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“Everyone of you is a ruler and you will have to account for your subjects”
Questions will be asked and enquiries made. Like enquiries are made with a shepherd about his flock.
On the Day of Judgement everyone will be asked about how he treated his subjects. As Allah has given authority to kings over the subjects of his realm, the courties and nobles have authority over smaller numbers than the king, every house-holder has authority over his family, servants and slaves.The house-holder is responsible for the maintenance of the persons under his authority.
Similarly every individual is the master over his own limbs and body. He has to keep his senses in control that they don’t become the cause of Retribution for him on the Day of Reckoning. Allah has mad the behaviour and habits subordinate to the individual. There is none in this world who is not a ruler in lesser or greater measure. Every person is bestowed with the power to rule according to his ability.
Allah expects him to be thankful and perform his task according to the Dictum of the Creator.If the person does his task properly, Allah will enhance his authority and bounty for him.One who goes in the contrary direction, Allah will withdraw the bounty from him.If the rulers are just to the subjects and express their thanks to Allah along with the subjects, Allah will extend the period of their dominance. Therefore he has said that even if the king is an infidel, but he deals with the subjects judiciously, his realm will prosper. To the contrary the realm of a cruel Muslim king disintegrates.
About Helping Mu’mineen and Keeping Them Contented
Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) says that making a Mu’min smile is a big virtue. There is no supplication more than making a Mu’min happy and helping him to meet his needs.
It is in the traditions that Prophet Musa (as) received a revelation from Allah, “O Musa! I have made the Heaven lawful for some of my creatures.” Prophet Musa (as) asked, “Who are these persons?” Allah replied, “These are the persons who make their fellowmen happy!”
Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) said that a Mu’min tired of the repression of the Muslim king flew to another realm of an infidel and took refuge there. The kind ruler there treated the Mu’min properly and provided him all the necessary facilities. In the meantime the infidel king died. Allah revealed to him that but for his being an unbeliever He would have sent him to the Heaven. However the fire of the Hell was made cold for him.
Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) has said that one who pleases a Mu’min, it is like pleasing the Prophet of Islam (S). One who has pleased the Prophet (S), he has pleased Allah. And a person who pleases Allah, qualifies to enter the Heaven.
It is narrated from Sadeer Sarraf that once he was with Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as). At that meeting a discussion came up about the rights of brother Mu’mins. The Imam (as) gave his attention to me and asked, “If you wish I shall tell you about the rights?” Sadeer said, “Ya Imam! Kindly tell!” The Imam (as) said: When Allah orders the death of a person, the Karamain Katibain (the two angels who keep an account of the deeds of the person) go to the Firmament and tell to Allah,’ O Allah! This was your pious creature! He was always busy in your obedience and always abstained from anything that can be termed your disobedience! Now you have taken away his spirit. What is your order to us in his regard?’
Allah will say, ‘You return to the world and sit praying near his grave.and enter the reward for your prayers in his account till I raise him on the Day of Resurrection!’ The Imam (as) added, “O Sadeer! Do you want to hear further of the virtues of a Mu’min?” He said, “Ya Imam! Kindly relate!” The Imam (as) said: At the time of raising the person from the grave, a pleasant looking apparition will emerge from the grave and go in front of him. When the person would get scared on seeing the manifestations of the Doomsday, this apparition would put his fears to rest. It will give him the tiding of the happiness and comforts in store for him and that he need not worry for anything. It will remain with the person up to the place where he will have to give the account of his deeds.
Allah will ease the process of accounting for the man. And will order his conduct to the Heaven. At that time the apparition will move in front of him. The Mu’min will tell to the apparition,’ May Allah be kind on you! You have kept company with me ever since I emerged from the grave and have been the harbinger of good news at every step. You are now leading me to the Heaven! Tell me, who you are?’ The apparition would reply, ‘I am that happiness and comfort which you gave to such-and-such a Mu’min. Allah has created me on account of that happiness only that I keep giving you tidings of happiness coming your way!’
Mashal narrates that one year he went for the Haj. After the Haj he went to the presence of Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as). The Imam (as) inquired of him, “From where are you coming?” He said, “After performing the Haj.” The Imam (as) asked, “Do you know that the felicity of performing the Haj for a person is that in his account of deeds, six thousand good deeds are recorded. Allah also pardons six thousand bad deeds of the person!” Masaal said, “Subhan Allah! There is so much reward for a Haji!” The Imam (as) said, “I shall tell you of an act that brings much more reward. The Mu’min who helps a brother Mu’min or makes him happy, gets reward equal to performing Haj ten times.”
