The Vessel of Noble Virtues

🌸🔆🌿   “The Garden of Noble Virtues”  “The Secret of Blessings upon the Prophet”

🔅🌹 A summary with a supplement to “The Charter of the Companions of Imam Mahdi, peace be upon him” “A Commentary on Prayer 20 of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya”  “Session 216”  “The Taste of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya” “The Shelters of Noble Virtues” and …       1402.09.16    Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat) 110.141(903)  🌹🔅

🌹🔅☘️ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحيمِ ☘️🔅🌹

🔅🌼 The sublime flavour of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya 🌼🔅

🌷Let us breathe in and savour the prayers of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya, taking in their fragrance and flavour; let us digest their exalted teachings in our hearts. Like honeybees, let us gather the nectar of the Sahifa, blend it with the ferment (enzyme) of love and knowledge of the Two Weighty Things, and produce its honey;

🌷 We must bring the fruits of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya to fruition. We must make the effects of noble virtue manifest in body and soul, and nurture its essence in our hearts and spirits.

🌷One who wanders through the garden of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya becomes a garden of the Sahifa. But one who remains a scorching desert despite the blessed presence of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya has wronged both themselves and the Sahifa.

🌷Al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya is a heavenly gift, sent down from the realm of Imam Sajjad’s spirit as a treasure for the people of earth. It rightfully belonged in the hands of God’s messengers; by grace, it has now come to us.

🔅🌼 Prayer 20 of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya is a garden of noble virtues 🌼🔅

🌷Prayer 20 of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya is the secret chronicle of the helpers and supporters of the Two Weighty Things, and the identifying charter of Imam Mahdi’s true companions.

🌷Prayer 20 of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya is the constitution of the companions of Imam Mahdi, peace be upon him. Without doubt, Imam Mahdi’s 313 devoted companions are adorned with and equipped with the qualities set forth in this blessed prayer.

🌷The Prayer of Noble Virtues begins with blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, peace be upon him—that is, with blessings upon the very spirit and essence of noble virtue. Muhammad and his family are its crown; noble virtue reaches its highest and most beautiful expression in the Infallibles.

🌷Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, peace be upon him, are the garden and shelter of noble virtues and the highest moral qualities.

🌻🔆Al-Qalam: 4   وَ إِنَّكَ لَعَلى‏ خُلُقٍ عَظيمٍ

🌷How beautifully the Majestic God praises His Messenger: “Indeed, you are of a great moral character.”

🌷That is, the Noble Messenger, peace be upon him, rides above all that is noble in character; he possesses a great moral character and every noble virtue. He rides upon all beauty and goodness and soars with them.

🌷The Prophet of noble virtues stands above them all, looking from that exalted height toward the threshold of divine nearness.

🌷We must attain knowledge of Muhammad and his family, for they are the pattern by which we are equipped with noble virtues. Through them, we must attain their station. In other words, true believers must conquer the summit of noble virtues and the highest moral qualities, for they are our model in worshipping God.

🌻🔆Al-Ahzab: 21   لَقَدْ كانَ لَكُمْ في‏ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كانَ يَرْجُوا اللَّهَ وَ الْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَ ذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثيراً

🔆Surely, in the Messenger of God you have an excellent example to follow—for those who place their hope in God and the Last Day and remember God often.

🔅🌼 True worship begins only when we are adorned with noble virtues 🌼🔅

🌷The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is the model for all beings in creation. Among them, human beings must strive ahead of all others in following his example and attaining the Muhammadan station. Unless they reach it, they have not fulfilled their duty of servitude—or, more precisely, they have not even begun true worship.

🌷The Majestic, Beautiful, Almighty God is not content with little from those who love Him. He does not accept a lover who is blind of heart or broken-hearted; the worthy lover is one whose heart is pure and whose spirit is awake and alive, adorned with perfections and noble virtues.

🌷The Creator, the Best of Creators, is the maker of us all. Whatever He has created, He has made beautiful. Muhammad and his family have displayed this absolute beauty in all its fullness and perfection, and we too must bring that peerless divine beauty to light.

🌻🔆At-Tīn 4   لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسانَ في‏ أَحْسَنِ تَقْويمٍ

🔆Indeed, We created the human being in the best of forms and proportions.

🌻🔆As-Sajdah 7   الَّذي أَحْسَنَ كُلَّ شَيْ‏ءٍ خَلَقَهُ وَ بَدَأَ خَلْقَ الْإِنْسانِ مِنْ طينٍ

🔆He is the One who perfected everything He created, and began the creation of humankind from clay.

🌷In this order of creation, it is the human being’s duty to bring the perfection and beauty of their own existence fully to light. If they fail to do so, they have failed in their servitude to God.

🌷Let us present ourselves to the world as God’s beautifully created beings. Let us know ourselves, so that the perfection of God’s creation may inspire us to love the most perfect Creator, and so that we may adorn the world of creation with that exalted order. This is the secret behind the close connection between self-knowledge and knowledge of the Lord.

🔆🌹قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص مَنْ عَرَفَ‏ نَفْسَهُ‏ فَقَدْ عَرَفَ رَبَّه‏[1]

🔆Whoever knows himself has indeed come to know his Lord.

🌷A person should not keep their own perfection—the sign of God’s boundless beauty—hidden. Rather, they must bring this latent trust into full realization.

🌷In this age, the sacred being of the Master of the Age and Time is the supreme manifestation of noble virtues and exalted qualities. His Eminence is a radiant star of beauty, goodness, and noble character.

🔅🌼 Blessings upon the Prophet are the celestial virtues of God.🌼🔅

🌷The Supplication of Noble Virtues begins with blessings upon the source and sanctuary of all noble virtues.

🌷Blessings upon the Prophet are among the noble gifts granted to everyone. They are the salt of Imam Sajjad’s supplication.

🌷Without the spirits of virtue, no virtue can be alive and flourishing. The spirits of virtue are its very soul and life. Virtues live through Muhammad and his Family.

🌷Blessings upon the Prophet mean entering the paradise of virtue, breathed into life and adorned by virtue.

🌷Muhammad and his Family are the roots of generosity; every goodness springs from the soil of their being. They are the vessel that carries all noble virtues.

🌷Muhammad and his Family are the microphone and amplifier of our prayers and devotions: that is, they are the voice-bearers who amplify our supplications and devotions.

🌷The Creator, Knower of all that is hidden, has no need of any voice-bearer or amplifier. Yet His holy threshold is worthy of the voices of souls made fragrant and pure. So, through blessings upon the Prophet, salutations, and appeal for intercession, we make our voices, melodies, devotions, and prayers fragrant and pure, so that they may reach God’s threshold of acceptance, attention, and love. A prayer and devotion accompanied by blessings upon the Prophet, with a pure soul, takes flight to the threshold of divine nearness and becomes pleasing to the Almighty Lord.

🌷Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad are the voice-bearers who purify our breath; they draw divine attention to our prayers. With Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad, our prayer is transformed into « دُعَاءُ لَايُسْمَعُ» به « دُعَاءُ يُسْمَعُ »—that is, into a prayer worthy of attention.

🔆🌹اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ‏  مِنَ الْكَسَلِ وَ الْهَرَمِ‏ وَ الْجُبْنِ وَ الْبُخْلِ وَ الْغَفْلَةِ وَ الْقَسْوَةِ وَ الْفَتْرَةِ  وَ الْمَسْكَنَةِ، وَ أَعُوذُ بِكَ يَا رَبِّ مِنْ نَفْسٍ لَاتَشْبَعُ‏ ، وَ مِنْ قَلْبٍ لَايَخْشَعُ، وَ مِنْ‏ دُعَاءٍ لَايُسْمَعُ‏,[2]

🌷Blessings upon the Prophet are the secret of having our prayers heard, the key to drawing the merciful attention of the Lord of the Worlds.

