سورة الحديد

Ibn Abbas (may Allah have mercy on him): وَالَّذِینَ آمَنُوا بِاللهِ وَرُسُلِهِ أُولئِکَ هُمُ الصِّدِّیقُونَ [And those who believe in Allah and His messengers, these are the truthful ones] — the Siddiq of this ummah is Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him); he is the Siddiq al-Akbar (the greatest truthful one) and the Faruq al-A'zam (the greatest distinguisher [between truth and falsehood]). وَالشُّهَدَاء عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ [and the witnesses in the sight of their Lord] — what is meant by this verse is Ali (peace be upon him), Hamza (may Allah have mercy on him), and Ja'far (may Allah have mercy on him). They are the truthful ones and the witnesses of the prophets over their communities; indeed, they conveyed the message and brought it to completion. لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ [they shall have their reward] with their Lord, on account of their affirmation of the prophethood, and their light is upon the Sirat (the path).

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family): The people of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) asked him: "Concerning whom was this verse revealed?" He said: "When the Day of Resurrection arrives, a banner of white light will be raised and a caller will call out: Let the master of the successors arise, and let those who believed after the mission of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) arise with him. So Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) will arise, a banner of white light will be placed in his hand, and beneath it will be gathered all the earliest forerunners from the Muhajirin and the Ansar, none other than them being among them, until Ali (peace be upon him) sits upon a pulpit of light from the Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, and all of them enter upon him one by one. He grants them their reward and their light. When all have entered, they are told: You have recognised your rank and your dwelling in Paradise. Your Lord says: With Me you have forgiveness and a great reward, which is Paradise itself. So Ali (peace be upon him) arises and that people, beneath his banner, enter Paradise together with him. Then he returns to his pulpit and all the believers continue to enter upon him, and he admits a portion of them to Paradise and consigns some peoples to Hell. And this is the saying of Allah the Exalted: وَالَّذِینَ آمَنُوا بِاللهِ وَرُسُلِهِ أُولئِکَ هُمُ الصِّدِّیقُونَ وَالشُّهَدَاء عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ وَنُورُهُمْ [And those who believe in Allah and His messengers — these are the truthful and the witnesses in the sight of their Lord; they shall have their reward and their light], meaning the foremost believers from among the earliest forerunners and the people of wilayah (guardianship). وَالَّذِینَ کَفَرُوا وَکَذَّبُوا بِآیَاتِنَا أُولئِکَ أَصْحَابُ الجَحِیمِ [And those who disbelieved and rejected Our signs — these are the inmates of the blazing Fire], meaning those who disbelieved and denied the wilayah and the right of Ali (peace be upon him)."

Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him): This excellence is for us and for our Shia.

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family): The truthful ones are three: Hizqil, the believer of the family of Pharaoh, Habib the companion of the family of Ya-Sin, and Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), and he is the most excellent of the three. Abu Ayyub al-Ansari said: The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: The siddiqin (truthful ones) are three: Hizqil the believer of the family of Pharaoh, Habib the companion of Ya-Sin, and Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him); Ali (peace be upon him) is the best of them all.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): An angel named Mahmud, who had twenty thousand heads, descended upon the Prophet. The Noble Prophet rose to kiss his hand. The angel said: "No, no, O Muhammad, you are more honored before Allah than all the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth." The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) saw that between his shoulders was written: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ عَلِیٌّ الصِّدِّیقُ الْأَکْبَرُ [There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, Ali is the greatest siddiq]. The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) asked: "Mahmud! Since when has this writing been on your shoulders?" He said: "Twelve thousand years before the creation of your father Adam."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abu Hamza said: I heard Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) saying to a man from the Shia: "You are the pure ones, and your women are also the pure ones. Every believing woman [in Paradise] is a beautiful-eyed houri, and every believing man is a siddiq (truthful one) [and holds the rank of the siddiqin]."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): The meaning of أُولئِکَ هُمُ الصِّدِّیقُونَ [these it is that are the truthful ones] is [the station of] the intercession of the Imams (peace be upon them).

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): The ziyarah of Husayn ibn Ali (peace be upon him)... I bear witness that those who followed you are the truthful and honest ones, those about whom Allah, Blessed and Exalted, has said: أُولئِکَ هُمُ الصِّدِّیقُونَ وَ الشُّهَداءُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ وَ نُورُهُمْ [these it is that are the truthful and the faithful ones in the sight of their Lord: they shall have their reward and their light].

