To live with the love for Ahl al-Bayt

Therefore believe in Allah and His Apostle and the Light which we have revealed…

The Imam said:

يَا أبَا خَالِدٍ! النُّورُ، وَاللهِ، الأئِمَّةُ مِنْ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ 4 إلَى يَوْمِ القِيَامَةِ. وَهُمْ، وَاللهِ، نُورُ اللهِ الَّذِي أنْزَلَ. وَهُمْ، وَاللهِ، نُورُ اللهِ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَفِي الأرْضِ. وَاللهِ يَا أبَا خَالِدٍ، لَنُورُ الإمَامِ فِي قُلُوبِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أنْوَرُ مِنَ الشَّمْسِ الْمُضِيئَةِ بِالنَّهَارِ. وَهُمْ، وَاللهِ، يُنَوِّرُونَ قُلُوبَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، وَيَحْجِبُ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ نُورَهُمْ عَمَّنْ يَشَاءُ فَتُضِلُّهُمْ قُلُوبُهُمْ. وَاللهِ يَا أبَا خَالِدٍ، لأ يُحِبُّنَا عَبْدٌ وَيَتَوَلأنَا حَتَّى يُطَهِّرَ اللهُ قَلْبَهُ، وَلأ يُطَهِّرُ اللهُ قَلْبَ عَبْدٍ حَتَّى يُسَلِّمَ لَنَا وَيَكُونَ سِلْماً لَنَا؛ فَإذَا كَانَ سِلْماً لَنَا سَلَّمَهُ اللهُ مِنْ شَدِيدِ الْحِسَابِ وَآمَنَهُ مِنْ فَزَعِ يَوْمِ القِيَامَةِ الأكْبِرِ…

O Ab£-Kh¡lid, by Allah (I swear), the Imams are that light until the Judgment Day; and by Allah, they are the light of Allah in the heavens and on the earth. O Ab£-Kh¡lid! By Allah, the light of the Imam in the hearts of believers is brighter than the sun shining in daylight. By Allah, the Imams give light to the hearts of believers. Allah, may He be honored and glorified, hides their light from whomever He wishes whereby their hearts become dark. By Allah, O Ab£-Kh¡lid! No one loves us but those whom Allah has purified their hearts; and Allah does not purify a servant’s heart unless that servant surrenders himself to and is at peace with us. Therefore, if one is at peace with us, Allah will keep one safe from Reckoning and from fear on the Judgment Day.[1]

To live with the love for Ahl al-Bayt and to follow them in all material and spiritual aspects is like living the life of Prophets. Reporting the Holy Prophet, Imam al-B¡qir (a.s) says:

مَنْ أحَبَّ أنْ يَحْيَا حَيَاةً تُشْبِهُ حَيَاةَ الأنْبِيَاءِ وَيَمُوتَ مِيتَةً تُشْبِهُ مِيتَةَ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَيَسْكُنَ الْجِنَانَ الَّتِي غَرَسَهَا الرَّحْمَنُ، فَلْيَتَوَلَّ عَلِيّاً وَلْيُوَالِ وَلِيَّهُ وَلْيَقْتَدِ بِالأئِمَّةِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، فَإنَّهُمْ عِتْرَتِي خُلِقُوا مِنْ طِينَتِي. أللَّهُمَّ ارْزُقْهُمْ فَهْمِي وَعِلْمِي. وَوَيْلٌ لِلْمُخَالِفِينَ لَهُمْ مِنْ أمَّتِي؛ أللَّهُمَّ لأ تُنِلْهُمْ شَفَاعَتِي.

If one likes to live a life similar to Prophets, die as a martyr, and dwell in a Paradise all the trees of which are planted by Allah, one should accept the leadership of `Al¢, make friend with his friends and follow the Imams after him, for they are my household (Ahl al-Bayt) and they have been created from my essence. O Allah! Give a share of my understanding and essence to them. Woe to their enemies from among my ummah! O Allah, let not their enemies have my intercession.[2]