Requirements of Love for Ahl-ul-Bayt (Part 3)

9. Passing the Sirat
Immunity from sliding on the Sirat is a result of loving Ahl-ul-Bayt.

The Holy Prophet has said:

 أثْبَتُكُمْ قَدَماً عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ أشَدُّكُمْ حُبّاً لأِهْلِ بَيْتِي

The most steadfast of you on the Sirat is one who loves more my Ahl-ul-Bayt. [30]


He has also said:
مَا أحَبَّنَا أهْلَ الْبَيْتِ أحَدٌ فَزَلَّتْ بِهِ قَدَمٌ إلأ ثَبَّتَتْهُ قَدَمٌ أُخْرَى، حَتَّى يُنْجِيَهُ اللهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ


Everyone who loves Ahl-ul-Bayt, even if one of his feet slides, another foot will keep him steadfast and firm until Allah will save him on the Judgment Day.
10. Ahl-ul-Bayt and Forgiveness
Love in human being is an actuating motor which motivates him to go forwards to his Beloved. This love compels him to purify himself from all pollutions, repent and turn to all moral virtues. If we read in narrations that love for Ahl-ul-Bayt will lead to forgiveness of our sins, we should not have the impression that it will give us permission to commit sins. If our love for Ahl-ul-Bayt be true, it will give us the ability to purify ourselves.
Al-Hurr ibn Yazid al-Riyahi, with a moment of reflection, loved Imam Hussein (A.S). This love made him give up his high-rank position and the worldly riches. He repented a true repentance so that his sins were forgiven and he was engaged in jihad, the most praiseworthy deed, and experienced the most sacred truth, that is martyrdom. This is only the result of love! Based on this reality, Allah’s Messenger said:

حُبُّنَا أهْلَ الْبَيْتِ يُكَفِّرُ الذُّنُوبَ وَيُضَاعِفُ الْحَسَنَاتِ

Love for Ahl-ul-Bayt will remove all sins and increase virtues. [31]


Imam Hassan (A.S) has said:

وَإنَّ حُبَّنَا لَيُسَاقِطُ الذُّنُوبَ مِنِ إبْنِ آدَمَ كَمَا يُسَاقِطُ الرِّيحُ الْوَرَقَ مِنَ الشَّجَرِ

Surely, love for us will make sins fall down from the children of Adam as the wind make the leaves fall down from trees. [32]
 
Imam Sadiq (A.S) has said:
مَنْ أحَبَّنَا للهِ وَأحَبَّ مُحِبَّنَا لأ لِغَرَضِ دُنْياً يُصِيبُهَا مِنْهُ وَعَادَى عَدُوَّنَا لأ لإحْنَةٍ كَانَتْ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهُ ثُمَّ جَاءَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَعَلَيْهِ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ مِثْلَ رَمْلِ عَالِجٍ وَزَبَدِ الْبَحْرِ غَفَرَ اللهُ تَعَالَى لَهُ

Whoever loves us and our devotees for the sake of Allah, but not for a worldly purpose, and antagonizes our enemy, not because of personal rancor, his sins will be forgiven on the Judgment Day even if they are as many as the sands of a desert and foams of seas. [33]
11. Associating with Ahl-ul-Bayt
Shiites who have received the baptism of Ahl-ul-Bayt due to their love for them expect to be associated with Ahl-ul-Bayt on the Judgment Day. This truth is supported by the Holy Qur’an:
And whoever obeys Allah and the Apostle, these are with those upon whom Allah and the Apostle, these are with those upon whom Allah has bestowed favors from among the prophets and the truthful and the martyrs and the good, and a goodly company are they! (5:69)
Imam Reza (A.S) is reported as saying:
حَقٌّ عَلَى اللهِ أنْ يَجْعَلَ وَلِيَّنَا رَفِيقاً لِلنَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ، وَحَسُنَ أُولَئِكَ رَفِيقاً

It is up to Allah to make our friend associate with the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs and the righteous. What a goodly company are they!
The Holy Prophet has said:
مَنْ أحَبَّنَا أهْلَ الْبَيْتِ فِي اللهِ حُشِرَ مَعَنَا

One who loves us for the sake of Allah will be associated with us. [34]
Aba-Dharr went to the presence of the Holy Prophet saying, “I love certain people but I do not like them practically.” The Holy Prophet said, “Man will associate with one whom he loves.” Aba-Dharr said, “I love Allah, His messenger, and his Ahl-ul-Bayt.” The Holy Prophet said,
الْمَرْءُ مَعَ مَنْ أحَبَّ


“You will associate with one whom you love.”[35]

Imam Hussein (A.S) has said:

مَنْ أحَبَّنَا للهِ وَرَدْنَا نَحْنُ وَهُوَ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا هَكَذَا ـ وَضَمَّ إصْبِعَيْهِ

