notifications_active Weekly Meshkat-e Noor Session: Thursdays at 20:30 at Haj Reza Mosque
Peace be upon you, esteemed teacher.
Dear teacher, what is the sign that a person has completely rid themselves of a vile trait?
َّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحيمِ
The sign that a person has completely rid themselves of a vile trait is an intense aversion to it and a strong inclination toward noble qualities—the opposite of that trait. This state is accompanied by a sense of new life, a renewed experience of being alive, and a particular eagerness to be alone with God, to pray and whisper supplications, to perform the prescribed prayers, fast, give zakat, and do good deeds.
An intense aversion to that vile trait, and an equally strong inclination toward its opposite: the noble qualities.
A sense of new life, of experiencing life within life; a particular eagerness and longing for solitude with the Beloved, for intimate prayer, prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and other righteous deeds.
Quranic ardour and love; intimacy with the Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them, and taking them as models in their eagerness and passion for worship and obedience to God.
And …
تَصْلى ناراً حامِيَةً وَ مَنْ دَعَا مُخَالِفاً لَكُمْ فَإِجَابَةُ دُعَائِهِ لَكُمْ وَ مَنْ طَلَبَ مِنْكُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ حَاجَةً فَلَهُ مِائَةٌ وَ مَنْ سَأَلَ مِنْكُمْ مَسْأَلَةً فَلَهُ مِائَةٌ وَ مَنْ دَعَا مِنْكُمْ دَعْوَةً فَلَهُ مِائَةٌ وَ مَنْ عَمِلَ مِنْكُمْ حَسَنَةً فَلَا تُحْصَى تَضَاعِيفُهَا وَ مَنْ أَسَاءَ مِنْكُمْ سَيِّئَةً فَمُحَمَّدٌ حَجِيجُهُ عَلَى تَبِعَتِهَا وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ صَائِمَكُمْ لَيَرْتَعُ فِي رِيَاضِ الْجَنَّةِ- تَدْعُو لَهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ بِالْفَوْزِ حَتَّى يُفْطِرَ وَ إِنَّ حُجَّاجَكُمْ وَ عُمَّارَكُمْ خَاصَّةُ اللَّهِ وَ إِنَّكُمْ جَمِيعاً لَأَهْلُ دَعْوَةِ اللَّهِ وَ أَهْلُ وَلَايَتِهِ لا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْكُمْ وَ لَا حُزْنٌ كُلُّكُمْ فِي الْجَنَّةِ فَتَنَافَسُوا فِي فَضَائِلِ الدَّرَجَاتِ وَ اللَّهِ مَا أَحَدٌ أَقْرَبَ مِنْ عَرْشِ اللَّهِ بَعْدَنَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مِنْ شِيعَتِنَا مَا أَحْسَنَ صُنْعَ اللَّهِ إِلَيْهِم
Mishkāt al-Anwār fī Ghurar al-Akhbār, text, p. 92
Abū ʿAbd Allāh (Imam al-Ṣādiq, peace be upon him) related that he said: “One day, my father [Imam al-Bāqir, peace be upon him] and I went out, and suddenly he saw a group of our companions between the Prophet’s tomb and his pulpit. He went up to them and greeted them. Then he said: ‘By God, I love your fragrance and your souls [that is, your very beings]. So help us along this path through piety and striving [in worship]. And know that our allegiance can be attained only through piety and striving [in worship].
‘When one of you follows the example of a servant [that is, an Imam], he must act as that servant [the Imam] does. You are the Shiʿa of God, His chosen troops and His helpers. You are the foremost of the first and the foremost of the last: foremost in this world in following our allegiance, and foremost in the Hereafter in reaching Paradise. By God’s guarantee and the guarantee of the Messenger of God, we have guaranteed Paradise for you. You are pure, and your women are pure. Every believing woman is like a houri of Paradise, and every believing man is like a ṣiddīq [a man of truth].’”
ʿAlī (peace and God’s good pleasure be upon him) said to Qanbar: “Qanbar, bring good news, give glad tidings, and rejoice. By God, the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) departed this world while angry with the whole Muslim community—except the Shiʿa. Everything has something to which it clings, and the faith clings to Shiʿism. Everything has its distinction, and the distinction of the faith is Shiʿism. Everything has its leading people, and the leading gatherings are the gatherings of the Shiʿa. Everything has its longing and desire, and the longing and desire of this world is for the Shiʿa to dwell in it.
‘By God, were you not on earth, those who oppose you [your enemies] would not enjoy its wholesome blessings; yet they will have no share in the Hereafter. Every Nāṣibī [an enemy of the Ahl al-Bayt], however devout and diligent, is among those described in this verse: “Faces on that Day will be humbled, labouring and weary, entering a scorching Fire.” (Sūrat al-Ghāshiyah, verses 2–4)
‘Whoever among your enemies prays against you [and curses you], his prayer is in truth answered on your behalf. Whoever asks God for something for you receives the reward of a hundred [such requests]. Whoever makes a [lawful] request of you receives the reward of a hundred [requests]. Whoever prays for you receives the reward of a hundred [prayers]. Whoever among you does a good deed receives a reward beyond reckoning. And if any of you commits an evil deed, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) will intercede for him concerning its sin.
‘By God, while fasting, each of you grazes in the gardens of Paradise [that is, enjoys its reward]; the angels pray for his salvation until he breaks his fast. Those among you who perform the Hajj or the ʿumrah are God’s elect. Indeed, all of you are people who call to God and belong to His allegiance. No fear shall be upon you, nor shall you grieve. All of you are in Paradise. So let each of you vie with the others in merit and in attaining the highest ranks.
‘By God, on the Day of Resurrection, after us [the Ahl al-Bayt], no one will be closer to God’s Throne than our Shiʿa. How excellent is God’s gift to them!’”