🌷Whoever equips themselves with Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad has, as it were, attained a sound heart. Our hearts attain peace when we become connected to the true, living heart of the universe.

🌻🔆Ash-Shuʿarāʾ 88   يَوْمَ لا يَنْفَعُ مالٌ وَ لا بَنُونَ

🔆the Day when neither wealth nor children will be of any benefit,

🌻🔆Ash-Shuʿarāʾ 89   إِلاَّ مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَليمٍ

🔆except for those who come before God with a sound heart!

🌷To enter the presence of God with a sound heart—or to bring a sound heart into His presence.

🌷Through devotion to the wilayah and imamate of Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad, peace be upon them, the believer sends forth into all existence a fragrance both delightful and world-enchanting.

🌷To manifest the highest station of worship and scale its summit, we must perfect both our outward form and our character.

🌷The pinnacle of noble character marks the beginning of true servitude to God. Without noble and exalted virtues, our worship of God will be deficient.

🌷Who would dare claim to serve God without noble and exalted virtues? Until we attain that station, all we can offer is a mere display of servitude.

🌷Exalted virtues are the road that leads to the beginning of servitude to God.

🌷المعروف علی قدر المعرفه. More renowned than every good deed is love for God. The more we adorn ourselves with noble virtues and grace ourselves with knowledge, the more worthy we become of being lovers. Let us adorn ourselves with every ornament and show ourselves to our God.

🔅🌼 The lover adorns himself for the beloved. 🌼🔅

🌻🔆Al-A‘raf: 31   يا بَني‏ آدَمَ خُذُوا زينَتَكُمْ عِنْدَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَ كُلُوا وَ اشْرَبُوا وَ لا تُسْرِفُوا إِنَّهُ لا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفينَ

🔆O children of Adam! Wear your adornment whenever you go to the mosque. Eat and drink, but do not be extravagant; surely, He does not love the extravagant.

🌷To ascend, we must adorn ourselves with every beauty. When we pray, let us wear our finest clothes, scent ourselves with the sweetest fragrances, and deck ourselves with every kind of ornament. Let us cherish our prayer of love by combing our hair, making ourselves presentable, and observing due order.

🔆🌹 قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‏ إِنَ‏ اللَّهَ‏ جَمِيلٌ‏ يُحِبُ‏ الْجَمَالَ‏ وَ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَرَى أَثَرَ النِّعْمَةِ عَلَى عَبْدِهِ.[3]

🔆The Commander of the Faithful, peace be upon him, said: “God is beautiful and loves adornment, and He loves to see the effects of His blessings upon His servant.”

🌷God’s servant should use God’s blessings in the service of the Creator who bestowed them. Every capacity, goodness, beauty, and adornment that God Most High has created for humanity should be put to use in loving communion with the Giver Himself. The greatest blessing of all is the wilayah and imamate of Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad, peace be upon them; we must adorn ourselves with God’s greatest blessing.

🔆🌹وَ رُوِيَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ ع‏ أَنَّهُ كَانَ إِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ لَبِسَ أَجْوَدَ ثِيَابِهِ فَقِيلَ لَهُ فِي ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ إِنَ‏ اللَّهَ‏ جَمِيلٌ‏ يُحِبُّ الْجَمَالَ فَأَتَجَمَّلُ لِرَبِّي وَ تَلَا قَوْلَهُ تَعَالَى- يا بَنِي آدَمَ خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِنْدَ كُلِّ مَسْجِد[4]

🔆Whenever Imam Hasan ibn Ali, peace be upon him, stood for prayer, he would dress himself in his finest clothes. On this, he said: “God is beautiful and loves adornment, so I adorn myself for my Lord.” He then recited these words of God Most High: “O children of Adam! Wear your adornment whenever you go to the mosque.”

🌷The blessed soul of Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba, peace be upon him, was adorned with every celestial and heavenly ornament. Indeed, all existence, with all its beauty, is adorned by the sacred being of Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba, peace be upon him.

🌷In a word, “All existence, with all its splendor and beauty, is adorned by the sacred beings of Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad.”

🌷We must not neglect the garment of piety; the finest garment is reverence for God. So let us clothe ourselves in the most beautiful garment of love as we offer the highest prayer of love. A heart adorned with love, affection, and devotion to Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad, peace be upon them, is graced with the finest of ornaments; when it is further embellished with the adornment of noble character, its beauty and grace rise above all beauty and grace.

🌷The blessings of the Two Weighty Things must become manifest in our bodies and souls. Through the Qur’an and the Ahl al-Bayt, let us adorn ourselves for the One we worship.

🌷Imam Sajjad’s Supplication for Noble Character maps out the vast realm of noble and exalted virtues. This supplication is itself a mighty sanctuary of love, worship, and servitude. Through it, we adorn ourselves to perfection for the One we worship.

🔅🌼 Faith Is the Root of Ethics 🌼🔅

🔆🌹اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ، وَ بَلِّغْ بِإِيمَانِي أَكْمَلَ الْإِيمَان‏🌹🔆

🌷Let us test our faith through the blessed supplication no. 20 of al-Ṣaḥīfa al-Sajjādiyya and assess how mature it is.  

🌷Ethics without faith, and faith without ethics, are impossible. Ethics is not limited to outward courtesy; it encompasses a vast landscape. It is a mighty tree whose root is faith.

🌷Satan sees religion as separate from humanity and ethics, yet when religion is severed from a person, their humanity collapses and ethics disappears.

🌷Religion and ethics cannot be separated. Remove ethics, and a person becomes irreligious—utterly devoid of moral character. Ethics is not limited to outward courtesy: an irreligious person who is good-natured carries a spark of faith within, showing that this spark can be fanned into a brighter flame and transformed into a shining sun. So a “good-natured irreligious person” is not entirely without faith; they can still be guided.

🌷Faith is the source and root of ethics.

🔅🌼 Let us bring the full color and flavor of faith to light 🌼🔅

🔆🌹مَثَلُ‏ التَّقْوَى‏ كَمَاءٍ يَجْرِي فِي نَهَرٍ

🔆🌹فَالتَّقْوَى لِلطَّاعَاتِ كَالْمَاءِ لِلْأَشْجَارِ وَ مَثَلُ طَبَائِعِ الْأَشْجَارِ وَ الْأَثْمَارِ فِي لَوْنِهَا وَ طَعْمِهَا مَثَلُ مَقَادِيرِ الْإِيمَانِ فَمَنْ كَانَ أَعْلَى دَرَجَةً فِي الْإِيمَانِ وَ أَصْفَى جَوْهَرَةً بِالرُّوحِ كَانَ أَتْقَى وَ مَنْ كَانَ أَتْقَى كَانَتْ عِبَادَتُهُ أَخْلَصَ وَ أَطْهَرَ وَ مَنْ كَانَ كَذَلِكَ كَانَ مِنَ اللَّهِ أَقْرَبَ وَ كُلُّ عِبَادَةٍ مُؤَسَّسَةٍ عَلَى غَيْرِ التَّقْوَى فَهِيَ هَبَاءٌ مَنْثُور[5]

🔆Piety is like water as it flows.

🔆Thus, piety in relation to obedience to God is like water for trees. The nature of the trees and their fruit—their color and flavor—reflects the measure of faith …

🌷The stream of piety must flow and spring forth continually from our hearts, until our hearts are transformed into a magnificent garden of devoted worship, adorned in all its perfection.

