Summary:
These days, we frequently hear that if one follows a leader (e.g., Peer/Mujtahid) one’s deeds (Amal) are guaranteed to be accepted in the Hereafter. It is even said that deeds of a follower (Muqallid) is on the shoulder of (responsibility of) the Mujtahid/Peer. This is certainly against the Ahadith as all of us, no matter how pious and devout we are, will need the intercession of Masomeen‑asws in the Hereafter. For example:
ثُمَّ قَالَ مَا أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ وَ الْآخِرِينَ إِلَّا وَ هُوَ مُحْتَاجٌ إِلَى شَفَاعَةِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
Then he-asws (Imam Mohammed Baqir-asws) said: ‘There is no one from the former ones and the latter ones except he would be needy to the intercession of Muhammad-saww on the Day of Judgement’. (An extract – Ahadith in the latter section).[1]
(Note: once a believer is interceded for, he will intercede for others, see the note below)[2]
The following Hadith, clarifies why we would be needy of the intercession on the Day of Judgement, as most of our deeds are not accepted due to the deficiencies.
عَنْهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ الثُّمَالِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ لَوْ كُشِفَ الْغِطَاءُ عَنِ النَّاسِ فَنَظَرُوا إِلَى وَصْلِ مَا بَيْنَ اللَّهِ وَ بَيْنَ الْمُؤْمِنِ خَضَعَتْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ رِقَابُهُمْ وَ تَسَهَّلَتْ لَهُ أُمُورُهُمْ وَ لَانَتْ طَاعَتُهُمْ وَ لَوْ نَظَرُوا إِلَى مَرْدُودِ الْأَعْمَالِ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ لَقَالُوا مَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ مِنْ أَحَدٍ عَمَلًا.
From him, from his father, from Ibn Fazaal, from Muhammad, from Abu Hamza Al Sumaly, said,
‘I heard Abu Abdullah-asws saying: ‘If only the covering would be uncovered from the people, they would (be able to) look at what transpires between Allah-azwj and the Believer. The necks of the Believers Fastened, and their affairs being Caused to be easy, and their obedience Made to be known.
And if the people were to look at the repelling of the deeds from the sky they would be saying, ‘Allah-azwj does not Accept the deeds from anyone’.[3]
So, all of us will need intercession and for that Allah-azwj have Made Mohammad-saww and Allay (progeny) Mohammed-asws the owner of the Paradise and Hell Fire – as per the Mashiya (Will) of Allah-azwj, who will be interceding for believers and are our guarantors, for example:
قَدْ ضَمِنَّا لَكُمُ الْجَنَّةَ بِضَمَانِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ ضَمَانِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ (صلى الله عليه وآله) وَ اللَّهِ مَا عَلَى دَرَجَةِ الْجَنَّةِ أَكْثَرُ أَرْوَاحاً مِنْكُمْ فَتَنَافَسُوا فِي فَضَائِلِ الدَّرَجَاتِ أَنْتُمُ الطَّيِّبُونَ وَ نِسَاؤُكُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ كُلُّ مُؤْمِنَةٍ حَوْرَاءُ عَيْنَاءُ وَ كُلُّ مُؤْمِنٍ صِدِّيقٌ وَ لَقَدْ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عليه السلام) لِقَنْبَرٍ يَا قَنْبَرُ أَبْشِرْ وَ بَشِّرْ وَ اسْتَبْشِرْ فَوَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ مَاتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ (صلى الله عليه وآله) وَ هُوَ عَلَى أُمَّتِهِ سَاخِطٌ إِلَّا الشِّيعَةَ
We-asws have taken your responsibility for the Paradise on the Guarantee of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic, and the guarantee of the Rasool Allah-saww. By Allah-azwj! There are no Levels of the Paradise where there are more Spirits than yours, so compete for the higher Levels. You are the good ones and your women are the good ones. Every Believing woman is a virgin Hourie and every Believer is a Truthful one. And Amir-ul-Momineen-asws has said to Qanbar: ‘Receive good news, rejoice with the good news, and convey the good news, for, by Allah-azwj, the Rasool Allah-saww passed away while he-saww was angry with his-saww community except for the Shiites’ (An extract).[4]
In another Hadith, Imam-asws says:
أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْخَشَّابِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ خَيْثَمَةَ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) يَا خَيْثَمَةُ نَحْنُ شَجَرَةُ النُّبُوَّةِ وَ بَيْتُ الرَّحْمَةِ وَ مَفَاتِيحُ الْحِكْمَةِ وَ مَعْدِنُ الْعِلْمِ وَ مَوْضِعُ الرِّسَالَةِ وَ مُخْتَلَفُ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَ مَوْضِعُ سِرِّ اللَّهِ وَ نَحْنُ وَدِيعَةُ اللَّهِ فِي عِبَادِهِ وَ نَحْنُ حَرَمُ اللَّهِ الْأَكْبَرُ وَ نَحْنُ ذِمَّةُ اللَّهِ وَ نَحْنُ عَهْدُ اللَّهِ
Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Muhammad Bin Al Husayn, from Abdullah Bin Muhammad, from Al Khashhab who said, ‘Some of our companions narrated from Khusayma, who said,
‘Abu Abdullah-asws said to me: ‘O Khusayma! We-asws are the tree of Prophet-hood, and the House of Mercy, and keys of the Wisdom, and the Mine of Knowledge, and the receptacle of the Message, and an inter-change of the Angels (where Angels come and go), and a receptacle of the Secrets of Allah-azwj, and we-asws are the depository among His-azwj servants, and we-asws are the Great Sanctity of Allah-azwj, and we-asws are the Guarantee of Allah-azwj, and we-asws Are the Covenant of Allah-azwj.
فَمَنْ وَفَى بِعَهْدِنَا فَقَدْ وَفَى بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَ مَنْ خَفَرَهَا فَقَدْ خَفَرَ ذِمَّةَ اللَّهِ وَ عَهْدَهُ .
Therefore, the one who is loyal to our-asws Covenant so is loyal with the Covenant of Allah-azwj, and the one who disregards it, so he has disregarded the Guarantee of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Covenant’.[5]
See for example Ahadith, Imam-asws gives Guarantee of Paradise to a companion and he tells his friends its fulfilment before his last breath, Appendix I
Introduction:
Our Deeds are only accepted if performed in accordance with the Sunnah (traditions of Masomeen-asws).
ما، الأمالي للشيخ الطوسي ابْنُ مَخْلَدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَمْرٍو عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ الْمَرْوَزِيِّ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ بَقِيَّةَ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ الْبَصْرِيِّ يَعْنِي ابْنَ عُلَيَّةَ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لَا يُقْبَلُ قَوْلٌ إِلَّا بِعَمَلٍ وَ لَا يُقْبَلُ قَوْلٌ وَ عَمَلٌ إِلَّا بِنِيَّةٍ وَ لَا يُقْبَلُ قَوْلٌ وَ عَمَلٌ وَ نِيَّةٌ إِلَّا بِإِصَابَةِ السُّنَّةِ.
