The Excellence, Qualifications and Attributes of Ahlul Bayt

            During the month of Moharram, most of us commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, peace be upon him, and his righteous companions.  Most of us try to visualize the scenes of Karbala and strive to feel the pain of our Imam, his family and his companions. What happened in Karbala is indeed quite unfathomable, nevertheless, by attempting to remember it every year and by learning more and more about the details of the events that occured prior and during Moharram of that year, we keep ourselves connected to our religion, to our Imams, to the Messenger of Allah and to God. We must each year, seek to outperform ourselves from previous years. 

        

         Through gaining knowledge and practicing the religion of Islam, the Islam of Ahlul Bayt, peace be upon them, we build and strengthen our faith in Allah.  Sincerity and clarity follow faith into our hearts, and through their presence in our hearts, our eyes, ears and minds, begin to sense reality and experience reality as it really is.

         Subsequently, the more vivid the reality appears to us, the more we could truly and thoroughly absorb and feel the events of Karbala.  We could truly and thoroughly understand the definitions of faith, monotheism, piety and devotion.

         One of the key factors that helps in clarifying the reality for us is understanding the status of our Imams. Only after we truly understand their positions and their nearness to Allah, only then we could begin to realize the bigger picture and admire their devotion; only then we could truly appreciate what they went through to keep the religion of Allah untainted and pure for us.  And only after we properly understand what they went through for us, we could begin to correctly and to the best of our abilities follow their teachings and guidelines. 

         Thus, in this post, I would like to present an Authentic hadith in which we can learn about the excellence and attributes of our Imams.

         Please do read this tradition multiple times. Each time different important elements within this hadith may stand out for you.  

            Since this is a relatively long hadith, I will post only its Arabic text and English translation. If you would like to read it in Farsi as well, please do not hesitate to message me and I will send it to you.

Arabic Text:

