| 308.
1. Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (p): Verily, the real and true worshipper
of God is one who recognizes God, and one who does not recognize
Him (accepts His existence only nominally and merely on the basis
of hearsay), his worship goes astray (has no value or meaning).
Asked to explain what he meant by ‘recognition of God’,
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (p): Acknowledgement of God, the Mighty,
the Glorious and acknowledgment of the Prophet Muhammad (p), and
declaration of fealty to Imam Ali (p) and acknowledgment of his
Imamate and the Imamate of the other successive Imams (p), and complete
rejection of their enemies. Thus, God the Mighty, the Glorious is
recognized.
Translator’s note: We have used the word ‘fealty’
in the tradition narrated above. This expression or its synonyms
will occur again and again in the traditions which are to follow.
It is, therefore, necessary to explain the exact meaning and significance
of this term. The Arabic word in the original text – Mawalat
– is generally translated as ‘friendship’. Literally,
the translation is correct but the word ‘friendship’
does not convey the sense of the original word Mawalat. In our religious
terminology ‘friendship’ signifies sincere acknowledgment
of the twelve Imams (p) as God-ordained infallible guides for all
humanity. This acknowledgment makes it obligatory upon us to respect
them according to the status of their Imamate, to remain faithful
and loyal to them, to obey them unhesitatingly and to declare our
fealty, allegiance and devotion to them in all circumstances. In
the following traditions, the words ‘fealty’, ‘allegiance’,
and ‘friendship’ will invariably convey the sense explained
herein.
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| 309.
6. Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (p): You cannot be righteous until you know,
you cannot know until you affirm and you cannot affirm until you
submit yourself before the four doors…
Translator's note: The four doors are: repentance for associating
anything with God, belief in Touhid (Oneness of God) and Risalat
(Prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (p)), righteous action, and recognizing
God’s Proof. The first has no meaning without the last. Those
who have accepted only the first three are misguided and gone completely
astray. Certainly, God, the Blessed, the Sublime, does not accept
anything but righteous action. And God only accepts the fulfillment
of conditions, promises and covenants. So, whoever fulfills the
conditions laid down by God, to Whom belong Might and Majesty, as
specified by Him and has acted as God laid down in His covenants,
will receive what is with Him. He will complete for him what He
has promised him. God, the Blessed, the Sublime, has informed the
followers of the paths of right guidance and has installed a beacon
for them over it (the path), and He has informed them how to follow
it. God said: …And surely, indeed, I am All-forgiving to
him who repents, and believes and does good, and at last is guided
(Q, 20:82). He also said: …Verily, God accepts only from
the God-fearing (Q, 5:27).
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310.
7. Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (p): God has created the law of cause and effect.
For every effect there is a cause, and for every cause there is a
reason, and the understanding of every reason requires knowledge,
and for all knowledge there is a gateway (an exponent). One who recognizes
these exponents attains enlightenment, and one who ignores them remains
ignorant. Prophet Muhammad (p) and we are the Exponents (of all knowledge).
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311.
10. Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (p): Every traveler to a foreign territory
needs a guide. Man is more ignorant of the heavenly paths than the
paths of this earth, therefore it is essential for every man to
find a true guide for himself who will guide him to his proper destination.
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312.
11. Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (p) was requested to explain wisdom as mentioned
in Noble Quran: He (God) grants wisdom to whosoever He pleases and
whosoever is granted wisdom has indeed been granted abundant good...
(Q, 2:269)
The Imam (p): Submission to God and recognition of the Imam (p) is
wisdom. |
313.
12. Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (p) asked Abu Baseer: Have you recognized
your Imam?
Abu Baseer: By God, I have done so before leaving Koofa.
The Imam (p): This is good for you
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314.
13. In the verse of Noble Quran God, the Glorious, the Magnificent,
says: Can he who was dead and We gave him life and appointed for him
a light whereby he walks among people, be like the one who is, as
it were, in utter darkness hence he can by no means come forth?...
(Q, 6:122)
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (p) commenting on the above verse: The dead
means anyone who does not know anything (about religion) and the appointed
light means the (divinely guided leader) Imam and the one who is in
utter darkness is one who does not recognize his Imam.
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