(The book) ‘Al Amaali’ of the sheykh Al Tusi – Ibn Makhlad, from Abu Amro, from Muhammad Bin Hisham Al Marouzy, from Yahya Bin Usman, from Baqiya, from Ismail Al Basry, meaning Ibn Ulya, from Aban, from Anas (well-known fabricator) who said,
‘Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘A word is not Accepted except with deed, nor is a word and deed Accepted except with intention, nor is a word and deed and intention Accepted except by hitting (conducting by) the Sunnah’’.[6]
عَنْهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ غَالِبٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ قَالَ: إِنَّ حَبْراً مِنْ أَحْبَارِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَبَدَ اللَّهَ حَتَّى صَارَ مِثْلَ الْخِلَالِ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَى نَبِيٍّ مِنْ أَنْبِيَائِهِ فِي زَمَانِهِ قُلْ لَهُ وَ عِزَّتِي وَ جَلَالِي وَ جَبَرُوتِي لَوْ أَنَّكَ عَبَدْتَنِي حَتَّى تَذُوبَ كَمَا تَذُوبُ الْأَلْيَةُ فِي الْقِدْرِ مَا قَبِلْتُ مِنْكَ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَنِي مِنَ الْبَابِ الَّذِي أَمَرْتُكَ.
From him, from Muhammad Bin Ali, from Safwan Bin Yahya, from Is’haq Bin Ghalib, from;
Abu Abdullah-asws has said: ‘A Priest from the Priests of the Children of Israel worshipped Allah-azwj to the extent that he became like a toothpick. So, Allah-azwj Revealed unto a Prophet-as from His-azwj Prophets-as of that era: “Say to him: “By My-azwj Honour and My-azwj Majesty, and My-azwj Omnipotence! Even if you were to worship Me-azwj until you melt like the melting of the tool in the (melting) pot, I-azwj will not Accept from you until you come to Me-azwj from the Door which I-azwj have Commanded for (through My-azwj Hujjat – the Imam/Prophet)’.[7]
One who Innovates in Religion will never be Forgiven
عَنْهُ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنِ الْعَمِّيِّ بِإِسْنَادِهِ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَبَى اللَّهُ لِصَاحِبِ الْبِدْعَةِ بِالتَّوْبَةِ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ ذَاكَ قَالَ إِنَّهُ قَدْ أُشْرِبَ قَلْبُهُ حُبَّهَا.
From him, from Yaqoub Bin Yazeed, from the general Muslims, by his chain, said,
‘Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘Allah-azwj Refuses (to Accept) the repentance of the innovator’. It was said, ‘O Rasool-Allah-saww! Why is that?’ He-saww said: ‘His heart has drunk (from) its love’.[8]
Fearing for and Hoping to Allah-azwj
– وَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَا بُنَيَّ خَفِ اللَّهَ خَوْفاً أَنَّكَ لَوْ أَتَيْتَهُ بِحَسَنَاتِ أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ لَمْ يَقْبَلْهَا مِنْكَ وَ ارْجُ اللَّهَ رَجَاءً أَنَّكَ لَوْ أَتَيْتَهُ بِسَيِّئَاتِ أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ غَفَرَهَا لَكَ.
And Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘O my-asws son! Fear Allah-azwj with such fear that if you were to go to Him-azwj with good deeds of people of the earth, He-azwj will not Accept it from you and hope to Allah-azwj with such hope that if you were to go to Him-azwj with evil deeds of people of the earth, He-azwj would Forgive (these) for you’’.[9]
With this short background, we reach our topic. Some people say they will hold someone responsible on the Day of Judgement, and a mullah/peer may say hold me responsible on the Day of Judgement. However, we all very well know that no soul will carry the burden of another soul.
Allah-azwj Says in the Holy Quran:
يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَنْ سَاقٍ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى السُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ {42}
On the Day He would Uncover from a side, and they would be called to do the Sajdah, but they will not be able to [68:42]
خَاشِعَةً أَبْصَارُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ۖ وَقَدْ كَانُوا يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى السُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَالِمُونَ {43}
Their visions humbled, humiliation having tired them, and they had been called to the Sajdah while they were safe (and sound) [68:43]
ابن بابويه، قال: حدثنا علي بن أحمد بن محمد بن عمران الدقاق (رحمه الله)، قال: حدثنا محمد ابن أبي عبد الله الكوفي، قال: حدثنا محمد بن إسماعيل البرمكي قال: حدثنا الحسين بن الحسن، عن بكر، عن الحسين بن سعيد، عن أبي الحسن (عليه السلام)، في قوله عز و جل: يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَنْ ساقٍ وَ يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى السُّجُودِ، قال: «حجاب من نور يكشف فيقع المؤمنون سجدا، و تدمج أصلاب المنافقين فلا يستطيعون السجود».
Ibn Babuwayh said, ‘Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Umran Al-Daqaq narrated to us, from Muhammad Ibn Abu Abdullah Al-Kufy, from Muhammad Bin Ismail Al-Barmakky, from Al-Husayn Bin Al-Hassan, from Bakr, from Al-Husayn Bin Saeed, who has narrated:
‘Abu Al-Hassan-asws regarding the Words of the Mighty and Majestic: On the Day He would Uncover from a side, and they would be called to do the Sajdah [68:42], he-asws said: ‘A Veil of Light would be Uncovered, so the Momineen would fall down in Sajdah, and the backbones of the hypocrites would stiffen so they would not be able to do Sajdah’.[10]
Therefore, all those claims that we will recite this and say this on our own accord will not work and we will be at the mercy of the intercession of our Infallible Guarantors – Masomeen-asws.
يد: أبي، عن سعد، عن ابن هاشم، عن ابن فضال، عن أبي جميلة، عن محمد ابن علي الحلبي، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام في قوله عزوجل: ” يوم يكشف عن ساق ” قال: تبارك الجبار – ثم أشار إلى ساقة فكشف عنها الازار –
My father, from Sa’ad, from Ibn Hisham, from Ibn Fazal, from Abu Jameela, from Muhammad Ibn Ali Al Halby, from Abu Abdullah-asws ……….
قال: أفحم القوم ودخلتهم الهيبة وشخصت الابصار وبلغت القلوب الحناجر شاخصة أبصارهم ترهقهم الذلة وقد كانوا يدعون إلى السجود وهم سالمون.
He-asws (Abu Abdullah-asws) said: ‘The people would be confounded (confused), and the awe would enter into them, and the sights would be dazzled, and the hearts would reach to the throats Their visions humbled, humiliation having tired them, and they had been called to the Sajdah while they were safe (and sound) [68:43]’’.[11]
There is no Guarantee of the Hereafter if one Leaves the Sunnah:
عَنْهُ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَبَلِ لَمْ يُسَمِّهِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ (عليه السلام) عَلَيْكَ بِالتِّلَادِ وَ إِيَّاكَ وَ كُلَّ مُحْدَثٍ لَا عَهْدَ لَهُ وَ لَا أَمَانَةَ وَ لَا ذِمَّةَ وَ لَا مِيثَاقَ وَ كُنْ عَلَى حَذَرٍ مِنْ أَوْثَقِ النَّاسِ فِي نَفْسِكَ فَإِنَّ النَّاسَ أَعْدَاءُ النِّعَمِ.
