Ahl al-Bayt and Submission

Ahl al-Bayt’s submission to Allah’s will is not a state that they are compelled to reach; rather, it is a truth that they have attained its climax due to personal efforts. The station of submission is said to be the last of several stations a spiritualist follower has to go through. It is said that few spiritualist followers have reached this station, for it especially belongs to the Holy Prophet, the Holy Imams and the saints. Imam °usayn (a.s) is reported as saying:

إنَّا أهْلُ بَيْتٍ نَسْألُ اللهَ فَيُعْطِينَا، فَإذَا أرَادَ مَا نَكْرَهُ فِيمَا يُحِبُّ رَضِينَا.

We, the Ahl al-Bayt, beseech Allah and He grants us. So, if He wills to do that which we abhor, provide that it will bring about His pleasure, we submit.[1]

`Al¡’ ibn K¡mil says: I was sitting in the presence of Imam al-¯¡diq (a.s) when a woman from the house of the Imam started wailing. The Imam rose up and then sat down saying, “Surely we belong to Allah and unto Him do we return.” He kept on repeating so until he said,

إنَّا لَنُحِبُّ أنْ نُعَافَى فِي أنْفُسِنَا وَأوْلأدِنَا وَأمْوَالِنَا، فَإذَا وَقَعَ القَضَاءُ فَلَيْسَ لَنَا أنْ نُحِبَّ مَا لَمْ يُحِبَّ اللهُ لَنَا.

We favor safety as regards life, property and our children but when there is Divine decree, we do not love what Allah does not love for us.[2]

In this connection, Imam al-B¡qir (a.s) says:

نَدْعُو اللهَ فِي مَا نُحِبُّ، فَإذَا وَقَعَ الَّذِي نَكْرَهُ لَمْ نُخَالِفِ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِيمَا أحَبَّ.

We call on Allah for what we love to be given to us but if something happens that we do not love, we will not oppose it.[3]

Qutaybah al-A`sh¡ says: I went to Imam al-¯¡diq (a.s) to visit his child but found the Imam sad at the threshold. I said, “May I be sacrificed for you! How is your child?” The Imam said, “By Allah, he does not feel well.” Then he went inside the house, delayed for an hour and then came out with no sign of sorrow in his face. I thought his child was better. So, I asked, “How is the child?” The Imam answered, “He passed away.” I said, “May I be sacrificed for you! How is it that when he was alive, you were sad but now that he has passed away you are no longer sad?” The Imam said,

إنَّا أهْلَ الْبَيْتِ نَجْزَعُ قَبْلَ الْمُصِيبَةِ، فَإذَا وَقَعَ أمْرُ اللهِ رَضِينَا بِقَضَاءِهِ وَسَلَّمْنَا لأِمْرِهِ.

We, Ahl al-Bayt, wail before calamity comes; but when Divine decree comes, we are pleased with it and submit to His Decree.[4]

Ibr¡h¢m Ibn Sa`d reported: Imam Zayn al-`ªbid¢n (a.s) heard wailing of mourners from his house while a group of people were gathering around him. He went inside and then returned. He was asked if the wailing was for death of anyone. He answered affirmatively. The attendants condoled him, as they were surprised at his patience. The Imam said:

إنَّا أهْلَ الْبَيْتِ نُطِيعُ اللهَ فِي مَا نُحِبُّ وَنَحْمَدُهُ فِي مَا نَكْرَهُ.

We, Ahl al-Bayt, obey Allah for what we love and praise Him for what is unpleasant.[5]