Imam Abu` Ja'far Muhammad Al-Baqir, peace be on him, who was born
on Rajab 1, in a collection of his traditions, spoke to some of his
companions about the high merits for love to the members of the House
(Ahl ul-Bayt), peace be on them.
He denoted that a great reward from Allah would result from the love
for them. The following are some of his traditions on that:
A- Some of his followers from Khorasan came to him. He, peace be on
him, looked at a man of them. He saw that the man's feet split open.
So, he, peace be on him, asked him: "What is this?" "O Son of Allah's
Apostle, the remote distance (has brought it about). By Allah, nothing
has brought me from where I came except the love for you, Ahl ul-Bayt,"
replied the man.
"Be cheerful! By Allah, you will be raised from the dead with us,"
said the Imam, peace be on him.
The Khorasani man was so happy that he asked: O Son of Allah's
Apostle, will I be raised from the dead with you?"
The Imam, peace be on him, replied: "Yes. The servant who loves us,
Allah will raise him from the dead with us. Religion is nothing except
love (for us). Surely, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, said in His
Book: 'Say: If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and
forgive you your sins.
(Ayun al-Akhbar wa Funun al-Athar, p. 223)
B- Ziyad Al-Aswad came to Imam Abu` Ja'far Al-Baqir, peace be on him.
He came to him from a remote distance and a far-off place. He walked
so much that his feet split open. So, Imam Al-Baqir, peace be on him,
asked him: "Ziyad, what is this?"
My master, I came on the back of a weak young camel. So, I walked the
entire road. I had nothing to buy a camel. I added a thing to a thing
so that I have bought this young camel," Ziyad replied.
Imam, peace be on him, felt pity for him. He wept for him. Then
Ziyad said to him: "May Allah make me ransom for you. By Allah, I have
extremely committed sins. Perhaps I said: 'I have perished!' Then, I
remember my love for you, Ahl ul-Bayt. With that I wish for
forgiveness." So, the Imam turned to him, and then he said to him with
kindness and affection: "Glory belongs to Allah. Religion is nothing
but love (for us). Indeed Allah, the Blessed and Exalted said in His
Book: 'Allah has endeared the faith to you and has made it seemly in
your hearts. (The Holy Qur'an, al-Hujurat, 7)
He said: 'If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you.
(The Holy Qur'an, Al-Umran, 31)
He said: 'They love those who have fled to them. (The Holy Qur'an,
Al-Hashr, 9)
A man from the desert came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and
his family, and said to him: 'O Allah's Apostle, I love those who pray
but I do not pray. I love those who fast but I do not fast.' So,
Allah's Apostle said to him: 'You are with those whom you love.' Whom
do you seek?
By Allah, if something occurred to people, they would not resort to
anyone except us. And we would not resort to anyone except our
Prophet. You are with us. Be cheerful, be cheerful! By Allah, Allah
will not make you equal to other than you.
(Ayun Al-Akhbar wa Funun Al-Athar, p. 226)
C- He, peace be on him, said: "Surely, the garden longs for and its
light becomes intense for the coming of the family of Muhammad, may
Allah bless him and his family, and their followers. If a servant
worshipped Allah between the rukn (the corner of the Kaaba) and the
maqam (the standing place of Abraham) to the extent that his bodily
members cut off, Allah would not accept his worship unless he adopts
our authority and loves us.
(Ayun Al-Akhbar wa Funun Al-Athar, p. 227)
D- He, peace be on him, said to a group of his followers: "The one of
you who becomes happy when his soul reaches here. He pointed to his
mouth with his hand. The angel of death comes down to him and says to
him: 'As for what you wish for, it has been given to you. As for what
you fear, you are safe from it.' He will open the door of his abode in
the garden and say to him: 'Look at your abode in the garden! Those
are Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, 'Ali, Al-Hasan,
and Al-Husayn. They are your friends.' This is what the words of
Allah, the Great and Almighty, confirm: 'Those who believe and guard
(against evil), they shall have good news in this world's life and in
the hereafter.
(Ayun Al-Akhbar wa Funun Al-Athar, p. 227)