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ غَالِبٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ يَذْكُرُ فِيهَا حَالَ الْأَئِمَّةِ ع وَ صِفَاتِهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَوْضَحَ بِأَئِمَّةِ الْهُدَى مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِ نَبِيِّنَا عَنْ دِينِهِ وَ أَبْلَجَ بِهِمْ عَنْ سَبِيلِ مِنْهَاجِهِ وَ فَتَحَ بِهِمْ عَنْ بَاطِنِ يَنَابِيعِ عِلْمِهِ فَمَنْ عَرَفَ مِنْ أُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص وَاجِبَ حَقِّ إِمَامِهِ وَجَدَ طَعْمَ حَلَاوَةِ إِيمَانِهِ وَ عَلِمَ فَضْلَ طُلَاوَةِ إِسْلَامِهِ لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى نَصَبَ الْإِمَامَ عَلَماً لِخَلْقِهِ وَ جَعَلَهُ حُجَّةً عَلَى أَهْلِ مَوَادِّهِ وَ عَالَمِهِ وَ أَلْبَسَهُ اللَّهُ تَاجَ الْوَقَارِ وَ غَشَّاهُ مِنْ نُورِ الْجَبَّارِ يَمُدُّ بِسَبَبٍ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ لَا يَنْقَطِعُ عَنْهُ مَوَادُّهُ وَ لَا يُنَالُ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا بِجِهَةِ أَسْبَابِهِ وَ لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ أَعْمَالَ الْعِبَادِ إِلَّا بِمَعْرِفَتِهِ فَهُوَ عَالِمٌ بِمَا يَرِدُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ مُلْتَبِسَاتِ الدُّجَى وَ مُعَمِّيَاتِ السُّنَنِ وَ مُشَبِّهَاتِ الْفِتَنِ فَلَمْ يَزَلِ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى يَخْتَارُهُمْ لِخَلْقِهِ مِنْ وُلْدِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع مِنْ عَقِبِ كُلِّ إِمَامٍ يَصْطَفِيهِمْ لِذَلِكَ وَ يَجْتَبِيهِمْ وَ يَرْضَى بِهِمْ لِخَلْقِهِ وَ يَرْتَضِيهِمْ كُلَّ مَا مَضَى مِنْهُمْ إِمَامٌ نَصَبَ لِخَلْقِهِ مِنْ عَقِبِهِ إِمَاماً عَلَماً بَيِّناً وَ هَادِياً نَيِّراً وَ إِمَاماً قَيِّماً وَ حُجَّةً عَالِماً أَئِمَّةً مِنَ اللَّهِ يَهْدُونَ بِالْحَقِّ وَ بِهِ يَعْدِلُونَ حُجَجُ اللَّهِ وَ دُعَاتُهُ وَ رُعَاتُهُ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ يَدِينُ بِهَدْيِهِمُ الْعِبَادُ وَ تَسْتَهِلُّ بِنُورِهِمُ الْبِلَادُ وَ يَنْمُو بِبَرَكَتِهِمُ التِّلَادُ جَعَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ حَيَاةً لِلْأَنَامِ وَ مَصَابِيحَ لِلظَّلَامِ وَ مَفَاتِيحَ لِلْكَلَامِ وَ دَعَائِمَ لِلْإِسْلَامِ جَرَتْ بِذَلِكَ فِيهِمْ مَقَادِيرُ اللَّهِ عَلَى مَحْتُومِهَا فَالْإِمَامُ هُوَ الْمُنْتَجَبُ الْمُرْتَضَى وَ الْهَادِي الْمُنْتَجَى وَ الْقَائِمُ الْمُرْتَجَى اصْطَفَاهُ اللَّهُ بِذَلِكَ وَ اصْطَنَعَهُ عَلَى عَيْنِهِ فِي الذَّرِّ حِينَ ذَرَأَهُ وَ فِي الْبَرِيَّةِ حِينَ بَرَأَهُ ظِلًّا قَبْلَ خَلْقِ نَسَمَةٍ عَنْ يَمِينِ عَرْشِهِ مَحْبُوّاً بِالْحِكْمَةِ فِي عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَهُ اخْتَارَهُ بِعِلْمِهِ وَ انْتَجَبَهُ لِطُهْرِهِ بَقِيَّةً مِنْ آدَمَ ع وَ خِيَرَةً مِنْ ذُرِّيَّةِ نُوحٍ وَ مُصْطَفًى مِنْ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَ سُلَالَةً مِنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَ صَفْوَةً مِنْ عِتْرَةِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص لَمْ يَزَلْ مَرْعِيّاً بِعَيْنِ اللَّهِ يَحْفَظُهُ وَ يَكْلَؤُهُ بِسِتْرِهِ مَطْرُوداً عَنْهُ حَبَائِلُ إِبْلِيسَ وَ جُنُودِهِ مَدْفُوعاً عَنْهُ وُقُوبُ الْغَوَاسِقِ وَ نُفُوثُ كُلِّ فَاسِقٍ مَصْرُوفاً عَنْهُ قَوَارِفُ السُّوءِ مُبْرَأً مِنَ الْعَاهَاتِ مَحْجُوباً عَنِ الْآفَاتِ مَعْصُوماً مِنَ الزَّلَّاتِ مَصُوناً عَنِ الْفَوَاحِشِ كُلِّهَا مَعْرُوفاً بِالْحِلْمِ وَ الْبِرِّ فِي يَفَاعِهِ مَنْسُوباً إِلَى الْعَفَافِ وَ الْعِلْمِ وَ الْفَضْلِ عِنْدَ انْتِهَائِهِ مُسْنَداً إِلَيْهِ أَمْرُ وَالِدِهِ صَامِتاً عَنِ الْمَنْطِقِ فِي حَيَاتِهِ فَإِذَا انْقَضَتْ مُدَّةُ وَالِدِهِ إِلَى أَنِ انْتَهَتْ بِهِ مَقَادِيرُ اللَّهِ إِلَى مَشِيئَتِهِ وَ جَاءَتِ الْإِرَادَةُ مِنَ اللَّهِ فِيهِ إِلَى مَحَبَّتِهِ وَ بَلَغَ مُنْتَهَى مُدَّةِ وَالِدِهِ ع فَمَضَى وَ صَارَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَ قَلَّدَهُ دِينَهُ وَ جَعَلَهُ الْحُجَّةَ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ وَ قَيِّمَهُ فِي بِلَادِهِ وَ أَيَّدَهُ بِرُوحِهِ وَ آتَاهُ عِلْمَهُ وَ أَنْبَأَهُ فَصْلَ بَيَانِهِ وَ اسْتَوْدَعَهُ سِرَّهُ وَ انْتَدَبَهُ لِعَظِيمِ أَمْرِهِ وَ أَنْبَأَهُ فَضْلَ بَيَانِ عِلْمِهِ وَ نَصَبَهُ عَلَماً لِخَلْقِهِ وَ جَعَلَهُ حُجَّةً عَلَى أَهْلِ عَالَمِهِ وَ ضِيَاءً لِأَهْلِ دِينِهِ وَ الْقَيِّمَ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ بِهِ إِمَاماً لَهُمُ اسْتَوْدَعَهُ سِرَّهُ وَ اسْتَحْفَظَهُ عِلْمَهُ وَ اسْتَخْبَأَهُ حِكْمَتَهُ وَ اسْتَرْعَاهُ لِدِينِهِ وَ انْتَدَبَهُ لِعَظِيمِ أَمْرِهِ وَ أَحْيَا بِهِ مَنَاهِجَ سَبِيلِهِ وَ فَرَائِضَهُ وَ حُدُودَهُ فَقَامَ بِالْعَدْلِ عِنْدَ تَحَيُّرِ أَهْلِ الْجَهْلِ وَ تَحْيِيرِ أَهْلِ الْجَدَلِ بِالنُّورِ السَّاطِعِ وَ الشِّفَاءِ النَّافِعِ بِالْحَقِّ الْأَبْلَجِ وَ الْبَيَانِ اللَّائِحِ مِنْ كُلِّ مَخْرَجٍ عَلَى طَرِيقِ الْمَنْهَجِ الَّذِي مَضَى عَلَيْهِ الصَّادِقُونَ مِنْ آبَائِهِ ع فَلَيْسَ يَجْهَلُ حَقَّ هَذَا الْعَالِمِ إِلَّا شَقِيٌّ وَ لَا يَجْحَدُهُ إِلَّا غَوِيٌّ وَ لَا يَصُدُّ عَنْهُ إِلَّا جَرِيٌّ عَلَى اللَّهِ جَلَّ وَ عَلَا

