The Life of Pleasure

🌼🔆🌼The Secret of Experiencing Transcendent Pleasures🌼🔆🌼

🌹🔅☘️ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحيمِ ☘️🔅🌹

🔅🌹 “The Spirits of Pleasure and Strength” “The Secret of Knowledge” “The Secret of Light” “The Grandeur of Mawla Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him)” “The 19th of Ramadan” and more … Abstract with addendum 1403.01.10 Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat) 110.141(903) 🌹🔅

🔅🌼 A Life of Pleasure through the Spirit of Pleasure 🌼🔅

🌹The seasoning of pleasure—the “spirit of desire”—makes anything it mingles with pleasurable: the inner senses, the senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch, the faculties of thought and reason; matter or meaning; obedience or sin; prayer, fasting, almsgiving, jihad, or supplication. In general, when it mingles with what is good, a person experiences pure pleasures. When it is breathed into what is vile, such as sin, a person takes pleasure in baseness and filth; their being becomes steeped in corruption and poisoned, and they descend into degradation.

🌹The reason base creatures take pleasure in committing crimes is that the spirit of desire has mingled with their thoughts and intentions, making the criminal act seem agreeable to them.

🌹The seasoning of pleasure comes through the spirit of desire.

🔅🌼 The Spirit of Strength Bestows Vigor 🌼🔅

🌹The spirit of strength, too, strengthens whatever it mingles with, whether material powers or bodily faculties.

🌹The spirit of connection is also the spirit of relationships: it enables a person to relate to themselves, to their fellow human beings, and to the entire universe.

🌹Alongside the spirit of faith and reason, the three spirits strengthen and expand transcendent pleasures and give rise to transcendent desire. To partake of pure pleasures, the spirit of desire must remain joined to reason and the spirit of faith.

🌹When the spirit of desire mingles with each of the virtues—goodness, faith, and the like—it makes them pleasurable. When it mingles with any of the vices, it makes them seem pleasurable, as flies and beetles take pleasure in filth.

🌸🔆 وَ اللَّهِ مَا قَلَعْتُ بَابَ خَيْبَرَ وَ رَمَيْتُ بِهِ خَلْفَ ظَهْرِي أَرْبَعِينَ ذِرَاعاً بِقُوَّةٍ جَسَدِيَّةٍ وَ لَا حَرَكَةٍ غِذَائِيَّةٍ لَكِنِّي أُيِّدْتُ بِقُوَّةٍ مَلَكُوتِيَّةٍ وَ نَفْسٍ بِنُورِ رَبِّهَا مُضِيئَة ٍ وَ أَنَا مِنْ أَحْمَدَ كَالضَّوْءِ مِنَ الضَّوْءِ وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ تَظَاهَرَتِ الْعَرَبُ عَلَى قِتَالِي لَمَا وَلَّيْتُ وَ لَوْ مَكَّنَتْنِي الْفُرْصَةُ مِنْ رِقَابِهَا لَمَا بَقَّيْتُ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يُبَالِ مَتَى حَتْفُهُ عَلَيْهِ سَاقِطٌ فَجَنَانُهُ فِي الْمُلِمَّاتِ رَابِط [1]

🔆 It is related that Amir al-Mu’minin said in a letter to Sahl ibn Hunayf: “I tore down the gate of the fortress of Khaybar through a celestial power and a spirit illumined by the light of its Lord, and hurled it forty cubits behind me—not through bodily strength or the power of food!

I am a ray of light from Ahmad (the Messenger of God). By God, if all the Arabs united to fight me, I would neither flee nor fear them; rather, I would destroy them all!”

🌼 The Night of Laylat al-Qadr is the night when hearts are cleft open.

🌼 Ramadan is the month of fasting and steadfastness; in one sense, it is the month of standing in prayer. In another, during this month we must become so clear and pure that nothing but God’s light shines forth from us.

🌼 A believer has four spirits (the spirit of faith, the spirit of strength, the spirit of desire, and the spirit of connection).

The spirit of faith commands the other three spirits; reason commands these four spirits; God’s proof on earth commands the whole being; and the Master of the Kingdom commands the entire order.

🌼 Through the spirit of strength, we must acquire the strength to worship; through the spirit of desire, we must acquire a longing to worship.

🌼 If a person commits a sin, the spirit of faith departs from them, leaving them with three spirits: the spirit of strength, the spirit of the body, and the spirit of desire. In that state, these spirits will serve and occupy the lower self and Satan, and the person will be no different from an animal.

🌼 If we make reason the lamp of the heart, the spirit of desire will become the seasoning of the spirit of faith.

