Who is Shia ?Who is Shia ?……The true follower The true follower

of Ahlul Bayt of Ahlul Bayt (a)(a)

Perhaps... one may think that the Perhaps... one may think that the Shia of Ahlul Bayt (a) is someone Shia of Ahlul Bayt (a) is someone who is born in a shia family, or who is born in a shia family, or

someone who participates in the someone who participates in the azadari of Imam Husain (a)… azadari of Imam Husain (a)…

someone who only claims to love someone who only claims to love Prophet (s) and His Ahlul Bayt Prophet (s) and His Ahlul Bayt (a)... but has nothing to do with (a)... but has nothing to do with obedience to the teachings of obedience to the teachings of

Islam…Islam…

: ، الحلماء ، ه والل شيعتي السالم عليه علي ، : اإلمام الحلماء ، ه والل شيعتي السالم عليه علي اإلمام ، وأمره بطاعته العاملون ، ودينه ه بالل ، العلماء وأمره بطاعته العاملون ، ودينه ه بالل العلماء

صفر ، زهادة أحالس ، عبادة أنضاء ، ه بحب صفر المهتدون ، زهادة أحالس ، عبادة أنضاء ، ه بحب المهتدونهجد الت من هجد الوجوه الت من ......الوجوه

Imam Ali (a): My Shias ! By God ! The Imam Ali (a): My Shias ! By God ! The forbearers, the knowledgeable of God forbearers, the knowledgeable of God and His religion, actively following and His religion, actively following Him and His orders, guided by His Him and His orders, guided by His love, appear weak because of love, appear weak because of worship, seekers of seclusion for worship, seekers of seclusion for their piousness, of pale complexion their piousness, of pale complexion because of their night prayers…because of their night prayers…

... ... ، الذكر من فاه الش ذبل ، البكاء من العيون ، عمش الذكر من فاه الش ذبل ، البكاء من العيون عمشفي ة باني الر تعرف ، الطوى من البطون في خمص ة باني الر تعرف ، الطوى من البطون خمصكل مصابيح ، سمتهم في ة هباني والر ، كل وجوههم مصابيح ، سمتهم في ة هباني والر ، وجوههم

......ظلمةظلمة……their eyes are weak because of weeping, their eyes are weak because of weeping, their lips are dry because of remembrance their lips are dry because of remembrance of God, their stomachs are sunken because of God, their stomachs are sunken because of eating in moderation, their faces reveal of eating in moderation, their faces reveal Godliness, and simplicity is apparent from Godliness, and simplicity is apparent from their appearance, they are guiding lights in their appearance, they are guiding lights in every darkness…every darkness…

... ... ، يفتقدوا لم غابوا وإن ، يعرفوا لم شهدوا ، إن يفتقدوا لم غابوا وإن ، يعرفوا لم شهدوا إنهاه أال ، األكرمون وإخواني األطيبون شيعتي هاه اولئك أال ، األكرمون وإخواني األطيبون شيعتي اولئك

إليهم إليهم شوقا شوقا

……they are not recognized even they are not recognized even when seen, they are not when seen, they are not remembered when not present, remembered when not present, these are my pure shias and my these are my pure shias and my respected brothers. Ah ! I wish so respected brothers. Ah ! I wish so much to meet them…much to meet them…

[al-Amali, Toosi, p. 1189, hadith # 576]

ه : الل قى ات من إال شيعتنا ما السالم عليه الباقر ه : اإلمام الل قى ات من إال شيعتنا ما السالم عليه الباقر اإلمام Xوأداء ع خش والت واضع بالت إال يعرفون كانوا وما ، وأداءX وأطاعه ع خش والت واضع بالت إال يعرفون كانوا وما ، وأطاعه

ه الل ذكر وكثرة ه األمانة الل ذكر وكثرة األمانة

Imam al-Baqir (a): Imam al-Baqir (a): No one is our No one is our shia except by the fear of God shia except by the fear of God and His obedience, and they are and His obedience, and they are not recognized except by their not recognized except by their humbleness, reverence, humbleness, reverence, trustworthiness, and abundance trustworthiness, and abundance of remembrance of God.of remembrance of God.