 Whoever loves us for the sake of Allah; we will meet the Prophets together. [36]

Yazed ibn Muawiyah has reported: I was in the presence of Imam Baqir (A.S) when a man who had come from Khorassan on foot entered the room. Showing blisters on his feet, the man said, “By Allah, nothing but love for Ahl-ul-Bayt has brought me here.” The Imam said,
وَاللهِ، لَوْ أحَبَّنَا حَجَرٌ حَشَرَهُ اللهُ مَعَنَا


“By Allah, even if a stone love us, Allah will make it associate with us.”[37]

Hakam ibn Utaybah has reported: I was in the presence of Imam Baqir (A.S) while the room was packed with people. All at once, an old man with a walking-stick in his hand entered the room saying, “Peace be upon you, O son of Allah’s Messenger, and the Mercy of Allah and His blessings.” He said nothing more. The Imam greeted him back. Addressing the crowd, the old man said, “Peace be upon you.” He kept silent. Those who were present greeted him back. Then the old man turned to the Imam and said, “By Allah, I do love you and love your devotees. By Allah, I love you not for a worldly purpose but my love is pure. By Allah, I hate your enemies. By Allah my hate is not because of a personal rancor. By Allah, what is lawful to you is lawful for me and what is unlawful to you is unlawful to me. Now, may I be your ransom. Is there any hope of salvation for me?” The Imam said, “Come near, come near.” The Imam made the old man sit beside him. He then said, “O gentleman! A man came to my father, `Ali ibn al-Hussein (A.S) asking the same question. My father replied: ‘If you die, you will meet Allah’s Messenger, Ali, Hassan and Hussein and Ali ibn al-Hussein. Your heart will become glad and your eye bright. When your death comes, you will welcome it happily with the honorable recorders; and if you survive, Allah will make you with us in the highest rank.’”
Hearing this, the old man started crying loudly which made those present cry too. At this moment, the Imam wiped the tears off the old man’s face. Addressing the Imam, the old man said, “O son Of Allah’s Messenger! May I be your ransom. Give me your hand.” The old man kissed the Imam’s hand, put it on his eyes, bid him farewell and went away.
The Imam who was looking behind him turned to the crowd and said, “Anyone who wishes to see a man of Paradise should look at this man.”[38]
12. Paradise, Reward of Love for Ahl-ul-Bayt
Love for Ahl-ul-Bayt, which is a heavenly gift, is to act according to Ahl-ul-Bayt’s teachings. The reward of such will be Paradise.
In an excellent narration, Imam Sadiq (A.S) is reported as saying: When the Holy Prophet was traveling; he dismounted and performed five prostrations. When he mounted again, one of the companions asked, “O Allah’s Messenger! We notice something which you did for the first time.” The Holy Prophet said, “Yes, Gabriel came to me and gave the good news: Ali is a man of Paradise; that is why I prostrated before Allah. When I raised my head, he said: Fatimah too is among the people of Paradise; that is why I prostrated, and when I raised my head he said: Hassan and Hussein are the leaders of the youths of Paradise; that is why I prostrated before Allah, and when I raised my head, he said that the devotees of them too are people of Paradise. That was why I prostrated myself. When I raised my head, he said that the devotees of their devotees too are people of Paradise. I again prostrated myself before Allah.”[39]
Imam Zayn al-Abedin once became ill. A group of companions came to visit him asking after his health. He thanked Allah and asked after their health. They all said, “By Allah, we love you.” The Imam said:
مَنْ أحَبَّنَا للهِ أسْكَنَهُ اللهُ فِي ظِلٍّ ظَلِيلٍ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، يَوْمَ لأ ظِلَّ إلأ ظِلُّهُ


Whoever loves us for the sake of Allah will be placed by Allah under a shade on the Judgment Day when there is no shade save that of Him. [40]
Yunus said to Imam al-Sadiq (A.S), “My love and friendship for you and the way Allah made me know your rightly is more beloved to me than the whole world.” When he finished, the sign of vexation was seen in the face of the Imam who said,
يَا يُونُسُ! قِسْتَنَا بِغَيْرِ قِيَاسٍ. مَا الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا؟ هَلْ هِيَ إلأ سَدُّ فَوْرَةٍ أوْ سِتْرُ عَوْرَةٍ؟ وَأنْتَ لَكَ بِمَحَبَّتِنَا الْحَيَاةُ الدَّائِمَةُ