From him, from Ibn Muskaan, from a man from the people of Al-Jabl whom he did not name, has narrated the following:
Abu Abdullah-asws said: ‘It is on you to be with the original (Sunnah), and beware of every newly invented matter as there is no pledge for it, nor a trust for it, nor a guarantee for it, nor a Covenant for it. And be cautious of the people whom you rely upon for yourself, for the people are the enemies of the bounties’.[12]
Submission to a Wali from Allah-azwj (by following Sunnah):
Amir-ul-Momineen-asws says, while introducing the qualities and scope of a ‘Wali’ (Wilayah of a Divine Imam-asws) to one of his-asws companions named ‘Tariq’ in a sermon:
فَهِيَ مَرْتَبَةٌ لَا يَنَالُهَا إِلَّا مَنِ اخْتَارَهُ اللَّهُ وَ قَدَّمَهُ وَ وَلَّاهُ وَ حَكَّمَهُ فَالْوَلَايَةُ هِيَ حِفْظُ الثُّغُورِ وَ تَدْبِيرُ الْأُمُورِ وَ تَعْدِيدُ الْأَيَّامِ وَ الشُّهُورِ
The Imamate is a station that none can reach except those whom Allah-azwj has Chosen and has Given them precedence (over others), investing them with the authority to Rule and to Judge (on behalf of Allah-azwj). Thus, ‘Wilayah’ is no other than safeguarding people from danger and disaster and the management of their all affairs, (even down to) demarcating (defining) the days and months.[13]
Guarantee of Rasool Allah-saww for the Zair (Visitor of the Holy Shrines):
أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) يَا عَلِيُّ مَنْ زَارَنِي فِي حَيَاتِي أَوْ بَعْدَ مَوْتِي أَوْ زَارَكَ فِي حَيَاتِكَ أَوْ بَعْدَ مَوْتِكَ أَوْ زَارَ ابْنَيْكَ فِي حَيَاتِهِمَا أَوْ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهِمَا ضَمِنْتُ لَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَنْ أُخَلِّصَهُ مِنْ أَهْوَالِهَا وَ شَدَائِدِهَا حَتَّى أُصَيِّرَهُ مَعِي فِي دَرَجَتِي .
Abu Ali Al Ashary, from Muhammad Bin Abdul Jabbar, from Muhammad Bin Sinan, from Muhammad Bin Ali, raising it, said,
‘Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘O Ali-asws! The one who performs my-saww Ziyarah during my-saww lifetime and after my-saww passing away, or your-asws Ziyarah during your-asws lifetime or after your-asws passing away, or a Ziyarah of your-asws two sons-asws during their-asws lifetime or after their-asws passing away, I-saww guarantee for him that on the Day of Judgement I-saww shall relieve him from the terrors (of the Day) and his difficulties until I-saww make him to arrive with me-asws into his Levels (reserved in the Paradise)’.[14]
Guarantee of the Imam-asws on Rizk (Sustenance)
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أَبَانٍ عَنْ مُدْرِكِ بْنِ أَبِي الْهَزْهَازِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ ضَمِنْتُ لِمَنِ اقْتَصَدَ أَنْ لَا يَفْتَقِرَ .
Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Al Hassan Bin Mahboub, from Umar Bin Aban, from Mudrak Bin Abu Al Hazhaaz,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah-asws, said, ‘I heard him-asws saying: ‘I-asws guarantee for the one who is moderate that he would not be impoverished (run into financial difficulties)’.[15]
Guarantee of the Imam-asws on Supplication
عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ لَقِيَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ ( عليه السلام ) عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ فَقَالَ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ يَكُونُ الْمُؤْمِنُ مُؤْمِناً وَ هُوَ يَسْخَطُ قِسْمَهُ وَ يُحَقِّرُ مَنْزِلَتَهُ وَ الْحَاكِمُ عَلَيْهِ اللَّهُ وَ أَنَا الضَّامِنُ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَهْجُسْ فِي قَلْبِهِ إِلَّا الرِّضَا أَنْ يَدْعُوَ اللَّهَ فَيُسْتَجَابَ لَهُ .
A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Khalid, from Muhammad Bin Ali, from Ali Bin Asbaat, from the one who mentioned it,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah-asws having said: ‘Ali-asws Bin Al-Husayn-asws met Abdullah Bin Ja’far, so he-asws said: ‘O Abdullah! How can the Momin happen to be a Momin and he is angry at his distribution, and he belittles his status, and the Ruler upon him is Allah‑azwj? And I-asws am the guarantor to the one who does not have a notion in his heart except for the satisfaction that he would supplicate to Allah-azwj, so He-azwj would Answer to him’.[16]
Stay with Sunnah and don’t invent:
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ زِيَادٍ الْقَنْدِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحِيمِ الْقَصِيرِ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي اخْتَرَعْتُ دُعَاءً قَالَ دَعْنِي مِنِ اخْتِرَاعِكَ إِذَا نَزَلَ بِكَ أَمْرٌ فَافْزَعْ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) وَ صَلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ تُهْدِيهِمَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) قُلْتُ كَيْفَ أَصْنَعُ قَالَ تَغْتَسِلُ وَ تُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ تَسْتَفْتِحُ بِهِمَا افْتِتَاحَ الْفَرِيضَةِ وَ تَشَهَّدُ تَشَهُّدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ
Ali Bin Ibrahim, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Abu Abdullah, from Ziyad Al-Qandy, from Abdul Rahman Al-Qaseyr who said,
‘I went over to Abu Abdullah-asws, and I said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you-asws! I invented a supplication’. He-asws said: ‘Leave me-asws from your invention. When a matter descends with you, so panic towards Rasool-Allah-saww and pray two Rak’at of Salāt gifting them both to Rasool-Allah-saww’. I said, ‘How should I do it’. He-asws said: ‘You should wash and pray two Rak’at of Salāt, beginning both of these (like) the beginning of the Obligatory Salāt, and perform a Tashahhud (like the) Tashahhud of the Obligatory Salāt.
فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ مِنَ التَّشَهُّدِ وَ سَلَّمْتَ قُلْتَ
So, when you are free from the Tashahhud and offered Salām, say,
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلَامُ وَ مِنْكَ السَّلَامُ وَ إِلَيْكَ يَرْجِعُ السَّلَامُ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ بَلِّغْ رُوحَ مُحَمَّدٍ مِنِّي السَّلَامَ وَ أَرْوَاحَ الْأَئِمَّةِ الصَّادِقِينَ سَلَامِي وَ ارْدُدْ عَلَيَّ مِنْهُمُ السَّلَامَ وَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ
‘O Allah-azwj! You-azwj are the Safety, and from You-azwj is the safety, and to You-azwj does the safety return to. O Allah-azwj! Send Blessings upon Muhammad-saww and the Progeny-asws of Muhammad-saww, and deliver the greetings from me to the soul of Muhammad-saww, and the souls of the Imams-asws, the truthful ones my greetings, and Return upon me the greetings from them-asws, and the greetings be upon them-asws and the Mercy of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Blessings.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّ هَاتَيْنِ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ هَدِيَّةٌ مِنِّي إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) فَأَثِبْنِي عَلَيْهِمَا مَا أَمَّلْتُ وَ رَجَوْتُ فِيكَ وَ فِي رَسُولِكَ يَا وَلِيَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ثُمَّ تَخِرُّ سَاجِداً وَ تَقُولُ
O Allah-azwj! These two Rak’at of Salāt are a gift from me to Rasool-Allah-saww, Reward me upon these two what I wish for and hope in You-azwj and in Your-azwj Rasool-saww, O Guardian of the Believers!’ Then fall down to Sajdah and you should be saying,
يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ يَا حَيُّ لَا يَمُوتُ يَا حَيُّ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ يَا ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَ الْإِكْرَامِ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ أَرْبَعِينَ مَرَّةً
‘O Living! O Eternal! O Living Who does not die! O Living. There is no god except for You-azwj. O the One with the Majesty and the Benevolence. O the most Merciful of the merciful ones!’ – forty times.
