Shaykh Sadooq (a.r.) has mentioned in his book Aqaid that one day, Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.) was passing by a place where he saw a group of youths who were busy in senseless talking and joking. The Imam said, "Are you darkening your records of deeds by such foolish deeds?" They replied, "O Amirul Mo-mineen! Do angels note even such gossips?" The Imam (a.s.) replied, "Yes, they record even a blow in fire."
Yes, even if you pick up and throw away a little thorn from a thoroughfare, your eyes will be bright and cool tomorrow in Qiyamat, because you saved the servants of God from harm. If you find a peel of banana or any other fruit on a road and if you remove it with an intention of saving God's servants from falling down, then remember, even this small and insignificant deed will also not go unrewarded.
Wisdom Behind Record of Deeds
Here arises a question that when God is All-knowing Himself why any need of recording deeds of His servants?
Nay! Most surely the record of the righteous shall be in the Iliyin. (83:18)
Nay! most surely the record of the wicked is in the Sijjin. (83:7)
Why all this giving the record of good people in their right hands by the angels and their carrying upwards and the records of evil fellows downwards? The answer is that the Most Merciful God likes it that His servants may not even go near evils and sins. If he knows that there is someone who is recording his deeds as per God's Command, he will remain cautious.
O sinful servant! Beware! The Lord of the Universe has appointed two spies over you in addition to your own body organs so that man may have some shame. On the other hand, they may be encouraged to do good through their knowledge about the recording of deeds and its importance and their good consequences. For a clearer
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understanding we explain as follows:
Come! Look at My Mark sheet
How much happiness the student feels who stands first in the examination. He jumps and shouts so that all may know about his shinning success. "Come and look at my mark sheet!" shouts the student, "I have stood first."
Tomorrow, on the Day of Judgement too, a believer will be given his scroll of Deeds in his right hand his happiness will know no bounds and he will very joyfully tell everyone, "O friends! O my acquaintances! Just read my Record of deeds."
Then as for him who is given his book in his right hand, he will say: Lo! read my book: (19:69)
Look at this testimonial about the acceptance of my prayers, my fasting and my good deeds! I was always worrying about the accounting of this Day.
Surely I knew that I shall meet my account.
So he shall be in a life of pleasure, (69:20-21)
But how unlucky is the child who has failed in his examination. He will walk towards his home bowing his head in a very unhappy state of mind. He will be telling to himself: Had I died and not seen this dark day of shame. Sometimes such badly affected child also becomes ill. Multiply the degree of effect of this example a thousand times. You will have an idea of the pitiable condition of sinners when they will be given their record of deeds in their left hand.
I Wish they had not Given me my Record of Deeds
And as for him who is given his book in his left hand he shall say: O would that my book had never been given me:
And I had not known what my account was:
O would that it had made an end (of me):
My wealth has availed me nothing:
My authority is gone away from me. (69:25-29)
He will say so only because he will observe that his record has
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nothing but shame. He will wish for death after which there would be no death again and everything would end permanently. Then he will wail, "Neither my money help me nor my land and my power all have left me lurking in pain and shame."
How the Record will be Given from Behind
There also will be some people in the field of Mahshar on the Day of Judgement, who will be handed over their records of deeds from behind:
And as to him who is given his book behind his back,
He shall call for perdition,
And enter into burning fire. (84:10-12)
This (giving of record from behind) can be in two ways: First, both of his hands may be tied to his back and his head will be turned so that he can read his record. Another way can be that his left hand will pierce in his chest forcing it to come out of his back and then his face will be turned and he will be ordered to read his record:
Read your book; your own self is sufficient as a reckoner against you this day. (17:14)
He will himself read back-biting, false allegations, lies, shameless utterances and actions, assaults on others' honour and all other evils committed by him in his worldly life. Likewise, he will also read the offences done by his physical organs. He would start wailing, "This book is such that it has not left even any big or small deed of mine without writing it down." Whatever he has done in the world will be now before his own eyes.
And the Book shall be placed, then you will see the guilty fearing from what is in it, and they will say: Ah! woe to us! what a book is this! it does not omit a small one nor a great one, but numbers them (all); and what they had done they shall find present (there); and your Lord does not deal unjustly with anyone. (18:49)
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Severe Pain after Reading the Record
Some people will be such that reading their records of deeds all the joints of their bodies will disintegrate. Blood and dirt will begin to flow from their eyes. It is mentioned in a tradition of the Holy Prophet that, at that time, a voice will come, "Is there in this record even a single deed which you had not done?" He will reply, "No, O My Lord! Everything recorded in this sheet is true." Then he will bow his head in shame.
No Suspension or a Suspension for a Thousand Years
On the Day of Judgement, man will, in a split second, remember all of his lifelong deeds and also see them recorded in a scroll or sheet. It would be a very strange realm. Everyone's record will appear clear before everyone's eyes. Some people will be able to become free of accounting within seconds. They will be the righteous people. But some would remain suspended in their accounting for a thousand years, not because their record will be very lengthy but what will be aimed at will be the pain and hardship due for them. Some people's accounting will take very little time, just as for milking a sheep. The time taken for some people's account will be, so to say, from noon to Asr afternoon. Some will remain suspended in accounting for forty years, a thousand years and even upto fifty thousand years in some cases.
Good Tidings for the Friends of Ahle Bayt (a.s.)
And the return of the creation is towards you and their accounting is upon you.
It is mentioned by Shaykh Mufeed (r.a.) through consecutive evidences in Biharul Anwar vol. 3 that Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said, "On the Day of Judgement God Almighty will entrust the accounting of our Shias to us. Then if there will be anything due to God, we will request God to grant it to us and it will be granted. Then whatever will be due to us from them we will forgive. Then the Imam recited this verse:
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Surely to Us is their turning back,
Then surely upon Us is the taking of their account. (88:65-66)
The Holy Prophet will Pay Up for the Rights of the Shias
In the third volume of the same book of Biharul Anwar there is another narration relating to the accounting on the Day of Judgement wherein the Imam says after the mention of God's rights and Imam's rights (which will be forgiven), "If Shias have to pay up the dues of people, the same will be paid up to the concerned people by the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.)."
May the Most Merciful Allah make us the Shias of Aale Muhammad (a.s.) and also raise us with them on the Day of grand gathering. Amen.
Thanks to God our Account has been Entrusted to Generous Persons
The good tiding for Shias is that, on the Day of Judgement, Almighty Allah will call every community with their Imam. Glory be to Allah! How lucky is the deed the auditor of which will be Hazrat Hujjat Ibn-ul-Hasan (a.t.f.s.). When the Imam will look at our deeds, though we will be bowing our heads down due to our shameful deeds, we will be hopeful because of being his lovers that he will intercede for us. Thanks to the Merciful God that our accounting will be in the hands of the one who will be extremely generous and who will be having a very high status in the court of God Who alone is worth worship.
Balance (Mizan)
The Balance (Mizan) of the Divine Justice in which there is not the slightest chance of deviation or mistake is the Holy Prophet or Amirul Mo-mineen Ali (a.s.). If the Prayers of all the earlier and the latter people are compared with the prayer of Ali (a.s.) the latter's prayer will surpass all other's prayers.
