Requirements of Love for Ahl-ul-Bayt (Part 2)

5. Mutual Love
It is noteworthy that man’s love for Ahl-ul-Bayt will lead to their love for him too. Even if love for Ahl-ul-Bayt has no other blessing, it will cause their love for him. So which asset is more valuable than this? Imam Sadiq (A.S) has reported: One day, my father and I entered the Prophet’s Mosque. He was passing by groups of people but he paid no attention to them until he stood near a few persons saying, “By Allah, I love your good scent and your souls.”[21] They were Shiite.

In a gathering, Imam Sadiq (A.S) said, “Why do you make light of us?” A man from Khorassan said, “We seek refuge to Allah from making light of you.” The Imam said, “You are one of those who made light of us. Did you not hear such and such man who asked you to give a ride but you ignored him? By Allah, You made light of him. So anyone who makes light of a believer has disrespected Allah.”[22]
6. Love for Ahl-ul-Bayt eases agony of Death
One of the hard moments in human life is when man is at the point of death. At this stage, all veils are removed before his eyes. Based on his beliefs and morality, man sees truths which can be painful or joyful. Man becomes happy when he sees the result of his love for Ahl-ul-Bayt.
Abdullah ibn Walid says: Under Marwan’s rule, I went to the presence of Imam Sadiq (A.S) who asked me about my identity.  I said, “I am a man from Kufa.” The Imam said:
مَا مِنْ بَلْدَةٍ مِنَ الْبُلْدَانِ أكْثَرُ مُحِبّاً لَنَا مِنْ أهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ وَلأ سِيَّمَا هَذِهِ الْعِصَابَةِ. إنَّ اللهَ جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ هَدَاكُمْ لأِمْرٍ جَهِلَهُ النَّاسُ، وَأحْبَبْتُمُونَا وَأبْغَضَنَا النَّاسُ، وَاتَّبَعْتُمُونَا وَخَالَفَنَا النَّاسُ، وَصَدَّقْتُمُونَا وَكَذَّبَنَا النَّاسُ، فَأحْيَاكُمُ اللهُ مَحْيَانَا وَأمَاتَكُمْ مَمَاتَنَا. فَأشْهَدُ عَلَى أبِي أنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ: مَا بَيْنَ أحَدِكُمْ وَبَيْنَ أنْ يَرَى مَا يُقِرُّ اللهُ بِهِ عَيْنَهُ وَأنْ يَغْتَبِطَ إلأ أنْ تَبْلُغَ نَفْسُهُ هَذِهِ ـ وَأهْوَى بِيَدِهِ إلَى حَلْقِهِ

People of no city are fond of us as the people of Kufa, especially this Shiite group. Allah has guided you to a truth of which other people are unaware. That is why you befriended us and others harbored our enmity. You confirmed us and others denied us. May Allah make your living and death like those of us. I bear witness that my father said: There is no distance between one you and the source of delight and the envied but the soul’s reaching the throat. [23]
In a narration, the Holy Prophet describes the moment a believer dies and enters the Hereafter as such:
The Angel of Death says to the believer, “Look above your head.” Then he will see stages of Paradise and the castles the worldly people cannot comprehend. The Angel of Death will say, “These are the blessings, wealth, your dependents and your worthy issues who will be with you. Are you pleased with Allah’s favor instead of what you leave in this world?” The believer will say, “Yes, by Allah.” Then the Angel of Death will say, “Look.” And the believer will look and see Muhammad, Ali and the purified ones of the Household of Muhammad and Ali in the uppermost of heaven. The Angel of Death will say, “Can you see them? They are your masters and Imams who are your companions. Are you pleased with them instead of being separated from the world?” The believer will say, “Yes, by my Lord.”[24]
Evidently it is in this state that man considers leaving this world and departing to the Hereafter as something pleasant and never wishes to come back to this world. Some other truths which the devotees of Ahl-ul-Bayt will see at the moment of death are the angels of mercy who convey Allah’s good tidings and His greeting to them:
 As for those who say: Our Lord is Allah, then continue in the right way, the angels descend upon them, saying: fear not, nor be grieved, and receive good news of the garden which you were promised. We are your guardians in this world’s life and in the hereafter, and you shall have therein what your souls derive and you shall have therein what you ask for: A provision from the Forgiving, the Merciful. (41:30-32)
Being at the point of death, Abu-Dharr who had lost his endurance asked his daughter to search for water and food in the desert, for he was starving! Because he was a devotee of Ahl-ul-Bayt, he had been banished to the desert of Rabadhah by the tyrannical rule. He had been deprived of everything but since he loved Ahl-ul-Bayt, he tolerated all the calamities and hardships. When his daughter came back empty-handed, she said to her father, “I could not find any water nor any food.” Finding him in the agony of death, she put his head on the lap and listened to his words, “Unto Him is Peace, upon Him is peace, He is peace, through Him is peace and from Him is peace.” She asked, “O father; none is here.” Abu-Dharr said, “My daughter, the Angel of Death is here saying, “Allah has said: salute Abu-Dharr before taking his life: Peace: a word from a Merciful Lord. (36:58) I am greeting back the salutation of my Beloved!

