Requirements of Love for Ahl-ul-Bayt (Part 1)

Ahl-ul-Bayt are not in need of superficial love; rather, they require love which has its medium with it so as to reveal its amazing signs. Here are some requirements of the love for Ahl-ul-Bayt:
1. Acting according to the decrees
One of the requirements of love for Ahl-ul-Bayt is that a lover should never stop endeavoring in the way of Allah by making Ahl-ul-Bayt’s behavior and deeds as models for his life. The Ahl-ul-Bayt have said:

مَنْ أحَبَّنَا فَلْيَعْمَلْ بِعَمَلِنَا

Whoever loves us must do whatever we do. [11]
Imam Sadiq (A.S) has said:

إنَّمَا شِيعَةُ جَعْفَرٍ مَنْ عَفَّ بَطْنَهُ وَفَرْجَهُ وَعَمِلَ لِخَالِقِهِ وَرَجَا ثَوَابَهُ وَخَافَ عِقَابَهُ

2. Taking Ahl-ul-Bayt’s Friends as Friends (tawalli)
Amir al-Mu’menin has said:

فَإنْ كَانَ يُحِبُّ وَلِيَّنَا فَلَيْسَ بِمُبْغِضٍ لَنَا، وَإنْ كَانَ يُبْغِضُ وَلِيَّنَا فَلَيْسَ بِمُحِبٍّ لَنَا

If he takes our friend as a friend, he is not our enemy; and if he is the enemy of our friend, he will not be our friend. [13]
Imam Sadiq (A.S) has said:

One who loves our friend will be certainly our friend. [14]
3. Disavowal of Ahl-ul-Bayt’s enemies (tabarri)
One of the requirements of love for Ahl-ul-Bayt is to take their enemies as enemy. Imam Ali (A.S) has said:
فَمَنْ أحَبَّ أنْ يَعْلَمَ حَالَهُ فِي حُبِّنَا فَلْيَمْتَحِنْ قَلْبَهُ، فَإنْ وَجَدَ فِيهِ حُبَّ مَنْ ألَّبَ عَلَيْنَا فَلْيَعْلَمْ أنَّ اللهَ عَدُوُّهُ وَجِبْرِيلَ وَمِيكَائِيلَ، وَاللهُ عَدُوُّ الْكَافِرِينَ

He has also said:

If one who loves us loves our enemies, he will certainly not belong to us nor do we belong to him.[16]
4. Tribulation and Calamity
Nothing is more effective than tribulation and calamity for purifying a man and improving his character. Allah tests His devoted servants with tribulation, calamity, poverty, hunger, bereavement and other incidents so as to make them steadfast on patience, resistance, and endurance; hence, He paves the way for them to enter Paradise. The Holy Prophet, addressing Abu-Said Khidri who was complaining from poverty, said:

إصْبِرْ! فَإنَّ الْفَقْرَ إلَى مَنْ يُحِبُّنِي مِنْكُمْ أسْرَعُ مِنَ السَّيْلِ عَلَى أعْلَى الْوَادِي وَمِنْ أعْلَى الْجَبَلِ إلَى أسْفَلِهِ

Be patient, for poverty rushes toward those who love me with a speed more hasty than that of a flood coming down from the peak of a mountain. [17]

Abu-Dharr expressed his love for the Holy Prophet who replied:

اللهَ اللهَ! فَأعِدَّ لِلْفَقْرِ تِجْفَافاً، فَإنَّ الْفَقْرَ أسْرَعُ إلَى مَنْ يُحِبُّنَا مِنَ السَّيْلِ مِنْ أعْلَى الأكَمَةِ إلَى أسْفَلِهَا

If so, then prepare yourself a cover for indigence! Indigence comes to one who loves us with a speed more hasty than that of a flood coming down from the peak of a hill. [18]
Difficult Test
A narration reads: One day, Allah’s Messenger came across a man of Ansar who said, “May my parents be your ransom, O Allah’s Messenger! The expression I see in you visage makes me sad. What is the story?” Looking at the man’s face, the Holy Prophet said, “It is Hunger!” Hearing this, the man became restless; he rushed to his house to find something and bring it for the Holy Prophet, but he could not. So, he rushed to Banu-Quraydhahto draw water from well and receive dates as wage. After collecting the dates, he came to the Holy Prophet, placing the dates politely in front of him, and asked him to eat. Allah’s Messenger asked, “Where did you get these dates from?” The man told him the whole story. The Holy Prophet said, “I suppose that you love Allah and His Messenger.” The man said, “I truly do. I swear it by Him Who appointed you as Prophet with the truth; I love you more than my children, my family and all my wealth.” Addressing the man, the Holy Prophet said, “If so, then prepare yourself for indigence, patience, and a cover for tribulation. Verily, by Allah Who appointed me as Prophet, poverty and tribulation come to one who loves me with a speed more hasty than a flood coming down from the top of mountain.

Imam Baqir visiting Muhammad ibn Muslim
Mu¦ammad ibn Muslim, one of the best companions of Imam B¡qir (A.S), has narrated: Although I did not feel well, I traveled to Medina. When Imam Baqir (A.S) was informed of my arrival, he sent me a bowl of syrup through his servant who said, “Drink this, for the Imam has told me not to return before you drink of it.” I drank from that syrup which was scented with musk. By drinking it, I rose up and did not feel sick anymore. So I decided to go and see the Imam, “May you be healthy, come in, come in.” I entered the room, greeted the Imam and kissed his hands and head. He asked, “Why are you crying?” I replied, “May I be your ransom. I cry because of being away from my home, the journey to the Hereafter, indigence and the fact that I cannot stay with you.” The Imam said, “As for indigence, Allah has decreed it for our friends. Tribulation and calamity rush towards them. As for being away from home, set Imam Hussein (A.S) who is in a faraway land near the Euphrates as an example. As for the journey to the Hereafter, know that a believer is always lonely in this world until he will depart to the land of Allah’s mercy. As for saying that you love to stay with us, know that Allah is aware of what is in your heart and He will reward you for it. [20]

Compiled by: Allama Hussein Ansariyan
Source: erfan.ir

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Notes:
11. Tuhaf al-Uqul: 104
12. Sifat al-Shia: 11
13. Al-Amali, 334, H. 4
14. Al-Muqniah: 485
15. Al-Amali: 148, H. 243
16. Tafsir al-Qummi: 171/2
17. Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal: 85/4
18. Al-Mustadrak: 367/4
19. Al-Gharat: 401/2
20. Al-Ikhtisas: 52

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Other links:

The Hajj of Ahl-ul-Bayt (A.S)

The Ahl-ul-Bayt's (A.S) Assiduity in Worship (Part 2)

Doors of Knowledge of Ahl-ul-Bayt (A.S): Part 3