The spirit of desire, when infused into anything, makes it delightful. When this spirit serves the spirit of faith, a person experiences higher pleasures, and our thoughts become a springtime of delight.

🌼 When intellect and the spirit of faith depart, the human being is transformed into mere dust.

🌼 If the spirit of power is placed in the service of the spirit of faith, human strength will know no bounds; one will become Haidari.

🌼 The Master, drawing on his celestial power, uprooted Khaybar.

🌼 What does love of God taste like? Without the spirit of faith, we will never taste it.

🌼 Once we are equipped with the four spirits mentioned, we must not stop there. We must then connect all these spirits to God’s Proof—the Proof of God who is endowed with the Holy Spirit.

🔅🌼A delight born of pure love🌼🔅

🌹Spiritual pleasures cannot be compared with any other pleasure. Higher still is the pleasure of God’s approval and love.

🌸🔆عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع قَالَ: إِذَا صَارَ أَهْلُ الْجَنَّةِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَ دَخَلَ وَلِيُّ اللَّهِ إِلَى جِنَانِهِ وَ مَسَاكِنِهِ وَ اتَّكَأَ كُلُّ مُؤْمِنٍ مِنْهُمْ عَلَى أَرِيكَتِهِ حَفَّتْهُ‏ خُدَّامُهُ وَ تَهَدَّلَتْ عَلَيْهِ الثِّمَارُ وَ تَفَجَّرَتْ حَوْلَهُ الْعُيُونُ وَ جَرَتْ مِنْ تَحْتِهِ الْأَنْهَارُ وَ بُسِطَتْ لَهُ الزَّرَابِيُّ وَ صُفِّفَتْ‏ لَهُ‏ النَّمَارِقُ‏ وَ أَتَتْهُ الْخُدَّامُ بِمَا شَاءَتْ شَهْوَتُهُ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَسْأَلَهُمْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ وَ يَخْرُجُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْحُورُ الْعِينُ مِنَ الْجِنَانِ فَيَمْكُثُونَ بِذَلِكَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ إِنَّ الْجَبَّارَ يُشْرِفُ عَلَيْهِمْ فَيَقُولُ لَهُمْ أَوْلِيَائِي وَ أَهْلَ طَاعَتِي وَ سُكَّانَ جَنَّتِي فِي جِوَارِي أَلَا هَلْ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِخَيْرٍ مِمَّا أَنْتُمْ فِيهِ فَيَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا وَ أَيُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا نَحْنُ فِيهِ نَحْنُ فِيمَا اشْتَهَتْ أَنْفُسُنَا وَ لَذَّتْ أَعْيُنُنَا مِنَ النِّعَمِ فِي جِوَارِ الْكَرِيمِ قَالَ فَيَعُودُ عَلَيْهِمْ بِالْقَوْلِ فَيَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا نَعَمْ فَأْتِنَا بِخَيْرٍ مِمَّا نَحْنُ فِيهِ فَيَقُولُ لَهُمْ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى رِضَايَ عَنْكُمْ وَ مَحَبَّتِي لَكُمْ خَيْرٌ وَ أَعْظَمُ مِمَّا أَنْتُمْ فِيهِ قَالَ فَيَقُولُونَ نَعَمْ يَا رَبَّنَا رِضَاكَ عَنَّا وَ مَحَبَّتُكَ لَنَا خَيْرٌ لَنَا وَ أَطْيَبُ لِأَنْفُسِنَا ثُمَّ قَرَأَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الْمُؤْمِناتِ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهارُ خالِدِينَ فِيها وَ مَساكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ وَ رِضْوانٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ذلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ‏.[2]

🌸🔆Imam Zayn al-Abidin (peace be upon him)—Thuwair relates that Imam Zayn al-Abidin (peace be upon him) said: “When the people of Paradise enter Paradise, and a friend of God enters his garden and dwelling, and every believer reclines upon his seat, his attendants gather around him, fruits cascade down upon him, springs burst forth around him, and rivers flow beneath him. Precious carpets are spread out, cushions are arranged side by side, and his attendants bring him whatever he desires before he even asks.” [The Imam (peace be upon him) continued:] “The houris of Paradise come to them and remain with them as long as God wills. Then God, the Almighty, looks upon them and says, ‘My friends, My followers, inhabitants of My Paradise, who dwell near Me: shall I tell you of something better than what you now enjoy?’ They reply, ‘Our Lord, is there anything better than what we have? In the presence of the Generous God, we have all that we desire, and our eyes delight in the blessings before us.’” [The Imam (peace be upon him)] said: “God repeats His words. Then they say, ‘Yes! Grant us something better than what we have.’ God says, ‘My approval of you and My love for you are better and more magnificent than anything you now enjoy.’ They say, ‘Yes, our Lord. Your approval, Your pleasure, and Your love for us are better, more beautiful, and purer for us.’” Then Imam Zayn al-Abidin (peace be upon him) recited this verse: وَعَدَ اللهُ الْمؤْمِنِینَ وَ المُؤْمِناتِ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِی مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْآنهارُ خالِدِینَ فِیها وَ مَساکِنَ طَیِّبَةً فِی جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ وَ رِضْوانٌ مِنَ اللهِ أَکْبَرُ ذلِکَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِیمُ.

