Shiites, who have received the baptism of Ahl al-Bayt due to their love for them, expect to be associated with Ahl al-Bayt on the Judgment Day. The Holy Quran supports this truth: And whoever obeys Allah and the Apostle, these are with those upon whom Allah and the Apostle, have bestowed favors from among the prophets and the truthful and the martyrs and the good, and a goodly company are they! (4:69)
Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) is reported as saying: 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: One who loves us for the sake of Allah will be associated with us.34
Abu-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.” Abu-Dharr said, “I love Allah, His messenger, and his Ahl al-Bayt." The Holy Prophet said, “You will associate with one whom you love.”35
Imam Husayn (a.s.) has said: Whoever loves us for the sake of Allah; we will meet the Prophets together.36
Yazid ibn Muawiyah has reported: I was in the presence of Imam al-Baqir (a.s) when a man who had come from Khorasan on foot entered the room. Showing blisters on his feet, the man said, “By Allah, nothing but love for Ahl al-Bayt has brought me here.” The Imam said, “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 al-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-Husayn asking the same question. My father replied: ‘If you die, you will meet Allah’s Messenger, Ali, Hasan and Husayn and Ali ibn al- Husayn. Your heart will become glad and your eyes 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 others present cry too. At this moment, the Imam wiped the tears off the old man’s face. The old man said to the Imam, “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
Notes:
34. Tafsir al-Ayyashi: 256/1, H. 189
35. Kifayat al-Athar: 300
36. Al-Amali 632, H. 1303
37. Tafsir al-Ayyashi; 167/1, H. 27
38. Al-Kafi: 76/8, H. 30