ثُمَّ ضَعْ خَدَّكَ الْأَيْمَنَ فَتَقُولُهَا أَرْبَعِينَ مَرَّةً ثُمَّ ضَعْ خَدَّكَ الْأَيْسَرَ فَتَقُولُهَا أَرْبَعِينَ مَرَّةً ثُمَّ تَرْفَعُ رَأْسَكَ وَ تَمُدُّ يَدَكَ وَ تَقُولُ أَرْبَعِينَ مَرَّةً ثُمَّ تَرُدُّ يَدَكَ إِلَى رَقَبَتِكَ وَ تَلُوذُ بِسَبَّابَتِكَ وَ تَقُولُ ذَلِكَ أَرْبَعِينَ مَرَّةً ثُمَّ خُذْ لِحْيَتَكَ بِيَدِكَ الْيُسْرَى وَ ابْكِ أَوْ تَبَاكِ وَ قُلْ
Then place your right cheek (on the ground) and say it forty times. Then place your left cheek (on the ground) and say it forty times. Then raise your head and extend your hand and you should say it forty times. Then return your hand to your neck and place your index finger and say it forty times. Then grab your beard with your left hand and weep or wail and say,
يَا مُحَمَّدُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَشْكُو إِلَى اللَّهِ وَ إِلَيْكَ حَاجَتِي وَ إِلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ الرَّاشِدِينَ حَاجَتِي وَ بِكُمْ أَتَوَجَّهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ فِي حَاجَتِي
‘O Muhammad-saww! O Rasool-Allah-saww! I complain to Allah-azwj and to you-saww of my need, and to the People-asws of your-saww Household, the rightly Guided ones, of my need, and through all of you-asws I turn to Allah-azwj with regards to my need’.
ثُمَّ تَسْجُدُ وَ تَقُولُ
Then perform Sajdah, and you should be saying;
يَا اللَّهُ يَا اللَّهُ حَتَّى يَنْقَطِعَ نَفَسُكَ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ افْعَلْ بِي كَذَا وَ كَذَا
O Allah-azwj! O Allah-azwj!’ until your breath is cut off, ‘Send Blessings upon Muhammad-saww and the Progeny-asws of Muhammad-saww, and Do such and such for me’.
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) فَأَنَا الضَّامِنُ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْ لَا يَبْرَحَ حَتَّى تُقْضَى حَاجَتُهُ .
Abu Abdullah-asws said: ‘So I-asws am a guarantor upon Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic that he would not depart until his need is Fulfilled’.[17]
Guarantee of Ali Amir ul-Momineen-asws for the Future
وَ لَعَمْرِي مَا عَلَيَّ مِنْ قِتَالِ مَنْ خَالَفَ الْحَقَّ وَ خَابَطَ الْغَيَ مِنْ إِدْهَانٍ وَ لَا إِيهَانٍ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ وَ فِرُّوا إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ امْضُوا فِي الَّذِي نَهَجَهُ لَكُمْ وَ قُومُوا بِمَا عَصَبَهُ بِكُمْ فَعَلِيٌّ ضَامِنٌ لِفَلْجِكُمْ آجِلًا إِنْ لَمْ تُمْنَحُوهُ عَاجِلًا
‘By my-asws life! It is not upon me-asws to fight (every) one who opposes the truth, and one falling into error, neither insulter nor the misguiding one! Therefore, fear Allah-azwj, O servants of Allah-azwj and submit towards Allah-azwj, from Allah-azwj, and pass in that which He-azwj has Programmed for you all and stand with what He-azwj has Laid down for you, and Ali-asws is a guarantor for your salvation in the future (Paradise) if you are not rescued currently’.[18]
Supplication – Intercession of Rasool Allah-saww and his-saww Progeny-saww
دعوات الراوندي: عن سماعة بن مهران قال: قال أبو الحسن عليه السلام: إذا كانت لك حاجة إلى الله فقل: “
(The book) ‘Da’waat’ of Al Rawandy, from Sama’at Bin Mihran who said,
‘Abu Al-Hassan-asws said: ‘Whenever there was a need for you to Allah-azwj, then say:
” اللهم إني أسألك بحق محمد وعلي فإن لهما عندك شأنا من الشأن، وقدرا من القدر، فبحق ذلك الشأن وذلك القدر أن تصلي على محمد وآل محمد وأن تفعل بي كذاو كذا
‘O Allah-azwj! I ask You-azwj by the right of Muhammad-saww and Ali-asws, for them-asws both there are glories from the glory, and worth from the worth. So, by the right of that glory, and that worth, if You-azwj could Send Salawat upon Muhammad-saww and the Progeny of Muhammad-saww, and that You-azwj should do such and such with me’.
فإنه إذا كان يوم القيامة لم يبق ملك مقرب ولا نبي مرسل ولا مؤمن ممتحن إلا وهو يحتاج إليهما في ذلك اليوم.
When it will be the Day of Judgment, there will neither remain an Angel of Proximity, nor a Mursil Prophet-as, nor a Tested Momin except that he would be needy to them-asws both during that Day’’.[19]
A Sinner Momin Interceded by Ali Amir ul-Momineen-asws:
عن النبي صلى الله عليه وآله قال: أما إن من شيعة علي عليه السلام لمن يأتي يوم القيامة وقد وضع له في كفة سيئاته من الآثام ما هو أعظم من الجبال الرواسي و البحار السيارة، تقول الخلائق: هلك هذا العبد، فلا يشكون أنه من الهالكين وفي عذاب الله من الخالدين،
From the Prophet-saww having said: ‘But, from the Shias of Ali-asws would be the one who would come on the Day of Judgment, and there would be placed for him in the scale of his evil deeds from the sins what is greater than the mountain peaks and the waves of the ocean. The creatures would be saying, ‘This servant is destroyed. There is no doubt he is from the destroyed ones, and would be from the eternal ones in the Punishment of Allah-azwj.
فيأتيه النداء من قبل الله تعالى: يا أيها العبد الجاني هذه الذنوب الموبقات فهل بإزائها حسنة تكافئها وتدخل الجنة برحمة الله، أو تزيد عليها فتدخلها بوعد الله، يقول العبد: لا أدري،
Then, there would come a call from Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic: “O you servant, the wrong-doer, the offender! These are major sins (upon you). So, are there, in their stead, any good deeds to suffice these, so you can enter the Paradise of Allah-azwj by the Mercy of Allah-azwj, or an increase upon these (good deeds), so you can enter it?” The servant would be saying, ‘I don’t know’.
