Excerpts from Qadi al-Numan’s work, Da’aim al-Islam

“Say (O Muhammad): No reward do I ask (for my favours)
except your love for my kith and kin” – Holy Qur’an, Sura 42, Ayat  23

“He who loves us will be with us on the Day of Judgement” – Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq

1. It is related from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq that a group of Shias visited him one day. One in the group addressed the Imam and spoke of a man who was with them.

“O Son of the Messenger of God: this man has love for you.”

On hearing these words, the lmam looked at the person and said:

“The best kind of love is the love for the sake of God and His Messenger. There is no gain in any other kind of love.”

The Imam then continued.

“Once the Ansars came to Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (s.a.s.) and said, ‘O Messenger of God! We were on the wrong path and Allah guided us through you. We were destitute and we prospered by your blessings. For this reason, you may ask of anything you desire from our belongings and we shall give it to you.’

At this, the following verse was revealed by Allah, ‘Say (O Muhammad): No reward do I ask (for my favours) except your love for my kith and kin’.

Moved to tears, Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq then raised his hands and exclaimed:

“Praise be to God, Who has exalted us above all.”

2. It is related of Imam Jafar as-Sadiq that one day he said to some of his followers:

“Should I not inform you of a meritorious deed which would save a person from the Day of Judgement? And should I not warn you of the evil deed which will plunge you headlong into Hell?”

He continued:

“The meritorious deed is your love for us and the evil deed is your hatred and enmity towards us.”

3. It is said that a group of people came from Khorassan to pay their homage to Imam Muhammad al-Baqir. Seeing both the feet of one of the visitors severely wounded he inquired about the nature of the injury. The man replied:

“O the Son of the Messenger of God! My feet have become sore with blisters because of the long distance I travelled on foot. I swear by God that nothing but the love for Ahl al-Bayt has brought me all the way here.”

The Imam said: “He who loves us will be with us on the Day of Judgement. Religion is nothing but love! God says. ‘Say (0 Muhammad): if you love God follow me. God will love you’.” (Sura 2, Ayat 31)

4. Imam al-Baqir is reported to have said, “At the time of death, when one is breathing his last, it is only the love of Ali that will be most beneficial to him.”

5. It is related that a man came to Imam Jafar as-Sadiq and informed him of a person who had died recently. He said, “O the Son of the Messenger of God! the deceased had great regard and love for you (the People of the House).”

The Imam replied:

“He who bears love for us, will be with us on the Day of Judgement. He will be under our care and be our companion. I swear this by God. I swear by God also that no one can love us until God purifies his heart and no one’s heart shall be purified until he accepts our Imamat. When he accepts us as Imam, God will save him from the penalty of his sins and from His wrath on the Day of Judgement. He who has accepted our Imamat will feel happy when his life reaches here.” (and the Imam pointed to his throat).

6. Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq is reported to have said, “A believer who bears love for us will come to no harm, poor though he may be, that he has no shelter over his head except a tree and has no food to eat except its leaves. Today, the state of the people is such that they have deserted us but it is you who have stayed with us.”

One, from amongst those who were seated there, said:

“May I sacrifice my life for your sake! We are assured that God will not treat us as He will treat the others.”

The Imam replied, “No, I swear by God this will never happen. There will be no honour or grace for them.”

7. It is related of Imam al-Baqir that he said:

“Verily, Paradise is anxious to receive the progeny of the Prophet and their followers. The splendour of Paradise will increase all the more by their arrival. If a servant of God prays between Rukn and Maqam Ibrahim to the extent that his limbs are torn apart but he does not accept the authority of Ahl al-Bayt and bears no love for them, then God will not accept his prayers.”

8. Imam al-Baqir is reported to have told his followers:

“When the life of any one of you reaches the throat you will feel extremely pleased.”

He continued to explain that the angel of death will come and say, ‘Whatever you desire, you shall receive and whatever you fear, you shall be kept safe from it.’

Then a door to Paradise will be opened out to him and the angel of death will say:

‘Behold your abode in Paradise. See the Messenger of God and Ali and Fatima and Hassan and Husayn who are your companions.’

9. It is reported that Imam al-Baqir was asked whether the following revelation of God referred to the chosen few or to all,

‘Say: O My servants who have transgressed against their own souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, for Allah forgives all sins. Lo! He is oft-Forgiving, most Merciful’. (Sura 39, Ayat 53).

Imam al-Baqir replied:

“This revelation especially refers to our followers.”

It is also reported that he said:

“On the Day of Resurrection, our followers will rise from their graves with their errors and sins, and mount the winged she-camel. Their stirrups will be bright with the Noor (light) and it will be easy for them to ride upwards. Their obstacles and difficulties will have been removed. Others will be full of fear but not they. Others will be drowned in misery and sorrow but not they. They will find shelter under the Divine Canopy and they will eat from the feast laid out on the table- spread, while others will be busily occupied in giving the accounts from their Book of Deeds.”

10. Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq one day addressed his followers and said:

“On the Day of Judgement, we shall hold the Prophet and you shall hold us. Where do you think you will then go?”

Someone from amongst the followers said:

“To Paradise, Inshallah.”

The Imam said. “Yes, I swear by God, to Paradise, Inshallah.”

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This reading has been adapted by Simerg from article “Love for the Imam”, translated  from the  Gujarati by Jehangir A. Merchant and Alnoor A. Bhatia, Ilm, Volume 5, Number 1 (July 1979). The translation published in Ilm was based on the Gujarati edition of Qadi al-Numan’s work, Da’aim al-Islam. Additional excerpts will be presented in future readings.