🔅🌼The four spirits🌼🔅

🌸🔆عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْأَصْبَغِ بْنِ نُبَاتَةَ قَالَ: أَتَى رَجُلٌ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَقَالَ أُنَاسٌ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَا يَزْنِي وَ هُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ وَ لَا يَسْرِقُ وَ هُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ وَ لَا يَشْرَبُ الْخَمْرَ وَ هُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ وَ لَا يَأْكُلُ الرِّبَا وَ هُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ وَ لَا يَسْفِكُ الدَّمَ الْحَرَامَ وَ هُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَقَدْ كَبُرَ هَذَا عَلَيَّ وَ جَرَحَ مِنْهُ صَدْرِي حَتَّى زَعَمَ أَنَّ هَذَا الْعَبْدَ الَّذِي يُصَلِّي إِلَى قِبْلَتِي وَ يَدْعُو دَعْوَتِي وَ يُنَاكِحُنِي وَ أُنَاكِحُهُ وَ يُوَارِثُنِي وَ أُوَارِثُهُ فَأُخْرِجُهُ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَنْبٍ يَسِيرٍ أَصَابَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ ع صَدَقَكَ أَخُوكَ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ الْخَلْقَ وَ هُوَ عَلَى ثَلَاثَةِ طَبَقَاتٍ وَ أَنْزَلَهُمْ ثَلَاثَ مَنَازِلَ فَذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى فِي الْكِتَابِ‏ فَأَصْحابُ الْمَيْمَنَةِ وَ أَصْحابُ الْمَشْئَمَةِ وَ السَّابِقُونَ السَّابِقُونَ أُولئِكَ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ‏ فَأَمَّا مَا ذَكَرْتَ مِنَ السَّابِقِينَ فَأَنْبِيَاءُ مُرْسَلُونَ وَ غَيْرُ مُرْسَلِينَ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ فِيهِمْ خَمْسَةَ أَرْوَاحٍ رُوحَ الْقُدُسِ وَ رُوحَ الْإِيمَانِ وَ رُوحَ الْقُوَّةِ وَ رُوحَ الشَّهْوَةِ وَ رُوحَ الْبَدَنِ فَبِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ بُعِثُوا أَنْبِيَاءَ مُرْسَلِينَ وَ غَيْرَ مُرْسَلِينَ وَ بِرُوحِ الْإِيمَانِ عَبَدُوا اللَّهَ وَ لَمْ يُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئاً وَ بِرُوحِ الْقُوَّةِ جَاهَدُوا عَدُوَّهُمْ وَ عَالَجُوا مَعَايِشَهُمْ وَ بِرُوحِ الشَّهْوَةِ أَصَابُوا اللَّذِيذَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ وَ نَكَحُوا الْحَلَالَ مِنْ شَبَابِ النِّسَاءِ وَ بِرُوحِ الْبَدَنِ دَبُّوا وَ دَرَجُوا ثُمَّ قَالَ‏ تِلْكَ الرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلى‏ بَعْضٍ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ كَلَّمَ اللَّهُ وَ رَفَعَ بَعْضَهُمْ دَرَجاتٍ وَ آتَيْنا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ الْبَيِّناتِ وَ أَيَّدْناهُ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ‏ ثُمَّ قَالَ فِي جَمَاعَتِهِمْ‏ وَ أَيَّدَهُمْ بِرُوحٍ مِنْهُ‏ يَقُولُ أَكْرَمَهُمْ بِهَا وَ فَضَّلَهُمْ عَلَى مَنْ سِوَاهُمْ وَ أَمَّا مَا ذَكَرْتَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْمَيْمَنَةِ فَهُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقّاً بِأَعْيَانِهِمْ فَجَعَلَ فِيهِمْ أَرْبَعَةَ أَرْوَاحٍ رُوحَ الْإِيمَانِ وَ رُوحَ الْقُوَّةِ وَ رُوحَ الشَّهْوَةِ وَ رُوحَ الْبَدَنِ وَ لَا يَزَالُ الْعَبْدُ يَسْتَكْمِلُ بِهَذِهِ الْأَرْوَاحِ الْأَرْبَعَةِ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَ‏ حَالاتٌ قَالَ وَ مَا هَذِهِ الْحَالاتُ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع أَمَّا أَوَّلُهُنَّ فَهُوَ كَمَا قَالَ اللَّهُ‏ وَ مِنْكُمْ مَنْ يُرَدُّ إِلى‏ أَرْذَلِ الْعُمُرِ لِكَيْ لا يَعْلَمَ بَعْدَ عِلْمٍ شَيْئاً فَهَذَا يَنْقُصُ‏  مِنْهُ جَمِيعُ الْأَرْوَاحِ وَ لَيْسَ مِنَ الَّذِي يَخْرُجُ مِنْ دِينِ اللَّهِ لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ الْفَاعِلَ ذَلِكَ بِهِ رَدَّهُ إِلَى أَرْذَلِ عُمُرِهِ فَهُوَ لَا يَعْرِفُ لِلصَّلَاةِ وَقْتاً وَ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ التَّهَجُّدَ بِاللَّيْلِ وَ لَا الصِّيَامَ بِالنَّهَارِ وَ لَا الْقِيَامَ فِي صَفٍّ مِنَ‏ النَّاسِ فَهَذَا نُقْصَانٌ مِنْ رُوحِ الْإِيمَانِ فَلَيْسَ يَضُرُّهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ وَ يَنْقُصُ مِنْهُ رُوحُ الْقُوَّةِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُ جِهَادَ عَدُوِّهِ وَ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ طَلَبَ الْمَعِيشَةِ وَ يَنْتَقِصُ مِنْهُ رُوحُ الشَّهْوَةِ فَلَوْ مَرَّتْ بِهِ أَصْبَحُ بَنَاتِ آدَمَ لَمْ يَحِنَّ إِلَيْهَا وَ لَمْ يَقُمْ وَ يَبْقَى رُوحُ الْبَدَنِ فَهُوَ يَدِبُّ وَ يَدْرُجُ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ فَهَذَا حَالُ خَيْرٍ لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ بِهِ وَ قَدْ تَأْتِي عَلَيْهِ حَالاتٌ فِي قُوَّتِهِ وَ شَبَابِهِ يَهُمُّ بِالْخَطِيئَةِ فَتُشَجِّعُهُ رُوحُ الْقُوَّةِ وَ تُزَيِّنُ لَهُ رُوحُ الشَّهْوَةِ وَ تَقُودُهُ رُوحُ الْبَدَنِ حَتَّى تُوقِعَهُ فِي الْخَطِيئَةِ فَإِذَا مَسَّهَا انْتَقَصَ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ وَ نُقْصَانُهُ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ لَيْسَ بِعَائِدٍ فِيهِ أَبَداً أَوْ يَتُوبَ فَإِنْ تَابَ وَ عَرَفَ الْوَلَايَةَ تَابَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ إِنْ عَادَ وَ هُوَ تَارِكُ الْوَلَايَةِ أَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ نَارَ جَهَنَّمَ وَ أَمَّا أَصْحَابُ الْمَشْئَمَةِ فَهُمُ الْيَهُودُ وَ النَّصَارَى قَوْلُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى‏ الَّذِينَ آتَيْناهُمُ الْكِتابَ يَعْرِفُونَهُ كَما يَعْرِفُونَ أَبْناءَهُمْ‏ فِي مَنَازِلِهِمْ‏ وَ إِنَّ فَرِيقاً مِنْهُمْ لَيَكْتُمُونَ الْحَقَّ وَ هُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ الْحَقُّ مِنْ رَبِّكَ‏ الرَّسُولُ مِنَ اللَّهِ إِلَيْهِمْ بِالْحَقِ‏ فَلا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ‏ فَلَمَّا جَحَدُوا مَا عَرَفُوا ابْتَلَاهُمُ اللَّهُ بِذَلِكَ الذَّمِّ فَيَسْلُبُهُمْ رُوحَ الْإِيمَانِ وَ أَسْكَنَ أَبْدَانَهُمْ ثَلَاثَةَ أَرْوَاحٍ رُوحَ الْقُوَّةِ وَ رُوحَ الشَّهْوَةِ وَ رُوحَ الْبَدَنِ ثُمَّ أَضَافَهُمْ إِلَى الْأَنْعَامِ فَقَالَ‏ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا كَالْأَنْعامِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ سَبِيلًا لِأَنَّ الدَّابَّةَ إِنَّمَا تَحْمِلُ بِرُوحِ الْقُوَّةِ وَ تَعْتَلِفُ بِرُوحِ الشَّهْوَةِ وَ تَسِيرُ بِرُوحِ الْبَدَنِ فَقَالَ لَهُ السَّائِلُ أَحْيَيْتَ قَلْبِي بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى. [3]

