Need of knowing God in words of Imam Abu Abd Allah Jafar (p)

By: Zaynab Abbas

The following is an example of what has been recorded on the authority of Imam Abu Abd Allah Jafar b. Muhammad, peace be on them, - who was martyred on 15th of 10th month of Islamic calender that is Shavval - concerning the necessity of knowing God the Most High and His religion.

He, peace be on him, said: "I have found the knowledge of all the people (encompassed) by four things:

You should know your Lord;

You should know what He has done for you;

You should know what He wants from you;

You should know what would make you abandon your religion.

These four divisions include (all) the requirement of things, which should be known because the first thing that a man should do is to know his Lord, may His Majesty be exalted. When he knows that he has a Lord, it is necessary that he must know what He has done for him. When he knows what He has done for him, he knows of His blessings. When he knows of His blessings, it is necessary that he should thank Him. When he wants to carry out his thanks, he must know what He wants so that he may obey Him in his actions. Since obedience to Him is necessary, it will be necessary for him to know what would cause him to abandon his religion so that he might avoid it, and in that way keep pure his obedience to his Lord and his thanks for His blessings.

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