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Invoking Blessings on the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) and his Household (A.S.)
By: Ayatullah Shaheed Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim
The topic of invoking Almighty Allah’s blessings on the Holy Prophet and his Household (salawat) under all conditions and circumstances is one obvious expression of this special treatment. In this connection, we find that to begin any supplicatory prayer by invoking blessings upon the Holy Prophet (S) and his Household (‘a) results in that supplication receiving a response, because Almighty Allah never rejects a prayer that is preceded by this invocation. Similarly, Almighty Allah, out of His magnanimity, responds to any prayer ending with an invocation of His blessings on the Holy Prophet (S) and his Household (‘a). This fact has been reported from Imam ‘Ali (‘a) who says: If you would like your request to be granted by Almighty Allah, you must begin your prayer with invoking His blessings on His Messenger (S) and then voice your request, because Almighty Allah is too generous to respond to a request and reject the other when two requests are placed before Him together.81
Likewise, it is advisable to attach the convention of praising Almighty Allah immediately after sneezing82 with invoking Almighty Allah’s blessings on the Holy Prophet (S) and his Household (‘a). Moreover, it is advisable to repeat this invocation of blessings under all conditions, including private matters, as an expression of taking interest in special treatment.
Ibn Abi-’Umayr has reported on the authority of one of his companions that a man sneezed in the presence of Imam al-Baqir (‘a) and followed it with expressing thanks to Almighty Allah. Nevertheless, the Imam (‘a) did not address him with the conventional statement; rather, he said, “This man has violated our right!” Explaining this issue, the Imam (‘a) said: When you sneeze, you must say: alhamdu lillahi rabbi al-’alamina wa salla allahu ‘ala muhammadin wa ahlibaytihi (All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. May Allah send blessings on Muhammad and his Household).
The sneezing man therefore repeated this statement and only then, the Imam (‘a) addressed him with the conventional answer.83
In his epistle to al-Ma'mun, Imam al-Ridha (‘a) says: Invocation of blessings on the Holy Prophet (S) is obligatory in all situations including sneezing, slaughtering animals, and other situations.84
Kindness to the Holy Prophet’s Progeny
Many traditions have been reported from the Holy Prophet (S), on the authority of the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a), confirming imparting a special treatment to the Holy Prophet’s progeny, including the descendants of Imam ‘Ali (‘a), by doing favors and being kind to them.
In this respect, Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) is reported to have quoted the Holy Prophet (S) as saying: Whoever does a favor to any member of my household, I will reward him for it on the Day of Resurrection.85
Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) is also reported to have said: On the Day of Resurrection, a caller will cry out, “Listen! Muhammad (S) is talking to you.” As all creatures become silent, the Holy Prophet (S) says, “O creatures, whoever of you has done any favor, act of kindness, or undertaking for me, may now stand up so that I can reward him for that.” The creatures will say, “May Allah accept our fathers and mothers as ransom for you! What sort of favor, act of kindness, or undertaking could we have done for you? All favors, kindness, and undertakings are Allah’s and yours over all creatures.” The Holy Prophet (S) will then say, “Yes, there are such! Anyone who has accommodated any of my descendants, done an act of kindness to any of them, behaved charitably towards any of them, provided clothing to any of them who was destitute, or provided food to any of them who was hungry, may now stand up so that I can reward him.” Upon hearing this, some who have done such things in the worldly life will stand up. Then, a call from Almighty Allah will come to declare, “O Muhammad, My dearest! I hand over rewarding these people to you, so you are allowed to make them occupy any place in Paradise that you wish.” The Holy Prophet (S) will then, allow these people to dwell in an elevated position in Paradise called al-Wasilah where they will not prevented from meeting the Holy Prophet and his Household (‘a).86
Imam al-Ridha (‘a), on the authority of his fathers, has reported the Holy Prophet (S) as saying: I will be the intercessor of four categories of people on the Day of Resurrection: (1) those who respect my descendants after my passing away, (2) those who satisfy the needs of my descendants, (3) those who make every effort to handle their affairs when necessary, and (4) those who love them sincerely in word and deed.87
Imam al-Baqir (‘a), on the authority of his fathers, has reported the Holy Prophet (S) as saying: Whoever wishes to make me his agency (before Almighty Allah) and to have an attribute for which I will intercede for him on the Day of Resurrection, may closely commune with my progeny and provide them with tranquility.88
Imam al-Baqir (‘a) is also reported to have said: On the Day of Resurrection, a caller will cry out, “Anyone who has done a favor for the Messenger of Allah (S) may stand up.” Some people will stand up. The caller will ask them, “What favor have you done for the Messenger of Allah (S)?” They will reply, “After him, we communed with his progeny.” The progeny will then be told to go in the midst of the people and take those who have done favors to them by the hand and lead them to Paradise.89
Old Men
Showing respect to old men is another form of special treatment in the category of weak people. In this regard, ‘Abdullah ibn Sinan reported that Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) said to him: To respect old men is a kind of respect for Allah, the All-majestic.90
Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) is also reported to have said: He who does not respect our old men and does not show mercy toward our youngsters is not one of us.91
People of the Qur'an
Another form of special treatment is to show respect toward those versed in the religion and its laws, conveyers of the message of the Holy Qur'an, and reciters of Almighty Allah’s revealed verses.