🌷The stronger a person’s faith, the greater and more beautiful the tree of their servitude to God becomes.

🌷In one sense, faith means all the noble virtues. Pure knowledge springs from faith’s very soul; modesty is faith’s heart, patience its crown, certainty its heaven, trust in God its key, awe its wings, fear and hope its two special wings for flight, and generosity its pillar. In short, every noble quality has a particular connection to faith; all are bound to it.

🔆🌹قَالَ الصَّادِقُ ع:‏ الْخَشْيَةُ مِيرَاثُ الْعِلْمِ وَ مِيزَانُهُ وَ الْعِلْمُ شُعَاعُ الْمَعْرِفَةِ وَ قَلْبُ‏ الْإِيمَان‏[6]

🔆🌹قَالَ الصَّادِقُ ع:‏ الْحَيَاءُ نُورٌ جَوْهَرُهُ صَدْرُ الْإِيمَان‏[7]

🔆🌹 قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع: الصَّبْرُ مِنَ‏ الْإِيمَانِ‏ كَالرَّأْسِ مِنَ الْجَسَدِ[8]

🔆🌹 قَالَ الصَّادِقُ ع:‏ وَ الْيَقِينُ أَرْضُ الْإِسْلَامِ وَ سَمَاءُ الْإِيمَان‏[9]

🔆🌹 قَالَ الصَّادِقُ ع:‏ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ التَّوَكُّلَ مِفْتَاحَ‏ الْإِيمَانِ‏ وَ الْإِيمَانَ قُفْلَ التَّوَكُّل‏[10]

🔆🌹 قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع:‏ خَشْيَةُ اللَّهِ جَنَاحُ‏ الْإِيمَان‏[11]

🔆🌹قَالَ الصَّادِقُ ع:‏ الْخَوْفُ رَقِيبُ الْقَلْبِ وَ الرَّجَاءُ شَفِيعُ النَّفْسِ وَ مَنْ كَانَ بِاللَّهِ عَارِفاً كَانَ مِنَ اللَّهِ خَائِفاً وَ إِلَيْهِ رَاجِياً وَ هُمَا جَنَاحَا الْإِيمَانِ‏ يَطِيرُ بِهِمَا الْعَبْدُ الْمُحَقِّقُ إِلَى رِضْوَانِ اللَّه‏[12]

🔆🌹قَالَ الصَّادِقُ ع:‏ السَّخَاءُ مِنْ أَخْلَاقِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَ هُوَ عِمَادُ الْإِيمَان‏[13]

🌷Whoever’s prayer « وَ بَلِّغْ بِإِيمَانِي أَكْمَلَ الْإِيمَان‏» is answered has attained every noble virtue.

🌷Prayer 20 of the Ṣaḥīfa Sajjadiyya is a prayer for the wellbeing of the one who hosts our Imam of the Age. It is a prayer for the wellbeing and salvation of the people of the earth. Were there no people adorned with the qualities set out in this sacred prayer, God Most High would not keep our Imam of the Age on earth for even a moment, but would raise him to His sublime presence.

🌷The Prayer for Noble Virtues is a charter and constitution for the helpers and supporters of the Imam of the Age, may God hasten his return. The qualities and characteristics of the Imam’s companions are set out in this prayer.

🌷The Prayer for Noble Virtues is a special salon for grooming oneself in the service of God.

🌷God Himself is the one who adorns His servants.

🔆🌹زَيْدٌ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: نَخْشَى أَنْ لَا نَكُونَ مُؤْمِنِينَ! قَالَ: وَ لِمَ ذَاكَ؟ فَقُلْتُ: وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّا لَا نَجِدُ فِينَا مَنْ يَكُونُ أَخُوهُ عِنْدَهُ آثَرَ مِنْ دِرْهَمِهِ وَ دِينَارِهِ، وَ نَجِدُ الدِّينَارَ وَ الدِّرْهَمَ آثَرَ عِنْدَنَا مِنْ أَخٍ قَدْ جَمَعَ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَهُ مُوَالاةُ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، فَقَالَ: كَلَّا، إِنَّكُمْ مُؤْمِنُونَ‏  وَ لَكِنْ لَا يَكْمُلُ‏ إِيمَانُكُمْ حَتَّى يَخْرُجَ قَائِمُنَا، فَعِنْدَهَا يَجْمَعُ اللَّهُ أَحْلَامَكُمْ، فَتَكُونُونَ مُؤْمِنِينَ كَامِلِينَ، وَ لَوْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مُؤْمِنِينَ كَامِلِينَ إِذًا لَرَفَعَنَا اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ، وَ أَنْكَرْتُمُ الْأَرْضَ وَ أَنْكَرْتُمُ السَّمَاءَ، بَلْ وَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنَّ فِي الْأَرْضِ فِي أَطْرَافِهَا مُؤْمِنِينَ مَا قَدْرُ الدُّنْيَا كُلِّهَا عِنْدَهُمْ يَعْدِلُ جَنَاحَ بَعُوضَةٍ، وَ لَوْ أَنَّ الدُّنْيَا بِجَمِيعِ مَا فِيهَا وَ عَلَيْهَا، ذَهَبَةٌ حَمْرَاءُ عَلَى عُنُقِ أَحَدِهِمْ، ثُمَّ سَقَطَتْ‏، عَنْ عُنُقِهِ، مَا شَعَرَ بِهَا أَيُ‏ شَيْ‏ءٍ كَانَ عَلَى عُنُقِهِ، وَ لَا أَيُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ سَقَطَ مِنْهَا؛ لِهَوَانِهَا عَلَيْهِمْ، فَهُمُ الْخَفِيُّ عَيْشُهُمُ، الْمُنْتَقِلَةُ دِيَارُهُمْ مِنْ أَرْضٍ إِلَى أَرْضٍ، الْخَمِيصَةُ بُطُونُهُمْ مِنَ الصِّيَامِ، الذَّابِلَةُ  شِفَاهُهُمْ مِنَ التَّسْبِيحِ، الْعُمْشُ الْعُيُونِ مِنَ الْبُكَاءِ، الصُّفْرُ الْوُجُوهِ مِنَ السَّهَرِ، فَذَلِكَ سِيمَاهُمْ مَثَلًا ضَرَبَهُ اللَّهُ‏ فِي الْإِنْجِيلِ لَهُمْ؛ وَ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَ الْفُرْقَانِ وَ الزَّبُورِ وَ الصُّحُفِ الْأُولَى، وَصَفَهُمْ، فَقَالَ: سِيماهُمْ فِي وُجُوهِهِمْ مِنْ أَثَرِ السُّجُودِ ذلِكَ مَثَلُهُمْ فِي التَّوْراةِ وَ مَثَلُهُمْ فِي الْإِنْجِيلِ‏  عَنَى بِذَلِكَ صُفْرَةَ وُجُوهِهِمْ مِنْ سَهَرِ اللَّيْلِ.[14]

🔆🌹Zayd al-Zarrād relates: I said to Imam al-Ṣādiq, peace be upon him, “We fear that we may not be believers!” He asked, “Why?” I replied, “Because among us we find no one who prefers his brother over his dirham and dinar. Rather, for us, the dirham and dinar take precedence over the brotherhood that has brought him and me together in devotion to the Commander of the Faithful!” He said, “No! You are believers, but your faith will not be complete until our Qa’im appears. Then God will bring your intellects to perfection, and you will become complete believers. If there were no complete believers on earth, God would raise us into His presence, and you would know neither earth nor heaven.” Indeed, by Him in whose hand is my soul, there are believers in the farthest corners of the earth for whom the whole world is worth less than a gnat’s wing

🔅🌼Closing words of the gathering, 1402.09.16🌼🔅

🌼Description of the heavens🌼

🌷The Prophet is the heaven, and the Imams are its stars; the Prophet is the tree, and the Imams are its fruits.