English Translation:

Narrated by Mohamed Ibn Yehya from Ahmed Ibn Mohamed Ibn Eissa from Al-Hassan Ibn Mahboub from Ishaq Ibn Ghaleb from Abu  Abdullah (peace be upon him) who describes the status of Imams, peace be upon them, and their attributes in one of his sermons as such:

         “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has explained His religion through Imams of guidance from the family of our Prophet, the Ahl al-Bayt, and has cleared through them the path of His system and plan. He has opened through them the inside of the springs of His knowledge.

         Whoever of the followers of Muhammad (peace be upon him) has recognized his obligation toward the rights of his Imam he has realized the taste of the sweetness of his belief and the superior beauty of his Islam. It is because Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has appointed the Imam as torchbearer for His creatures and authority over those who receive His blessings in His world.

         He has crowned him with dignity and has encompassed him in the light of His Omnipotence that extends for him a means to the heavens. He does not discontinue His blessings for him for nothing with Allah is achieved except through its right means. Allah does not accept the good deeds of His servants without their recognition of the Imam, (peace be upon him). The Imam (pbuh) knows how to sort out the dark confusing matters and things that may obscure the Sunnah (tradition of the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him) and the confounding matters in mischievous conditions.

         Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, continues to choose the Imams from the descendents of al-Husain, peace be upon him, one after the other Imam. He would select and choose them for the leadership of His creatures delightfully and well-satisfied with them. Whenever one Imam would leave this world He would appoint for His creatures his successor as a clear beacon and a shining guide, a guarding leader, and a knowledgeable one with Divine Authority.

            The Imams from Allah guide people to the truth and with the truth they judge. They are Allah’s authority calling people to Him, and shepherds of His creatures. With their guidance people follow the religion and from them the land receives light. Through their holiness the bounties increase. Allah has made them life for the people and the torches in the darkness, the keys to communication and the strongholds for Islam. Thus, have the measures of Allah continued in them toward His final decision.

         The Imam (peace be upon him) is the outstanding amicable one; the most trusted guide and the guardian who can make hopes come true. Allah has chosen him with such distinctions. He selected him as such in the realm when all things were in the form of particles in the instant that He made him. He chose him as such in the realm in which all things were designed as He had designed him as a shadow, before He made the organisms, on the right side of His throne, gifted him with wisdom in the unseen knowledge with Him and granted him outstanding purity.

         He is an heir of Adam, the best one among the descendents of Noah, the chosen one of the family of Abraham, a descendent of Ishmael and of the most preferred ones in the family of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

         He has always been looked after by the watchful eyes of Allah Who provides him security and guards him with His shield, well protected against the evil nets of Iblees and his armies. He is well defended against the approaching dark nights and the false accusations of the evildoers. All wickedness is kept away from him and he is kept safe against all forms of defects and flaws. He is veiled against all scourges. He is infallible in matters of sins. He is kept safe and sound against all indecencies.

         He is well known for his forbearance and virtuousness in the early days of his life. Chastity, great knowledge and excellence are ascribed to him toward the end of his life.

         The task of Imamate [Leadership with Divine Authority] of his father rests with him while in the lifetime of his father he remains silent.

            When the time of the Imamate of his father ends it is the time when the measure of Allah ends up with him due to His wish. The will of Allah brings him to His love, thus, the end of the Imamate of his father comes and he passes away. The Authority from Allah shifts to him after his father.

            He then is made the person in charge of His religion, the divine authority [Hujja] over His servants, the guardian over His lands, he is supported with His spirit and is given of His knowledge. He raises him as a beacon for His creatures, makes him to have His Authority over the people of his world and as the light for the people of His religion and a guardian for His servants.

            Allah is well-pleased to have him as Imam of the people, entrusts him with His secret, makes him a safe keeper of His knowledge and hides His wisdom in him. He protects him for His religion, calls upon him to serve His great task, and revives through him the phases of His system (of religion) and the obligations in His laws.

         The Imam then enforces justice - when the people of ignorance are confused and the disputing and quarreling people are frustrated - with shining light, the beneficial cure and radiant truth. He does so with clear explanations of all aspects and exactly in the manner and practices his truthful father and forefathers would do before him. No one ignores the rights of such a scholar except the wicked ones. No one refuses and denies him except those who have strayed away from the right path. No one keeps away from him except those who are aggressive against Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High.”

Source:

Al-Kafi, Volume 1, Page 203, Tradition #2