فيقول منادي ربنا عزوجل: إن ربي يقول: ناد في عرصات القيامة: ألا إن فلان بن فلان من بلد كذا وكذا وقرية كذا وكذا قد رهن بسيئاته كأمثال الجبال والبحار ولا حسنة بازائها، فأي أهل هذا المحشر كانت لي عنده يد أو عارفة فليغثني بمجازاتي عنها، فهذا أوان شدة حاجتي إليها
So, the caller of our Lord-azwj Mighty and Majestic would call out: ‘My Lord-azwj is saying: “Call out in the plains of the Day of Judgment, ‘I am so and so from the people of such and such city. I have been mortgaged by evils deeds which are like the mountain and the sea and there are no good deeds for me in my account. So, which one the people of this plain who has a hand (of favour) for me, or knows me, so let him help me with my being rescued from it, for this is the time of my most intense need to it’.
فينادي الرجل بذلك، فأول من يجيبه علي بن أبي طالب: لبيك لبيك لبيك أيها الممتحن في محبتي، المظلوم بعداوتي،
So, the man would call out with that, and the first one who answer him would be Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws: ‘Here I-asws am! Here I-asws am, O you, the one being tried regarding my-asws love, the one oppressed by my-asws enemies’.
ثم يأتي هو ومن معه عدد كثير وجم غفير و إن كانوا أقل عددا من خصمائه الذين لهم قبله الظلامات
Then he-asws would come, and with him-asws would be a large number and a myriad (of people), and even though they would be fewer in number than his-asws disputants – those who had grievances before him-asws.
فيقول ذلك العدد: يا أمير المؤمنين نحن إخوانه المؤمنون، كان بنابارا ولنا مكرما، وفى معاشرته إيانا مع كثرة إحسانه إلينا متواضعا، وقد نزلنا له عن جميع طاعاتنا وبذلناها له،
So, that number would be saying, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! We are his brothers, the Momineen. He was righteous with us, and he was honourable to us, and in his community, he was assisting us along with a lot of his favours to us, he was modest, and we have brought down for him the entirety of our acts of obedience and make it to be for him’.
فيقول علي عليه السلام: فبماذا تدخلون جنة ربكم ؟ فيقولون: برحمة الله الواسعة التي لا يعدمها من والاك ووالى آلك يا أخا رسول الله،
(At that), Ali-asws would be saying: ‘Then by what would you be entering the Paradise of your Lord-azwj?’ They would be saying, ‘By His-azwj Mercy, the Capacious, which there is no remoteness from the one who loves you-asws and befriends your-asws friends, O brother-asws of Rasool-Allah-saww!’.
فيأتي النداء من قبل الله تعالى: يا أخا رسول الله هؤلاء إخوانه المؤمنون قد بذلوا له فأنت ماذا تبذل له ؟ فإني أنا الحكم، ما بيني وبينه من الذنوب قد غفرتها له بموالاته إياك، وما بينه وبين عبادي من الظلامات فلا بد من فصلي بينه وبينهم،
So, a call would come from Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic: “O brother-asws of Rasool-Allah-saww! These are your-asws brothers, the Momineen. They have made it to be for him (what could rescue him), so what is that which you-asws are making it to be for him, for I-azwj am the Judge of what is between Me-azwj and him, from the sins which I-azwj have Forgiven for him due to his being in your-asws Wilayah, and whatever is between him and My-azwj servants from the wrongs, so it is inevitable from the Judgmental decision between him and them”.
فيقول علي عليه السلام: يا رب أفعل ما تأمرني،
Ali-asws would be saying: ‘O Lord-azwj! I-asws will do whatever You-azwj Command me-asws to’.
فيقول الله: يا علي اضمن لخصمائه تعويضهم عن ظلاماتهم قبله،
Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic would be Saying: “O Ali-asws! Guarantee to his disputants that you-asws would be compensating them for his wrongdoings upon them”.
فيضمن لهم علي عليه السلام ذلك ويقول لهم: اقترحوا علي ما شئتم اعطكم عوضا من ظلاماتكم قبله،
Ali-asws would be guaranteeing that to them and he-asws would be saying to them: ‘Suggest to me-asws whatever you so desire to, I-asws shall give it to you instead for the wrongdoings from him’.
فيقولون: يا أخا رسول الله تجعل لنا بإزاء ظلامتنا قبله ثواب نفس من أنفاسك ليلة بيتوتتك على فراش محمد صلى الله عليه وآله،
They would be saying, ‘O brother-asws of Rasool-Allah-saww! (We want) you-asws to make it to be for us, as a compensation of his wrongdoings to us, the Rewards of one breath of your-asws breathing on the night you-asws spent upon the bed of Muhammad-saww, (the night of Hijra)’.
فيقول علي عليه السلام: قد وهبت ذلك لكم،
Ali-asws would be saying: ‘I-asws have gifted that to you all’.
فيقول الله عزوجل: فانظروا يا عبادي الآن إلى ما نلتموه من علي، فداء لصاحبه من ظلاماتكم، ويظهر لهم ثواب نفس واحد في الجنان من عجائب قصورها وخيراتها، فيكون ذلك ما يرضي الله به خصماء اولئك المؤمنين،
So, Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic would be Saying: “Look now, O My-azwj servants, at what you have attained from Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws, as expiation for the wrongdoings of your companion on you!”. And there would be displayed for them, the Rewards of one breath (of Ali-asws), in the Gardens, from its wonderful castles and its goodness(es). Thus, there would be happen to be from that, what Allah-azwj would Please them with – the disputants to those Momineen.
ثم يريهم بعد ذلك من الدر جات والمنازل مالا عين رأت، ولا اذن سمعت، ولا خطر على بال بشر،
Then, after that, they would be shown from the levels and the stations – that which neither has an eye seen, nor has an ear heard, nor has the mind of a human conceived of.
يقولون: يا ربنا هل بقي من جنانك شئ ؟ إذا كان هذا كله لنا فأين تحل سائر عبادك المؤمنين والانبياء والصديقون والشهداء والصالحون ؟ ويخيل إليهم عند ذلك أن الجنة بأسرها قد جعلت لهم،
They would be saying, ‘O our Lord-azwj! Does there remain anything from Your-azwj paradise (for anybody else), when it was so that all of this is for us? So, whereabouts would Your-azwj servants, the Momineen, and the Prophets-as, and the truthful, and the martyrs, and the righteous would be?’ And they would be thinking during that, that the Paradise in its entirety has been Made to be for them (only).
فيأتي النداء من قبل الله تعالى: يا عبادي هذا ثواب نفس من أنفاس علي بن أبي طالب الذي اقترحتموه عليه قد جعله لكم فخذوه وانظروا،
(At that), a call would come from Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic: “O My-saww servants! This is the Reward of one breath from the breathing of Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws which you had suggested to him-asws. He-asws has made it to be for you all. Therefore, take it and look around!”
فيصيرون هم وهذا المؤمن الذي عوضه علي عليه السلام في تلك الجنان ثم يرون ما يضيفه الله عزوجل إلى ممالك علي عليه السلام في الجنان ما هو أضعاف ما بذله عن وليه الموالي له مما شاء من الاضعاف التي لا يعرفها غيره.