🌷The Prophet of Islam is like a single body, and the Imams, peace be upon them, are its limbs. The Prophet is like a tree, and the Imams are the branches and fruits of that sacred tree.

🌷The exalted rank of Muhammad, peace be upon him, is made perfectly clear in the words of the Commander of the Faithful.

🔆🌹فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَ فَنَبِيٌّ أَنْتَ فَقَالَ وَيْلَكَ إِنَّمَا أَنَا عَبْدٌ مِنْ‏ عَبِيدِ مُحَمَّدٍ ṣ[15]

🔆🌹مَن عَلّمني حَرفاً، فقد صَيَّرني‏ A servant[16]

🌷In two narrations from Imam Ali (AS), the word “servant” conveys both an expression of servitude and humility, and the meaning of one who obeys and follows. In the lexicon, the word ʿabd means both a servant or owned person and one who obeys and follows. In the Quran, ʿabd is used to mean both a servant or owned person and one who obeys God in worship and obedience.

🌼Clear Foundations of Knowledge🌼

🌷The clear foundations make it easy to discern the truth. One who has mastered the clear foundations of divine, transmitted, scholarly, and rational texts will understand the less clear passages in scripture and narrations, as well as the apparent conclusions of scholarship and reason.

🌷Reports of specific events are easier to recognize than reports conveying meanings, because the former, through their manifest eloquence and rhetorical power, reveal the greatness of their source. The Ṣaḥīfa Sajjādiyya is a report of specific events, as is most of Nahj al-Balāgha. Reports that convey meanings can be discerned through deep understanding and the insight born of faith.

🌼The Heights on the Day of Resurrection🌼

🌷The “People of the Heights” may be understood from two perspectives. First, they are the Immaculate Imams, whose recognition is a condition for entering Paradise. They also include those among the Shia whose good and bad deeds are equal, and who are held between Paradise and Hell. The Imams remain with them between the two to intercede for them; they enter Paradise only when the intercession of the Household of the Prophet (AS) is accepted.

🌻🔆Al-Aʿrāf: 46   وَ بَيْنَهُما حِجابٌ وَ عَلَى الْأَعْرافِ رِجالٌ يَعْرِفُونَ كُلاًّ بِسيماهُمْ وَ نادَوْا أَصْحابَ الْجَنَّةِ أَنْ سَلامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ لَمْ يَدْخُلُوها وَ هُمْ يَطْمَعُونَ

🌻🔆Between them is a barrier, and upon the Heights are men who recognize each of them by their marks. They call out to the people of Paradise, “Peace be upon you!” They have not yet entered it, though they hope to.

🌻🔆Al-Aʿrāf: 47   وَ إِذا صُرِفَتْ أَبْصارُهُمْ تِلْقاءَ أَصْحابِ النَّارِ قالُوا رَبَّنا لا تَجْعَلْنا مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمينَ

And when their eyes turn toward the people of the Fire, they say, “Our Lord, do not place us among the wrongdoers!”

🌻🔆Al-Aʿrāf: 48   وَ نادى‏ أَصْحابُ الْأَعْرافِ رِجالاً يَعْرِفُونَهُمْ بِسيماهُمْ قالُوا ما أَغْنى‏ عَنْكُمْ جَمْعُكُمْ وَ ما كُنْتُمْ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ

🌻🔆The People of the Heights call out to men among the people of the Fire, whom they recognize by their appearance, saying, “Your amassed wealth and children, and your arrogance, have done you no good!”

🔆🌹الْهَيْثَمِ بْنِ وَاقِدٍ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ‏ يَقُولُ: جَاءَ ابْنُ الْكَوَّا إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ‏ «وَ عَلَى الْأَعْرافِ رِجالٌ يَعْرِفُونَ كُلًّا بِسِيماهُمْ» فَقَالَ: نَحْنُ عَلَى الْأَعْرَافِ، نَعْرِفُ أَنْصَارَنَا بِسِيمَاهُمْ وَ نَحْنُ الْأَعْرَافُ الَّذِينَ لَا يُعْرَفُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَّا بِسَبِيلِ مَعْرِفَتِنَا وَ نَحْنُ الْأَعْرَافُ يُعَرِّفُنَا اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ، فَلَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ إِلَّا مَنْ عَرَفَنَا وَ عَرَفْنَاهُ، وَ لَا يَدْخُلُ النَّارَ إِلَّا مَنْ أَنْكَرَنَا وَ أَنْكَرْنَاهُ.

🔆🌹عَنِ الثُّمَالِيِّ قَالَ: سُئِلَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ‏ «وَ عَلَى الْأَعْرافِ رِجالٌ يَعْرِفُونَ كُلًّا بِسِيماهُمْ» فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ: نَحْنُ الْأَعْرَافُ الَّذِينَ لَا يُعْرَفُ اللَّهُ الّا بِسَبَبِ مَعْرِفَتِنَا وَ نَحْنُ الْأَعْرَافُ الَّذِينَ لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ إِلَّا مَنْ عَرَفَنَا وَ عَرَفْنَاهُ وَ لَا يَدْخُلُ النَّارَ إِلَّا مَنْ أَنْكَرَنَا وَ أَنْكَرْنَاهُ، وَ ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ لَوْ شَاءَ أَنْ يُعَرِّفَ النَّاسَ نَفْسَهُ لَعَرَّفَهُمْ وَ لَكِنْ جَعَلَنَا سَبَبَهُ وَ سَبِيلَهُ وَ بَابَهُ الَّذِي يُؤْتَى.

🔆🌹فِي مِصْبَاحِ الشَّرِيعَةِ قَالَ الصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: وَ لِأَهْلِ التَّوَاضُعِ سِيمَاءُ يَعْرِفُهُ أَهْلُ السَّمَاءِ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ، وَ أَهْلُ الْأَرْضِ مِنَ الْعَارِفِينَ، قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: «وَ عَلَى الْأَعْرافِ رِجالٌ يَعْرِفُونَ كُلًّا بِسِيماهُمْ».

🔆🌹فِي تَفْسِيرِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ عَنْ بُرَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالَ: الْأَعْرَافُ كُثْبَانٌ‏ بَيْنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَ النَّارِ، وَ الرِّجَالُ الْأَئِمَّةُ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ يَقِفُونَ عَلَى الْأَعْرَافِ مَعَ شِيعَتِهِمْ وَ قَدْ سَبَقَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ، فَيَقُولُ الْأَئِمَّةُ لِشِيعَتِهِمْ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الذُّنُوبِ: انْظُرُوا إِلَى إِخْوَانِكُمْ فِي الْجَنَّةِ قَدْ سَبَقُوا إِلَيْهَا بِلَا حِسَابٍ، وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى: سَلامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ لَمْ يَدْخُلُوها وَ هُمْ يَطْمَعُونَ‏ ثُمَّ يُقَالُ لَهُمْ: أُنْظُرُوا إِلَى أَعْدَائِكُمْ فِي النَّارِ وَ هُوَ قَوْلُهُ: وَ إِذَا صُرِفَتْ أَبْصَارُهُمْ تِلْقَاءَ أَصْحَابِ النَّارِ قالُوا رَبَّنا لا تَجْعَلْنا مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ وَ He called out أَصْحابُ الْأَعْرافِ رِجالًا يَعْرِفُونَهُمْ بِسِيماهُمْ‏ فِي النَّارِ فَقَالُوا مَا أَغْنَى عَنْكُمْ جَمْعُكُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ مَا كُنْتُمْ تَسْتَكْبِرُونُ ثُمَّ يَقُولُونَ لِمَنْ فِي النَّارِ مِنْ أَعْدَائِهِمْ: أَ هَؤُلَاءِ شِيعَتِي وَ إِخْوَانِيَ الَّذِينَ كُنْتُمْ أَنْتُمْ تَحْلِفُونَ فِي الدُّنْيَا لَا يَنالُهُمُ اللَّهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ الْأَئِمَّةُ لِشِيعَتِهِمْ: ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ لا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْكُمْ‏ وَ لَا أَنْتُمْ تَحْزَنُونَ.