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) is reported to have said, "The balances or scales which will be established on the Day of Judgement, for weighting
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the deeds of people will be the Prophets and their legatees." They are the Aale Muhammad (a.s.). Our prayers will be brought to the field of the Grand Gathering (Mahshar) and it will be observed whether or not they have any resemblance with the prayers of Ali (a.s.). Whether or not we have anything like the high virtues of Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.) like generosity, courage, bravery, self-respect, manliness, kindness, justice and fair-play etc. Have we any of it and upto what extent?
Of course, it is established fact that doubtlessly it is impossible that our deeds, prayers, fasting and our virtues could ever be like those of Imam Ali (a.s.). The only thing to be seen is that our deeds must not be contrary to the character of Amirul Mo-mineen and the Holy Imams (a.s.); that they should not be deviated or divergent from that. So, God forbid, if you have extended your hand towards any prohibited thing or have eaten the property of others unlawfully then do remember that you have turned away from the balance of the truth.
What Wrong have we ever seen in Truth and Justice that we may turn towards the Wrong Path
Has a man who is religious, who walks straight and acts with justice any deprivation compared to one who adopts an irreligious and unfair path? What does the former lack? These veiled women who observe religious commands; are they lacking in anything when compared with the free thinking unveiled women? What comfort is not available to the religious woman? Do not imagine that more pleasure of life is available to the unveiled women. If there is any happiness, it is for the faithful also. If there is illness and pain, it inflicts both. There is no difference between them. Both are participating in the pleasures of marriage. Both are equal in the matter of legal and lawful worldly joys, though such joys too are not permanent. On the contrary, we often see how an irreligious person suffers several deprivations. Let me give an example. Such an irreligious man looks at a beautiful woman in a cinema hall and his heart becomes uncontrollable. Sometimes he becomes mad after
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such desire. But does he succeed in what his heart longs for? Whatever troubles he may take, it is not necessary that he must succeed in his desire, because, it is possible that the said woman may be married. How sorry will that man be after knowing this? Or think of the drunkards. It is quite possible that in their condition of intoxication they may quarrel or kill one another and then lead a lonely life behind bars for several years. This applies to other matters too.
Peace and Comfort is Only for the Faithful
A trader who cares for what is permissible and what is unlawful knows that the guarantor of his sustenance or provision is Almighty God. So he does not indulge in dishonestly and unfair dealing in his business. He does not worship the buyer. He does not flatter or deceive his buyers. But the unlucky trader who does not care for truth and justice and fair play, flatters his buyers and deceives them in various ways. From every angle, we find such trader wrong and wayward. If we look from the material viewpoint, we will find that the deviated people are in no way superior to the righteous ones. Rather if there is anything like true happiness and peace of mind and comfort it is available only to the righteous and religious people:
Those are they who shall have the security and they are those who go aright. (6:82)
The Profit of Materialists is Doubtful
The summary of our discussion is that those who abide by the balance of truth have not lost or missed anything in this world also, nor are they now at any loss. Rather, even if there is any profit they alone are benefited by it. On the contrary, those poor people who deviate from the true path are certain to bear the loss in the Hereafter. Their profit in this world is also doubtful. Rather, they get nothing but loss and harm. For example, if he has gained a profit of ten dollars by way of cheating or unfair dealing, he spends its hundred fold in medicines. So, O people who seek satisfaction in this world! Never deviate from the true path. Let me know, have you ever suffered any loss due to walking on the straight path? If you
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have not told a lie even in any single matter, have you definitely suffered any loss due that truthfulness? Then why should we ever leave the path of truth?
Come, let us all take an oath that we will never deviate from the balance of truth and the balance of truth is the person of the Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.).
Four Groups of People according to their Accounting
On the Day of Resurrection, people will be divided into four groups on the basis of their accounting: Some people will enter paradise without any accounting. They will be the friends of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) who never committed any unlawful deed or they left the world after repenting. Another group will be quite opposite of them, that is, they will go to hell straight away without any accounting. About them God Almighty says in the Holy Quran:
These are they who disbelieve in the communications of their Lord and His meeting, so their deeds become null, and therefore We will not set up a balance for them on the day of resurrection. (18:105)
There will be no accounting of those who leave the world without Faith. There will be no value of their deeds because they had died without Faith.
Punishment for a Hundred Years due to One Sin
The third group is of those people whose deeds will be worth weighing. They will remain suspended at the stage of Qiyamat. But at last, since their good deeds will be more (than evils) they will get salvation. Of course their suspension in the station of accounting will be in proportion to their sins. Therefore, once the Holy Prophet told Ibne Masood, "Man will remain suspended for a hundred years in Mahshar due to one sin (though finally he will enter paradise)."
Of course, the narration does not specify as to what kind of sin it will be. So a faithful must fear the suspension in the station of Mahshar accounting. He should refrain from all big or small sins.
The fourth group will consist of those people the number of whose
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sins will be more than that of their good deeds. If they are lucky to get the intercession of the Infallibles and if God showers His mercy on them, they will get salvation and will go to paradise. Otherwise they will be awarded the punishment in hell. They will have to remain in hell till they get purified by the chastisement. Then they will get salvation and angels will take them to paradise. No person who had even the slightest Faith will remain in hell forever. Only the unbelievers and the enemies of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) will live in hell permanently. It means they will get no reward (everything will be given to them either in the world or in Barzakh). Even if his good deeds are numerous, he will never get a place in paradise because the basis of entrance to paradise is belief in Almighty God and His Signs (verses). How can one who does not have faith in God and who dies in such a condition ever see paradise?
The Provision of Righteousness is to Die with Faith
It is mentioned in the tradition regarding a Bedouin and the lizard that the Holy Prophet once said, "I will guarantee the provision of righteousness to the one who provides journey provisions to this Bedouin." Salman asked, "O messenger of God! What is the provision of righteousness?" The Prophet said, "Saying Laa Ilaah Illallaah at the time of death. If you say so at that time, you will see me. Otherwise you will not see me."[1]
It must be understood here that reciting the formula faith in the oneness of God means dying with faith in heart. So if one is in the state of dying and is unable even to move his tongue and to utter anything, the said faith in heart is enough. In such a condition if people recite the reminder (Talqeen) to him, he must take it to heart.
Nullifying of Deeds and Expiation of Sins
And (as for) those who disbelieve, for them is destruction and He has made their deeds ineffective.
That is because they hated what Allah revealed, so He rendered
[1] Biharul Anwar, vol. 10.
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their deeds null. (47:8-9)
We intend to describe this matter in a style understandable for all. The fact is that if a man leaves this world with no faith in God even after doing only good deeds throughout his life, he will not be benefit by it. 'Ahbaat' means to nullify, making void, to end and finish. Dying faithless nullifies all good deeds. If somebody asks, "Is it not written in the Holy Quran:
So he who has done an atom's weight of good shall see it. (99:7)
The reply is: The person who died faithless has himself destroyed his deeds, because, after denying God, there is no meaning for him of getting any reward and entering paradise (that is, whatever good he did, he did not do in obedience to God, but he did it only because it was good in his thought). Therefore, God also paid him the reward of that good deed in the world, as He has said that He does not destroy anyone's deed. As we have said earlier, for example, it is possible that he may get relief during the agony of death or he may not become ill or regain health soon, may not suffer any monetary losses etc.