So, they would be coming – them and this Momin whom Ali-asws compensated on his behalf, to those Gardens. Then they would be seeing what Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic has Added to the kingdoms of Ali-asws in the Garden, what would be a multiple of what he-asws made to be on behalf of his-asws friend, to the friends of his-asws, from whatever Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic so Desires, from the additions which none knows apart from Him-azwj’.
ثم قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: أذلك خيرنزلا أم شجرة الزقوم المعدة لمخالفي أخي ووصيي علي بن أبي طالب عليه السلام ؟.
Then Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘Is that a better lodgement or the tree of Zaqqum? [37:62] – The (lodgement) prepared for the adversaries of my-saww brother-asws, and my-saww successor Ali‑asws Bin Abu Talib-asws’’.[20]
Some Additional Ahadith are included in Appendix II on Guarantees given by the Imams-asws
APPENDIX I: Imam-asws’s Guarantee of Paradise to a companion’s friend
عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بُنْدَارَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ كَانَ لِي صَدِيقٌ مِنْ كُتَّابِ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ فَقَالَ لِي اسْتَأْذِنْ لِي عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) فَاسْتَأْذَنْتُ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ فَأَذِنَ لَهُ فَلَمَّا أَنْ دَخَلَ سَلَّمَ وَ جَلَسَ ثُمَّ قَالَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ فِي دِيوَانِ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ فَأَصَبْتُ مِنْ دُنْيَاهُمْ مَالًا كَثِيراً وَ أَغْمَضْتُ فِي مَطَالِبِهِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) لَوْ لَا أَنَّ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ وَجَدُوا مَنْ يَكْتُبُ لَهُمْ وَ يَجْبِي لَهُمُ الْفَيْءَ وَ يُقَاتِلُ عَنْهُمْ وَ يَشْهَدُ جَمَاعَتَهُمْ لَمَا سَلَبُونَا حَقَّنَا وَ لَوْ تَرَكَهُمُ النَّاسُ وَ مَا فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ مَا وَجَدُوا شَيْئاً إِلَّا مَا وَقَعَ فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ.
Ali Bin Muhammad Bin Bundar, from Ibrahim Bin Is’haq, from Abdullah Bin Hammad, from Ali Bin Abu Hamza who said,
‘There used to be a friend for me from the scribes (clerks) of the Clan of Umayya, so he said to me, ‘Get me permission to see Abu Abdullah-asws’. So I sought permission for him to see him-asws, and he-asws permitted him. So when he came over, he greeted and was seated, then said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you-asws! I was in the offices of these people (the Clan of Umayya), so I achieved a lot of wealth from their world, and I closed my eyes regarding their demands’. So Abu Abdullah-asws said: ‘Had the Clan of Umayya not found the ones who could write for them, and obligate Al-Fey for them, and fight on their behalf, and bearers of witness for their groups to what they have confiscated from us-asws of our-asws rights, and had the people neglected them and what is in their hands, they would not have found anything except for what falls into their hands’.
قَالَ فَقَالَ الْفَتَى جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَهَلْ لِي مَخْرَجٌ مِنْهُ قَالَ إِنْ قُلْتُ لَكَ تَفْعَلُ قَالَ أَفْعَلُ قَالَ لَهُ فَاخْرُجْ مِنْ جَمِيعِ مَا اكْتَسَبْتَ فِي دِيوَانِهِمْ فَمَنْ عَرَفْتَ مِنْهُمْ رَدَدْتَ عَلَيْهِ مَالَهُ وَ مَنْ لَمْ تَعْرِفْ تَصَدَّقْتَ بِهِ وَ أَنَا أَضْمَنُ لَكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ فَأَطْرَقَ الْفَتَى رَأْسَهُ طَوِيلًا ثُمَّ قَالَ قَدْ فَعَلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ
He (the narrator) said, ‘So the youth said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you-asws! Is there any way out from it for me?’ He-asws said, ‘If I-asws were to tell you to do (something) would you do it?’ He said, ‘I would do it’. He-asws said to him: ‘So take out the entirety of whatever you have earned in their offices. So for the one whom you recognise, return his wealth to him, and the one you do not recognise, give in charity with it, and I-asws guarantee the Paradise for you, upon (the Guarantee of) Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic’. So the youth kept his head lowered for a long time, then said, ‘I will do it, may I be sacrificed for you-asws’.
قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ فَرَجَعَ الْفَتَى مَعَنَا إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ فَمَا تَرَكَ شَيْئاً عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا خَرَجَ مِنْهُ حَتَّى ثِيَابِهِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَى بَدَنِهِ قَالَ فَقَسَمْتُ لَهُ قِسْمَةً وَ اشْتَرَيْنَا لَهُ ثِيَاباً وَ بَعَثْنَا إِلَيْهِ بِنَفَقَةٍ قَالَ فَمَا أَتَى عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا أَشْهُرٌ قَلَائِلُ حَتَّى مَرِضَ فَكُنَّا نَعُودُهُ قَالَ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ يَوْماً وَ هُوَ فِي السَّوْقِ قَالَ فَفَتَحَ عَيْنَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي يَا عَلِيُّ وَفَى لِي وَ اللَّهِ صَاحِبُكَ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَاتَ
Ibn Abu Hamza (the narrator) said, ‘So the youth returned with us to Al-Kufa, and he did not leave anything upon the face of the earth except that he extracted from it, even his clothes which were upon his body. So I apportioned a share for him and we bought some clothes for him and send these over to him along with expenses. So there did not come upon him except for a few months until he fell sick, and we used to go to console him. So I went over to him one day and he was in the transit (about to die). So he opened his eyes, then said to me, ‘O Ali! By Allah-azwj, your Master-asws has kept his-asws promise to me’. Then he died.
فَتَوَلَّيْنَا أَمْرَهُ فَخَرَجْتُ حَتَّى دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ إِلَيَّ قَالَ يَا عَلِيُّ وَفَيْنَا وَ اللَّهِ لِصَاحِبِكَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ صَدَقْتَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ هَكَذَا وَ اللَّهِ قَالَ لِي عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ .
So we looked after his affairs (funeral etc.) and I came out until I went over to Abu Abdullah-asws. So when he-asws looked at me, he-asws said: ‘O Ali! By Allah-azwj, we-asws have kept our-asws promise to your companion’. So I said, ‘You-asws have spoken the truth, may I be sacrificed for you-asws! By Allah-azwj, this is how he said to me at the time of his death’.[21]
In a similar Hadith, Imam-asws guarantees the Paradise for a believer,
الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْمُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ كَانَ لِي جَارٌ يَتَّبِعُ السُّلْطَانَ فَأَصَابَ مَالًا فَأَعَدَّ قِيَاناً وَ كَانَ يَجْمَعُ الْجَمِيعَ إِلَيْهِ وَ يَشْرَبُ الْمُسْكِرَ وَ يُؤْذِينِي فَشَكَوْتُهُ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ غَيْرَ مَرَّةٍ فَلَمْ يَنْتَهِ فَلَمَّا أَنْ أَلْحَحْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لِي يَا هَذَا أَنَا رَجُلٌ مُبْتَلًى وَ أَنْتَ رَجُلٌ مُعَافًى فَلَوْ عَرَضْتَنِي لِصَاحِبِكَ رَجَوْتُ أَنْ يُنْقِذَنِيَ اللَّهُ بِكَ فَوَقَعَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فِي قَلْبِي
Al Husayn Bin Muhammad, from Al Moalla Bin Muhammad, from some of his companions, from Abu Baseer who said,
‘There was a neighbour of ours who followed (the biddings of) the ruling authorities, so he attained wealth. So he used to prepare (hold parties), female singers, and they all used to gather to him and drink the wine, and it used to bother me. So I complained to him repeatedly, but he did not end it. So when I was insistent upon it, so he said to me, ‘O you! I am an afflicted man and you are a healthy man. So if you would present me to your Master-asws, I am hopeful that Allah-azwj would Rescue me through you’. So that occurred in my heart.