[Tuhaf al-Uqool, hadith # 295][Tuhaf al-Uqool, hadith # 295]

الورع : أهل شيعتنا السالم عليه الصادق الورع : اإلمام أهل شيعتنا السالم عليه الصادق اإلمامهد الز وأهل ، واألمانة الوفاء وأهل ، هد واالجتهاد الز وأهل ، واألمانة الوفاء وأهل ، واالجتهاد

اليوم في ركعة وخمسين إحدى أصحاب ، والعبادة اليوم في ركعة وخمسين إحدى أصحاب ، والعبادةيلة يلةوالل ......والل

Imam al-Sadiq (a) : Our shias are Imam al-Sadiq (a) : Our shias are those who are pious and men of solid those who are pious and men of solid opinion, they are loyal and opinion, they are loyal and trustworthy, they are men of piety and trustworthy, they are men of piety and worship, they pray fifty one rak’ats worship, they pray fifty one rak’ats prayers during day and night…prayers during day and night…

، ، ، أموالهم ون يزك ، هار بالن الصائمون ، يل بالل ، القائمون أموالهم ون يزك ، هار بالن الصائمون ، يل بالل القائمون م محر كل ويجتنبون ، البيت ويحجون م محر كل ويجتنبون ، البيت ويحجون

……they are usually awake in the they are usually awake in the night, they observe fasts during night, they observe fasts during the day, they purify their property the day, they purify their property (by paying poor-rate) they perform (by paying poor-rate) they perform Hajj of Ka’aba, they abstain from Hajj of Ka’aba, they abstain from all that which is forbidden.all that which is forbidden.

[al-Bihar, v.68, p. 167, hadith # 23]

بكم : تذهب ال السالم عليه الباقر بكم : اإلمام تذهب ال السالم عليه الباقر اإلمامه الل أطاع من إال شيعتنا ما ه فوالل ، ه المذاهب الل أطاع من إال شيعتنا ما ه فوالل ، المذاهب

وجل وجلعز عز

Imam al-Baqir (a): You shouldn’t Imam al-Baqir (a): You shouldn’t be mislead by different views (in be mislead by different views (in Islam), for by God nobody is our Islam), for by God nobody is our shia except by obedience to God, shia except by obedience to God, the powerful and magnificent. the powerful and magnificent.

[al-Kafi, v.2, p. 73, hadith # 1]

: ... من علي شيعة السالم عليه الكاظم ... : اإلمام من علي شيعة السالم عليه الكاظم اإلمامفعله قوله فعله صدق قوله صدق

Imam al-Kazim (a) : … the Imam al-Kazim (a) : … the Shia of Ali (a) is the one Shia of Ali (a) is the one whose action testifies his whose action testifies his words.words.

[al-Kafi, v.8, p. 228, hadith # 290]

العارفون : هم شيعتنا السالم عليه علي العارفون : اإلمام هم شيعتنا السالم عليه علي اإلمام ، الفضائل أهل ، ه الل بأمر العاملون ، ه ، بالل الفضائل أهل ، ه الل بأمر العاملون ، ه بالل

وملبسهم ، القوت مأكولهم ، بالصواب وملبسهم الناطقون ، القوت مأكولهم ، بالصواب الناطقوناالقتصاداالقتصاد

Imam Ali (a): Our Shia are those Imam Ali (a): Our Shia are those who are gnostics of Allah, they who are gnostics of Allah, they act according to the orders of act according to the orders of God, they possess excellences, God, they possess excellences, they speak only truth, their food they speak only truth, their food is limited to gaining strength, is limited to gaining strength, their dress is simple….their dress is simple….