Curtain between Hatim and Nausherwan and the Fire of Hell
It is also likely that good deeds of an unbeliever may cause curtailment in his punishment in the Hereafter. Accordingly it is said that since the generosity of Hatim Tai and the justice of Nausherwan was famous, hellfire does not burn them though they are in it.
And repentance is not for those who go on doing evil deeds, until when death comes to one of them, he says: Surely now I repent; nor (for) those who die while they are unbelievers. (4:18)
Also it is mentioned at another place:
And (as to) those who reject Our communications and the meeting of the hereafter, their deeds are null. Shall they be rewarded except for what they have done? (7:147)
That is, One who goes as an unbeliever from this world, his deeds will go in vain.
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Sins which make a Man Die Faithless
All the verses and traditions, which were mentioned so far, about going of deeds in vain, were regarding atheism and polytheism. But what about other sins or offences? Do they also make good deeds go in vain?
Yes! Some of the sins are such according to some specific narrations. For example, regarding disobedience to parents, it is mentioned by the Infallibles (a.s.) that:
A voice will be heard: O disobedient to parents! Do whatever you wish; none of your good deeds will ever be accepted.
If someone has made his or her mother unhappy, her complain will burn down into ashes good deeds even if they are Himalayan in size. Some other sins like making false allegations against others also make one faithless. Likewise it is also mentioned that if one is much jealous and openly so, causing pain to others, then according to a narration: Jealousy devours faith like fire devours wood.
Faith is the Expiation of Disbelief and Repentance is the Atonement of Sins
The root of 'Takfeer' (disbelief) is 'Kufr'.
That He may cause the believing men and the believing women to enter gardens beneath which rivers flow to abide therein and remove from them their evil… (48:5)
It means covering (hiding) and to remove the effect of sins. There is no doubt that becoming a believer removes the effects of earlier disbelief. So if one was faithless from the beginning of his life but he believed (became Muslim) at the end and dies, he will certainly get salvation.
But the thing, which can remove the effects of sins committed by a faithful person, is true repentance. The Holy Quran says:
So these are they of whom Allah changes the evil deeds to good ones; (25:7)
It means that the kind and Merciful God changes their sins and
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offences into good deeds and virtues.
Good Deeds which Remove Evils
Do any other good deeds except true Repentance also remove sins? The answer is:
Surely good deeds take away evil deeds; (11:114)
This apparently shows that doing good deeds removes the effects of evil ones. But it could not be made specific as to which good deeds are so effective. Of course there are many narrations that speak about such good deeds. For instance, it is mentioned in Biharul Anwar, vol. 15, that a person came to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and submitted, "O messenger of God I have committed a very big sin (he had, when he was an unbeliever, buried his daughter alive). So please show me a good deed that may result in my forgiveness by God." The Prophet asked, "Is your mother alive?" He replied in the negative. (This indicates that behaving nicely with mother is the best remedy for the removal of great consequences of great sins). The Holy Prophet then asked, "Is your aunt (mother's sister) alive?" He said, "Yes." The Prophet said, "Go and behave nicely with your aunt (it will turn into a good behaviour with your mother due to her close relation with your late mother)." Then the Holy Prophet added, "It would have been better had his mother been alive," because good behaviour with mother is very effective in removing consequences of such sins.
Questions on the Day of Resurrection
It is mentioned at many places in the Holy Quran that the Messengers and the communities will be asked,
Most certainly then We will question those to whom (the apostles) were sent, and most certainly We will also question the apostles; (7:6)
The messengers and Prophets will be asked, "We had sent you to invite people towards Us. Did you convey the message to them?" They will submit, "Our Lord! You are witness that we left no stone unturned in this matter." A voice will be heard "Who is your
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witness?" All will reply, "O Our Lord! Our witness is the last prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)."
And thus We have made you a medium (just) nation that you may be the bearers of witness to the people and (that) the Apostle may be a bearer of witness to you; (2:143)
Similarly, Isa (a.s.) will be asked, "Did you tell people to worship you and your mother?" Prophet Isa (a.s.) will tremble and say, "My Lord! Had I said so, You must have known it at once. What I said was only that I am a servant of God. So worship only my Lord and your Lord."
And when Allah will say: O Isa son of Marium! did you say to men, Take me and my mother for two gods besides Allah, he will say: Glory be to Thee, it did not befit me that I should say what I had no right to (say); (5:116)
Communities will also be questioned, "Did your messenger not inform you about the events of today?" All would reply, "Yes, O Lord, they did!"
Bounties would be Questioned
On the Day of the Grand Gathering one of the questions will also be about bounties granted to us by the Lord of the Universe as to what was our attitude regarding the same.
Then on that day you shall most certainly be questioned about the boons. (102:8)
Meaning, "Did you thank God for the bounties or you lived and behaved ungratefully?"
There are different narrations regarding thanklessness. The combined summary is that there are several standards of bounties, the most important and the highest rank is that of the bounty of guardianship (Wilayat) of Aale Muhammad, rather it is the only absolute bounty.
Imam (a.s.) said to Qatadah, "What do you Sunnis say about the Holy verse:
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Then on that day you shall most certainly be questioned about the boons." (102:8)
He replied, "There will be questioning about these food articles like bread and water etc." The Imam (a.s.) said, "God is far higher than the questioner of such queries. Will you ever invite a guest and, after serving him good food, ask him about what he ate?" Qatadah asked, "Then what is meant by 'boons'?" The Imam replied, "It is the bounty in the form of our, the Aale Muhammad's love."
How was your Behaviour with the Bounty of Wilayat?
It will be asked on the Day, "How did you deal with Aale Muhammad? To what extent you loved them? How much did you obey them?" Enemies of Ahle Bayt would be asked, "Why did you have enmity towards this great bounty?" Nothing would be asked about food and water, except extravagance made in it or about gaining it from prohibited sources and about spending it in prohibited ways. Likewise it will be asked, "Why did you commit such and such prohibited deed?"
Everyone will be Questioned about Four Things
Specific questions will be asked regarding some bounties. One of them is man's lifespan. It is mentioned in narrations that angels will not allow people to go further in the field of Mahshar until they reply four queries:
1. How did he spend his life and in which deeds was he engaged during his youth.
2. Where from and how he or she earned money and where and how they spent it?
3. There will be questioning about the Wilayat of Aale Muhammad (a.s.) and the Divine Law will be enforced very strictly in this matter.
4. Where did one spend the wealth? If it were given to poor for making a show of generosity, it will draw punishment.
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Questioning about Worship Acts
And stop them, for they shall be questioned: (37:24)
The first question in the Gathering would be about Prayer.
If Prayer is accepted all other deeds would also be accepted…[1
Were the obligatory prayers offered in their proper times or not? Since Prayer is the greatest pillar of religion and the greatest trust of God, was it offered properly? Then there will be inquiry about all other worships and prayers.