The Felicity of Coming to the Help of Mu’mins
It is narrated from Mufazzal bin Omer that Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) said, “O Mufazzil! Listen to what I say and act on the advice! Inform your pious Mu’min brothers too of what I am saying.” Mufazzil asked, “Ya Imam! I offer myself in sacrifice for you! Who are the people who take pleasure in helping their brother Mu’mins?” The Imam (as) replied, “When a person helps fulfill one need of a Mu’min, Allah will fulfill his hundred thousand needs in the Hereafter. One of his wishes will be taking his next of kin, friends and relations to the Heaven. The only condition required of him will be that the persons on whose behalf he intercedes have not been hypocrites (Nasibi).”
It is narrated in another tradition that Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) told to Mufazzil, “O Mufazzil! Allah has selected one group from His creatures who attend to the needs of our poor Shi’as. In return for this Allah will award Heaven to them. Therefore, to the best of your ability help them.and become a part of the chosen group!”
It is narrated from Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) when a Mu’min approaches him for help, and he thinks that the person coming to him is a matter of felicity, and helps him suitably, it will be the cause of our friendship for him. Our friendship is Allah’s friendship. And if he turns down the request of the Mu’min for help, despite having the means to do it, Allah will put a fiery snake in his grave. This snake will trouble him till the Day of Judgement.Later on, it will be Allah’s decision either to punish him or reward him.
It is narrated from Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) that in his view helping meet the needs of a Mu’min is better than performing twenty Haj pilgrimages when on each pilgrimage one has spent a hundred thousand Dirhams.
Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) has said: If a Mu’min finds another in trouble, desires to help him, but is not in a position to come to his aid, Allah will award Heaven to such a person.
Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) said that if a person himself takes the trouble of going to help a brother Mu’min, then seventy five thousand angels would provide the shadow of their wings over his head and for every step that he takes for this purpose, Allah will add one good to the account of his deeds and pardons all his sins. Allah will also raise the person’s status by a degree. When the person returns after performing the good deed, the reward for performing a Haj and Umra is entered in his record.
The Prophet of Allah (S) has said: When a person doesn’t come to the aid of a Mu’min, despite having the means of doing it, then Allah will demean him in this world and the hereafter.
Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) says: There are four types of persons on whom Allah will Bestow Blessing on the Day of Reckoning: One from whom someone bought something, but returned it and the person has willingly accepted back his merchandise.
One who comes to the rescue of a person in trouble.
One who frees a slave.
One who extends a helping hand for the marriage of a poor person.
Amir’ul-Mu’mineen Amir’ul-Mu’mineen (as) has said, “A person who removes the danger of fire, flood or the enemy from Muslims, Allah will pardon all his sins”
Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) says, “One person was brought back to life from the grave by angels and told him,’ We shall inflict on you a thousand blows of the whip of Allah’s Punishment!’ The person said, ‘I don’t have the strength to bear so much flogging.’ The angels said, ‘All right! We shall reduce one blow!’ He said, ‘I don’t have the strength to bear this severe punishment.’ In this way the angels kept reducing the number of blows they wanted to give the person and he kept on peading that he didn’t have sufficient strength to bear the flogging. In the end the angels said, ‘Atleast, we shall flog you once!’ the man asked, ‘You have not told me for what fault of mine you want to punish me?’ The angels said,’ Once you had prayed without doing the mandatory ablution and on another occasion you passed by an old man who needed help, but you didn’t help him.’ Saying this the angels flogged him once, The blow was so intense that a small fire started in the grave.”
It is narrated from the Prophet of Allah (S) that whosoever denies to fulfill the need of a needy person, despite having the means to help him, his sin will be like the sin of Ashari. Someone asked, ‘Who is Ashari?’ The Prophet said, “A sinner who is cursed by Allah, the angels and all the creatures every day and night. One who is accursed of Allah, can be helped by none.”
Also the Prophet (S) said, “One who hides one fault of a Mu’min, Allah will overlook his seventy faults in the Hereafter.”
The Prophet (S) said that Allah will not Reward one who embezelled. Someone asked, ‘Who is an embezeller?’ The Prophet (S) said, “He is one who is miserly in helping a brother Mu’min.”
