Nawf ibn Abd Allah al-Bikali: Imam Ali (A.S.) said to me: O Nawf! We have been created of a pure nature and our Shi’as created from our nature; so they will join us on the Resurrection Day.
I said: O Amir al-Mu’minin! Describe your Shi’as to me. As I uttered the name of his Shi’a, he wept and said: O Nawf! I swear by Allah that my Shi’as are patient, aware of Allah and his Faith, they are engaged in obedience and worship of Allah, and find their ways in the light of His love; they are over tasked by worship and prayers and are adherents of austerity; they have mournful and lean faces due to the observance of nocturnal devotions; their eyes are shrinked out of weeping, their lips tend to dry up because of dhikr (remembrance), and their stomachs are thin-skinned due to hunger, Divine color is evident on their faces, and piety is apparent in their countenance. They are lights to any darkness and like flowers they cover up every ugliness; they neither adore the Muslims of the past nor do they pursue the ones coming later on.
The evil is suppressed in them, their hearts are gloomy, they are chaste, their wants are scanty, their souls are habituated with difficulties and people are at ease with them. They are intelligent and wise, honest and noble; and are very smart in setting their faith free. When they appear somewhere they will not be recognized; and in their absence they will not be questioned.
These are the purest of My Shi’as and the noblest of my brothers.
Oh! How eager am I to see them!
Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.): Try my Shi’as on three occasions: At the exact time of prayers (they pray on time), concerning secrets as how they keep them hidden from our enemies, and regarding their wealth as how they share it with their brothers.
Imam al-Sadiq(A.S.): The true Ja’fari Shi’a is one who abstains from gluttony and lust, who is hard-working and works for his Creator, being hopeful of His rewards, and is fearful of His Punishment. Whenever you see such people, they are indeed Ja’fari Shi’as.
Imam al-Sadiq(A.S.): Our Shi’a is the one who takes hold of what he deems good, and gives up what he views evil, reveals beauty and rushes into good deed hopeful of Divine mercy. Such a person is with us, is in line with us wherever we are.
Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.): Our Shi’as are chaste, hardworking, loyal, trustworthy, and austere. They daily perform fifty one rakahs of prayers; they observe prayers at night and fast during daytime; they pay up the Zakah of their property, perform the pilgrimage of Hajj and withdraw from any unlawful action.
Imam al-Sadiq(A.S.): Our shi’as are recognized by various characteristics: Munificence, sacrificing for their brothers, and daily performing fifty rakah of prayers.
Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.): Our followers include three groups: Those who are our friends and express their love to us such people are of us; those who adorn themselves with us, and we make beautiful those who adorn themselves with us; and those who usurp people’s property in our name, and whoever usurps people’s property in our name will become poor.
Source:
Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.) in the Holy Qur’an and Hadith
By Ayatullah Muhammadi Rayshahri