Sins are of Three Kinds
Amirul Mo-mineen Ali (a.s.) says in Nahaj-ul-Balagah:
Sins are of three kinds: The one, which will be forgiven, two; the doer of which can hope for pardon and three; the sin which would never be forgiven.
The forgivable sin will be that which might have been paid for in the world. For example, the offender might have been punished according to Shariat Law because God is far higher than to punish anybody twice for one and the same offence. Another kind of sin, which can be hoped to be pardoned, is the sin the compensation for which might not have been made in the worldly life but the offender had made a true repentance.
Mirsad or the Valley of People's Rights
The third type of sin, which is not at all forgivable, is the taking away of someone's right or oppressing somebody. These are the rights of people. God will never overlook them. If one has taken unfairly or oppressively even a little trifling thing of somebody unjustly, Almighty Allah will make the oppressor repay it to the oppressed. That is meant by 'Mirsad' in the verse:
Most surely your Lord is watching (Mirsad). (89:14)
It is described as the 'Valley of people's rights', that is to say; your
[1] Biharul Anwar vol.3
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Lord is there to secure everyone's right.
Suspension for One Year because of a Straw
Muhaddith Qummi has, in Manazelul Aakhirah, recorded the story of a famous pious man Sulaiman Daaraai, the well-known worshipper. He writes that after he died, some people saw him in their dreams and asked about his condition. He said, "I have remained suspended for one year in a valley. The reason is that, one day, some people were carrying bundles of hay to the city. I just took one straw from a bundle for using it as a toothpick. After my death, I am in this chastisement for the last one year for the sin of not obtaining the consent of the owner of the hay before taking up the straw from his bundle. They (the angels) ask me, 'Did you know that the owner would have permitted it?'"
A Thousand Years in the Valley of Oppressions
Do not ask, "Does a straw have any worth?" It is true that its value is insignificant. Yet, it is anyway a property of someone. Some people take up some things from the property in the presence of the owner (and the owner keeps quiet by way of regard or respect). Such taking away of other's property is called 'Shameless taking' about which it is mentioned in narrations that it is just like usurpation and hence prohibited.
Perform such deeds that, while leaving this world, there may not be even the slightest burden on your shoulders. If you were careless about this till now, still try to obtain the agreement of the owners of the usurped things. This valley of rights too has stages depending on the people. It is written that for some, such suspension will be for a thousand years.
Encroachment of Others' Rights
God Almighty will deal with people in two ways. One dealing will be based on Justice and another on Grace. Everyone who has to pay someone's rights will be compensated by snatching away some good deeds of the oppressor and giving them to the oppressed one. This dealing will be based on Justice. For instance, somebody had put a
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false allegation on someone or had backbitten him or her. Now only God knows how many of the good deeds of the backbiter should be taken from him and given to the oppressed one. Now, in case, the oppressor has nothing like a good deed in his account, the demand of Divine Justice will be that a proportionate sin of the oppressed may be added to the account of the oppressor or backbiter.
No Oppressor will Escape the Punishment due to Him
There is a lengthy tradition in Rauzatul Kafi regarding the accounting and dispensing of justice on the Day of Resurrection (tradition no.79). Therein Imam Zainul Aabedeen (a.s.) is reported to have said, "God Almighty says, 'I am the Only One God. No one except Me is worth worship. I am the Ruler and the Judge Who says nothing against truth. I deal with you on the basis of justice. Today no one will wronged in My Most Supreme Court. Today I will take from the mighty wrongdoer the compensation of the oppressed weak. I will recollect from the debtor the due debt and will make the payment of one another through exchange of good and bad deeds done by them. Today is the Day on which, from this difficult path, no one can pass from My sight without accounting for the rights, which were usurped by him. O people who have gathered in the Grand Field of Mahshar! Catch hold of every concerned oppressor and obtain whatever is due to you. I Myself am the witness against the oppressors.'"
Repayment of Dues of Believers from Unbelievers and Vice Versa
It is mentioned at the end of the aforesaid tradition that a Quraishite man asked the Imam (a.s.), "If some dues are to be paid to a faithful by an unbeliever what will he obtain from the latter who will be in hell?"
The Imam (a.s.) replied, "A proportionate cut will be made in the sins of the believer and its punishment will be added to the chastisement of the unbeliever."
The Quraishite inquired, "If a Muslim has to obtain his right from
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another Muslim how will it be retrieved?"
The Imam replied, "A proportionate cut will be made in the good deed (reward) of the oppressor and it will be added to the reward of the latter whose dues had remained unpaid."
Again the Quraishite asked, "What if there is no good in the scroll of the oppressor?"
Imam (a.s.) said, "A proportionate cut will be made in the sins of the oppressed and its punishment will be added to that of the oppressor."
Cut in Punishment Equal to Right
It must not go unmentioned that if an unbeliever has to get his right from a Muslim, since the unbeliever is not qualified to obtain a believer's good, the demand of divine justice will be that a proportionate cut be made in the punishment due to the unbeliever. For a further understanding of this problem please refer to the story of a Jew who had to be paid five Qiraan from a worshipper believer. It has been mentioned in this book earlier.
Fear of the Claim of Rights
Imam Zainul Aabedeen (a.s.) has been quoted in Layaliul Akhbar at p. 548 that on the Day of Resurrection, the hand of a person will be held and raised high so that all could see it. Then it will be announced, "If anyone has to take his dues from this person he should come forward and take it." No other thing will be more difficult than this situation for the people in the field of Mahshar that one's acquaintances should see one. He will fear lest they may not claim their unpaid dues from him.
Most Poor on the Day of Judgement
In the same book, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) is reported to have said to his companions, "Do you know who is poor?" They replied, "He among us is poor who does not have any money nor any property or assets." The Holy Prophet replied, "In fact, the poor in my Ummah is the one who will bring with him his prayers, fasts, Zakat and Hajj but he had also given a bad name to somebody, had taken someone's property unjustly or had shed somebody's blood wrongly or had
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beaten someone unlawfully. So all of his good (rewards) will be distributed to the aforesaid claimers in proportion to their usurped rights until all of his good will be finished and yet he will remain indebted. Then the sins of the rightful claimers will be thrown in the account of the indebted fellow."
Dealing Based on Grace
The person, who will be showered with Divine Mercy, will, even though he remains suspended in the station of people's rights, as he will have to repay some unpaid rights he will be dealt with gracefully. At the time some persons will be drowning in their own perspiration. The Most Merciful Allah will, and then show to the gathering a palace of paradise. Then a voice will be heard, "O people! Who claim any right from this one of my servants! Listen. If you desire to dwell in this heavenly palace then, give up your dues and free him."
Truly, a man who behaves straight with God, his dealing remains straight everywhere. How it is ever possible that God may not straighten it? That is why Imam Sajjad (a.s.) weeps, "O God! Who except You will save and protect me tomorrow from the claimers of their rights.
