الحسين بن محمد الأشعري

Abu Al-Hassan Musa (asws) having said; ‘My (asws) father (asws) said to me (asws) that in the Paradise is a river called Ja’far. On its right bank is a white pearl in which are a thousand castles. In each of the castles are a thousand castles for Muhammad (saww) and the Progeny (asws) of Muhammad (saww). And upon its left bank is a yellow pearl, in which are a thousand castles. In each of the castles for Ibrahim (as) and the Progeny (asws) of Ibrahim (as)’.

“Whatever Ali (a.s.) has brought I follow them entirely and whatever he has forbidden I desist from them altogether. It flows for him from the merits like what flowed for Muhammad (sw), and for Muhammad (sw) is the merit upon the entirety of the creatures of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. The pursuer upon him (Imam Ali) regarding something from his decisions is like the pursuer upon Allah and upon His Messenger, and the rejecter upon him regarding a small or a big (matter), would be within the limits of Shirk (Association) with Allah.
Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) was the gate to Allah through which one could only go closer to Him, and he was the path that if one would ignore it he would have been destroyed. This is also true of all the Imams of guidance, one after the other. Allah has made them as the cornerstones of the earth so that its inhabitants would not be destroyed, and His possessors of doubtless Divine authority over the inhabitants of earth and those below the earth. Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) would very often say, “I am Allah's distributor between Paradise and Hellfire, and I am the greatest criterion, and I am the possessor of the Staff and the (marking) seal Miysam. All the angels, the Spirit, and the messengers have acknowledged me, like what they acknowledged Muhammad (sw) with, and I am loaded upon like his load, and it is the load of the Lord.
The Messenger of Allah (sw) will be called upon and his call will be accepted. I will be called up on and my call will be accepted. He will be made to speak and I will be made to speak and I will speak just the way he would speak. I have been given certain distinctions which were not given to anyone before me. I was taught all about the deaths, the sufferings, the genealogy of people and the decisive sermons. I have not missed any of the knowledge that have passed me by and nothing of the future is unseen or unknown to me. I give good news by the permission of Allah and do my duty towards Allah. All of this is from Allah Who has made it possible for me through His knowledge.”
Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Ash‘ari has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Jumhur al-‘Ammi from Muhammad ibn Sinan who has said that al-Mufaddal narrated to us from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.). He then narrated the above Hadith.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever speaks of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, very often, Allah will provide him a shadow in paradise.’”

‘‘Whoever speaks of Allah very often, Allah will provide him shadow in His paradise.”

“Whenever a Muslim helps make the wish of a Muslim to come true, Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, says, ‘With Me is your reward and I will not agree to allow it to be less than paradise.’”

“I heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.), say, ‘A generous person is close to Allah, close to Paradise and close to people.’ I also heard him say, ‘Generosity is a tree in Paradise. Whoever holds to one of its branches will enter Paradise.’”

“Whenever a Muslim visits his Muslim brother, due to Allah’s relation, and for the sake of Allah, Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, will say, ‘O visitor, how beautiful is your deed! How beautiful is paradise as your reward! ’”

“Abu Basir has said, ‘I heard the Imam saying, “Those who love each other for the sake of Allah, on the Day of Judgment will be seen on the pulpits of light. The light of their faces, the light of their bodies and the light of their pulpits will light up all things so much so that they will become known for it, and they will be called people loving for the sake of Allah.””’’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘al-‘Ajwah is the mother of dates. It is the date that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, sent from paradise for Adam (a.s.), as mentioned in His words, ‘. . . whatever you cut down of palm trees and left standing on their trunks’ is a reference to al-‘Ajwah.’”

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said to assign a place in your home as Masjid. If something frightens you, dress in two pieces of your roughest clothes and perform Salah (prayer) with them. Thereafter rise on your knees and call for help, scream before Allah, ask Him for paradise, beg Him for protection against whatever has frightened you. Beware of having Allah to hear from you rebellious words even though You may feel very proud of yourself or your tribe.”

Generosity is a tree rooted in Paradise with its branches extended out all over this world. Whoever grabs onto one of its branches will go to Paradise.’”

“I once was walking with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when the thong and strap of his shoe broke. I took out one from my bag with which he repaired his shoe. He (the Imam) touched my left shoulder saying, ‘O ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Kathir, if one helps a believing person in the matters of his shoe thong Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, will carry him on a fast running camel when he comes out of his grave until he will knock at the door of the garden (paradises).”’