“O Yunus! You made an improper comparison. What is the world and what is therein? Is it anything but eating to full or covering the private parts while you will attain eternal life by love for us?”
Truly, love for Ahl-ul-Bayt is the source of eternal life which begins with a happy death and continues until eternity:
ألأ وَمَنْ مَاتَ عَلَى حُبِّ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ بَشَّرَهُ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ بِالْجَنَّةِ، ثُمَّ مُنْكَرٌ وَنَكِيرٌ. ألأ وَمَنْ مَاتَ عَلَى حُبِّ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ يُزَفُّ إلَى الْجَنَّةِ كَمَا تُزَفُّ الْعَرُوسُ إلَى بَيْتِ زَوْجِهَا
Whoever dies with love for the Household of Muhammad will be given the good news of entering Paradise by first the Angel of Death and then by Munkar and Nakir (Two grave-interrogating angels). Whoever dies with the love of the household of Muhammad will be taken to heaven just as a bride is taken to the bridegroom’s house. [41]


Keep Company with Ahl al-Bayt
Muhammad ibn Walid says: I asked Imam al-Javad (A.S), “Is there any reward for doing a service for Ahl al-Bayt?” The Imam said, “Imam al-Sadiq (A.S) had a slave who used to look after his mule when the Imam would the mosque. One day, he was sitting beside the mule when a group of people came from Khorassan. A man from among them said to the slave, “Can you tell Imam al-Sadiq (A.S) to replace you with me and in exchange for this I will give all my wealth to you?” The slave said, “I should first consult with the Imam.” The slave came to the Imam saying, “May I be your ransom. You know about my long service to you. Do you prevent me from having a wealth if Allah gives such a wealth to me?” The Imam said, “I will give to you of my wealth and keep you from others.” The slave told the Imam the whole story. The Imam said, “If you are reluctant to serve us and that man is willing to do so, we will accept it.” When the slave went away, the Imam called him saying, “For your long services, I will advise you and then you can choose between the two. When the Judgment Day comes, the Holy Prophet will be hanging from Allah’s light and Amir al-Mu’menin will resort to Allah’s Messenger; the Imams will resort to Amir al-Mu’menin; and our followers (Shiites) will resort to us; they will enter where we will enter; and they will abide where we will abide.” The slave said, “No, I will not leave you but remain at your service, for I prefer the Hereafter to this world.”
The salve came out of the house with his answer. The man who was waiting for the slave said, “You have come back with an expression in your face different from that you went in!” The slave told him the story and took him to Imam al-Sadiq (A.S) who accepted his loyalty and ordered one thousand Dinars to be given to the slave. After a while, the man rose up to bid the Imam farewell. He asked him to pray for him and the Imam did.”[42]
13. Love for Ahl-ul-Bayt Puts Hearts at Rest
Love for Ahl-ul-Bayt not only resolves difficulties at the point of death and the Hereafter but also relieves worldly problems. One of the blessings of the love for Ahl-ul-Bayt is that it puts the hearts at rest which is a blessing for the man who lives in this world of anxiety and restlessness.

 Imam Ali (A.S) says:
إنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ  قَالَ: مَنْ أحَبَّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَأحَبَّ أهْلَ بَيْتِي صَادِقاً غَيْرَ كَاذِبٍ وَأحَبَّ الْمُوْمِنِينَ شَاهِداً وَغَائِباً، ألأ بِذِكْرِ اللهِ يَتَحَابُّونَ

When the verse ‘now surely by Allah’s remembrance are the hearts set at rest” was revealed, Allah’s Messenger said: This is about one who loves Allah and His Messenger, loves my Ahl-ul-Bayt truly not falsely, loves believers both in the past and in the future. By Allah’s remembrance they love one another. [43]
Truly one whose love for Allah, the Holy Prophet, Ahl-ul-Bayt and the believers is true has tranquility and peace of mind. Traitors, thieves, oppressors, usurpers, bribe-takers, usurers, ogles, adulterers, corrupts, defrauders, deceivers, and sinners can never enjoy peace of mind and tranquility. However, the lovers of Ahl-ul-Bayt who are clean from all these pollutions enjoy peace of mind and their hearts are set at rest.
Imam Sadiq (A.S) reports: The Holy Prophet asked Ali (A.S), “Do you know about whom the following verse was revealed: those who believe and whose hearts are set at rest by the remembrance of Allah; now surely by Allah’s remembrance are the hearts at rest? Imam Ali(A.S) replied, “Allah and His Messenger know better.” The Holy Prophet said,
نَزَلَتْ فِي مَنْ صَدَّقَ لِي وَآمَنَ بِي وَأحَبَّكَ وَعَشِيرَتَكَ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ وَسَلَّمَ الأمْرَ لَكَ وَلِلأئِمَّةِ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ

“It is about one who acknowledges me, believes in me, loves you and your family, and submits his affairs to you and the Imams after you.”[44]
Anas ibn Malik, an authentic narrator for Sunnis, says: the Holy Prophet recited the above-mentioned verse; saying, “Do you know who these people are?” I said, “O Allah’s Messenger, who are they?” The Holy Prophet said, “We are Ahl-ul-Bayt and our followers.”[45]