Recognizing the successor of Allah\n(SWT) on earth and seeking help from him in the ups and downs of life is one of\nthe most essential foundations of Shiism in theory and practice. As such,\nthroughout the history, Shiites have always been concerned as to the way and\nsigns for recognizing their Imams amongst people. So how could we get to know\nour Imam? This is the very same question that Aba Basir (a distinguished\ncompanion of the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUT)) asked from Imam Musa ibn Ja’far (PBUH),\nand the Imam replied to him by mentioning 4 of the most important ones from\namongst all the signs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aba Basir has narrated that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOnce I asked\nImam Musa ibn Ja’far (PBUH),\u201d May I sacrifice my life for you! How could an\nImam be recognized?\u201d He replied,\u201d By several signs, the first of which is that\nthere should be a statement or reference made by his father (the previous Imam)\nregarding his Imamate, which acts as a proof or certification; and (second)\nthat he answers when he is asked, and if he is not asked, he initiates\nspeaking; and (third) he informs about the future; and (fourth) he could talk\nto people with their own languages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, he said,\u201d O Aba Muhammad! I will\nshow you one of those signs before you get up\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aba Basir says,\u201d Shortly after that, a\nman from Khorasan entered and started talking to the Imam (PBUH) in Arabic;\nhowever, Imam Musa ibn Ja’far (PBUH) replied to him in Persian. The man said,\u201d\nI swear to God that I did not talk to you in Persian because I thought you did\nnot know Persian very well\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Imam Musa ibn Ja’far (PBUH) replied to\nhim,\u201d Glory be to Allah! If I were not able to respond to you perfectly, why\nwould I be qualified for being an Imam?\u201d He then continued,\u201d O Aba Muhammad!\nVerily Imam (is the one) who knows the language of all people (of earth), all\nthe birds, and all the animals very well\u201d (1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My Imam is the one who is appointed by\nAllah (SWT) and is introduced to me by Allah\u2019s (SWT) successors. My Imam is the\none who knows the answer to all questions and is even aware of my unasked\nquestions. Wherever I might be from, or whatever language I speak, my Imam\nhears the voice of my heart and is aware of it. So why should I not follow him\nand find the way of my life through his light of guidance?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Roshd Website offers condolences\nto all Muslims, especially you dear friend, upon 25th of Rajab, the anniversary\nof the martyrdom of the symbol of patience and endurance, the 7th argument of\nAllah (SWT), Imam Musa ibn Ja’far (PBUH).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Footnotes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1- Al-Irshad fi\nMarifat Hujaj Allah ala al-Ibad, by Shaykh Mufid, vol. 2, p. 224<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Recognizing the successor of Allah (SWT) on earth and seeking help from him in the ups and downs of life is one of the most essential foundations of Shiism in theory and practice. As such, throughout the history, Shiites have always been concerned as to the way and signs for recognizing their Imams amongst people. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28248],"tags":[22035,17778,20443,19421,21824,17890,18418,22038,22037,22036,17965],"class_list":["post-4479","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-occasional-letters","tag-after-a-sign","tag-allah","tag-future","tag-help","tag-imam-musa-ibn-jafar","tag-life","tag-occasion-letters","tag-own-languages","tag-reference","tag-signs","tag-success"],"yoast_head":"\n