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Harith ibn Mughira said: We were with Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) and he said: "Whoever of you recognizes this matter [Shiism] and awaits its [relief] and does good deeds along this path, by Allah, is like one who fights alongside the Qa'im of the family of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) with his sword. Rather, by Allah, he is like one who fights alongside the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) with his sword." Then he said for the third time: "Rather, by Allah, he is like one who is with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) in his tent and pavilion, and about you there is a verse in the Quran." I said: "May I be your ransom! Which verse?" He said: "The words of Allah the Exalted: وَ الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا بِاللهِ وَ رُسُلِهِ أُولئِکَ هُمُ الصِّدِّیقُونَ وَ الشُّهَداءُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ وَ نُورُهُمْ [And those who believe in Allah and His apostles, these it is that are the truthful and the faithful ones in the sight of their Lord: they shall have their reward and their light]." Then he said: "By Allah, you are the truthful ones and the witnesses before your Lord."

Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him): Abu Khudayra narrated from someone who heard Ali ibn al-Husayn (peace be upon him) speaking about the martyrs: Some of us said a martyr is the mabtun (one killed directly on the battlefield). Some of us said: he is the one whom a wild animal tears apart, and some of us mentioned other things. A person said: I did not know that a martyr is only the one who is killed in the path of Allah. Ali ibn al-Husayn (peace be upon him) said: If that were so, the martyrs would surely be few. Then he recited this verse: وَ الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا بِاللهِ وَ رُسُلِهِ أُولئِکَ هُمُ الصِّدِّیقُونَ وَ الشُّهَداءُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ [And those who believe in Allah and His messengers, these it is that are the truthful and the witnesses in the sight of their Lord]. Then he said: This verse was revealed concerning us and our Shia.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Aban ibn Taghlib said: Whenever those Muslims who were killed at the frontiers were mentioned, Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) would say: "Woe to them! What are they doing? They are rushing toward a killing in this world and a killing in the Hereafter. By Allah! No one is counted a martyr except our Shia, even if they die in their beds [of a natural death]."

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): The deceased from among our Shia is a siddiq (truthful one) and a martyr; he affirmed our command, loved for our sake and hated for our sake, seeking by that Allah the Mighty and Majestic, believing in Allah and His Messenger. Allah says: وَ الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا بِاللهِ وَ رُسُلِهِ أُولئِکَ هُمُ الصِّدِّیقُونَ وَ الشُّهَداءُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ وَ نُورُهُمْ [And those who believe in Allah and His messengers, these it is that are the truthful and the witnesses in the sight of their Lord: they shall have their reward and their light].

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Our Shia is only the one who is exceedingly truthful and a witness (martyr). It was said: How can that be, when most of them die in their beds? He said: "Have you not read in the Book of Allah in Surah al-Hadid: وَ الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا بِاللهِ وَ رُسُلِهِ أُولئِکَ هُمُ الصِّدِّیقُونَ وَ الشُّهَداءُ [And those who believe in Allah and His messengers, these it is that are the truthful and the witnesses in the sight of their Lord]?" He said: If the martyrs were only as they say, the martyrs would be few.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family): When the Day of Resurrection is established, a group will enter the gathering-place whose faces radiate light, seated upon pulpits of light, whom the earlier and later generations will envy. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) fell silent for a moment here and then repeated the same words again. Umar ibn al-Khattab said: "May my father and mother be sacrificed for you! Are they the martyrs (shuhada)?" He said: "Yes, they are martyrs, but not the kind of martyrs you imagine." He said: "Are they the successors (awsiya) (peace be upon them)?" He said: "They are the successors, but not the kind of successors you imagine." He said: "Are they from the people of the heavens or of the earth?" He said: "From the people of the earth." He said: "Who are they?" The Messenger of Allah said: "They are this Ali who stands before you, and his Shia. None of Quraysh hates him except one born of adultery, none of the Ansar opposes him except a Jew, none of the Arabs bears rancour against him except one of illegitimate lineage, and none of the rest of the people deviates from him except a wretched one. O Umar, whoever claims to love me but shows enmity to Ali is a liar."