Censuring, Belittling or Harming the Mu’mins
It is narrated from Imam Ar-Ridha’ (as) that there were four pious persons (Mu’mins) during the period of the bani Israel. Three of them were one day having a tete a tete when the fourth knocked at the door. The slave of the house came out. The Mu’min asked him if his lord was at home. When the slave replied in the negative, the Mu’min went away. The master asked the slave of the identity of the caller. The slave replied that it was so-and-so and that he had told him that the master wasn’t home. The master and the other two Mu’mins did not object to the slave’s act. The next day the Mu’min visited the place when the three of them were emerging from the house. He greeted them and said that he visited the place the previous day too. The three of them laughed and didn’t even express regrets for not being able to meet him. They then proceeded towards their farm. On the way a cloud hovered over the heads of the three persons. The angel Jibraeel called,’ O lightening of the cloud! Fall on the heads of the three persons and render them to ashes!’ Lightening emerged from the cloud and burnt them to ashes.
The fourth Mu’min expressed deep sorrow and anguish for the tragedy that had befallen their friends. He went to the prophet (S) of those times, Prophet Yusha (as) and narrated the happening to him. He said that ‘Allah dislikes one Mu’min belittling and making a laughing stock of another. Your three friends did that to you. You visited them the frst day, they were at home and their slave had lied to you that they were not at home. They silently approved of what the slave did. On your second visit they didn’t express any regret for the inconvenience caused to you. To the contrary, they belittled by laughing at you! You were not aware of their intentions, but Allah knows everything and He didn’t like their behavior. They have been punished for their misbehavior!’
The Mu’min said, ‘O prophet of Allah! I have pardoned my friends!’ Prophet Yusha (as) replied,’ There is scope for pardon only before the arrival of Allah’s Retribution! But there is no possibility of pardon after the Retribution has visited the sinners! It is possible that your friends may not be asked to account for this misdeed of theirs.’
Frightening a Mu’min
It is narrated from Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) that if a person views a Mu’min with a threatening look, Allah will frighten this person on the Day when there will be no succor other than Allah’s Mercy for anyone! The Imam (as) also said that if a Muslim visits another person who neither admits him into his premises nor he comes out to meet him, then he will be under the Displeasure of Allah till he meets the visitor.
It is narrated from Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) that a person who frightens a Mu’min with his status and clout, and thinks of harming him, will earn a place for himself in the Hell. Moreover, if he causes physical harm to the Mu’min, then he will be in the company of Pharoah and his progeny in the Hell.
In another narration it is mentioned that when a person utters a single word to harm a Mu’min and takes sides with the tyrant, he will have written on his forehead the following words on the Day of Judgement,’ This person is hopeless of My (Allah’s) Forgiveness.’
It is narrated from Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) that there is a mountain in the middle of the Hell called Sa-ada. Along this mountain there is the valley of Saqar. There is a well in the valley by the name of Habhab. Whenever the curtain is raised from this well, the denizens of the Hell raise cries in remorse. The tyrants are the residents of the area in the neighborhood of this well.
The Imam (as) also added,’ One should not harm or ridicule others in a hurry! Who knows the subject of such treatment is a Mu’min of which fact he is unaware!’
Adopt softness and kindness in your attitude. Anger and stealth are the weapons of the Satan. Allah likes nothing more that softness and humility.
In another narration the Prophet (S) says, ‘When a muslim slaps another, Allah will take asunder all his bones on the Day of Judgement and put him in the Hellfire with a collar around his neck.’
A person who attends on a tyrannical king with a whipcord in his hand, then Allah will turn the whipcord into a snake on the Day of Judgement. The snake will be of seventy yards in length and will enwrap around the body of the person.
When a person reports against a Mu’min to a tyrant and makes false allegations against him, the reporter would lose the Rewards for all his good acts, even if the subject doesn’t come to any harm because of the reporter carrying malicious tales.
Amir’ul-Mu’mineen ‘Ali (as) asked the Prophet of Islam (S), ‘Ya Rasool Allah! What will happen to a cruel ruler who doesn’t treat his subjects in accordance with Allah’s Dicvtates?’ The Prophet (S) replied, ‘He will be the fourth in the Hell after Satan, Qabeel and Pharoah.’
It is narrated from Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) that when a person slays a Mu’min for no fault of his, will be asked at the time of his own demise,’ Accept the death of a Jew, a Christian or a Fire-worshipper!’
The Prophet (S) said, ‘A person remains a Muslim till he condescends to kill another Muslim! If he intentionally kills a Muslim, then his repentence will never be accepted by Allah!’
