Ayatullah Sayyid Muhammad Taqi Musawi Isfahani Duties of People towards the Imam (a) Extracted from Mikyal al-Makarim fee fawaaid ad-duaa LIL qaaim Criterion of Nobilities on the benefits of praying for al-Qaim

54: Pray to Allah for Patience in Imam’s Separation

It is a duty of believers to ask Allah for Taufeeq of being patient in the Ghaibat of Imam (a). This is evident from the words of the supplication of Amri (r.a.) regarding Imam Zamana (a): “Bestow me patience in this.”

In another instance it is stated that the momin should pray to Allah to improve his worldly conditions and the hereafter because Allah has the key to everything. The Messenger of Allah (s) was told, “And be patient and your patience is not possible except by Allah.” The word ‘by’ in the above indicates causing or helping. Thus when patience is not possible without Allah’s help the momin is obliged to beseech Allah to help him in being patient where patience is suitable. It can also be taken to mean ‘from’ although the author of Mughni Labeeb has mentioned and it is not important to deny that which occurs in eloquent statement, in the same way as some scholars of syntax have denied that it is for discrimination; even though there are traditional reports from the Holy Imams (a) regarding this.
The Messenger of Allah (s) said, “Ask Allah for whatever you may need, even if it be a shoe lace. Because if Allah does not make its acquisition easy it would never be easy to acquire it.” In another tradition he (s) says, “Each one of you should pray to Allah for whatever you may need, even if your shoelace breaks, you ask Allah for it.” Numerous traditions have been recorded to this effect as also the verses of the Holy Quran. All this proves the efficacy of Dua for patience wherever it is required. Because there are many instances where patience is required but man is impatient. While on other occasions it is not desirable. So the best option is to pray to Allah that He grant us patience wherever it is appropriate.
For example: Many a times it so happens that one mistakes an occasion to be that of patience while it is not so; and one is patient when he should not have been and is not patient when he should have been. He remains quiet when he should have spoken up and he speaks up when he should have remained silent. It is a taufeeq from the Almighty Allah that a person places each thing in its proper place and does everything at its appropriate time. Thus a believer who wants to tread the path of guidance, his duty is to beseech the Almighty to give him patience and make him cognizant of the occasion, whether it demands patience or not.
For example: According to traditional reports Allah, the Mighty and Sublime has ordered patience as mentioned in Kafi, in tradition of Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a) in which he says: Allah, the Mighty and Sublime specialized His messengers with the best of manners, thus check yourself; if you are having those qualities, thank Allah, and know that it is your excellence. If you don’t have those qualities, beseech the Almighty Allah to bestow them to you. Then His Eminence mentioned ten things: Certainty, contentment, patience, thankfulness, good relationship, cheerful nature, generosity, modesty, valor and forbearance.⁴²⁹ Some narrators have added: Truthfulness and trustworthiness. In the same book, in another tradition from His Eminence (a) it is mentioned that he said: “I like one who is intelligent, understanding, thoughtful, forbearing, patient, truthful and loyal’ Allah, the

1. 
   Usool Kafi, Vol. 2, Pg. 56, Tr. no. 2
   

Mighty and Sublime chose the messengers especially for these excellent qualities, thus one who has these traits should praise the Almighty Allah and one who lacks them should pray that the Almighty Allah bestows him these. The narrator says: May I be sacrificed on you, what are those qualities? His Eminence replied: Piety, contentment, patience, thankfulness, forbearance, modesty, generosity, valor, self respect, goodness and truthfulness.⁴³⁰

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   Usool Kafi, Vol. 2, Pg. 56, Tr. no. 3
   