Come, let us all also pray, "O Lord! Please deal with us on the basis of Your Grace and Generosity and Kindness." The Imam had taught a prayer to Abu Hamzah Thumali in which it is mentioned at many places: My God! I beseech Your Grace and Mercy.
The Cistern of Kauthar
The Quran says,
Surely We have given you Kauthar, (108:1)
One of the Islamic matters about which there is specific mention in the Holy Quran and so also in both Shia and Sunni narrations is The Pool of Kauthar: "That abundant good which has been granted by the Lord of the Universe to His Messenger Muhammad Mustafa (s.a.w.s.)."
The length of this cistern, as mentioned earlier, is equal to the
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distance from Sana to Basra. Cups equal to the number of stars in the sky will be on its bank, which will be filled by the hands of Houries and will be served to the Believer. These cups will be of various kinds; some will be made of heavenly silver and some of flint glass.
Kauthar, Heavenly Wine - Springs of Milk and Honey
According to some narrations, this Hauz or cistern will be divided into three parts:
Heavenly wine, milk and honey will be flowing in streams.
Anyway, it is certain that the contents of this cistern of the Holy Prophet will be sweeter than honey and cooler than ice. Glory to God. What to talk of the cistern the drinking from which will be very pleasing and after drinking which one will ever be thirsty.
And quench our thirst from the Cistern of his ancestor, by his cup and by his hand…(Dua Nudbah)
Shaykh Shustari has, in Khasais, and other tradition writers too, have in their works, mentioned that the distributors of the Pool of Kauthar will be the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.) and that every believer will get the water of Kauthar.
Kauthar becomes Happy with the Mourners of Husain (a.s.)
The mourners of Husain (a.s.) have one additional distinction with respect to the Pool of Kauthar. Imam Sadiq (a.s) says, "The mourners of Husain (a.s.) will on arrival at the Pool of Kauthar make the pool happy."
For more details please refer to the first part of the late Khaybani's book Muharram Wa Waqaiyal Aiyaam.
The Ears Acquainted with the Heavenly Song
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) has said, "The Lord of the universe has created a thousand tress around this pool. Every tree has three hundred and sixty branches full of leaves and every leaf gives out (releases) different songs. If you want to hear those sweet and
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pleasing sounds, then you must make your ears worthy of it, that is, you should not lend your ears to worldly music and the non-sense that accompany it."
Appearance of Muhammad and Aale Muhammad (a.s.)
Owner of the Liwaul Hamd flag and the praised position (Maqam-e-Mahmood)
One of the stations of Qiyamat will also be that of appearance of the grandeur and greatness of Muhammad and the progeny of Muhammad (a.s.).
Liwaul Hamd means the flag the high span of which will be equal to the distance covered in a thousand years' journey. There will be three parts in that flag and each one of them will be equal to the distance between the east and west. It is mentioned in another narration that every part of that flag will be bigger than the sun and the moon. On one of them will be written 'In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful', on the second, 'Praise be to Allah the Lord of the worlds' and on the third, 'There is no god except Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah'.
All the messengers, prophets, pious and righteous people and the faithful will camp beneath that flag the bearer of which will be the conqueror of Khaibar Amirul Mo-mineen Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.).
The Pulpit of the Medium (Wasilah)
"And bring near to the Wasilah"
In the aforesaid words of the prayer, 'Wasilah' means that particular pulpit of light, which will be established in the field of Mahshar. It will have one thousand steps and every step would be cemented with another by emerald, chrysolite, ruby and gold and all these precious things will be from paradise. The topmost step will be reserved for the last Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and the one below it will be for the immediate legatee of the Holy Prophet, Amirul Mo-mineen Ali (a.s.) and those lower will be for Ibrahim (a.s.) and other messengers and legatees according to their ranks.
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Praised Position (Maqam-e-Mahmood)
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) will occupy the pulpit so elegantly and will be initiating the praise of Almighty Allah in such a magnificent way that none of the formers and the latters will have ever heard such praise. After the said glorification of the Lord Almighty, the Holy Prophet will say to the angels, the messengers, the righteous people and the faithful, "What to say about the fortune whereby of the first person of the realm of existence who he may remember on this high place. O Lord! Place us among this pious group." Read this sentence carefully in the Ziyarat of Ashura:
I beseech Allah for reaching the Maqam-e-Mahmood (the praised stage) which (O Aale Muhammad!) God has reserved for you.
This high station is the reward of the Holy Prophet's waking during nights and early rising at dawn:
And during a part of the night, pray Tahajjud (the midnight prayer) beyond what is incumbent on you; maybe your Lord will raise you to a position of great glory (Maqam-e-Mahmood). (17:79)
The Holy Prophet did not rest during nights for ten years till dawn and he worshipped so much that his legs became swollen.
Ali Ibne Abi Talib, the Distributor of Paradise and Hell
At the said Maqam-e-Mahmood, the most beautiful angel will come to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and salute him and say, "I am Rizwan, the keeper of paradise." Then he will submit the keys of paradise to the Holy Prophet. Thereafter a very fearsome and ugly angel will approach the Holy Prophet and submit the keys of hell to him. The Holy Prophet will entrust all the keys to the Amirul Mo-mineen Ali (a.s.). The Amir (a.s.) will come to the Sirat Bridge and only he will go to paradise those he permits. The leaping flames of hellfire will drag others to Hell.
The Holy Prophet will tell Amirul Mo-mineen, "O Ali! The obedience of the hell fire to you is much more than the obedience of
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a slave to his master."
Sirat Bridge
And most surely those who do not believe in the hereafter are deviating from the way. (23:74)
Sirat too is one of the things belief in which is obligatory and it is one of the Essentials of Faith. So one must have an overall faith in it.
The literal meaning of Sirat is 'Path'! Those people who had remained on the right path, that is, who had not deviated from the right way of truth, honesty and righteousness will, in the Hereafter too, pass securely and safely on the path over hell. Some of them will cross that bridge as swiftly as lightning, some like mounted men and some falling and rising. Briefly speaking, they will cross that bridge in the same way in which they had crossed the path of their lives in the world.
A Thousand Bridles of Hell in the Hands of a Thousand Angels
Explaining the Holy Verse:
And hell is made to appear on that day. On that day shall man be mindful, and what shall being mindful (then) avail him? (89:23)
The Holy Prophet is reported to have said, "On the Day of Resurrection, hell will be brought forth in such a manner that it will have a thousand bridles and every bridle will be held by a thousand angels. Thus a million angels will be dragging hell. Hell will be shrieking and flames will be leaping high from it. It will encircle the entire gathering in Mahshar like the bezel of a ring. People of hell will be so restless that some of them will be almost dead. At that time will come the Command of God to bring forth Sirat. A bridge will be raised over hell and each and everyone will have to pass over it without any exception. The following verses (Surah Maryam 19:71-72) explain this matter:
And there is not one of you but shall come to it; this is an unavoidable decree of your Lord.
And We will deliver those who guarded (against evil), and We will
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leave the unjust therein on their knees.
Both the people of paradise and the people of hell will have to cross that bridge. Then the Holy Prophet said, "There will be seven valleys in that path and there will be some stations in every valley and every station will be of a length of seventeen thousand farsakhs (1 farsakh=6 km) and seventy thousand angles will be posted in every valley. All will have to cross all of these valleys compulsorily."
