Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.) and Humbleness

Humbleness is an outstanding feature in the lives of Ahl al-Bayt.
Ibn Masud reports: A person came to the presence of Allah’s Messenger and when he started to speak, he was trembling. The Holy Prophet (S) said, “Calm down; I am not a king.”192
Another person reports: A group of people and I went to the presence of the Holy Prophet (S) and said, “You are our master.” The Holy Prophet said, “Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, is the Master.”193
Abu-Basir reports: Imam al-Sadiq went to the public bath whose owner said, “Let me evacuate the public bath for you!” Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said, “No, it is not necessary. The pious believer does not bother for those things.”194
It is also reported that Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) went to a public bath. A person who had not recognized him said, “O gentleman! Rub me with this flannel!” Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) did so. At this time people who were in the bath introduced Imam al-Ridha to him, the man became ashamed; he made an apology and an attempted to draw himself aside. However the Imam calmed him with his words and kept on rubbing him with the flannel!195
Humility is like a seed, which when sown in the earth will bear abundant fruits. With their humility, the Ahl al-Bayt made the realm of obedience come to fuition. Some of these fruits are knowledge, awareness and vision. They have been chosen as leaders of guidance until the Judgment Day because of their in-depth insight into the truth of universe. Hence, all should be aware that to take lead ahead of them will cause perdition and to ignore them will cause bewilderment. The Holy Prophet has said: Do not take lead ahead of my Ahl al-Bayt, for you will come to perdition nor do your teach them, for they are more knowledgeable than you.196
He has also said: Be aware that Ahl al-Bayt are the wisest in childhood and the most knowledgeable in their maturity. They will never misguide you nor will they take you out of true guidance.197
Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) said to Salamah ibn Kuhayl and Hakam ibn Utaybah: You will never attain sound knowledge neither in the east nor in the west but with us, Ahl al-Bayt. 198
The Imam has also said: We, the Ahl al-Bayt, are treasures of Divine knowledge.199
Imam Husayn has said: We do not know why people harbor enmity against us while we are from the House of mercy, the tree of Prophethood and the source of knowledge.200
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) reports: When it was noontime, Ali ibn Husayn performed his prayer and then was engaged in invocations and greeted the Holy Prophet (S) and Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.) as follows: O Allah; Send greetings on Muhammad and on the descendents of Muhammad, the evergreen tree of Prophethood, the destination of the Divine messages, the academy where angels came to learn and know, the depository of wisdom, and the household of Divine Revelation.
Notes:
192. Makarim al-Akhlaq: 16
193. Sunan Abi-Dawud, 254/4
194. Al-Kafi: 503/6, H. 37
195. Al-Manaqib: 362/4
196. Al-Kafi: 294/1, H. 3
197. Bihar al-Anwar 23:144
198. Al-Kafi: 399/1, H. 3
199. Al-Kafi: 192/1, H. 3
200. Nuzhat al-Nadhir: 85