فَلَمَّا صِرْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) ذَكَرْتُ لَهُ حَالَهُ فَقَالَ لِي إِذَا رَجَعْتَ إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ سَيَأْتِيكَ فَقُلْ لَهُ يَقُولُ لَكَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ دَعْ مَا أَنْتَ عَلَيْهِ وَ أَضْمَنَ لَكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْجَنَّةَ فَلَمَّا رَجَعْتُ إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ أَتَانِي فِيمَنْ أَتَى فَاحْتَبَسْتُهُ عِنْدِي حَتَّى خَلَا مَنْزِلِي ثُمَّ قُلْتُ لَهُ يَا هَذَا إِنِّي ذَكَرْتُكَ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الصَّادِقِ ( عليه السلام ) فَقَالَ لِي إِذَا رَجَعْتَ إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ سَيَأْتِيكَ فَقُلْ لَهُ يَقُولُ لَكَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ دَعْ مَا أَنْتَ عَلَيْهِ وَ أَضْمَنَ لَكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْجَنَّةَ
So when I came to Abu Abdullah-asws, I mentioned his state to him-asws. So he-asws said to me: ‘When you return to Al-Kufa, go to him and say to him, ‘Ja’far-asws Bin Muhammad-asws is saying to you: ‘Leave what you are upon and I-asws (personally) guarantee the Paradise for you, upon (the Guarantee of) Allah-azwj’. So when I returned to Al-Kufa, he came to me among the ones he came with. So, I withheld him with me until my house was empty. Then I said to him, ‘O you! I mentioned you to Abu Abdullah Ja’far-asws Bin Muhammad Al-Sadiq-asws. So he-asws said to me: ‘When you return to Al-Kufa, go to him and say to him, ‘Ja’far-asws Bin Muhammad-asws is saying to you: ‘Leave what you are upon and I-asws (personally) guarantee the Paradise for you, upon (the Guarantee of) Allah-azwj’.
قَالَ فَبَكَى ثُمَّ قَالَ لِيَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ قَالَ لَكَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ هَذَا قَالَ فَحَلَفْتُ لَهُ أَنَّهُ قَدْ قَالَ لِي مَا قُلْتُ فَقَالَ لِي حَسْبُكَ وَ مَضَى فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدَ أَيَّامٍ بَعَثَ إِلَيَّ فَدَعَانِي وَ إِذَا هُوَ خَلْفَ دَارِهِ عُرْيَانٌ فَقَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا بَصِيرٍ لَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا بَقِيَ فِي مَنْزِلِي شَيْءٌ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ أَخْرَجْتُهُ وَ أَنَا كَمَا تَرَى
He (the narrator) said, ‘So he wept, then said to me, ‘By Allah-azwj! Abu Abdullah-asws said this to you?’ So I swore on oath to him and he-asws had said so. He said to me what I said. So he said to me, ‘You have sufficed’, and he went away. So when it was a few days afterwards, he sent a message to me, and called me over, and there he was, bare, behind his door. So he said to me, ‘O Abu Baseer! No, by Allah-azwj! There does not remain anything in my house but I have thrown it out, and I am just as you see’.
قَالَ فَمَضَيْتُ إِلَى إِخْوَانِنَا فَجَمَعْتُ لَهُ مَا كَسَوْتُهُ بِهِ ثُمَّ لَمْ تَأْتِ عَلَيْهِ أَيَّامٌ يَسِيرَةٌ حَتَّى بَعَثَ إِلَيَّ أَنِّي عَلِيلٌ فَأْتِنِي فَجَعَلْتُ أَخْتَلِفُ إِلَيْهِ وَ أُعَالِجُهُ حَتَّى نَزَلَ بِهِ الْمَوْتُ فَكُنْتُ عِنْدَهُ جَالِساً وَ هُوَ يَجُودُ بِنَفْسِهِ فَغُشِيَ عَلَيْهِ غَشْيَةً ثُمَّ أَفَاقَ فَقَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا بَصِيرٍ قَدْ وَفَى صَاحِبُكَ لَنَا ثُمَّ قُبِضَ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ
He (the narrator) said, ‘So I went to our brethren and gathered for him what he could be clothed with. Then, there did not pass upon him a few days until he sent a message to me, ‘I am sick’. So I went over to him, and I used to come and go to him and treat him until the death descended with him. So I was seated in his presence and he was struggling with himself, and there was a fainting upon him. He fainted, then woke up, and he said to me, ‘O Abu Baseer! Your Master-asws has fulfilled for us’. Then he passed away, may Allah-azwj have Mercy upon him.
فَلَمَّا حَجَجْتُ أَتَيْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) فَاسْتَأْذَنْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَلَمَّا دَخَلْتُ قَالَ لِيَ ابْتِدَاءً مِنْ دَاخِلِ الْبَيْتِ وَ إِحْدَى رِجْلَيَّ فِي الصَّحْنِ وَ الْأُخْرَى فِي دِهْلِيزِ دَارِهِ يَا أَبَا بَصِيرٍ قَدْ وَفَيْنَا لِصَاحِبِكَ .
So, when I performed Hajj, I went over to Abu Abdullah-asws, and sought permission to see him-asws. So when I entered, he-asws said to me initiating from inside the house, and one of my legs was in the courtyard and the other one in the corridor: ‘O Abu Baseer! We-asws have fulfilled (our-asws promise) for your companion’.[22]
عَنْهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ وَهْبٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ مَنْ يَضْمَنُ لِي أَرْبَعَةً بِأَرْبَعَةِ أَبْيَاتٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ أَنْفِقْ وَ لَا تَخَفْ فَقْراً وَ أَفْشِ السَّلَامَ فِي الْعَالَمِ وَ اتْرُكِ الْمِرَاءَ وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ مُحِقّاً وَ أَنْصِفِ النَّاسَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ .
From him, from Muhammad Bin Sinan, from Muawiya Bin Wahab,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah-asws having said: ‘The one who guarantees four (matters) to me-asws, (I-asws will guarantee) four houses (for him) in the Paradise – Spends (in charity) and does not fear the poverty, and discloses the greetings in the world, and leaves the disputing even if he was right, and be fair with the people from himself’.[23]
APPENDIX II:Some Additional Ahadith on Guarantees given by the Imams-asws
Guarantee from harm of food
عَنْهُ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَسِّنٍ الْمِيثَمِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي مَرْيَمَ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ عَنِ الْأَصْبَغِ بْنِ نُبَاتَةَ قَالَ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع وَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ شِوَاءٌ فَدَعَانِي وَ قَالَ هَلُمَّ إِلَى هَذَا الشِّوَاءِ فَقُلْتُ أَنَا إِذَا أَكَلْتُهُ ضَرَّنِي فَقَالَ أَ لَا أُعَلِّمُكَ كَلِمَاتٍ تَقُولُهُنَّ وَ أَنَا ضَامِنٌ لَكَ أَلَّا يُؤْذِيَكَ طَعَامٌ قُلِ
From him, from Yaqoub Bin Yazeed, from Ahmad Bin Mohsin Al Maysami, from Abu Maryam Al Ansary, from Al Asbagh Bin Nabata who said,
‘I came to (see) Ali Amir Al-Momineen-asws, and in front of him-asws was grilled (food), so he-asws invited me, and said: ‘So, to this grilled (food)’. I said, ‘Whenever I eat it, it tends to harm me’. So he-asws said: ‘Shall I-asws teach you certain words, if you were to say these, and I-asws would guarantee to you that the food would not harm you? – Say
‘اللَّهُمَ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ بِاسْمِكَ خَيْرِ الْأَسْمَاءِ مِلْءَ الْأَرْضِ وَ السَّمَاءِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ الَّذِي لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَهُ دَاءٌ فَلَا يَضُرُّكَ أَبَداً.
‘O Allah-azwj! I ask You-azwj by Your-azwj Name (which is) the best of the names of what are in the earth and the sky, the Beneficent, the Merciful, by which the illness does not harm due to it’. So it would not harm you, ever’.[24]
Guarantee from poisonous Insects and during Travel
أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَمِيلَةَ عَنْ سَعْدٍ الْإِسْكَافِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ مَنْ قَالَ هَذِهِ الْكَلِمَاتِ فَأَنَا ضَامِنٌ لَهُ أَلَّا يُصِيبَهُ عَقْرَبٌ وَ لَا هَامَّةٌ حَتَّى يُصْبِحَ.
Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ali Bin Al Hassan, from Al Abbas Bin Aamir, from Abu Jameela, from Sa’d Al Iskaf who said,
‘I heard him-asws saying: ‘The one who says these words, so I-asws guarantee to him that a scorpion would not bite him, nor an insect until morning,
أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ الَّتِي لَا يُجَاوِزُهُنَّ بَرٌّ وَ لَا فَاجِرٌ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا ذَرَأَ وَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا بَرَأَ وَ مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ دَابَّةٍ هُوَ آخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهَا إِنَّ رَبِّي عَلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ
‘I seek Refuge with the complete Words of Allah-azwj Which neither a righteous one nor an immoral one can exceed, from the evil what is inseminated, and from the evil of what is spread, and from the evil of every animal being Seized by its forelocks, that my Lord-azwj is upon the Straight Path’’.[25]
عنه، عن محمد بن عيسى، عن عبيدالله الدهقان، عن درست، عن إبراهيم ابن عبد الحميد، قال: قال أبو الحسن (ع): أنا ضامن لمن خرج يريد سفرا معتما تحت حنكه ثلاثا، لا يصيبه السرق، والغرق، والحرق.
From him, from Muhammad Bin Isa, from Ubeydullah Al Dahqan, from Darast, from Ibrahim Ibn Abul Hameed who said,
‘Abu Al-Hassan-asws said: ‘I am a guarantor of three (things) for the one who goes out intending a journey having ‘تحت حنكه’ a turban (with one end on the chest and the other on the back) – he will not be struck by the thief, and the drowning, and the burning’.[26]
Rizk (Sustenance) is already Guaranteed:
عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ غَيْرُهُ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ السَّبِيعِيِّ عَمَّنْ حَدَّثَهُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَقُولُ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ كَمَالَ الدِّينِ طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ وَ الْعَمَلُ بِهِ أَلَا وَ إِنَّ طَلَبَ الْعِلْمِ أَوْجَبُ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ طَلَبِ الْمَالِ إِنَّ الْمَالَ مَقْسُومٌ مَضْمُونٌ لَكُمْ قَدْ قَسَمَهُ عَادِلٌ بَيْنَكُمْ وَ ضَمِنَهُ وَ سَيَفِي لَكُمْ وَ الْعِلْمُ مَخْزُونٌ عِنْدَ أَهْلِهِ وَ قَدْ أُمِرْتُمْ بِطَلَبِهِ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ فَاطْلُبُوهُ .
Ali Bin Muhammad, and someone else, from Sahl Bin Ziyad and Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, altogether from Ibn Mahboub, from Hisham Bin Salim, from Abu Hamza, from Abu Is’haq Al Sabi’e, from the one who narrated it, said,
‘I heard Amir Al-Momineen-asws saying: ‘O you people! Know that the perfection of the Religion is the seeking of the knowledge and acting by it. Indeed! And the seeking of the knowledge is more Obligatory upon you than the seeking of the wealth. The wealth is (already) apportioned, guaranteed for you all (already distributed). A just One-azwj has Apportioned it between you all and He-azwj and my-asws sword Guarantee it for you all; however the knowledge is treasure stored with its rightful one-asws, and you have been Commanded with seeking it from its rightful ones-asws, therefore seek it’.[27]
[1] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 8, The book of Justice, S 3, Ch 21 H 16
[2] عنه، عن عثمان بن عيسى، عن سماعة، قال: سئل أبو عبد الله عليه السلام عن المؤمن هل يشفع في أهله؟ – قال: نعم، المؤمن يشفع فيشفع
From him, from Usman Bin Isa, from Sama’at who said,
‘Abu Abdullah-asws was asked about the Believer – would he be interceding regarding his family?’ He‑asws said: ‘Yes, the Believer would intercede, so his intercession would be Accepted’.[2]
[3] Al-Mahaasin – V 1 Bk 4 – H 4
[4] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H.14707
[5] Al-Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 31 H 3
[6] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 53 H 22
[7] Al-Mahaasin – V 1 Bk 3 H 59
[8] Al-Mahaasin – V 1 Bk 5 H 69
[9] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 59 H 64 c
[10] (التوحيد: 154/ 1)
[11] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 4, The book of Tawheed, S 1, Ch 1 H 15
[12] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H.14798
[13] بحار الأنوار (ط – بيروت)، ج25، ص: 169
[14] Al-Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Hajj Ch 230 H 2
[15] Al-Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Zakat Ch 80 H 6
[16] Al-Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 32 H 11
[17] Al-Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Salāt CH 95 H 1
[18] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 24
[19] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 8, The book of Justice, S 3, Ch 21 H 81
[20] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 8, The book of Justice, S 3, Ch 21 H 82
[21] Al-Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 30 H 4
[22] Al-Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 119 H 5
[23] Al-Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 66 H 2
[24] Al-Mahaasin – V 2 Bk 3 H 289
[25] Al-Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 57 H 7
[26] Al-Mahaasin – V 2 Bk 2 H 137
[27] Al-Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Intellect and Ignorance CH 1 H 4