In this connection, Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) is reported to have quoted the Holy Prophet (S) as saying: The people of the Holy Qur'an shall be in the highest rank that human beings can attain except for the Prophets and Messengers (of Almighty Allah). Hence, do not belittle the (special) ranks of the reciters of the Qur'an, because they do enjoy a distinctive rank in the view of Allah, the Almighty and Omnipotent.92
Faithful Believers
Another form of special treatment, such as providing comfort, is that which must be shown to faithful believers (mu'min)93. This has been emphasized in many validly reported traditions, like the following one reported by Shaykh al-Kulayni on the authority of Abu-Hamzah al-Thumali, who related that he heard Imam al-Baqir (‘a) quoting the following from the Holy Prophet (S): Whoever gives pleasure to a faithful believer has in fact given pleasure to me, and whoever gives pleasure to me has given pleasure to Almighty Allah.94
Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) is reported to have said: Among the most beloved acts in the view of Almighty Allah is to give pleasure to a faithful believer by satisfying his hunger, relieving his anguish, or helping him settle his debts.95
Another form of special treatment toward faithful believers is to settle their needs. In this respect, Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) is reported to have said: Whoever fulfills the need of his brother-in-faith, Almighty Allah shall settle one hundred thousand of his needs on the Day of Resurrection. One of these needs is that he is allowed to enter Paradise and to take his relatives, associates, and friends to Paradise also provided that they are not opponents (of the Ahl al-Bayt).96
Imam al-Baqir (‘a) is reported to have said: Sometimes a faithful believer feels upset because he cannot solve the problem of one of his brethren-in-faith. As a result of this feeling, Almighty Allah allows him to enter Paradise.97
Another form of special treatment toward faithful believers is to relieve their agony or ease their difficulties. In this connection, Zayd al-Shahham has reported that he heard Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) saying: Almighty Allah will record seventy-two items of His mercy for whoever relieves the agony of his aggrieved brother-in-faith, drives away his sorrows, and helps him achieve his goal. By virtue of one of these, He will improve his financial affairs while the other seventy-one items will be stored for him when he faces the horrors and terrors of the Day of Resurrection.98
Other forms of special treatment towards faithful believers include being cooperative with them, supporting them, and advising them.
81. - Nahj al-Balaghah, S. 2, No. 361. This saying has been also reported, through a valid chain of authority, from Imam al-Sadiq (‘a). Refer to Jami’ Ahadiih al-Shi’ah 15:239, H. 13.
82. - One of the social conventions of Islam, it is highly recommended to say alhamdu lillahi (All praise be to Allah) immediately after sneezing. Upon hearing this phrase, it is highly recommended to address the sneezer with the statement: yarhamuka allahu (May Allah have mercy upon you), which is similar to the expression of God bless you. This practice is called tasmit, in Arabic and Muslim jurisprudential terminology. [Translator]
83. - Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 8:464, S. 63, H. 1.
84. - Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 8:465, S. 64, H. 2.
85. - Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 11:556, S. 17, H. 1.
86. - Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 11:556, S. 17, H. 3.
87. - Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 11:556, S. 17, H. 6.
88. - Shaykh al-Tusi, al-Amali, pp. 424, H. 947.
In Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 11:557, S. 17, H. 6, this tradition is reported in this way: Whoever wishes to make me his agency (before Almighty Allah) and to have an attribute for which I will intercede for him on the Day of Resurrection, may invoke blessings on my progeny, and provide them with tranquility.
89. - Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 11:558, S. 17, H. 7.
90. - Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 8:466, S. 67, H. 1.
91. - Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 8:467, S. 67, H. 3.
92. - Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 4:830, S. 4, H. 1.
93. - It is advisable to refer to the huge number of traditions, mentioned in various sections of reference books of hadith, such as Wasa’il al-Shi’ah, concerning the special treatment that must be shown towards the faithful believers. For instance, refer to vol. 11, pp. 569-601 where features of this special treatment with faithful believers manifest themselves, emphasizing the high level of social relations necessary with this distinguished group.
94. - Shaykh Al-Kulayni, al-Kafi 2:188.
95. - Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 11:570, S. 24, H. 6.
96. - Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 11:576, S. 25, H. 1.
97. - Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 11:576, S. 25, H. 3.
98. - Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 11:578, S. 29, H. 1.
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