1. 55: Enjoining Patience During Ghaibat

It is one of the most important duties and has been greatly emphasized. All the proofs in favor of Amr bil Maroof apply to this as well. Secondly, we must follow the example of the Holy Prophet (s) and the Holy Imams (a) as is evident from the study of their traditions. The third proof is the sermon of Ghadeer quoted by Ali Ibne Tawoos in his book Iqbal. He says that Surah Asr was revealed in connection with Hazrat Ali (a). Its interpretation is as follows: “I swear by the time (Qiyamat), Most surely man (enemies of Aale Muhammad) is in loss, Except those who believe (in their Wilayat) and do good (towards their brothers), and enjoin on each other truth (during the Ghaibat of their Imam) and enjoin on each other patience (in these times).”⁴³¹

I say: Enjoining patience means that we should explain to our near and dear ones the virtues of being patient in bearing the difficulties during the Ghaibat of Imam Zamana (a), so that they may not despair due to its prolongation. That by seeing the prosperity of their enemies they do not fall prey to doubts. We must also remind them that the affluence of the wicked was foretold by the truthful Imams (a) and similarly they had also predicted the establishment of a just government. Thus when the first prophecy has been fulfilled the second one shall also be certainly fulfilled, Insha Allah.
They should know that one who remains patient and awaits, reaches to Faraj and success, to a great Faraj or to the minimum type of Faraj; rather awaiting itself is a kind of Faraj. Don’t you see that when one becomes too much indebted, but he knows that soon he would get help, he would always be in anticipation of that person who is going to bring this relief? And he will assure himself so that the burden of debts is lifted for him. Or if someone falls ill and remains in that condition for many days; but he knows that there is an expert physician in a particular place who will come to him after some time and cure him, such a person is all the time in anticipation of that physician. This anticipation accords him assurance to bear the illness and ward off grief and sorrow. It was from this aspect that Abu Baseer asked Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a): May I be sacrificed on you, when will Faraj occur? His Eminence replied: O Abu Baseer, are you also of those who are inclined to the world? One who recognizes this matter his Faraj has taken place due to his anticipation.⁴³²
It is narrated from Muhammad bin Fudail that he asked Imam Ali Reza (a) something about Faraj and he said: Is it not but that awaiting for Faraj is also Faraj? The Almighty Allah says:
Wait then, I too with you will be of those who wait.⁴³³
It is narrated from Husain bin Jaham that he said: I asked His Eminence, Abul Hasan Musa bin Ja’far

(a) regarding Faraj. He replied: Don’t you know that waiting for the Faraj is Faraj? I asked: I don’t

1. 
   Iqbal, Pg. 457
   
2. 
   Biharul Anwar, Vol. 52, Pg. 142, Tr. no. 54; Ghaibat Nomani, Pg. 180
   
3. 
   Biharul Anwar, Vol. 52, Pg. 128, Tr. no. 22
   

know anything except what you have taught. He replied: Yes, waiting for the Faraj is a kind of Faraj.⁴³⁴

In Ghaibat Nomani it is narrated from His Eminence, Abu Ja’far Imam Baqir (a) that he said: “The hasteners will perish and those nearest to Allah will be saved! After distress there will be wonderful deliverance!”⁴³⁵
Ali Ibne Yaqteen has narrated from Imam Kazim (a) that he said, “The Shias are being trained through hope for the past 200 years.” The narrator says that Yaqteen asked his son, Ali, “How is it that whatever had been said about us (the kingdom of Abbasides) has come to pass but whatever was said regarding your just government, hasn’t?” Ali replied, “The source of both the prophecies is the same. The only thing is that the time for whatever was said about you had arrived, so everything happened exactly as predicated. While the time for whatever was said about us is not yet ripe. So we are subsisting on hope. If they had been informed at the outset that this will happen after 200 or 300 years then hearts of the people would have hardened and the common people and those of weak faith would have renegaded from Islam. Thus it was said to them that soon they shall be relieved and that the appointed hour is near, so that they may not despair till the actual event.”⁴³⁶

1. 
   Biharul Anwar, Vol. 52, Pg. 130, Tr. no. 29
   
2. 
   Ghaibat Nomani, Pg. 104
   
3. 
   Usool Kafi, Vol. 1, Pg. 369, Tr. no. 6
   

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