The first Valley
Ties of kinship, trust and Wilayat
You will be stopped at the beginning of the bridge. "O the one who had broken off relations with your father and mother and brother!" Bad consequences of bad behaviour with these close relatives do appear even before death like decrease in lifespan and removal of bountifulness from wealth. One will be asked about this offence in Qiyamat at the start of Sirat also. The Holy Quran asserts:
And be careful of (your duty to) Allah, by Whom you demand one of another (your rights), and (to) the ties of relationship; (4:1)
If anyone of your close relatives becomes ill, visit him, help him if he is poor and needy. Support him if required. Do visit him at appropriate hours without fail.
Dishonesty in Wealth and Talk
Another station is that of trustworthiness. It is not concerned only with money. If someone tells you something and also says that it should be kept secret and then if you tell it to someone else then also you have done a dishonest thing (a breach of trust).
A gathering is a trust. That is whatever is disclosed to you in a private gathering is considered a trust with you.
If you have dishonoured or disgraced somebody, then you have been dishonest with him. For example, someone pledged his house with you and took a loan from you. Now, if he returns your money at the fixed time and you do not return his house to him, you have committed dishonesty, because, it will be an excessive use (contrary
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to contract conditions). Similarly, if you have taken someone's house or shop on hire or lease you must vacate the said premises as soon as the period ends. In short, be the dishonesty verbal or in deed, you will be questioned about it.
Permit of the Wilayat of Ali (a.s.) for Crossing the Sirat
One more station in the very first valley, which has been mentioned in many Sunni and Shia narrations, is the Wilayat of Ali (a.s.). In commentaries like that of Thalabi, the explanation of verse:
And stop them, (37:24)
Is shown as: Stop them! They will be asked also about the Wilayat of Ali, that is, whether or not they were friendly with Ali (a.s.)?
Hamuyuni and Tabari both are famous Sunni scholars. They have said that the Holy Prophet remarked, "O Ali! The one who will possess the permit of your Wilayat (friendship) will cross the bridge."
There are many other narrations also which we omit for brevity sake.
Second Valley -Prayer
After crossing the first valley (Wilayat, Trust and Family relations) man will reach the second valley where he will be asked about daily prayers (Salat), prayers for Signs (such as eclipses) and missed prayers etc. as hinted earlier.
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said, "The one who missed prayers will not receive my intercession. The last Will of Imam Sadiq (a.s) was, "Our intercession can never reach those who underestimated the value of Prayer",[1] for example, who prayed Morning Prayer at sunrise or just before it, or offered Afternoon Prayers near the sunset. Such people will also not get the intercession of the Infallibles (a.s.). Then what to say about those who do not pray at all? "
[1] Safinatul Bihar.
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It is mentioned in narrations that one who gives up prayers dies thirsty and he will also rise thirsty on the Day of Judgement.
Teach the Prayer to Children and make them Habituated to it
A point which I want to emphasize and which I wish that all should know and convey it to others also is the responsibility, which is on us with regard to our children. We must make our children habituated to prayers even before they become adult. It is incumbent on all of us to train our children in such a manner they may become regular worshippers. There is no doubt in it that we will get its reward. The reward of whatever good deeds the children do before majority (as a result of the parents' efforts) will reach the parents. Even after the children become adults, their parents will benefit by their good works, as God will be pleased with the parents who trained their children nicely.
Reciting 'Bismillah' by a Child Ends the Chastisement of his father
You might have heard that once a messenger was passing by a graveyard with his companions. At one spot, the Prophet told his companions, "Walk away from this spot quickly because the person in this grave is being punished." One year thereafter, that messenger was again passing with the same companions by the same graveyard but then there was no sign of any chastisement. The messenger said to God, "O Lord! How is it that now this body is not being punished?" Came a voice, "He had a son. After this man died, people took his son to a Madressa where the teacher taught the child to recite 'Bismillah-ir-Rahmaan-ir-Raheem'. So when the child recited this and remembered Me with my attributes of Rahman (kind) and Rahim (Merciful) We too removed from this child's father his punishment as he was the means of this child's birth."
Thus a child's prayers and worship acts also benefit the parents. So it is our duty and the first demand of Amr Bil Maaroof and Nahy Anil Munkar (Commanding of good and prohibition of evils) that we should pay our attention first to our children and thereafter to other
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near and dear ones.
O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a fire whose fuel is men and stones; (66:6)
Third Valley - Khums and Zakat
If someone had failed to pay even one dirham of Khums or Zakat (poor tax) then he will be stopped in the third valley. There are many narrations regarding those who do not pay Zakat. In one of them the Infallibles (a.s.) have said, "God will make 'aqraa' overpower the fellow who did not pay Zakat and it will cling to his neck." (When a python becomes too much full of poison its hair fall down and such a gigantic bald python is called 'aqraa' in Arabic).
In another narration, the Imam says, "If a farmer does not pay Zakat on his land, the same land along with all of its seven layers turns into a heavy stone clung to his neck.
Similarly, it is mentioned that Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) will, in the time of his appearance, kill the one who stopped Zakat payment.
So beware! Not a single dirham of Zakat should remain unpaid because, if you had collected gold, silver and wealth and had not paid the Zakat for it, those dirhams and dinars will be made red hot in hellfire for branding the sides of that offender.
On the day when it shall be heated in the fire of hell, then their foreheads and their sides and their backs shall be branded with it; this is what you hoarded up for yourselves, therefore taste what you hoarded. (9:35)
By the way, let it also be understood that there is no difference between the Zakat of wealth and the Zakat of body. You should pay the Zakat of your body (Fitrah) during the night of Eid-ul-Fitr.
When the Intercessor himself will become the Opponent (claimant)
Now remains the problem of Khums. Narrations in this matter show that this questioning will be harsher than that regarding Zakat. Only one of many such narrations is sufficient for emphasis. In Kafi and
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in Tahzeeb and also in Man Laa Yahzaruhul Faqih, it is written that Imam Ja'far Sadiq (a.s) said, "On the Day of Judgement, that hour will be extremely hard for people when those entitled to Khums will raise their claims and they will ask their dues from those who did not pay the same." It is enough (for showing the importance of this matter and the seriousness of this offence) to mention that those who are intercessors will come up as opponents.
Fourth Valley - Fasting
There will be questioning about the fasts of the Holy month of Ramadhan in the fourth valley.
Fast is a shield against fire.
The Holy Imam (a.s.) said that one who fasts gets two pleasures: The first is at the time of breaking the fast (sunset) when one gets a very pleasing feeling. Another is at the time of death or while crossing the Sirat when he or she will meet his or her Lord.
Fifth Valley - Hajj
If a person, during any period of his life, gets the ability to perform Hajj (according to relevant conditions) and yet he does no perform it, then he will be stopped in this valley. Rather, on the basis of a narration, there are two groups who will be told at the time of their death:
You are dying as a Jew or a Christian (non at as a Mulim).
