سورة محمد

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): وَ الَّذِینَ اهْتَدَوْا — those who found guidance through the wilayah of Ali (peace be upon him), زادَهُمْ هُدیً — He increased their guidance by making them know the Imams after Ali (peace be upon him) and the Qa'im of the Family of Muhammad (may Allah hasten his noble reappearance). وَ آتاهُمْ تَقْواهُمْ — and He gave them the reward of their taqwa (piety), that they be safe from Hellfire.

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): Allah then mentioned those who are guided and said: والذِینَ اهْتَدَوا زَادَهُمْ هُدًی و آتَاهُمْ تَقْواهُمْ [And (as for) those who follow the right direction, He increases them in guidance and gives them their guarding (against evil)]. This is a refutation of the claim of those who suppose that faith neither increases nor decreases.

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Khaythama said: I came to Imam Baqir (peace be upon him). He said to me: "O Khaythama! Our Shia, the Ahl al-Bayt — their hearts become the seat of love for us, the family, and they are inspired with love for us. A person feels affection and love for us and accepts what he hears of our virtues, even though he has not seen us and has not heard our speech; this is because Allah has willed good for him. And this verse points to that: وَ الَّذِینَ اهْتَدَوْا زادَهُمْ هُدیً وَ آتاهُمْ تَقْواهُمْ [And (as for) those who follow the right direction, He increases them in guidance and gives them their guarding (against evil)] — meaning: whoever meets us and hears our speech, Allah increases him in guidance upon his guidance."

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): Faith in the One Allah is the highest, noblest and most exalted thing ... The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: "Whoever meets Allah with complete faith is of the people of Paradise, and whoever neglects any of the obligations and disobeys the commands of Allah and commits the forbidden acts, comes before Allah with deficient faith." Allah the Exalted said: وَ إِذا ما أُنْزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ یَقُولُ أَیُّکُمْ زادَتْهُ هذِهِ إِیماناً فَأَمَّا الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا فَزادَتْهُمْ إِیماناً وَ هُمْ یَسْتَبْشِرُونَ [And when a surah is revealed, some of them say (to others): "Whose faith among you has this (surah) increased?" (Tell them): As for those who have believed, it has increased their faith and they rejoice (in Allah's grace and mercy).] (al-Tawbah/124). In another place He said: إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِینَ إِذا ذُکِرَ اللهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَ إِذا تُلِیَتْ عَلَیْهِمْ آیاتُهُ زادَتْهُمْ إِیماناً وَ عَلی رَبِّهِمْ یَتَوَکَّلُونَ [The believers are only those whose hearts tremble when Allah is mentioned, and when His verses are recited to them, their faith increases, and they place their trust only upon their Lord.] (al-Anfal/2). In another place He said: إِنَّهُمْ فِتْیَةٌ آمَنُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ وَ زِدْناهُمْ هُدیً [They were young men who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.] (al-Kahf/13). And He said: وَ الَّذِینَ اهْتَدَوْا زادَهُمْ هُدیً وَ آتاهُمْ تَقْواهُمْ [And (as for) those who follow the right direction, He increases them in guidance and gives them their guarding (against evil)]. In another verse He said: هُوَ الَّذی أَنْزَلَ السَّکینَةَ فی قُلُوبِ المُؤْمِنینَ لِیَزْدادُوا إیماناً مَعَ إیمانِهِمْ وَ لِلهِ جُنُودُ السَّماواتِ وَ الْأَرْضِ وَ کانَ اللهُ عَلیماً حَکیماً [He it is Who sent down tranquility into the hearts of the believers that they might have more of faith added to their faith — and Allah's are the hosts of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is Knowing, Wise]. And if all were equal in faith, no one would have any excellence or superiority over another. With complete faith the believers enter Paradise and attain its degrees. If any people's faith is deficient or they lose their faith, they enter Hell.