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): So long as a sick person does not complain [of his illness] to those who visit him, he is in the confinement [and refuge] of Allah, and his sins are wiped away; and any believer who departs from this world while sick is counted as a martyr; and every believing man is a martyr, and every believing woman is a houri. And whatever manner of death the believing person dies by, he is counted a martyr. [Then] Imam Ali (peace be upon him) recited this verse: وَ الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا بِاللهِ وَ رُسُلِهِ أُولئِکَ هُمُ الصِّدِّیقُونَ وَ الشُّهَداءُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ [And those who believe in Allah and His messengers — they are the truthful ones and the witnesses with their Lord].

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family): Every believer of my ummah is a siddiq (one whose belief, speech and deeds are one) and a martyr, and by means of this sword Allah honours whomever He wills of His creation. Then the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) recited this verse: وَ الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا بِاللهِ وَ رُسُلِهِ أُولئِکَ هُمُ الصِّدِّیقُونَ وَ الشُّهَداءُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ [And those who believe in Allah and His messengers — they are the truthful ones and the witnesses with their Lord].

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Malik al-Juhani said: Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said to me: "O Malik, if any of you dies upon this belief (awaiting the rising of the Imam of the Age), it is as though he has struck with the sword in the path of Allah." Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) also said: "It makes no difference how any of our Shia departs from this world — whether a wild beast devours him, or he is burnt in fire, or he drowns [in water], or he is killed [in the path of Allah] — by Allah, he is in every case counted a martyr."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Malik al-Juhani said: Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said to me: "O Malik, are you not content to establish the prayer, give the zakat, restrain yourselves, and enter Paradise? O Malik, there is no people who followed an imam in this world but that on the Day of Resurrection he will come cursing them and they cursing him — except you and whoever is upon the like of your state. O Malik, indeed by Allah, whoever of you dies upon this matter [and belief] is a martyr, in the rank of one who has struck with his sword in the path of Allah."

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): Stay in your places, and be patient over the affliction that befalls you, and do not move your hands, swords or tongues, and do not hasten for that which Allah has not hastened for you. For whoever of you dies in his bed while knowing Allah, the Prophet and his Ahl al-Bayt has died a martyr, and his reward is with Allah, who will grant him the reward of his intention and his good deeds; and his intention [to reach the Imam of his time] is as though he had drawn his sword [for that Imam].

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Minhal al-Qassab said: I said to Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): "Pray to Allah that He grant me martyrdom." He said: "The believer is a martyr." Then he recited this verse: وَ الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا بِاللهِ وَ رُسُلِهِ أُولئِکَ هُمُ الصِّدِّیقُونَ وَ الشُّهَداءُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ وَ نُورُهُمْ [And those who believe in Allah and His messengers, they are the truthful and the witnesses in the sight of their Lord; they shall have their reward and their light].

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family): O son of Mas'ud! Beware of associating anything with Allah for the blink of an eye, even if you were cut to pieces with shears, or hanged, or burned in fire — for Allah the Exalted says: وَ الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا بِاللهِ وَ رُسُلِهِ أُولئِکَ هُمُ الصِّدِّیقُونَ وَ الشُّهَداءُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ وَ نُورُهُمْ [And those who believe in Allah and His messengers, they are the truthful and the witnesses in the sight of their Lord; they shall have their reward and their light].

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abu Basir said: Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: "O Abu Muhammad! Whoever of you dies upon this matter is a martyr." I said: "May I be your ransom, even if he dies in his bed?" He said: "Even if he dies in his bed, he is alive and is provided for."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): O Abu Hamzah! Whoever believes in us, affirms our sayings, and awaits our Qa'im (may Allah hasten his noble relief) is like one martyred beneath the banner of the Qa'im — nay, by Allah, like one martyred beneath the banner of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family).

Ibn Abbas (may Allah have mercy on him): And by the witnesses is meant the Prophets (peace be upon them), who [on the Day of Resurrection] will bear witness for and against the nations.

Ibn Abbas (may Allah have mercy on him): لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ وَ نُورُهُمْ [They shall have their reward and their light] means: for the believers there will be the reward of their obedience and the light of their faith — the very light by which they will be guided to the path of Paradise.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him and his family): وَ الَّذِینَ سَعَوْا [And those who strive] — those who strive to sever the love of the family of Muhammad — مُعاجِزِینَ أُولئِکَ أَصْحابُ الْجَحِیمِ [seeking to frustrate (Allah), those are the companions of the Blazing Fire]. He said: they are those very four persons, namely Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Muawiya. (Or Abu Sufyan.)