The Importance of Love for Imam Mahdi A.S
part 3
This is the reason why Imam Husain (a.s.) most willingly sacrificed his life in the way of his Lord out of sheer love and devotion. His face bore a striking radiance with the love of his Lord. Since our discussion is veering from Islam to faith (eemaan) and from faith to love, it is imperative to see how often Allah has discussed love in the Holy Quran. Love (Mohabbat) and attachment (Mawaddat) are two words very closely linked to each other. Both these terms have been used in the Quran extensively. We see the word love appearing in the Quran 115 times, while attachment is repeated 28 times. And these words are always used in relation to and as an interpretation of faith and love. Another version of the love Ishq has not been used in the Quran at all. However, we see this word appearing in the traditions of the infallibles (a.s.). For instance, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) declares 'The best of men is the one who loves worship.' (Usul-e-Kafi, vol. 2, Chapter of Worship, tradition 3)
The word Ishq means 'excessive love'. Litterateurs believe that this word is more often used to convey illicit and forbidden love. However, the prophetic tradition we have narrated earlier negates this view, as the word has been used to convey love for excessive worship, which is a commendable action. We have also used this word to convey similar implications, never alluding to the illegitimate form of love.
Love for Imam-e-Zamana (A.S.) is the cause of our existence, the most important objective of our lives and the aim of our creation. We love our Imam (A.S.) and are intensely attached to him. Indeed this is what the religion of Islam instructs us. When the early Muslims wanted to thank the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) for his efforts in the way of Islam, they approached him (s.a.w.a.) and said, 'O Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.a.), indeed you have taken us out from the darkness of ignorance and we had the taufeeq of accepting Islam at your hands and thereby we were illumined with the light of faith. We were disgraced but you honored us. We were deviated but you guided us. With your grace and favors, Allah gave peace to our distressed hearts. How can we repay you for your efforts in the propagation of the prophetic message?' Allah revealed to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.),
'Say: I do not ask of you any reward for it but love for my near relatives' (Surah Shura, Verse 23)
Then those who understood the underlying message behind this Quranic verse acted upon it. There were others who ignored this command.
But the true lovers did not let anything come in between their love and attachment for the Ahle Bait (a.s.). One such group of lovers were in Karbala. They were so intense in their attachment, that Imam Husain (a.s.) proclaimed, 'I have got companions that neither my grandfather (s.a.w.a.), nor my father (a.s.) nor my brother (a.s.) could get.'
These were the companions who repaid the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) for his efforts towards Islam, by attaching themselves to his progeny. They acted on this Quranic verse 'those who believe are stronger in love for Allah' (Surah Baqarah, Verse 165).
In fact, they gave ample proof of this by shedding their blood in the way of Islam.And Allah addressed their leader (Imam Husain (a.s.)) as Al-Nafsul Mutmainnah.
Allah, the Almighty, declares in the Quran that a favor can be repaid only with another favor. The grace and favor of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) in his propagation of Islam is something that can never be truly repaid by us. Love is the only thing that makes understand the importance of this favor and helps us adorn our character. The Holy
Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to beseech Allah
'O Allah! Don't let a transgressor confer a favor upon me, thereby introducing his love in my heart.'
This tradition highlights an important fact that conferring a favor leads to love, even if that favor is from a disbeliever. Indeed humanity and Islam owe their existence to Imam Husain (a.s.). If the incident of Karbala had not occurred, Islam's appearance would have changed completely and it would have been unrecognizable from the Prophet's (s.a.w.a.) Islam. If Karbala had not been there true faith would have been considered as what Yazid was observing, Allah forbid! Many of the prohibited acts would have been made permissible and many of the permissible acts would have been made prohibited.
Source: imamalmahdi.com
Other Links:
Responding to Some Points Raised By Ibn Khaldun (Part 2)
The Existence of the Mahdi is certain
Other Opinions from Ibn Khaldun
People Awaited the Appearance of the Mahdi
The Jurists of Medina and the Mahdi Traditions