خولطوا ... ، ، وقد مرضى تحسبهم واضع الت خولطوا ... ومشيهم وقد مرضى تحسبهم واضع الت ومشيهموشدة هم رب عظمة من خامرهم بل ، بذلك هم وشدة وما هم رب عظمة من خامرهم بل ، بذلك هم وما

عقولهم منه وذهلت ، قلوبهم له طاشت ما عقولهم سلطانه منه وذهلت ، قلوبهم له طاشت ما سلطانه

...their behavior is humble, you think that ...their behavior is humble, you think that they have lost their senses, but its not like they have lost their senses, but its not like that, instead, the greatness of their Lord has that, instead, the greatness of their Lord has made them oblivion and His power has made them oblivion and His power has overwhelmed their hearts and taken over overwhelmed their hearts and taken over their intellects…their intellects…

تعالى ، ، ه الل إلى بادروا ذلك من اشتاقوا تعالى فإذا ه الل إلى بادروا ذلك من اشتاقوا فإذاوال ، بالقليل له يرضون ال ، ة كي الز وال باألعمال ، بالقليل له يرضون ال ، ة كي الز باألعمال

الجزيل له الجزيل يستكثرون له يستكثرون

……So when they strongly wish of Him, So when they strongly wish of Him, they promptly strive to do pure actions they promptly strive to do pure actions before God, the most High; they are before God, the most High; they are not happy with few good actions, and not happy with few good actions, and they never take their abundant good they never take their abundant good actions to be sufficient. actions to be sufficient.

[al-Bihar, v.78, p. 29, hadith # 96]

إنهم - - : يعة الش صفة في السالم عليه الباقر إنهم - - : اإلمام يعة الش صفة في السالم عليه الباقر اإلمام ، رزينة وأحالم ، أمينة صدور في ، حصينة ، حصون رزينة وأحالم ، أمينة صدور في ، حصينة حصون

رهبان ، المرائين بالجفاة وال ، البذر بالمذاييع رهبان ليسوا ، المرائين بالجفاة وال ، البذر بالمذاييع ليسواهار بالن اسد يل هار بالل بالن اسد يل بالل

Imam al-Baqir (a): (describing the Imam al-Baqir (a): (describing the attributes of Shias): They are like attributes of Shias): They are like strong fortress, their chests are strong fortress, their chests are trustworthy, they are men of prudence trustworthy, they are men of prudence and self-control, they are not and self-control, they are not extravagant, they are neither extravagant, they are neither oppressors nor ostentatious, they are oppressors nor ostentatious, they are devoted worshippers in night and brave devoted worshippers in night and brave like lion in day. like lion in day.

[Mishkat al-Anwar, p. 62]

من : شيعتنا من ليس السالم عليه الصادق من : اإلمام شيعتنا من ليس السالم عليه الصادق اإلمامالمصر في ويكون آالف فيه يكون مصر في المصر يكون في ويكون آالف فيه يكون مصر في يكون

منه منه أورع أورع

Imam al-Sadiq (a) : He is not Imam al-Sadiq (a) : He is not from our shia who lives in a from our shia who lives in a population of several thousand population of several thousand people and someone else is people and someone else is more pious than him among more pious than him among them. them.

[al-Bihar al-Anwar, vol.2, p. 80, hadith # 76]

قال : من شيعتنا من ليس السالم عليه الصادق قال : اإلمام من شيعتنا من ليس السالم عليه الصادق اإلماموآثارنا أعمالنا في وخالفنا وآثارنا بلسانه أعمالنا في وخالفنا بلسانه

Imam al-Sadiq (a): He is not from Imam al-Sadiq (a): He is not from our Shia who accepts us by only our Shia who accepts us by only his tongue and is against our his tongue and is against our actions and our legacy. actions and our legacy.