🔆🌹عَنْ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ الطَّيَّارِ قَالَ: قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: النَّاسُ عَلَى سِتَّةِ أَقْسَامٍ قَالَ: قُلْتُ: تَأْذَنُ أَنْ أَكْتُبَهَا؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، قُلْتُ: مَا أَكْتُبُ؟ قَالَ: اكْتُبْ أَصْحَابَ الْأَعْرَافِ، قَالَ: قُلْتُ: وَ مَا أَصْحَابُ الْأَعْرَافِ؟ قَالَ: قَوْمٌ اسْتَوَتْ حَسَنَاتُهُمْ وَ سَيِّئَاتُهُمْ فَإِنْ أَدْخَلَهُمُ النَّارَ فَبِذُنُوبِهِمْ، وَ إِنْ أَدْخَلَهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ فَبِرَحْمَتِهِ‏,^[17]

🌼يَا رَبِّ أُمَّتِي‏ أُمَّتِي🌼

The Messenger’s tireless efforts to intercede for the salvation of his community at the Great Gathering are praised by the Most Merciful of the merciful.

🔆🌹عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‏ أَخْبَرَنِي الرُّوحُ الْأَمِينُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُهُ إِذَا وَقَفَ الْخَلَائِقَ وَ جَمَعَ الْأَوَّلِينَ وَ الْآخِرِينَ أُتِيَ بِجَهَنَّمَ تُقَادُ بِأَلْفِ زِمَامٍ أَخَذَ بِكُلِّ زِمَامٍ مِائَةُ أَلْفِ مَلَكٍ مِنَ الْغِلَاظِ الشِّدَادِ وَ لَهَا هَدَّةٌ وَ تَحَطُّمٌ‏  وَ زَفِيرٌ وَ شَهِيقٌ وَ إِنَّهَا لَتَزْفِرُ الزَّفْرَةَ فَلَوْ لَا أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَخَّرَهَا إِلَى الْحِسَابِ لَأَهْلَكَتِ الْجَمِيعَ ثُمَّ يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا عُنُقٌ يُحِيطُ بِالْخَلَائِقِ الْبَرِّ مِنْهُمْ وَ الْفَاجِرِ فَمَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ عَبْداً مِنْ عِبَادِهِ مَلَكٍ وَ لَا نَبِيٍّ إِلَّا وَ يُنَادِي يَا رَبِّ نَفْسِي نَفْسِي وَ أَنْتَ تَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ أُمَّتِي‏ أُمَّتِي‏ ثُمَّ يُوضَعُ عَلَيْهَا صِرَاطٌ أَدَقُّ مِنَ الشَّعْرِ وَ أَحَدُّ مِنَ السَّيْفِ عَلَيْهِ ثَلَاثُ قَنَاطِرَ الْأُولَى عَلَيْهَا الْأَمَانَةُ وَ الرَّحْمَةُ  وَ الثَّانِيَةُ عَلَيْهَا الصَّلَاةُ وَ الثَّالِثَةُ عَلَيْهَا رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ‏ لَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُهُ فَيُكَلَّفُونَ الْمَمَرَّ عَلَيْهَا فَتَحْبِسُهُمُ الرَّحْمَةُ وَ الْأَمَانَةُ فَإِنْ نَجَوْا مِنْهَا حَبَسَتْهُمُ الصَّلَاةُ فَإِنْ نَجَوْا مِنْهَا كَانَ الْمُنْتَهَى إِلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى- إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَبِالْمِرْصادِ  وَ النَّاسُ عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ فَمُتَعَلِّقٌ تَزِلُّ قَدَمُهُ وَ تَثْبُتُ قَدَمُهُ وَ الْمَلَائِكَةُ حَوْلَهَا يُنَادُونَ يَا كَرِيمُ يَا حَلِيمُ اعْفُ وَ اصْفَحْ وَ عُدْ بِفَضْلِكَ وَ سَلِّمْ وَ النَّاسُ يَتَهَافَتُونَ‏  فِيهَا كَالْفَرَاشِ فَإِذَا نَجَا نَاجٍ بِرَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى نَظَرَ إِلَيْهَا فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي نَجَّانِي مِنْكِ بَعْدَ يَأْسٍ بِفَضْلِهِ وَ مَنِّهِ‏ إِنَّ رَبَّنا لَغَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ.[18]

🔆🌹Imam al-Baqir, peace be upon him, says: The Noble Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him and his family, said: The Faithful Spirit informed me that when the One God, beside whom there is no other god, gathers all creation on the Day of Resurrection—the first and the last alike—Hell will be brought forth with a thousand reins, each held by a hundred thousand stern angels. It will roar and groan and cry out; and were God Most High not to postpone its punishment until the Reckoning is complete, it would destroy everyone. Then a tongue of flame will leap from Hell and engulf all creation, the righteous and the wicked alike. At that moment, there will be no servant, angel or prophet who does not cry out:

“Lord, save me! Save me!” And you alone will say, “Lord, my people! My people!”

Then a bridge will be laid across it, thinner than a hair and sharper than a sword, with three checkpoints upon it. At the first checkpoint will be trustworthiness and mercy; at the second, prayer; and at the third, the Reckoning, which the Lord of the worlds Himself—beside whom there is no other god—will conduct.                         

Then the people will be commanded to cross the bridge. First, mercy and trustworthiness will hold them to account. If they make it past that checkpoint, their prayers will hold them to account; and if they survive that, their fate will rest with the Lord of the worlds. This is the meaning of the noble verse: إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَبِالْمِرْصادِ

As people cross the bridge, some will stumble and hang there, while others will remain firm on their feet. The angels surrounding them will cry out: “O Generous God, O Forbearing God! Overlook their faults, look upon them with Your grace, and grant them safety!” Meanwhile, people will be falling into the Fire like moths. When someone is saved from it by God’s mercy, they will look back and say: “Praise be to God, who, through His grace and mercy, saved me from you after I had despaired. Truly, our God is Forgiving and Appreciative.”[19]

🌼Perhaps “Aamua Aamua” was a projectile sent to the people of Earth 🌼

🌷The possibility that Aamua Aamua is a rock guided by extraterrestrial beings

🌷Oumuamua: a strange object in the Solar System. When Oumuamua was discovered, it was on its way out of the Solar System. Given its extremely high speed and the steep angle of its trajectory relative to the Solar System, it was not captured by the Sun’s gravity.

Scientists tracked Oumuamua for just 11 days, observing it with various ground- and space-based instruments. Just 11 days. These observations are the only information we have about this mysterious visitor. Oumuamua is now far too distant and too dim to be seen by even our most powerful instruments, and no rocket can reach it.

