All of us have come across people who\nclaim to be associated with the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUH) and consider themselves as\nShiites of Amir al-Mu\u2019minin (PBUH). The truth is that it is easy to make such\nclaims, but what is the criterion for differentiating between true Shiites and\nfalse claimers? This is an important issue which has been addressed by the Ahl\nal-Bayt (PBUH) over and over, where they have explained the characteristics of\ntrue Shiites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, in one of his statements,\nImam Hassan Askari (PBUH) has mentioned one of the important characteristics of\nShiites, \u201dThose who are more familiar with the rights of their brothers (in\nfaith) and are more diligent in fulfilling their rights, have the highest rank\nbefore Allah (SWT). Those who are humble towards their brothers (in faith) will\nbe considered as Siddiqin (the truthful) and the Shiites of Ali (PBUH) by Allah\n(SWT)\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, Imam Askari (PBUH) referred to\nthe tradition of Amir al-Mu\u2019minin (PBUH) in this regards and said, \u201dOne day, a\nman and his son from the companions of Amir al-Mu\u2019minin (PBUH) went to visit\nhim. Amir al-Mu\u2019minin (PBUH) stood up in front of them for the sake of respect,\nseated them at the best spot, and sat besides them while treating them with\nhonor and respect. Then, he ordered for food to be brought to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When they finished eating, Qanbar\n(Imam Ali\u2019s (PBUH) servant) brought tub, a wooden jar full of water, and a\ntowel for the guests to wash their hands. When Qanbar was about to pour water\non that man\u2019s hands, Amir al-Mu\u2019minin (PBUH) got up and took the jar from\nQanbar to pour water on the man\u2019s hands himself. When the man saw this, he felt\nashamed and said, \u201dO Amir al-Mu\u2019minin! Are you going to pour water on my hands\nwhile Allah (SWT) is watching me?!\u201d Amir al-Mu\u2019minin (PBUH) replied, \u201dTake your\nseat and wash your hands. Allah (SWT) is watching you while a brother of yours\nis serving you, and because of this service, Allah (SWT) will make the number\nof his servants in Paradise ten times as many as the population of the world\nand Allah (SWT) will also increase the number of his properties in Paradise\naccording the mentioned scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So the man sat down, and Amir\nal-Mu\u2019minin (PBUH) said to him, \u201dI ask you to wash your hands as if your were\ndoing while Qanbar was pouring water on your hands\u201d. The man did so as he was\nrequested. Then, Amir al-Mu\u2019minin (PBUH) gave the jar to Muhammad Hanafyiah\n(his son) and said, \u201dO my son! If this man\u2019s son was here alone, I would have\npoured water on his hands myself. However, Allah (SWT) does not like that a\nfather and son be treated the same way – when they are present in the same\ngathering. Therefore, the father would pour water on the father\u2019s hands and the\nson would do so for the son\u201d. So, Muhammad Hanafyiah poured water for that\nman\u2019s son\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, Imam Askari (PBUH) said, \u201dSo\nwhoever imitates and follows Amir al-Mu\u2019minin (PBUH) in this virtue\n(humbleness), he\/she is a true Shiite\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Selection taken\nfrom \u201cIhtijaj\u201d (1), by Ahmad ibn Ali Tabarsi, with some changes)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Roshd Website congratulates all\nMuslims, especially you dear friend, upon 8th of Rabee al-Thaani, the\nauspicious birthday anniversary of the heir of the Prophets and the leader of\nthe faithful, Imam Hassan ibn Ali al-Askari (PBUH)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Footnote:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. The above\nmentioned Hadith is quoted from the Persian translation of the book of Ihtijaj\n(written by Ahmad ibn Ali al-Tabarsi) by Behzad Ja\u2019fari.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
All of us have come across people who claim to be associated with the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUH) and consider themselves as Shiites of Amir al-Mu\u2019minin (PBUH). The truth is that it is easy to make such claims, but what is the criterion for differentiating between true Shiites and false claimers? This is an important issue […]<\/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":[23452,18741,23453,23454,23365,18480,18418,17955,23451,17954],"class_list":["post-4677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-occasional-letters","tag-2009-04-03","tag-brothers","tag-claim","tag-familiar","tag-imam-hasan-askari","tag-important","tag-occasion-letters","tag-people","tag-shia-means","tag-true"],"yoast_head":"\n