“Once I went to see abu al-Hassan (a.s.) and I said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, in all matters they wanted to extinguish your light and be unjust towards you. So much so that they have lodged you in this disgraceful place for the homeless.” He said, “O ibn Sa‘id, here. He pointed out with his hand and said, “Look there.” When looked I saw gardens. I saw very delightful gardens. There lived lovely boys and girls as if they well protected and secure pearls. There lived birds and beautiful deer. It have fountains and rivers that pur out and gush forth. My sight bewildered and my eyes turned dull. He then said, “Wherever we may live these are for us. We are in the lodging for the homeless.”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Three women came to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and one of them said, “My husband does not eat meat.” The other one said, “My husband does not smell perfume.” The other one said, “My husband does not go near the woman.” The Messenger of Allah came out while his gown dragged behind him until he climbed on the pulpit, praised Allah and glorified Him; then said, “What has happened to certain people of my companions who do not eat meat, smell perfume and do not go near women. I however, eat meat, smell perfumes and go to women, thus, those who disregard my Sunnah are not of my people.’””

The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, held my hand and said: "Whoever dutifully performed the five (daily) prayers, and then died with your love in his heart, he will have redeemed his pledge. And whoever died with hatred for you, died a death of ignorance (i.e. the era before Islam), though he will account for his deeds as ordained by Islam. And he who lives after you, with your love in his heart, Allah will end his life with security and faith, till he arrives near me at the Pool."

It happens that a man loves you -the Shia- but he does not know what you say. Accordingly, Allah will allow him to enter Paradise. It also happens that a man hates you but he does not know what you say. Accordingly, Allah will send him to Hell. Hence, a man may fill in his record with good deeds without being doing any of them. (I asked how, and the Imam answered:-) This occurs when he passes by some people while they are reviling at us. As they see him, some of them tell that he is one of the Shia. They then go on railing and reviling at him. Hence, Allah records for him good deeds because of so until his record of good deeds is filled.

“Once I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) about how much religious knowledge people must have. The Imam said, ‘Religion is vast but the Khawarij (those who turned against Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.)) group has narrowed it down upon themselves due to their ignorance.’ I asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, can I tell you what kind of religion I believe in?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, you may do so.’ I said, ‘I testify that no one deserves to be worshipped except Allah and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. I affirm to whatever he has brought from Allah. I love you {AM al-Bayt) and disavow your enemies and those who have suppressed you, kept (unjust) control over you and who have usurped your rights.’ The Imam said, ‘You are not ignorant of anything. This, by Allah is what we follow.’ I asked, ‘Is one who does not know this (cause) safe?’ The Imam said, ‘No, except the feeble- minded people.’ I asked, ‘Who are they?’ The Imam said, ‘Your women and children.’ Then he said, ‘Consider ‘Umm ‘Ayman. I testify that she is of the people of paradise, but she did not know what you believe.’”

“We were in a gathering to seek knowledge and education. During one of the journeys I was left without any resources for my expenditures. A certain individual of my friends was concerned about who would look after my needs. I said, ‘So and so will look after my needs.’ He then said, ‘I swear by Allah, you will not get what you need and you will not achieve what you hope to achieve.’ I then asked, ‘How do you know, may Allah grant you favors?’ He said, ‘Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) told me that he has read in a certain book that Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, has said, “I swear by My Majesty, by My Glory, by My Greatness, by My Highness over My Throne, I will turn the hopes of all who hope in people other than Me into hopelessness, and I will dress him with the clothe of humiliation before the people, and move him away from nearness to Me. I will move him away from My additional favors. How dare he expects help from others in hardship? All hardships are under My control. He expects others to help him. He knocks on the door of the others and the key to all closed doors is in My hand and My door is open for those who pray to Me. Who is he that hopes to receive help from Me in his difficulties and I have left him in hardship? Is there anyone who had hopes in Me in a great hardship and I cutoff his hopes in Me? I have placed the hopes of My servants safe with Me. They did not agree with My safeguarding their interests. I have filled up My heavens with those who never tire from speaking of My Glory. I have commanded them not to close the doors between Me and My servants. They did not trust My words. Do they not know that if I afflict one with My hardships no one have the ability to remove them without My permission. “Why is it then that 1 see him mindless of Me? I granted him favor without his asking, then I removed the favor and he did not ask Me to return it but he asked others. Has he not seen Me grant favors even before asking. How would I refuse My favors when I am asked for a favor? Am I stingy and do My servants consider Me as such? Do generosity and benevolence not originate from Me? Are not forgiveness and kindness in My hand? Am I not the center of hopes? Who is he that cuts off his hopes from Me? Are those who cut off their hopes from Me not afraid of placing their hopes in others? If the inhabitants of My heavens and the inhabitants of My earth would all have hopes in Me and I then grant each one equal to that which all of them wished to have, no shortages would take place in my kingdom even to the size of an atom. How can there be any shortages in the kingdom that I Myself am the keeper of? How hopeless is the case of those who cut off their hopes from Me? How hopeless is the case of those who disobey Me and do not expect anything from Me?’””