[al-Bihar al-Anwar, v.68, p. 164, hadith # 13]

السالم عليه الصادق السالم اإلمام عليه الصادق ثالث : : :اإلمام عند شيعتنا ثالث : امتحنوا عند شيعتنا امتحنواوعند ، عليها محافظتهم كيف الصلوات مواقيت وعند عند ، عليها محافظتهم كيف الصلوات مواقيت عندأموالهم وإلى ، عدونا عن لها حفظهم كيف أموالهم أسرارهم وإلى ، عدونا عن لها حفظهم كيف أسرارهم

فيها إلخوانهم مواساتهم فيها كيف إلخوانهم مواساتهم كيف

Imam al-Sadiq (a) : Test our shias on three Imam al-Sadiq (a) : Test our shias on three occasions: At the time of prayers as to how occasions: At the time of prayers as to how they safeguard their prayers, and when they safeguard their prayers, and when they have a secret as to how they keep they have a secret as to how they keep them from our enemies and by their them from our enemies and by their properties (and wealth) as to how they properties (and wealth) as to how they spend on their brethren.spend on their brethren.

[al-Bihar, v.83, p. 22, hadith # 40]

عف : الصادقالصادقاالمام االمام من علي شيعة إنما السالم عف : عليه من علي شيعة إنما السالم عليه

ثوابه ورجا ، لخالقه وعمل ، جهاده واشتد ، وفرجه ثوابه بطنه ورجا ، لخالقه وعمل ، جهاده واشتد ، وفرجه بطنهجعفر شيعة فاولئك اولئك رأيت فإذا ، عقابه وخاف جعفر ، شيعة فاولئك اولئك رأيت فإذا ، عقابه وخاف ،

Imam al-Sadiq (a): Verily the shia of Ali is the Imam al-Sadiq (a): Verily the shia of Ali is the one who is purified of (influence of) stomach one who is purified of (influence of) stomach and sexual desires, and intense is his and sexual desires, and intense is his struggle...and his action is for his creator, and struggle...and his action is for his creator, and his hope is for divine reward and he is afraid his hope is for divine reward and he is afraid of his end so if you see someone like that, then of his end so if you see someone like that, then that is the shia of Ja’far (Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq).that is the shia of Ja’far (Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq).

[al-Kafi, v.2, p. 233, hadith # 9]

من : شيعتنا من ليس السالم عليه الصادق من : اإلمام شيعتنا من ليس السالم عليه الصادق اإلمام : ، القبر في والمساءXلة ، المعراج Xأشياء أربعة ، : أنكر القبر في والمساءXلة ، المعراج Xأشياء أربعة أنكر

فاعة والش ، والنار ة الجن فاعة وخلق والش ، والنار ة الجن وخلق

Imam al-Sadiq (a) : He is not from Imam al-Sadiq (a) : He is not from our shias who denies four things: our shias who denies four things: Mairaj Mairaj (heavenly ascension of (heavenly ascension of Prophet (s)), and questioning in Prophet (s)), and questioning in grave, and creation of heaven and grave, and creation of heaven and hell and hell and shafa’at shafa’at (intercession). (intercession).

[al-Bihar al-Anwar, v.69, p. 9, hadith # 11]

يعرفون : شيعتنا إنما السالم عليه الصادق يعرفون : اإلمام شيعتنا إنما السالم عليه الصادق اإلماموا : يصل وبأن ، لإلخوان والبذل خاء بالس شتى وا : بخصال يصل وبأن ، لإلخوان والبذل خاء بالس شتى بخصال

ونهارا ليال الخمسين ونهارا ليال الخمسين

Imam al-Sadiq (a): Verily our shias Imam al-Sadiq (a): Verily our shias are known for their following are known for their following attributes: By their generosity attributes: By their generosity towards their brethren and by towards their brethren and by their praying of fifty one rak’ats of their praying of fifty one rak’ats of prayers during night and day.prayers during night and day.

[Tuhaf al-Uqool, hadith #303]

خال : من شيعتنا من ليس السالم عليه الكاظم خال : اإلمام من شيعتنا من ليس السالم عليه الكاظم اإلمامقلبه يرع لم قلبه ثم يرع لم ثم

Imam al-Kazim (a) said : He is Imam al-Kazim (a) said : He is not from our shia whose heart not from our shia whose heart is not afraid of God in his is not afraid of God in his loneliness. loneliness.