🌼The peacock is among those transformed 🌼

🌷The peacock is among those transformed; before its transformation, it had unimaginable beauty.

🔆🌹عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا peace be upon him, قَالَ: «الطَّاوُوسُ‏ مَسْخٌ، كَانَ‏ رَجُلًا جَمِيلًا، فَكَابَرَ  امْرَأَةَ رَجُلٍ مُؤْمِنٍ تُحِبُّهُ‏ ، فَوَقَعَ بِهَا، ثُمَّ رَاسَلَتْهُ‏ بَعْدُ ، فَمَسَخَهُمَا  اللَّهُ- عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- طَاوُوسَيْنِ: أُنْثى‏ وَ ذَكَراً، وَ لَا يُؤْكَلُ‏  لَحْمُهُ، وَ لَا بَيْضُهُ».[20]

🔆🌹Imam al-Ridha, peace be upon him, said: The peacock was transformed. He had been a handsome man. There was also a believing man and woman who loved one another. The handsome man seduced the woman, and they committed adultery and exchanged letters. So God transformed them both into a male and a female peacock. Therefore, do not eat peacock meat or eggs.

🌼The manifestation of the effects of the Greatest Name 🌼

🌷The activation of the Greatest Names and the manifestation of their effects and wonders depend on the disclosure of their mysteries. Our Imam of the Age bears the divine mysteries and secrets; all that is needed is for him to activate the code, to place it within the cup of our hearts.

🌷Our Imam of the Age will activate his companions and make them bearers of the mysteries.

🌷At the time of the advent, there may be changes—and control over changes—at the subatomic, atomic, molecular, blood and elemental levels, as well as the activation of a particular hidden part.

🌼The Geography of Paradise🌼

🌻🔆Āl ʿImrān: 133   وَ سارِعُوا إِلى‏ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَ جَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّماواتُ وَ الْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقينَ

🔆Hasten to the forgiveness of your Lord and to a Garden as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the God-fearing.

🌻🔆Al-Ḥadīd: 21   سابِقُوا إِلى‏ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَ جَنَّةٍ عَرْضُها كَعَرْضِ السَّماءِ وَ الْأَرْضِ أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَ رُسُلِهِ ذلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتيهِ مَنْ يَشاءُ وَ اللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظيمِ

🔆Race to the forgiveness of your Lord and to a Garden as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who believe in God and His messengers. That is God’s bounty, which He grants to whomever He wills; and God is the possessor of immense bounty.^[21]

🌷Certain prayers and intimate supplications, and some of the hidden meanings of verses and traditions, should be kept from those who are not initiated.

🌷If the body did not decay and putrefy, there would be reason to fear that people might not bury the bodies of their loved ones.

🌷The bodies of some prophets decay so that their communities do not go astray by believing them to be divine.

🌷The reason it takes so long on the Day of Resurrection to account for the deeds of God’s servants is simply to make the accusations clear to the accused themselves, so that they may become aware of every last measure of their deeds. Otherwise, God is swift in reckoning.

🌷Nasnās are organic beings.

🌼The Praiseworthy Station🌼

🌷The “Praiseworthy Station” is a special station granted to no one but the Messenger of God, peace be upon him. It is the highest rank that God, Blessed and Exalted, will bestow upon His noble Messenger on the Day of the Supreme Gathering. All creation—human beings, messengers and angels, from the first to the last—will envy him this station. Among its distinctions are the Throne-side seat, the Banner of Praise, the keys to Paradise and Hell, and the special, most exceptional station of intercession. These are among the unique manifestations of this station. His intercession will encompass the people of divine unity, and will also raise their ranks. God willing.

🌻🔆Al-Isrāʾ: 79   وَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِ نافِلَةً لَكَ عَسى‏ أَنْ يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقاماً مَحْمُوداً

🔆And keep vigil for part of the night, reciting the Qur’an in prayer. This is an additional duty for you; perhaps your Lord will raise you to a Praiseworthy Station.

🔆🌹فَكَيْفَ إِذا جِئْنا مِنْ كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ بِشَهِيدٍ وَ جِئْنا بِكَ عَلى‏ هؤُلاءِ شَهِيداً  ثُمَّ يَجْتَمِعُونَ فِي مَوْطِنٍ آخَرَ يَكُونُ فِيهِ مَقَامُ مُحَمَّدٍ ص وَ هُوَ الْمَقَامُ الْمَحْمُودُ فَيُثْنِي عَلَى اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى بِمَا لَمْ يُثْنِ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ قَبْلَهُ ثُمَّ يُثْنِي عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ كُلِّهِمْ فَلَا يَبْقَى مَلَكٌ إِلَّا أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ مُحَمَّدٌ ص ثُمَّ يُثْنِي عَلَى الرُّسُلِ بِمَا لَمْ يُثْنِ عَلَيْهِمْ أَحَدٌ قَبْلَهُ ثُمَّ يُثْنِي عَلَى كُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ وَ مُؤْمِنَةٍ يَبْدَأُ بِالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَ الشُّهَدَاءِ ثُمَّ بِالصَّالِحِينَ فَيَحْمَدُهُ أَهْلُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرْضِ فَذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ- عَسى‏ أَنْ يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقاماً مَحْمُوداً فَطُوبَى لِمَنْ كَانَ لَهُ فِي ذَلِكَ الْمَقَامِ حَظٌّ وَ وَيْلٌ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ فِي ذَلِكَ الْمَقَامِ حَظٌّ وَ لَا نَصِيبٌ ثُمَّ يَجْتَمِعُونَ فِي مَوْطِنٍ آخَرَ وَ يُدَالُ بَعْضُهُمْ مِنْ بَعْضٍ‏  وَ هَذَا كُلُّهُ قَبْلَ الْحِسَابِ فَإِذَا أُخِذَ فِي الْحِسَابِ شُغِلَ كُلُّ إِنْسَانٍ بِمَا لَدَيْهِ نَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ بَرَكَةَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْم‏[22]

🔆🌹Imam Ali (peace be upon him): On the Day of Reckoning, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) will have a station where he will stand—the Praiseworthy Station, which God has mentioned. There he will offer God a prayer of blessing unlike any offered before. Then the angels will praise him; there will not be an angel who does not invoke blessings upon Muhammad and his family. After that, he will invoke blessings upon the prophets—and then upon the believers, beginning with the truthful, the martyrs and the righteous. Then the people of the heavens and the earth will praise him. This is what God Most High says: عَسی أَنْ یَبْعَثَکَ رَبُّکَ مَقاماً مَحْمُوداً “Your Lord will raise you to a Praiseworthy Station.” Blessed is the one who has a share in that station, and woe to the one who has no share in it.

🔆🌹عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع‏ فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى‏ عَسى‏ أَنْ يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقاماً مَحْمُوداً قَالَ يُجْلِسُهُ‏ عَلَى‏ الْعَرْشِ‏ مَعَه‏[23]

🔆🌹Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Jaber ibn Yazid relates that Imam Baqir (peace be upon him), commenting on these words of God: عَسی أَنْ یَبْعَثَکَ رَبُّکَ مَقاماً مَحْمُوداً , said: “On the Day of Resurrection, God will seat the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) upon the Throne.