Those two groups consist of people who did not pay the due Zakat and those who did not perform Hajj. It is enough for the condemnation of one who does not perform obligatory Hajj to say that the Lord of the Universe has, in the Holy Quran, used the word unbeliever for him:
And pilgrimage to the House is incumbent upon men for the sake of Allah, (upon) every one who is able to undertake the journey to it; and whoever disbelieves, then surely Allah is Self-sufficient, above any need of the worlds. (3:97)
No more discussion on these subjects is advisable as, by so doing,
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we will be going out of the discussion of Principles of Faith. Our only intention is to provide their list to most of the believers.
Sixth Valley - Ritual Purity
Ibne Abbas is reported to have said that Taharat (ritual purity) means all the three types of cleansing, that it, Wuzu (ablution), Ghusl (bath) and Tayammum (dry ablution). Some tradition writers have said that what is meant is absolute cleanliness. If someone is not regular in cleaning (women must especially take care of their cleanliness at particular times, otherwise) such persons will be stopped in the sixth valley for questioning in this regard. Rather, it is also found in some narrations that, as mentioned by us earlier, that being careless about cleanliness results in the punishment of the squeeze of the grave.
Seventh Valley - Oppression
This valley is also called the Valley of Justice and the Valley of People's Rights. In the Holy Quran, it is called Mirsad, which means ambush:
Most surely your Lord is watching (in ambush). (89:14)
If anyone was slapped unjustly the offender will be detained in this valley for five hundred years and his bones will be crushed as a punishment for this crime.
O shopkeeper! What right have you to beat your servant? O teacher! On what legal ground are you punishing a child whereby it leaves bruised on the child's body? O Mr. Husband! Why are you beating your wives? From where did the husband get a right to whip his wife?
Of course, there are some exceptions. But such circumstances are rare and they are out of our subject and hence not discussed here. Otherwise we would have dealt with them also. The Quran says:
And (as to) those (women) on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them (but only to the extent that there is no bleeding and no limb breaks); then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great. (4:34)
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Forty Years Imprisonment and Forty Years of Chastisement and Scolding
In short, who is there who can claim that he has never breached and trampled the rights of others? The Infallible (a.s.) has said, "If somebody has withheld someone's right, for example, not returned his trust then he will be detained in the valley for forty years and that nothing will be said to him. He will keep crying and weeping during all this time. Then an announcer will announce, 'This is the fellow who kept some property of others with him.' Then he will be reprimanded for another forty years. Then he will fall down in hell."
Of course, this punishment will be awarded in case his scroll of deeds had no good deed. Otherwise, his good will be, proportionately, given to the rightful claimant as mentioned earlier. It is mentioned in some narrations that the reward of seven hundred units of prayers will be given for non-payment of single dirham.
A Strange Story about Burning in Barzakh
It is written in Mustadrak of Noori that according to what is mentioned in Anwaar-ul-Maziyyah (by Syed Gayasuddin Najafi, a Shia jurisprudent and a famous scholar among Imamiyah): In our village situated near Hilla there lived a man named Muhammad bin Abi Azeenah. He was the trustee of a mosque. He used to attend that masjid daily as a routine. One day, when he did not come to mosque, we inquired about him. We came to know that he was ill. We wondered very much because on the very previous day, we had seen him hale and healthy. When we went to see him, we found him burnt from head to feet. He used to faint; them become conscious and again faint. In one such interval, I asked him what had happened to him? He replied: Last night in my dream I was shown Sirat and then I was ordered to walk over it. So I proceeded. In the beginning the ground under my feet was levelled. Then I found that it has become thin. Initially, it was soft but later on it turned very sharp. I was putting my steps very slowly, balancing myself to avoid falling. Dark flames of fire from beneath leapt upwards. I observed that many people were dropping down like leaves in autumn. Once I felt that there was nothing except a hair like rope under my feet. The
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suddenly the fire dragged me to it and I also fell down in that cave of fire. The more I tried to come up the more I was going down. (Hellfire has the quality of drawing people to it, and that, according to a narration; the depth is equal to the length of a seventy-year journey). As soon as I realized that I was about to be finished, I remembered that whenever I was falling or stumbling or falling, I used to exclaim O Ali! And saying O my master, O Amirul Mo-mineen, save me. I felt inspired to look upward. So when I looked up I found that a saintly person was standing by the side of the Sirat. He extended his hand, caught me and fetched me out. I submitted, "O Master! I am burnt down. Please help me." The Imam passed his Holy hand over my body from my knee to femur. Suddenly I woke up to find that particular part of my body had no sign of burning and that it had healed but the rest of my body was burning.
That person remained bedridden for three months, weeping and complaining. Various medicines were given by a number of doctors and he became healthy after three months when new flesh appeared on his body. It is also written in the book of Mustadrak that whenever that person was describing this even he was getting fever and was trembling.
Doubtlessly there is only one medicine and it is to cling to the Wilayat of the pious Ahle Bayt (a.s.). Imam Reza (a.s.) has promised that he will guide the visitors of his shrine on the bridge of Sirat. Moreover, Imam Husain (a.s.) is also reported to have given many good tidings to those who cling to the Wilayat of Ahle Bayt (a.s.) with regard to Sirat. So much so that, in one narration, Imam Sadiq (a.s) is reported to have said that the Chief of Martyrs (Imam Husain) will obtain salvation of Muchtar (r.a.) also.
Intercession
Another thing, which has been accepted as an essential is the belief in intercession on the Day of Judgement. Those pious persons who have attained nearness to God and who are also respectable in the Divine view will hold the hand of the fallen weak and unable ones to free them from the chains and shackles of hell. It can also happen that they will raise someone's rank in paradise. For instance, a man
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enters paradise due to his good deeds but as he got a lower rank he is unable to be benefited by nearness to Muhammad and Aale Muhammad (a.s.). So the Pure Imams (a.s.) will intercede on their behalf and get a higher rank for them. In brief, everyone is in need of such intercession.
The Entire Creation including Messengers will need the Intercession of Prophet Muhammad
According to Biharul Anwar, Abu Aiman is reported to have said that he once requested Imam Baqir (a.s), "O Son of the Messenger of Allah! You saints have made people proud (careless) by promising intercession to them." This infuriated the Imam. He said, "Woe unto you. On the Day of Resurrection, all the formers and the latters, including even messengers, will be in need of the intercession of my great grandfather, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.). Have you become proud imaging that you need no intercession?"
Greater Intercession is the Prerogative of Only Muhammad and Aale Muhammad (a.s.)
The main intercession is the intercession by Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and the Aale Muhammad (a.s.). Rest of intercessors are branches of the main one. This is to convey that they got this privilege because of the former. For example, among the rest of the intercessors are scholars and righteous people who will help many in entering paradise. Can they ever be other than the followers of Muhammad and Aale Muhammad (a.s.)? Likewise, among the intercessors will be the faithful. The Infallible (a.s.) says that every believer will intercede in favour of a hundred persons. From where did the believers get this honour? Only from Muhammad and Aale Muhammad (a.s.). Also for instance, the intercessors will also include the Syeds. Have they not been given this respectable position only due to their belonging to the Holy Progeny? Similarly the Holy Quran and the Holy mosques will also intercede on the Day of Resurrection. They too are among the symbols of the aforesaid Holy persons.