🔅🌼 Blessed is the light of Ali 🌼🔅

🌹Ali is the most radiant light, through which the most hidden realities may be seen.

🌹Ali is the scholarly shortcut, the shortcut to worshipping God.

🌹Ali is the very soul of knowledge.

🌹Ali is the Gate of the Prophet’s knowledge—the key to understanding and wisdom. Without Ali, attaining knowledge and wisdom is impossible.

🌷🔆وَ إِنَّ الْعَرْشَ لَمْ يَسْتَقِرَّ حَتَّى كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِ بِالنُّورِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ عَلِيٌّ وَلِيُّ اللَّهِ.[4]

🔅🌼 Ali, the supreme treasury of knowledge and wisdom 🌼🔅

🌹The world strives to attain manifest and hidden sciences, yet people do not know that God’s proofs are themselves God’s knowledge. They fail to understand that all sciences and arts are but fragments of knowledge flowing from their blessed beings.

🌹Today, the world is facing a great test: each person’s share in knowledge—or deprivation of it—will become clear.

🌹What would happen if predators, venomous creatures, the wicked, those who feed on filth and corruption, sinners, and devils gained access to hidden, manifest, and pure knowledge? They would destroy the entire universe in an instant.

🌹The Star Wars project was an attempt to wage war on extraterrestrial beings and angels.

🌹If today’s savage humans were to find the people of Jabulqa and Jabulsa, they would plot to wage war on them and destroy them.

🌹Those who search for extraterrestrial beings are, in truth, making plans to kill and capture them. What have they done to the people of Earth, that they now seek out the people of heaven? If they found angels, they would even set out to kill the prophets and messengers.

🌹These savage people have even bombarded the Moon with nuclear weapons.

🔅🌼 Ali, the supreme treasury of knowledge and wisdom 🌼🔅

🌹All our senses are there to lead us to knowledge; knowledge is the destination toward which all our senses and understanding strive.

🌹Nothing is faster than knowledge.

🌹The Supreme Light rules over all lights. God’s proof is that very Supreme Light of God; its speed is instantaneous—it transcends speed. For, by God’s permission, they encompass all things, since they are God’s light and God’s knowledge. This light kindles all other lights.

🌹God’s proof is a vast instrument of knowledge and light. If we connect to this instrument, we will be in touch with the realities of the universe, beyond time and space.

🌹Are signs not there to lead us to knowledge? Are not brightness, delight, and beauty manifestations and expressions of knowledge? So when a person receives the highest signs from the Imam’s sacred light, they attain the purest truths—and do so in an instant.

🌻🔆الزمر : 69   وَ أَشْرَقَتِ الْأَرْضُ بِنُورِ رَبِّها وَ وُضِعَ الْكِتابُ وَ جي‏ءَ بِالنَّبِيِّينَ وَ الشُّهَداءِ وَ قُضِيَ بَيْنَهُمْ بِالْحَقِّ وَ هُمْ لا يُظْلَمُونَ

🔆And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord; the record of deeds will be laid open, the prophets and witnesses will be brought forward, and judgment will be passed among them with justice, and they will not be wronged!

🌸🔆أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ) يَقُولُ‏ فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى: وَ أَشْرَقَتِ الْأَرْضُ بِنُورِ رَبِّها، قَالَ: «رَبُّ الْأَرْضِ يَعْنِي إِمَامَ الْأَرْضِ».

قُلْتُ: فَإِذَا خَرَجَ يَكُونُ مَاذَا؟ قَالَ: «إِذَنْ يَسْتَغْنِي النَّاسُ عَنْ ضَوْءِ الشَّمْسِ وَ نُورِ الْقَمَرِ وَ يَجْتَزُونَ بِنُورِ الْإِمَامِ».^[5]

🔆When the Qa’im, peace be upon him, rises, the earth will shine with his light. Mufaddal ibn Umar heard Imam al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, say of God’s words in the Quran, “And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord”: … I asked the Imam, “Then what will happen when the Imam rises?” He replied, “In that era, people will have no need of the light of the sun or the moon; they will be content with the light of the Imam.”

