The Rarity of Believers

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘The female believer is more valued than a male believer, and a male believer is more valued than red sulfur. Who among you has ever seen red sulfur?’”

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying three times, ‘People are animals, people are animals, people are animals, except a few of believers. Believers are rare, believers are rare, and believers are rare, (more cherished).”’

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying to abu Basir, ‘By Allah were I to find three believers among you who keep our Hadith concealed I would not have considered it lawful to conceal any Hadith from them.’”

“Once I went in the presence of Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) and said, ‘By Allah, it is your obligation not to sit (without proclaiming your leadership).’ The Imam asked, ‘Why O Sadir?’ I said, ‘Because your friends, Shi’a (followers) and supporters are so many. By Allah, were Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) to have that many Shi’a (followers) as your Shi’a, friends and supporters, no one of the tribe of Tamim or ‘Ady could dare to disturb him.’ The Imam said, ‘O Sadir, how many do you think they are?’ I said, ‘One hundred thousand.’ The Imam said, ‘One hundred thousand!’ I said, ‘Yes, in fact, they are up to two hundred thousand, and I said, ‘Half of the world (population) is your Shi’a.’ “The narrator has said that the Imam remained calm and then said, ‘Is it possible to come with us to Yanbu’?’ I said, ‘It is fine with me.’ He then asked to bring a donkey and a mule already saddled. 1 hurried to ride the donkey and he said, ‘O Sadir, can you consider to allow me ride the donkey?’ I said, ‘The mule is more beautiful and noble.’ He said, ‘The donkey is friendlier for me.’ I then dismounted and he rode the donkey and I rode the mule. We traveled until it was time for prayer. He said, ‘O Sadir, dismount and we should pray.’ Then he said, ‘This ground is soft, prayer is not permissible here.’ We moved to a red ground and he looked to a boy who shepherded goats. He said, ‘O Sadir, were I to have as many Shi’a (followers) as the number of these goats, then it would not have been permissible for me to sit (without proclaiming my leadership).’ We dismounted and prayed. When we finished the prayer 1 turned to the goats and counted them. There were seventeen heads of goats in the flock.’”

“A virtuous servant (of Allah) (a.s.) said to me, ‘O Sama’a, they (pretending Shi’a) found their belief in their beds and they (attempt) to frighten me (ignoring al-Taqiyah). By Allah, once of the whole world and all that is therein there was only one person who worshipped Allah. Had there been anyone else, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, would have mentioned him with him in His words, ‘Abraham was, certainly, a nation, (in terms of having a whole culture and tradition) obedient and upright person. He was not a pagan.’ ( 16 : 120 ) “Time passed as Allah willed. Allah then provided him comfort with Isma’il and Ishaq and they numbered three. By Allah, believers are very few and unbelievers (people of imperfect belief) are many. Do you know why that is?’ I said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, I do not know.’ The Imam said, ‘They (less perfect believers) have become a source of comfort for the believers who spread their secrets to the hearts (of less perfect believers) to find relief and in this they do find relief.”

“Once I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, how small is our number! It is so small that all combined feasting on a goat cannot finish it.’ The Imam asked, ‘Do you want to hear more astonishing things? The immigrants (Muslim of Makkah) and supporters (Muslim of Madina) all went (to abu Bakr).’ He (the Imam) pointed with his hands, ‘except three, (Salman, abu Dhar and Miqdad) who remained as true supporters of Amir al- Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.)).’ I (Humran) then asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, what about ‘Ammar?’ The Imam said, ‘May Allah grant him favors, the alert man pledged allegiance (to abu Bakr) but he died as a martyr.’ I (Humran) then said to myself that there is nothing better than martyrdom. The Imam looked at me and said, ‘Perhaps you thought he was like one of the three. That is far remote from reality.’”

“I heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.) saying, ‘Not everyone who speaks of our Walayah (Divine Authority) is a believer. They, however, are made to serve as boasting morals of the believing people.’”