7. Presence of Ahl-ul-Bayt at the point of death
One of the horrible moments in a human life is when he parts everything. With the arrival of the Angel of Death beside death bed, man feels the bitter experience of being away from home; but for a devotee of Ahl-ul-Bayt, the situation is quite different, for he will see his guardians and an indescribable joy overwhelms him.
Imam Sadiq (A.S) was asked, “Is a believer displeased when his soul is taken?” The Imam said, “By Allah, a believer is restlessly waiting for the Angel of Death to come and to take his soul. The Angel of Death will say: ‘O friend of Allah! Be patient. I swear by Him Who appointed Muhammad as a Prophet, I am more compassionate to you than your father. Open your eyes and see the Prophet, Ali, Fatimah, Hassan and Hussein and the Imams before you.’ Then the believer opens his eyes and will see Ahl-ul-Bayt.”[25]
8. Immunity from Chastisement
A man who is immune from pollutions and evil acts due to his love for Ahl-ul-Bayt in this world and is immune from fear and sorrow at the point of death will certainly be immune from chastisement on the Judgment Day. The Holy Prophet is reported as saying:

On the Judgment Day, Allah addresses Lady Fatimah as such: ‘O Fatimah! Ask me and I will grant to you, and wish something and I will make you pleased.’ Lady Fatimah will say: ‘I ask You not to punish the devotees of me and my progeny with fire.’ Allah will say: ‘O Fatimah! By My honor, glory and grandeur I took an oath on Myself two thousand years before the creation of heavens and the earth that I would not punish the devotees of you and your progeny with the fire.’[26]
Bilal-ibn Hamamah reports: One day, the Holy Prophet was coming to us happily. Abd al-Ramn ibn Awf asked, “O Allah’s Messenger; what is the cause of your being happy?” The Holy Prophet said, “A glad tiding has been given to me by Allah. When Allah willed to give Fatimah to Ali in marriage, He ordered an angel to shake the tree of Toba whereby written leaves were spread. Allah ordered angels to collect those leaves. When the Judgment Day will come, this angel will look for the devotees of Ahl-ul-Bayt to give them one of these leaves with the following inscription on it: This is a letter of respite from Hellfire by my brother, my cousin and my daughter for the safety of men and women among my ummah from fire.”[27]
Imam Sadiq (A.S) has said:

One of the results of love for Ahl-ul-Bayt and following them is immunity from Hellfire on the Judgment Day.
The Holy Prophet has said:

Compiled by: Allama Hussein Ansariyan
Source: erfan.ir

Notes:
21. Al-Amali, 722, H. 522
22. Al-Kafi: 89/8, H. 73
23. Al-Kafi: 81/8, H. 38
24. Tafsir al-Imam al-Askari: 239, H. 117
25. Al-Kafi: 127/3, H. 2
26. Interpretation of Manifest Verses: 474
27. Yanabi al-Mawaddah: 460/2
28. Rijal al-Najashi: 39
29. Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha: 88/2, Chapter: 31, H. 220

Other links:

Doors of Knowledge of Ahl-ul-Bayt (A.S): part 1

Doors of Knowledge of Ahl-ul-Bayt (A.S): part 2

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