The love for the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) is undoubtedly one of the most valuable gems that Shi’a Muslims take pride in possessing. However, is simply having love for them enough to consider oneself a Shi’a and their follower? By examining the conduct of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), one can find a different answer to this question…
It is narrated from Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him) that when Ma’mun appointed Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Reza (peace be upon him) as the successor to the caliphate, a doorman came to the Imam and said: “A group of people are standing at the door asking for permission to enter, saying: ‘We are followers of Ali (peace be upon him).'” The Imam replied, “I am busy, send them away.” The doorman turned them away. This group continued to come for two months, repeating their claim, but they were still sent back. Eventually, they became hopeless of meeting the Imam and told the doorman, “Tell our master that we are from the Shi’a of your father Ali (peace be upon him)! The fact that you do not allow us to enter has brought us disgrace and mockery from our enemies, and we are leaving now, fleeing our city out of shame and the pain we will endure at the hands of our enemies.”
Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Reza (peace be upon him) told his doorman, “Let them in.” When they entered, they greeted the Imam, but he did not allow them to sit, so they stood.
They said: “O son of the Messenger of God! After this long delay, what kind of injustice and disrespect is this? What reputation and dignity do we have left now?”
Imam Reza (peace be upon him) said: “Recite this verse: ‘Whatever misfortune befalls you is because of what your hands have earned, and He forgives much.’ I swear by God, I am not disregarding you except in accordance with the way of God Almighty, His Messenger, and Amir al-Mu’minin, and after them, my pure forefathers. Therefore, I have followed their example.”
They asked, “Why is this, O son of the Messenger of God?”
He replied: “This is because you claim to be followers of Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him), but woe to you! His true Shi’a were Hasan and Husayn (peace be upon them), Salman, Abu Dharr, Miqdad, Ammar, and Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, who never disobeyed him in the slightest. Yet you, by performing many of your actions, contradict him. You neglect many of your religious obligations, and you belittle the great rights of your brothers in faith. If you said that you are the supporters and lovers of him, and the friends of his friends, and the enemies of his enemies, I would not deny this claim, but what you have claimed is a great position, and if you do not confirm it by your actions, you will perish, unless the mercy of your Lord embraces you.”
They said, “O son of the Messenger of God! We all seek forgiveness from God and repent for our words. And as our master has taught us, we now say: ‘We are your lovers, the lovers of your friends, and the enemies of your enemies.'” Imam Reza (peace be upon him) replied, “Bravo, and welcome to you, my brothers and lovers! Now come closer to me.”
He then continually drew them near until he embraced them. Then Imam (peace be upon him) told his servant, “Their repentance and seeking forgiveness has resulted in their sins being forgiven, and due to their love for the Ahl al-Bayt, they have become deserving of honor.” He instructed his servant to attend to their needs, provide for their families, and relieve their hardships.[1]
Based on this narration, only those who not only love the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), but also embody their behavior and actions in all aspects of life, can truly claim to be followers of the Ahl al-Bayt. In other words, the true measure of being a Shi’a is not just the love for the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), but also the extent of their obedience to God’s commands.
(Excerpt from the book Ihtijaj, authored by the late Allama Tabarsi (may God have mercy on him))[2]
Footnotes:
[1] (Surah Ash-Shura, verse 30)
[2] This translation of the above narration is taken from the Persian translation of Al-Ihtijaj ‘ala Ahl al-Lajaj by Mr. Behrad Jafari.