🔅🌼 Interpretive and Esoteric Love 🌼🔅

🌹We must attain an interpretive love of our master, Amīr al-Muʾminīn, peace be upon him, so that we may witness the effects of this immense love throughout every aspect of our being.

🌹Beyond interpretive love, we must also attain an esoteric love of our master: we must reach the very root of his love and arrive at its highest aim. Love of ʿAlī is a path to the love of God.

🌹Our love for our master must be principled, vibrant, fragrant and adorned; it should be worthy of the reality of his divinely appointed authority. Love that is merely claimed, hypocritical in semblance, or born of ignorance will bring no benefit or virtue; rather, it will become a source of trouble for those who profess it and those around them.

🌼Why did our master, Amīr al-Muʾminīn, come? He came to free humanity from its bonds. The Imam was the key to liberation.

🌼ʿAlī is the very essence of servitude to God; he is God’s hidden knowledge.

🌼When sunlight falls upon objects and its rays reach our eyes, we are able to see, and through that ability we come to understand.

🌼When the lights of the Imam of Our Time are translated for us, we will no longer need the sun. That is, through God’s proof we can grasp all truths in an instant—if the heart is capable of receiving this light. This is the meaning of wilāya.

🌼If we can draw sustenance from the Imam’s light, we will no longer need the light of the moon or sun; we will become, from head to toe, pure light.

🌼All speeds stand still before knowledge, for knowledge encompasses every movement. Through God’s knowledge, a person can apprehend the beginning and the end, see them both together, and taste the delights of both at once.

🌼The many dimensions of love for ʿAlī: interpretive love means expanding the reality of love; esoteric love means reaching the root of love for ʿAlī. The ultimate aim of love for ʿAlī is the love of God. A vital, life-giving love is love with purpose and principle—not the fatal love of empty claims and ignorance.

🌼The lover of ʿAlī is God’s captive. Whoever is captivated by God has passed beyond love and reached something higher.

🔅🌼 The Mysteries and Effects of Love for ʿAlī, Amīr al-Muʾminīn, Peace Be Upon Him 🌼🔅

