The Necessity of Getting to know Ahl al-Bayt in the Narrations

In the science of logic when ‘Presenter’ is being discussed, it is unanimously agreed that the presenter who starts to introduce a fact must be superior to the ‘presented’ so as to be able to present the fact as it really is.

After proving the Imamate of Ahl al-Bayt and the fact that they are the inheritors of the Prophet’s knowledge and inspired by Allah, we should say that which presenter is better than Ahl al-Bayt themselves in this universe to make them known? We have no option but Ahl al-Bayt for getting to know their character and knowledge, for no one has an all-encompassing knowledge about them.

Getting to know Ahl al-Bayt will lead to salvation, nearness to Allah and a true understanding of Islam. In this relation, Imam `Al¢ (a.s) says:

أسْعَدُ النَّاسِ مَنْ عَرِفَ فَضْلَنَا، وَتَقَرَّبَ إلَى اللهِ بَنَا، وَأخْلَصَ حُبَّنَا، وَعَمِلَ بِمَا إلَيْهِ نَدَبْنَا، وَانْتَهَى عَمَّا عَنْهُ نَهَيْنَا، فَذَاكَ مِنَّا وَهُوَ فِي دَارِ الْمُقَامَةِ مَعَنَا.

The happiest people are those who recognized our superiority and excellence, sought nearness to Allah through us, loved us sincerely, acted according to what we called for, and stopped doing what we have prohibited. Such people are from us and they will be with us in the eternal Paradise.[1]

Zara`ah says: I said to Imam al-¯¡diq (a.s): After getting to know Allah, which deed is most excellent? The Imam said:

مَا مِنْ شَيْءٍ بَعْدَ الْمَعْرِفَةِ يَعْدِلُ هَذِهِ الصَّلأة،َ وَلأ بَعْدَ الْمَعْرِفَةِ وَالصَّلأةِ شَيْءٌ يَعْدِلُ الزَّكَاةَ، وَلأ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ شَيْءٌ يَعْدِلُ الصَّوْمَ، وَلأ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ شَيْءٌ يَعْدِلُ الحَجَّ؛ وَفَاتِحَةُ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ مَعْرِفَتُنَا، وَخَاتِمَتُهُ مَعْرِفَتُنَا.

After getting to know Allah, nothing is equal to daily prayers. After prayer nothing is equal to paying the poor-rate; and after these nothing is equal to observing fasting, and after these nothing is equal to (going on) °ajj (ritual pilgrimage). Yet, the beginning and end of all is to get to know us.[2]

We should learn about the quality of prayer, poor-rate, fast and °ajj from Ahl al-Bayt in whose house the Qur’¡nic verses were revealed and who are the inheritors of the Prophet’s knowledge. This learning is not possible except by getting to know their culture, teachings and injunctions.

The Holy Prophet has been reported as saying:

مَنْ مَنَّ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ بَمَعْرِفَةِ أهْلِ بَيْتِي وَوِلأيَتِهِمْ فَقَدْ جَمَعَ اللهُ لَهُ الْخَيْرَ كُلَّهُ.

He who has been favored by Allah to get to know my Ahl al-Bayt and their Imamate has certainly had all the good gathered for him by Allah.[3]

Reporting Imam al-¯¡diq (a.s) in the interpretation of the following verse:

ﯩ ﯪ ﯫ ﯬ ﯭ ﯮ ﯯ.

He grants wisdom to whom He pleases, and whoever is granted wisdom, he indeed is given a great good…

Ab£-Ba¥¢r says:

طَاعَةُ اللهِ وَمَعْرِفَةُ الإمَامِ.

It is to obey Allah and to get to know the Imams.[4]