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Intercession at Every Stage
The main place of intercession is the field of Mahshar (Qiyamat). But there are evidences to show that intercession is effective not only in Barzakh but also in this world. For example, some kind of calamity is about to fall at a certain place but that trouble is removed as a result of the intercession of Hazrat Valiul Asr (a.t.f.s.). Or, for instance, a body is under chastisement in the grave (barzakh) but someone from his relatives in the world approaches the Holy Ahle Bayt (a.s.) and after much weeping makes them a medium. The Merciful God pardons the aforesaid dead relative or friend due to the holiness of the said saints. If all our said masters will intercede God will surely forgive us. Many such events have taken place. In this connection, Martyr Dastghaib Shirazi has, in his commentary of Surah Najm quoted two events. Those who wish may refer to the chapter 'Shafat by Hazrat Abul Fazl Abbas'. The story of Syed Humairi is also to be found in many books.[1]
Student who Became a Doctor
An event of healing by Muhammad and Aale Muhammad (a.s.) is also recorded in our world and that is the story of Haji Mirza Khalil. It is a recent event. Some aged people even today may remember it. At first Haji Mirza Khalil was a student in Madressa Darus Shifa in Qum. Once when he was sitting in his room, an old lady came running anxiously and said, "My mistress has a serious heart trouble. Do you know of any medicine?" The Haji who had no concern with medical science, at once replied, "Give such and such medicine to her." Next day he saw people coming to him with plates full of tasty foods as compensation for his prescription. Thereafter neighbours knew that a very knowledgeable doctor has arrived in the Madressa who cures serious illnesses only through prescriptions. As a result, people began to rush to the Haji's room. He also thought that the arrangement wouldn't do. So he purchased Hakim Momin's book 'Tohfaa' and after studying it, engaged in the work of a medical
[1] Refer Gunahane Kabirah by the same author. Published in English under the title of 'Greater Sins'.
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practitioner regularly. He became an expert physician soon and people took him to Tehran and he remained in that profession for long. Once he thought of going to Kerbala but he was not in a hurry for it. One night, he saw someone in his dream who was telling him, "If your intention is to visit Kerbala, then make haste for there is a likelihood of a ban on visits to the Holy Place after about two months (and the same happened)."
An Indian Syed Lady and Leprosy
The late Haji Khalil proceeded towards Kerbala within two months and witnessed what he had seen in his dream and understood that it was a true dream. He stayed in Kerbala for quite a long time and continued his medical practice there also. One day, two ladies came to him. One of them showed him her hand, which had a strange kind of wound on it. The Haji said, "This illness is called Khorah, which has reached the bone and hence become incurable." That lady returned very disappointed. But her companion came back and said, "O Haji! Did you not recognize that lady?" "No," said the Haji. She said, "That woman is a Syed lady and she is one of the Indian princesses. Her longing for Ziyarat of Husain (a.s.) has dragged her upto Iraq along with all her wealth. Now she has also become poor due to this ailment since long. You too have made her hopeless!" The Haji said, "Please bring her back at once." When that lady returned, the Haji said, "O respected madam! Though this ailment is very complicated and hard, I will give you some medicines. Insha Allah you will soon recover."
So the treatment began and the lady's hand was cured. After this, that lady was so impressed by the Haji that she stayed in his premises and behaved like a kind mother with him.
You will Die after Ten Days
After a few days, Haji Khalil saw the same person in his dream that he had seen earlier (and who had advised him to hasten to Kerbala). Now he told the Haji, "You will fall ill and die after ten days." Haji made his will. He became ill after a few days and his condition turned for the worse until on the tenth day; he was almost dead.
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When the Haji was breathing his last, that Syed lady came up to him. Seeing the Haji's serious condition she became very fearful. She told the people not to touch the Haji until she returned. She proceeded directly to the Holy tomb of Imam Husain, caught hold of the enclosure and said, "O Grandfather! I will obtain the Haji from you. Please take back his life from Almighty God." Then she wept so much that she fainted. In her consciousness she saw that the Imam (a.s.) was telling her, "O My Daughter! What has happened to you? The lifespan of the Haji has ended and the time of his death has arrived." That lady persisted, "I know nothing of it. I want the Haji from you."
Double Life Due to Blessings of Husain (a.s.)
The Imam (a.s.) said, "All right. Since you insist so much, I am praying to Almighty Allah. If He wills, He will return the Haji to this world." After a short time, the Imam smiled and said, "God has answered my prayer and He has returned the Haji to the world and has also doubled his lifespan." At that time the Haji was thirty years old. Thereafter he died at the age of ninety years. During that period he had four sons, one of them being the great Jurist Al-hajj Mirza Husain and another was a famous doctor.
Briefly concluding, when the Syed lady heard this good tiding and returned to Haji's residence, she found him sitting in a good condition. He exclaimed, "O respected Syed Madam! May God give you a great good reward."
One of the admonitions mentioned in Haji Khalil's will was his instruction to his son that he must take care of Syeds, especially their respected and honourable ladies, as they are very esteemed in the highest court of Almighty Allah.
There are many similar examples in books. In Darus Salaam of Iraqi, the last chapter of which is about wonders resulting from the medium of Ahle Bayt (a.s.) there is a story of a child who had died after falling from the ceiling of his house.
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Our Hope is Closely Connected with the Intercession of the Holy Prophet
(O Mercy for the Mankind!) What fear is there to the wall of the community when a personality like you is its support?
What fear can there be of ocean waves for one whose ship is being navigated by Noah (a.s.)![1]
It is mentioned in the third volume of Biharul Anwar that the Holy Prophet said, "A prayer of every messenger is necessarily answered. Earlier messengers made that prayer concerning this world and God accordingly answered it here and fulfilled their aim. I have left that prayer for the Hereafter so that the sinners of my community may be forgiven." Let us hope that this great mercy will include us also.
There are several narrations regarding intercession by Fatima Zahra (s.a.) based on the sayings of the Holy Prophet and the Holy Imams (a.s.). According to one of such narrations, the Infallible (a.s.) has said, after making a mention of Fatima's arrival in the field of Mahshar and her welcome there, "Every woman who never missed an obligatory prayer, compulsory fast, Hajj and payment of Zakat dues and whose husband was also not displeased with her, will certainly be entitled to the intercession of Fatima Zahra (s.a.)."
Intercession is the Anchor of Hope, not of Pride
Of course it must always be remembered that intercession must not make one proud or careless, imagining that as the said intercession is certainly from the Ahle Bayt (a.s.) we may do whatever we please. No, it is never so. There are some sins, which result in man's departure from this world as an unbeliever. In that case there is no question of intercession. Again there are some sins the punishment for which must be suffered in hell till the sinner is purified and only thereafter he may become qualified for intercession. So one must remain fearful of God at every moment and along with it, he must also remain hopeful of the Most Merciful's Mercy.
[1] Persian Couplets.
source : http://www.imfi.ir