🔆🌹 قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى إِذَا جَمَعَ النَّاسَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَعَدَنِي‏ الْمَقَامَ‏ الْمَحْمُودَ وَ هُوَ وَافٍ لِي بِهِ إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ نُصِبَ لِي مِنْبَرٌ لَهُ أَلْفُ دَرَجَةٍ فَأَصْعَدُ حَتَّى أَعْلُوَ فَوْقَهُ فَيَأْتِينِي جَبْرَئِيلُ ع بِلِوَاءِ الْحَمْدِ فَيَضَعُهُ فِي يَدِي وَ يَقُولُ يَا مُحَمَّدُ هَذَا الْمَقَامُ الْمَحْمُودُ الَّذِي وَعَدَكَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فَأَقُولُ لِعَلِيٍّ اصْعَدْ فَيَكُونُ أَسْفَلَ مِنِّي بِدَرَجَةٍ فَأَضَعُ لِوَاءَ الْحَمْدِ فِي يَدِهِ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي رِضْوَانُ بِمَفَاتِيحِ الْجَنَّةِ فَيَقُولُ يَا مُحَمَّدُ هَذَا الْمَقَامُ الْمَحْمُودُ الَّذِي وَعَدَكَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فَيَضَعُهَا فِي يَدِي فَأَضَعُهَا فِي حَجْرِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي مَالِكٌ خَازِنُ النَّارِ فَيَقُولُ يَا مُحَمَّدُ هَذَا الْمَقَامُ الْمَحْمُودُ الَّذِي وَعَدَكَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى هَذِهِ مَفَاتِيحُ النَّارِ أَدْخِلْ‏ عَدُوَّكَ وَ عَدُوَّ أُمَّتِكَ النَّارَ فَآخُذُهَا وَ أَضَعُهَا فِي حَجْرِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَالنَّارُ وَ الْجَنَّةُ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَسْمَعُ لِي وَ لِعَلِيٍّ مِنَ الْعَرُوسِ لِزَوْجِهَا فَهِيَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى‏ أَلْقِيا فِي جَهَنَّمَ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ أَلْقِ يَا مُحَمَّدُ يَا عَلِيُّ عَدُوَّكُمَا فِي النَّارِ ثُمَّ أَقُومُ وَ أُثْنِي عَلَى اللَّهِ ثَنَاءً لَمْ يُثْنِ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ قَبْلِي ثُمَّ أُثْنِي عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ ثُمَّ أُثْنِي عَلَى الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ ثُمَّ أُثْنِي عَلَى الْأُمَمِ الصَّالِحِينَ ثُمَّ أَجْلِسُ فَيُثْنِي اللَّهُ عَلَيَّ وَ يُثْنِي عَلَيَّ مَلَائِكَتُهُ وَ يُثْنِي عَلَيَّ أَنْبِيَاؤُهُ وَ رُسُلُهُ وَ يُثْنِي عَلَيَّ الْأُمَمُ الصَّالِحَةُ ثُمَّ يُنَادِي مُنَادٍ مِنْ بُطْنَانِ الْعَرْشِ يَا مَعْشَرَ الْخَلَائِقِ غُضُّوا أَبْصَارَكُمْ حَتَّى تَمُرَّ بِنْتُ حَبِيبِ اللَّهِ إِلَى قَصْرِهَا فَتَمُرُّ فَاطِمَةُ بِنْتِي عَلَيْهَا رَيْطَتَانِ خَضْرَاوَانِ وَ عِنْدَ حَوْلِهَا سَبْعُونَ أَلْفَ حَوْرَاءَ فَإِذَا بَلَغَتْ إِلَى بَابِ قَصْرِهَا وَجَدَتِ الْحَسَنَ قَائِماً وَ الْحُسَيْنَ قَائِماً  مَقْطُوعَ الرَّأْسِ فَتَقُولُ لِلْحَسَنِ مَنْ هَذَا يَقُولُ هَذَا أَخِي إِنَّ أُمَّةَ أَبِيكَ قَتَلُوهُ وَ قَطَعُوا رَأْسَهُ فَيَأْتِيهَا النِّدَاءُ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ يَا بِنْتَ حَبِيبِ اللَّهِ إِنِّي إِنَّمَا أَرَيْتُكَ مَا فَعَلَتْ بِهِ أُمَّةُ أَبِيكَ لِأَنِّي ذَخَرْتُ لَكِ عِنْدِي تَعْزِيَةً بِمُصِيبَتِكِ فِيهِ إِنِّي جَعَلْتُ لِتَعْزِيَتِكِ بِمُصِيبَتِكِ أَنِّي لَا أَنْظُرُ فِي مُحَاسَبَةِ الْعِبَادِ حَتَّى تَدْخُلِي الْجَنَّةَ أَنْتِ وَ ذُرِّيَّتُكِ وَ شِيعَتُكِ وَ مَنْ أَوْلَاكُمْ مَعْرُوفاً مِمَّنْ لَيْسَ هُوَ مِنْ شِيعَتِكِ قَبْلَ أَنْ أَنْظُرَ فِي مُحَاسَبَةِ الْعِبَادِ فَتَدْخُلُ فَاطِمَةُ ابْنَتِي الْجَنَّةَ وَ ذُرِّيَّتُهَا وَ شِيعَتُهَا وَ مَنْ أَوْلَاهَا  مَعْرُوفاً مِمَّنْ لَيْسَ هُوَ مِنْ شِيعَتِهَا فَهُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى فِي كِتَابِهِ‏ لا يَحْزُنُهُمُ الْفَزَعُ الْأَكْبَرُ قَالَ هُوَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ هُمْ فِي مَا اشْتَهَتْ أَنْفُسُهُمْ خالِدُونَ‏ هِيَ وَ اللَّهِ فَاطِمَةُ وَ ذُرِّيَّتُهَا وَ شِيعَتُهَا وَ مَنْ أَوْلَاهُمْ مَعْرُوفاً مِمَّنْ لَيْسَ هُوَ مِنْ شِيعَتِهَا.[24]

