How to treat friends and face enemies\nis one of the most important moral characteristics of a person. As much as love\ncan deviate one from the path of truth, animosity and hatred (even if it is\nright) too can result in oppression and injustice. By examining the way the\nleaders of religion have treated their friends and faced their enemies, a\nwonderful criteria is provided for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For instance, the love Imam Sajjad\n(PBUH) had for his Shiites and lovers was so intense that he prayed for\nforgiveness of his Shiites\u2019 sins everyday. He said to Um Farwah, daughter of\nQasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI pray one\nhundred times every day and night for forgiveness of the sins of my Shiites,\nbecause we bear patient in difficulties that we are aware of, but our Shiites\nhave to bear patient in difficulties which (their results) are unknown to\nthem\u201d(1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This Hadith shows the level of\ncompassion and love the Imam (PBUH) has for his Shiites; his love is so intense\nthat asks for forgiveness and mercy of Allah (SWT) for the sinners among them.\nIs there any kindness and compassion beyond this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But besides this deep love, Imam\nSajjad (PBUH) treated his Shiites in a manner to make them become examples of\npiety, devoutness, and religious asceticism for the Muslims. He made effort\ntrain and purify the Shiites; he advised them a lot; and he led them toward\npiety and doing good, to the extent that he told one of his Shhites:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTell our Shiites:\nNothing can make them needless before Allah (SWT); Verily the Wilayah of us,\nthe Ahl al-Bayt (PBUT), will not include anyone but those who have piety\u201d (2).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Indeed abstaining from what Allah\n(SWT) has forbidden is among the most important means of rescuing from the\nwrath of punishment of Allah (SWT); as it is one of the most effective ways of\nachieving the Wilayah of the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUT) (who are Divine fortresses\nthemselves).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In contrast, the way Imam Sajjad (PBUH)\ntreated the enemies, oppressors, and revengeful people was with forgiveness and\nfavour too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Historians have narrated that: Ishmael\nibn Hisham Makhzumi, the governor of Medina, was a great hater and enemy of the\nAhl al-Bayt (PBUT), and he was extremely diligent in harming and bothering Imam\nSajjad (PBUH). He insulted the fathers of Imam Sajjad (PBUH) openly in order to\nget near to the rulers of the Umayyads. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Walid ibn Abdul Malik became the\nCaliph, He dismissed Ishmael due to the disputes they had. Moreover, he\npublicly condemned Ishmael and asked the people to take back their rights from\nhim. Ishmael was more concerned about Imam Sajjad (PBUH) because of his hatred\nand animosity towards the Imam (PBUH), so he used to say,\u201d I fear no one but\nAli ibn Hussain (PBUH); because he is a righteous man and the Caliph would\naccept his words about me\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Imam Sajjad (PBUH) asked his\nfriends and followers not to harm Ishmael. Then, he personally met with Ishmael\nwith a cheerful face, offered help to him during the time he was in difficulty,\nand said to him:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cO cousin! May\nAllah (SWT) help you. I am upset about what has happened to you. Ask us\nwhatever you wish!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Surprised from such kindness, Hisham\nsaid to Imam Sajjad (PBUH) in shock:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAllah knows\nbetter where to put His mission and whom to leave it with\u201d(3).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, holding on to the path of\nfairness and justice is one of the main teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUT)\nwhich can be observed abundantly in their sayings and behaviour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(The above is a\nselection taken from \u201cAn Analysis of the Life of Imam Sajjad (PBUH)\u201d, by late\nHujjat al-Islam Baqir Sharif Qurashi (with some additions))<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Roshd Website congratulates all\nMuslims, especially you dear friend, upon 5th of Sha\u2019ban, the birthday\nanniversary of the kind Imam of Shiites and great example of worshippers, Imam\nAli ibn Hussain (PBUH).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Footnotes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Waafi, vol.\n2, p. 183<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Dur al-Nazim,\np. 173<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Tabaqaat, by\nIbn Sa\u2019ad, vol. 5, p. 220<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
How to treat friends and face enemies is one of the most important moral characteristics of a person. As much as love can deviate one from the path of truth, animosity and hatred (even if it is right) too can result in oppression and injustice. By examining the way the leaders of religion have treated […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28248],"tags":[20827,20828,19252,20826,20431,18480,20825,18200,18418,19725],"class_list":["post-4305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-occasional-letters","tag-2012-06-25","tag-enemies","tag-face","tag-fairness-with-enemies","tag-imam-sajjad","tag-important","tag-kindness-with-friends","tag-love","tag-occasion-letters","tag-person"],"yoast_head":"\n