🌸🔆عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ [عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ‏]  قَالَ‏: سَأَلْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع فَغَضِبَ وَ قَالَ مَا بَالُ أَقْوَامٍ يَذْكُرُونَ مَنْ لَهُ مَنْزِلَةٌ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ كَمَنْزِلَتِي وَ مَقَامٌ كَمَقَامِي إِلَّا النُّبُوَّةَ (أَلَا وَ مَنْ‏)  أَحَبَ‏ عَلِيّاً فَقَدْ أَحَبَّنِي وَ مَنْ أَحَبَّنِي رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ وَ مَنْ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ كَافَأَهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ أَلَا وَ مَنْ‏ أَحَبَ‏ عَلِيّاً اسْتَغْفَرَتْ لَهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَ فُتِحَتْ لَهُ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ يَدْخُلُ‏  مِنْ أَيِّ بَابٍ شَاءَ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابِ أَلَا وَ مَنْ‏ أَحَبَ‏ عَلِيّاً أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ‏ كِتابَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ‏ وَ حَاسَبَهُ‏ [حِساباً يَسِيراً]  حِسَابَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ أَلَا وَ مَنْ‏ أَحَبَ‏ عَلِيّاً لَا يَخْرُجُ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى يَشْرَبَ مِنْ [حَوْضِ‏]  الْكَوْثَرِ وَ يَأْكُلَ مِنْ شَجَرَةِ طُوبَى وَ يَرَى مَكَانَهُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ أَلَا وَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ عَلِيّاً هَوَّنَ‏  اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ سَكَرَاتِ الْمَوْتِ وَ جَعَلَ قَبْرَهُ رَوْضَةً مِنْ رِيَاضِ الْجَنَّةِ أَلَا وَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ عَلِيّاً أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ بِكُلِّ عِرْقٍ فِي بَدَنِهِ حَوْرَاءَ وَ شَفَّعَهُ فِي ثَمَانِينَ‏  مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ وَ لَهُ بِكُلِّ شَعْرَةٍ [عَلَى بَدَنِهِ‏]  A city in Paradise  أَلَا وَ مَنْ (عَرَفَ عَلِيّاً ع وَ أَحَبَّهُ)  بَعَثَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ مَلَكَ الْمَوْتِ كَمَا يَبْعَثُ‏  إِلَى الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَ رَفَعَ‏  عَنْهُ أَهْوَالَ مُنْكَرٍ وَ نَكِيرٍ وَ نَوَّرَ قَبْرَهُ وَ فَسَحَهُ مَسِيرَةَ سَبْعِينَ عَاماً وَ بَيَّضَ وَجْهَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَلَا وَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ عَلِيّاً ع أَظَلَّهُ اللَّهُ فِي [ظِلِ‏]  عَرْشِهِ مَعَ‏ الصِّدِّيقِينَ وَ الشُّهَداءِ وَ الصَّالِحِينَ‏ وَ آمَنَهُ مِنَ الْفَزَعِ الْأَكْبَرِ وَ أَهْوَالِ [يَوْمِ‏]  الصَّاخَّةِ أَلَا وَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ عَلِيّاً ع تَقَبَّلَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ حَسَنَاتِهِ وَ تَجَاوَزَ  عَنْ سَيِّئَاتِهِ وَ كَانَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ رَفِيقَ حَمْزَةَ سَيِّدِ الشُّهَدَاءِ أَلَا وَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ عَلِيّاً ع أَثْبَتَ اللَّهُ الْحِكْمَةَ فِي قَلْبِهِ وَ أَجْرَى عَلَى لِسَانِهِ الصَّوَابَ وَ فَتَحَ اللَّهُ لَهُ‏  أَبْوَابَ الرَّحْمَةِ أَلَا وَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ عَلِيّاً ع سُمِّيَ أَسِيرَ اللَّهِ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَ بَاهَى اللَّهُ بِهِ مَلَائِكَتَهُ وَ حَمَلَةَ عَرْشِهِ‏ أَلَا وَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ عَلِيّاً ع نَادَاهُ‏  مَلَكٌ مِنْ تَحْتِ الْعَرْشِ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ‏  اسْتَأْنِفِ الْعَمَلَ فَقَدْ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَكَ الذُّنُوبَ كُلَّهَا أَلَا وَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ عَلِيّاً ع جَاءَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَجْهُهُ كَالْقَمَرِ لَيْلَةَ الْبَدْرِ أَلَا وَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ عَلِيّاً ع وَضَعَ اللَّهُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ تَاجَ الْكَرَامَةِ وَ أَلْبَسَهُ حُلَّةَ الْعِزِّ أَلَا وَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ عَلِيّاً ع مَرَّ عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ كَالْبَرْقِ الْخَاطِفِ وَ لَمْ يَرَ صُعُوبَةَ الْمُرُورِ أَلَا وَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ عَلِيّاً ع كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بَرَاءَةً مِنَ النَّارِ وَ بَرَاءَةً مِنَ النِّفَاقِ وَ جَوَازاً عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ وَ أَمَاناً مِنَ الْعَذَابِ أَلَا وَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ عَلِيّاً ع لَا يُنْشَرُ لَهُ دِيوَانٌ وَ لَا يُنْصَبُ لَهُ مِيزَانٌ وَ قِيلَ لَهُ ادْخُلِ الْجَنَّةَ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابِ أَلَا وَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ (آلَ مُحَمَّدٍ ص)  أَمِنَ مِنَ الْحِسَابِ وَ الْمِيزَانِ وَ الصِّرَاطِ أَلَا وَ مَنْ مَاتَ عَلَى حُبِّ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص صَافَحَتْهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَ زَارَتْهُ‏  أَرْوَاحُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَ قَضَى اللَّهُ لَهُ كُلَّ حَاجَةٍ كَانَتْ لَهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى أَلَا وَ مَنْ مَاتَ عَلَى بُغْضِ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص مَاتَ كَافِراً أَلَا وَ مَنْ مَاتَ عَلَى حُبِّ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص [مَاتَ عَلَى الْإِيمَانِ وَ كُنْتُ‏]  أَنَا كَفِيلَهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ [أَلَا وَ مَنْ مَاتَ عَلَى بُغْضِ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص (جَاءَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ)  مَكْتُوبٌ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ هَذَا آيِسٌ مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ أَلَا وَ مَنْ مَاتَ عَلَى بُغْضِ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص لَمْ يَشَمَّ رَائِحَةَ الْجَنَّةِ أَلَا وَ مَنْ مَاتَ عَلَى بُغْضِ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص يَخْرُجُ مِنْ قَبْرِهِ أَسْوَدَ الْوَجْهِ‏][6]

🌸🔆‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Umar said: We asked the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) about ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him). He became angry and said, “Why do some people speak ill of someone whose rank and standing before God are like my own?