The Prophet (ṣallā llāhu ʿalayhi wa-ālihī) — Imam al-Ṣādiq (ʿalayhi l-salām) relates from his forefathers, from the Prophet (ṣallā llāhu ʿalayhi wa-ālihī): When God, Blessed and Exalted, gathers mankind on the Day of Resurrection, He—He who promised me the Praiseworthy Station (al-Maqām al-Maḥmūd)—will fulfil that promise for me. When the Day of Resurrection arrives, a pulpit with a thousand rungs—unlike your ladders—will be set up for me. I shall ascend it until I reach its summit. Then Gabriel will bring me the Banner of Praise, place it before me, and say: “O Muḥammad (ṣallā llāhu ʿalayhi wa-ālihī)! This is the Praiseworthy Station that your Lord promised you.” I shall say to ʿAlī (ʿalayhi l-salām): “Come up!” ʿAlī (ʿalayhi l-salām) will ascend and stand one rung below me, and I shall place the Banner of Praise in his hands. Then Riḍwān, the Keeper of Paradise, will bring the keys of Paradise and say: “O Muḥammad (ṣallā llāhu ʿalayhi wa-ālihī)! This is the Praiseworthy Station that your Lord promised you.” He will hand the keys to me, and I shall place them in the lap of ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (ʿalayhi l-salām). Then Mālik, the Keeper of Hell, will come and say: “O Muḥammad (ṣallā llāhu ʿalayhi wa-ālihī)! This is the Praiseworthy Station that your Lord promised you. These are the keys of Hell; cast your enemy, his children, and your community into the Fire.” I shall take the keys and place them in the lap of ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (ʿalayhi l-salām). On that Day, Hell and Paradise will be more obedient to me and to ʿAlī (ʿalayhi l-salām) than a bride is to her husband. This is the meaning of God’s words: [The command will be:] “Cast every stubborn ingrate into Hell!” (Qāf, 50:24)—that is, “O Muḥammad (ṣallā llāhu ʿalayhi wa-ālihī) and O ʿAlī (ʿalayhi l-salām)! Cast your enemy into Hell.” Then I shall rise and praise God in a way that no one before me has ever praised Him. Then the angels brought near [to God], the prophets, and the righteous communities will praise me. Then I shall sit, and God, the angels, the prophets, and the messengers of God, along with the righteous communities, will praise me. Then a herald will call out from within the Throne: “O people! Lower your eyes so that the daughter of the Beloved of God (ṣallā llāhu ʿalayhi wa-ālihī) may enter her palace.” Then Fāṭimah (salām Allāh ʿalayhā) will pass by, wearing two green garments, accompanied by seventy thousand ḥūrīs. When she reaches the gate of her palace, she sees al-Ḥasan (ʿalayhi l-salām) standing and al-Ḥusayn (ʿalayhi l-salām) lying down with his head severed. She will say to al-Ḥasan (ʿalayhi l-salām): “Who is this?” Al-Ḥasan (ʿalayhi l-salām) will reply: “This is my brother al-Ḥusayn (ʿalayhi l-salām), whom the community of your father killed and beheaded.” At that moment, a call will come to Fāṭimah (salām Allāh ʿalayhā) from God: “O daughter of the Beloved of God (ṣallā llāhu ʿalayhi wa-ālihī)! I have shown you this injustice and oppression committed by your father’s community so that I may show you the consolation I have reserved for you in the tragedy of al-Ḥusayn (ʿalayhi l-salām). And your consolation is this: Today I shall not call anyone to account until you, your children, your followers, and those who were not your followers but did good to you have all entered Paradise.” At that moment, my daughter Fāṭimah (salām Allāh ʿalayhā), her children, her followers, and those who were not her followers but did good to her will enter Paradise. This is the meaning of God’s words: The Great Terror will not grieve them. (al-Anbiyā’, 21:103)—meaning the terror of the Day of Resurrection. And they will abide forever in whatever their souls desire. (al-Anbiyā’, 21:102). By God! The referent of this verse is Fāṭimah (salām Allāh ʿalayhā), her children, her followers, and those who were not her followers but did good to them.

🌼 ʿAlī Sāʿī (ʿAbdullāh Mishkāt) 110.141(903)  🌼

[1] Miṣbāḥ al-Sharīʿah; p. 13 Attributed to Jaʿfar ibn Muḥammad (ʿalayhi l-salām), al-Aʿlamī – Beirut, first edition, 1400 AH.

[2] al-Kāfī (Ṭ – Dār al-Ḥadīth); vol. 4, p. 562 al-Kulaynī, Muḥammad ibn Yaʿqūb ibn Isḥāq, Dār al-Ḥadīth – Qom, first edition, 1429 AH.

[3] al-Kāfī (Ṭ – al-Islāmiyyah); vol. 6, p. 438 al-Kulaynī, Muḥammad ibn Yaʿqūb ibn Isḥāq, Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmiyyah – Tehran, fourth edition, 1407 AH.

[4] ʿAwālī al-La’ālī al-ʿAzīziyyah fī al-Aḥādīth al-Dīniyyah; vol. 1, p. 321 Ibn Abī Jumhūr, Muḥammad ibn Zayn al-Dīn, Dār Sayyid al-Shuhadā’ li-l-Nashr – Qom, first edition, 1405 AH.

[5] Miṣbāḥ al-Sharīʿa; p. 38 Attributed to Jaʿfar ibn Muḥammad, peace be upon him; Aʿlamī, Beirut, first edition, 1400 AH.

[6] Miṣbāḥ al-Sharīʿa; p. 20  Attributed to Jaʿfar ibn Muḥammad, peace be upon him; Aʿlamī, Beirut, first edition, 1400 AH.

[7] Miṣbāḥ al-Sharīʿa; p. 189 Attributed to Jaʿfar ibn Muḥammad, peace be upon him; Aʿlamī, Beirut, first edition, 1400 AH.

[8] Miṣbāḥ al-Sharīʿa; p. 184  Attributed to Jaʿfar ibn Muḥammad, peace be upon him; Aʿlamī, Beirut, first edition, 1400 AH.

[9] Miṣbāḥ al-Sharīʿa; p. 118  Attributed to Jaʿfar ibn Muḥammad, peace be upon him; Aʿlamī, Beirut, first edition, 1400 AH.

[10] Miṣbāḥ al-Sharīʿa; p. 164  Attributed to Jaʿfar ibn Muḥammad, peace be upon him; Aʿlamī, Beirut, first edition, 1400 AH.

[11] ʿUyūn al-Ḥikam wa’l-Mawāʿiẓ (al-Laythī); p. 242 al-Laythī al-Wāsiṭī, Dār al-Ḥadīth, Qom, first edition, 1376 SH.

[12] Miṣbāḥ al-Sharīʿa; p. 180  Attributed to Jaʿfar ibn Muḥammad, peace be upon him; Aʿlamī, Beirut, first edition, 1400 AH.

[13] Miṣbāḥ al-Sharīʿa; p. 82  Attributed to Jaʿfar ibn Muḥammad, peace be upon him; Aʿlamī, Beirut, first edition, 1400 AH.

[14] Al-Uṣūl al-Sitta ʿAshar (Dār al-Ḥadīth edition); p. 127  A group of scholars, Dār al-Ḥadīth Cultural Institute, Iran, Qom, first edition, 1423 AH / 1381 SH.

[15] Al-Kāfī (Islamic edition); vol. 1, p. 90  al-Kulaynī, Muḥammad ibn Yaʿqūb ibn Isḥāq, Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmiyya, Tehran, fourth edition, 1407 AH.

[16] Collected Treatises on the Commentary of Hadiths from al-Kāfī; vol. 1, p. 321  Sulaymānī Āshtiyānī, Dār al-Ḥadīth, Iran, Qom, first edition, 1387 SH.

[17]Ḥuwayzī, ʿAbd ʿAlī ibn Jumʿa, Tafsīr Nūr al-Thaqalayn, 5 vols., Ismāʿīliān, Iran, Qom, fourth edition, 1415 AH.

[18] Al-Kāfī (Islamic edition); vol. 8, p. 312  al-Kulaynī, Muḥammad ibn Yaʿqūb ibn Isḥāq, Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmiyya, Tehran, fourth edition, 1407 AH.

[19]The Garden of al-Kāfī / Translation of Rawḍat al-Kāfī, p. 363

[20] Al-Kāfī (Dār al-Ḥadīth edition); vol. 12, p. 225  al-Kulaynī, Muḥammad ibn Yaʿqūb ibn Isḥāq, Dār al-Ḥadīth, Qom, first edition, 1429 AH.

[21]Ibn ʿAbbās, ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbbās, Gharīb al-Qurʾān fī Shiʿr al-ʿArab, 1 vol., Cultural Books Institute, Lebanon, Beirut, first edition, 1413 AH.

[22] Al-Tawḥīd (al-Ṣadūq); p. 261 Ibn Bābawayh, Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī, Society of Seminary Teachers, Iran, Qom, first edition, 1398 AH.

[23] Al-Ikhtiṣāṣ; text; p. 18  al-Mufīd, Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad, International Conference on the Millennium of Shaykh al-Mufīd, Iran, Qom, first edition, 1413 AH.

[24] Biḥār al-Anwār (Beirut edition); vol. 7, p. 335  Majlisī, Muḥammad Bāqir ibn Muḥammad Taqī, Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, Beirut, second edition, 1403 AH.