salat in it. قَالَ نَعَمْ إِنَّ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع كَانَ يَقُولُ إِنَّ الْخَوَارِجَ ضَيَّقُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ بِجَهَالَتِهِمْ إِنَّ الدِّينَ أَوْسَعُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ إِنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع كَانَ يَقُولُ إِنَّ شِيعَتَنَا فِي أَوْسَعَ مِمَّا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ أَنْتُمْ مَغْفُورٌ لَكُمْ He -asws said: ‘Yes.
Abu Ja’far -asws (5 th Imam) had said: ‘The Kharijites (those who interpreted religion by opinion) have constricted upon themselves due to their ignorance. The religion is vaster than that . Ali -asws Bin Abu Talib -asws had said: ‘Our ‑asws followers are in more vastness than what is between the sky and the earth .