Know that whoever loves ‘Ali loves me, and whoever loves me, God is pleased with him. And whoever has earned God’s pleasure, his reward will be Paradise.”

Know that whoever loves ʿAli will not leave this world before drinking from the Pool of Kawthar, eating from the Tree of Tuba, and seeing his place in Paradise.

Be aware: whoever loves ʿAli, their prayers, fasting, and night worship are accepted, and their supplications are answered.

Know that whoever loves ʿAli, the angels ask forgiveness for them, and the eight gates of Paradise are opened to them, so they may enter through whichever gate they wish, without reckoning.

Be aware: whoever loves ʿAli, God gives them their record of deeds in their right hand and judges them as He judges the prophets.

Know that whoever loves ʿAli, God eases for them the agony and hardship of death and makes their grave a garden of the gardens of Paradise.

Be aware: whoever loves ʿAli, God grants them as many houris of Paradise as there are veins in their body. They will intercede for eighty of their relatives and kin, and will be granted houris of Paradise and cities in Paradise in number equal to the hairs on their body.

Know that whoever loves ʿAli, God sends the Angel of Death (ʿAzraʾil) to take their soul just as He sends him to the prophets. He removes from them the fear of Nakir and Munkar, makes their face radiant, and they will be in the company of Ḥamza, the Master of the Martyrs.

Be aware: whoever loves ʿAli, God makes wisdom firm in their heart, puts words of truth on their tongue, and opens the gates of mercy to them.

Know that whoever loves ʿAli is called God’s captive in the heavens and on earth.

Be aware: whoever loves ʿAli will hear an angel beneath the Throne call out to them: “O servant of God, begin your deeds anew, for God has forgiven all your sins.”

Know that whoever loves ʿAli will come on the Day of Resurrection with a face shining like the full moon.

Be aware: whoever loves ʿAli will have a royal crown placed upon their head and be clothed in honor and dignity.

Know that whoever loves ʿAli will cross the Bridge of Ṣirāṭ like a streak of lightning.

Be aware: for whoever loves ʿAli, deliverance from the Fire of Hell, passage across the Ṣirāṭ, and protection from the punishment of Hell will be decreed. Their record of deeds will not be opened, nor will their actions be weighed, and they will be told: “Enter Paradise without reckoning.”

Know that whoever loves ʿAli, the angels will shake their hand, the prophets will visit them, and God will fulfill all their needs.

Be aware: whoever loves the Family of محمّد صلّى اللَّه him, blessings and peace be upon him, will be safe from judgment, the weighing of deeds, and crossing the Ṣirāṭ.

Know that whoever dies loving the Family of محمّد صلّى اللَّه him, blessings and peace be upon him, I—the Messenger of God—guarantee that they will be in the company of the prophets in Paradise.

Be aware, too: whoever dies in enmity toward the Family of Muḥammad, peace be upon him, will come on the Day of Resurrection with the words “Despairing of God’s mercy” written between their eyes. Whoever dies bearing hatred and rancor toward the Family of Muḥammad will not smell the fragrance of Paradise and will emerge from the grave with a blackened face.

🌼Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat) 110.141(903)🌼

[1] Al-Amali (of al-Saduq), text, p. 514Ibn Babawayh, Muhammad ibn Ali, Ketabchi, Tehran, sixth printing, 1376 SH.

[2]Bihar al-Anwar (Beirut edition), vol. 8, p. 140. Majlisi, Muhammad Baqir ibn Muhammad Taqi, Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi, Beirut, second printing, 1403 AH.

[3] Basa’ir al-Darajat fi Fada’il Al Muhammad صلى الله عليهم, vol. 1, p. 449Saffar, Muhammad ibn Hasan, Ayatollah Marashi Najafi Library, Iran, Qom, second printing, 1404 AH.

[4] Bihār al-Anwār (Beirut edition), vol. 25, p. 173. Majlisī, Muḥammad Bāqir ibn Muḥammad Taqī. Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, Beirut. Second edition, 1403 AH.

[5] Al-Burhān fī Tafsīr al-Qurʾān    vol. 4    733 Baḥrānī, Hāshim ibn Sulaymān. Muʾassasat al-Biʿtha, Department of Islamic Studies, Iran, Qom. First edition, 1415 AH.

[6] Miʾat manqaba min manāqib Amīr al-Muʾminīn wa al-Aʾimma; p. 64  Ibn Shādhān, Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad. Imam Mahdi Seminary (may God hasten his noble reappearance), Iran, Qom. First edition, 1407 AH.