When Imam `Ali ibne Musa Al-Rida (a s) was requested to make his way to the city of Tus (present day Mashad) and was ordered to be the heir-apparent of Maumn Rashid, a group of the Shi`a came to see him and requested permission to enter into his presence. The Imam (a s) asked his servant who the people at the door were, to which the servant replied that, They claim that they are the Shi`a of `Ali (a s). The Imam (a.s.) did not give them permission to enter into his presence. This event continued o?n the second day, third day and continued on for a period of two months ? every day they would come, ask for permission to see the Imam (a s) to which he would not give them the permission. o?n the final day this group of people told the servant that, Tell the Imam that if we are to return back to our home town after being in the city of us for two months and the people ask us if we had a chance to visit the Imam or not and we tell them that he did not give us the permission to meet him then none shall respect us. The servant went to the Imam (a s) and told him what these people said and at this point, the Imam (a s) permitted them to meet him. After they entered into the presence of the Imam (a s) and wanted to sit, the Imam (a s) did not give them the permission to sit down. These people protested and said, O Son of the Messenger of Allah! What have we done to you that you are acting in this way towards us?? The Imam (a s) replied to them, ?You claim that you are the Shi`a of `Ali (a s) whereas the true Shi`a of `Ali are people like Imam Hasan (a s) Imam Husain (a s) Abu Dharr, Salman, Miqdad and Muhammad ibne Abu Bakr.? These people replied, We ask forgiveness, what else can we say?? The Imam replied to them, Say that you are the lovers of `Ali (a s)? When the people said this, then the Imam (a.s.) ordered his servant to show these people kindness.
Biharul Anwar, Volume 65, Page 157
Explanation of the Hadith:
Truly this hadith is o?ne which (spiritually) moves us. We normally state that we (Iran) are the country of the true followers (Shi`a) of `Ali ibne Abi Talib (a s) where as those people who had met and had contact with the Imam (a s) are much better than we are.
Thus, it is clear that this claim to be a Shi`a is something very enormous. In this hadith we see that Imam as-Sadiq (a s) has stated (in relation to the characteristics of the Shi`a) that:
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?Truly my companions are those people who are the strongest in Wara` and who fear the punishment of Allah and who are hopeful of the reward of Allah these are my companions.?
As we know, Taqwa is a lower level of Wara` since Taqwa means that we keep away from sins whereas Wara` means that we keep away from doubtful things and as we see Imam as-Sadiq (a s) has told us that, ?My companions are those who are the strongest in Wara` and who are fearful of Allah and who are also hopeful of the reward of Allah and surround themselves with the commandments of Allah.?
We have consider the various issues that come up around us as trivial things such that with the performance of the Tawassul, Ziyarat and Du`a, we consider ourselves as Shi`a. We do not wish to lower the worth and value of Tawassul and Ziyarat however there are many other things which must be performed ? and this is what it means to be a Shi`a.
To be a Shi`a means to be self-sacrificing, to show altruism, to possess cognizance of Allah, to be a person of Taqwa, etc? and our entire life, our house, our market place, our religious programs, our travels, our entire presence must all take o?n the aroma of Wilayah (of the Ahlul Bait).
In these regards we must first start with ourselves and our families and we must implement the Wilayat which Imam Rida (a.s.) has stated and thus, those who make this claim (that they are Shi`a) must first ask repentance for lying! Thus, we must first start with ourselves and must realize that to be a Shi`a of `Ali (a s) does not o?nly mean the performance of these mere acts (of Tawassul, Ziyarat, Du`a).
We hope that Allah gives us the ability to truly be the lovers of Allah in place of just claiming this station such that when we claim that ?We are the Shi`a of `Ali? we are in that form of a Shi`a that would be pleasing to Imam as-Sadiq (a.s.) and to Imam al-Rida (a s).
and all praise belongs to Allah ? o?nly the mistakes are mine.