It is narrated from Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) that a murderer would be raised on the Day of Judgement as the worst offender and sinner. He will swear that he didn’t ever kill anyone nor was he a party to bloodshed. Allah will reply, ‘You reported maliciously against a particular creature of mine that became the cause of his execution!’
Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) narrates that there are three types of persons who will never enter the Heaven: Those who shed blood for no valid reason, those who drink intoxicants and those who are backbiters.’
It is narrated from Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) that the first Judgement that Allah would deliver on the Day of Reckoning will be about the shedding of the blood of innocent Muslims. Prophet Adam (as)’s two sons will be the first to be questioned. Then the others involved in the killing of Muslims will come up for judgement. The killers will produce their victims before Allah in the condition they were at the momemt of commitment of the crime; their bodies and faces smeared with blood. The killed persons would say, ‘O Allah! This person has rendered me to this state!’ The killer will not be able to deny his sin. Also, when a person kills an innocent person in this world, Allah will kill him in a similar manner a hundred times in the Hereafter.
The Prophet of Islam (S) also said, ‘When someone kills a Mu’min intentionally for no fault of his, Allah will enter all the sins of the victim to the account of the killer.
It is narrated from the Prophet of Allah (S) that, ‘On the Day of Judgement one person would go near another and smear his face and body with blood. The first person would say, ‘What have I done to you to deserve this treatment?’ He will reply,’ On such-and-such a day you had uttered a falsehood about me that became the cause of my execution!’
Authentic tradition mentions that Allah says, ‘One who puts a Mu’min to ridicule would be tantamount to have rebelled against Me! ‘In the eyes of Allah the worst sinner is one who has ridiculed or killed a Mu’min. When a person kills another innocent person Allah will transer all the sins of the victim to the account of the killer.
The Rights of the Rulers
Religiously upright rulers have plenty of rights over their subjects. This is because of the fact that they honor the rights and privileges of the people and protect them from enemies and help them in times of natural calamities.
It is narrated in an authentic tradition that just rulers have to be respected and adored. This act on the part of the subjects would be like respecting Allah. In certain other traditions a sultan-eadil (just ruler) is referred to as imam al-adil (a just Imam).
It is narrated from Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) that when Nimrod pushed Prophet Ibrahim (as) into the fire, and he emerged safe and sound, he was exiled from the city and he reached the realm of the kings of Qabt. Accompanying him was Sarah(r.a.) hidden in a wooden chest that na-mahrams didn’t set eyes on her. The inspectors at the border made a search of Prophet Ibrahim (as) and wanted him to open the chest for their scrutiny. He said that in the chest was his spouse who was also his maternal cousin. But they forcibly opened the chest and discovered an extremely beautiful damsel emerging from the chest. They informed the king of the matter who ordered all his courtiers to assemble.
When Prophet Ibrahim (as) presented himself at the court, the king insisted on him to open the chest. Prophet Ibrahim (as) said ‘whatever tax you wish to levy, do take from me, but don’t ask me to open the chest. Any stranger (na-mahram) setting eyes on her is taboo for me. But the king didn’t give heed to Prophet Ibrahim (as)’s entreaties. When he saw the extremely beautiful Sarah(r.a.), he proferred his hand to her. Prophet Ibrahim (as) then prayed to Allah, ‘O my sustainer! Do protect my honor!’
The king’s hand suddenly dried up like the dead wood. He pleaded to Prophet Ibrahim (as) to pray to Allah that he got restored to his former condition. Prophet Ibrahim (as) prayed to Allah and the king’s hand was restored to the former condition. The king was full of remorse and treated Prophet Ibrahim (as) with respect. He presented to Prophet Ibrahim (as) with a slave-girl who was Hajar(r.a.) who was later to mother the prophet Ismail (as). Prophet Ibrahim (as) started from the place when the king accompanied him some distance as a mark of respect. Then Prophet Ibrahim (as) received a revelation that he should not demean the king by making him walk behind himself. Prophet Ibrahim (as) then told to the king that Allah didn’t like him walking ahead of the king of the realm and that he must walk behind the monarch. The king was much impressed with what Prophet Ibrahim (as) said and willingly embraced his Faith.
The Prophet of Allah (S) said that Allah exhorts one should not talk ill of kings that they are in their position with His Consent. The people get a ruler they deserve! If the people are unruly, disobedient to Allah, then they would get a tyrannical ruler. Therefore, instead of complaining against an unjust ruler, they should try to reform themselves that Allah appoints a just monarch over them.