[Basaer al-Darajat, p. 247, hadith # 10]

المتباذلون : شيعتنا السالم عليه علي المتباذلون : اإلمام شيعتنا السالم عليه علي اإلمامتنا مود في ون المتحاب ، واليتنا تنا في مود في ون المتحاب ، واليتنا في

أمرنا إحياء في أمرنا المتزاورون إحياء في ……المتزاورون

Imam Ali (a) : Our Shias…they Imam Ali (a) : Our Shias…they spend on each other for the sake spend on each other for the sake of our of our wilayahwilayah, they love each , they love each other for the sake of our love, other for the sake of our love, they visit each other for the they visit each other for the sake of keeping alive our affair…sake of keeping alive our affair…

لم …… رضوا وإن ، يظلموا لم غضبوا إن لم الذين رضوا وإن ، يظلموا لم غضبوا إن الذينلمن سلم ، جاوروا من على بركة ، لمن يسرفوا سلم ، جاوروا من على بركة ، يسرفوا

خالطواخالطوا

……they never oppress if they they never oppress if they become angry with someone and become angry with someone and they never become extravagant they never become extravagant in their happiness, they are in their happiness, they are mercy for their neighbors, and a mercy for their neighbors, and a source of peace and security for source of peace and security for those who live with them. those who live with them.

[al-Kafi, v.2, p. 236, hadith # 24]

So…it is not easy to claim for a So…it is not easy to claim for a Muslim to be a shia of Ahlul Bayt Muslim to be a shia of Ahlul Bayt

(a)…(a)…

It demands a lot of continuous It demands a lot of continuous struggle and hardship in the way struggle and hardship in the way of God to become a true follower of God to become a true follower

of Ahlul Bayt (a)...of Ahlul Bayt (a)...

That is why the Prophet of God That is why the Prophet of God (s) has said…(s) has said…

هذا : ... ، علي يا وآله عليه الله صلى ه الل هذا : ... رسول ، علي يا وآله عليه الله صلى ه الل رسولقد نه أ جالله جل ه الل عن يخبرني جبرئيل قد حبيبي نه أ جالله جل ه الل عن يخبرني جبرئيل حبيبي

خصال سبع وشيعتك ك محب خصال أعطى سبع وشيعتك ك محب ......أعطى

Prophet of God (s): O Ali…my Prophet of God (s): O Ali…my friend here Gabriel has informed friend here Gabriel has informed me from God, the magnificent that me from God, the magnificent that certainly He has blessed your certainly He has blessed your lovers and your shia with seven lovers and your shia with seven attributes…attributes…

والنور ... ... ، الوحشة عند واالنس ، الموت عند فق والنور الر ، الوحشة عند واالنس ، الموت عند فق الرعند والقسط ، الفزع عند واألمن ، الظلمة عند عند والقسط ، الفزع عند واألمن ، الظلمة عند

الصراط على والجواز ، الصراط الميزان على والجواز ، ، ، الميزان

……ease at the time of death… and ease at the time of death… and familiarity in the loneliness…and familiarity in the loneliness…and light in the darkness (of grave)… light in the darkness (of grave)… and peace in the fear (of the day and peace in the fear (of the day of judgment) …and justice when of judgment) …and justice when the deeds will be judged… and the deeds will be judged… and crossing of the (bridge) crossing of the (bridge) siratsirat… …

بثمانين االمم من الناس سائر قبل ة الجن بثمانين ودخول االمم من الناس سائر قبل ة الجن ودخول عاما عاما

……And entry in the paradise And entry in the paradise eighty years before all other eighty years before all other human beings.human beings.

[al-Bihar al-Anwar, v. 68, p. 4, hadith # 9]

الفائزون : هم علي شيعة وآله عليه الله صلى الفائزون : عنه هم علي شيعة وآله عليه الله صلى عنهالقيامة القيامة يوم يوم

The Prophet of God (s): The The Prophet of God (s): The Shia of Ali, they will be Shia of Ali, they will be successful on the day of successful on the day of Judgment.Judgment.

[al-Amali, Toosi, p. 104, hadith # 72]